Cuisinart DCC-1150BK 10-Cup Classic Thermal Programmable Coffeemaker, Black
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart DCC-1150BK 10-Cup Classic Thermal Programmable Coffeemaker, Black
Customer Review: Lukewarm coffee and annoying reservoir
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this coffee maker about 2 years ago. It works just as well then, as it does now, so I have no complaints about it's durability or the quality (flavor) of the coffee.
I originally bought this maker because I am going through an extensive house remodel and my kitchen is in the basement. (Read, chilly and going on 2+ years now.) My biggest complaint is that I always get lukewarm coffee. If it's "hot," it's not *very* hot (like you'd get with a regular glass-carafe coffee pot). It's a happy surprise, when it's hotter than lukewarm. Sure, my basement is chilly, but initially, I'd like hot coffee. I should also mention, I bought this with the thermal carafe so that I could bring my pot of coffee upstairs and have it stay hot for a couple hours. It fails. With any thermal carafe, I should preheat the carafe, to get really good, hot, lasting results. I usually don't preheat but I tried it today, just for the heck of it. Still. Lukewarm. Coffee. The preheating also defeats the purpose of presetting your coffee to start automatically at ungodly hours like 4am. The carafe also doesn't hold heat. I put a towel over and around it just to keep some heat in. Lukewarm, lukewarm, lukewarm,...even doing everything right...lukewarm.
To add a few other annoying details....
First, the opening to the water reservoir is relatively small. Yes, it's easy to spill if you're not committed to the task or in a hurry. Also, the cup-amount-measure is towards the back. An annoyance, more than anything. You have to turn the unit to get water in without spilling, and also to see how much water you've put in. A annoying small detail.
Second, the water sprays into the filter cone and you get splash-back. It will do this with any level of coffee grounds in the basket. If it were confined to just the filter area, that would be fine. But it doesn't. I have a WHITE coffee maker. The coffee grounds get in, around, down, and then recirculate all over the coffee maker. With a black coffee maker, you could miss the grunge. With the white? The grunge is everywhere. I choose not to think about how often I really need to try and clean the coffee maker due to the fact that it has a tightly fitting reservoir lid and stays wet all the time.
Third, the carafe lid is pretty intricate. If you don't have a dishwasher, it's IMPOSSIBLE to clean adequately. There's no tool or brush that can get in there. I had no dishwasher for about a year and the debris that came out of it was astonishing. Really unpleasant.
It also pours very slowly and sometimes jams in the mostly closed position. To get it to pour faster you either have to upend the pot and give it a good whack on top of your mug...or you have to remove the lid. (Which then releases the heat you're trying to keep in the carafe.)
Now that I've grossed everyone out, good luck with this coffeemaker. I wouldn't buy it again. I'm shopping on Amazon to replace it today. Simply, I like my coffee hot and uncomplicated.
Customer Review: Great coffee maker
Summary: 5 Stars
I will start by saying that I have only owned this product for a few days, and that all my previous coffee makers have been the sub $20 variety from the local store. On weekends I make 2-4 cups in the morning and I like to enjoy them over a period of a few hours. However the burner has usually destroyed the flavor by the time I return for a second cup, and I set out to find a better alternative.
After reading some reviews on this particular model I finally ordered one, and although I have only used it a few times so far, I could not be more pleased with it. Some reviews stated that their coffee was cold, the machine was hard to fill, the beeps were noisy, and the pot poured slowly. My experience has been as follows
The filling area is smaller than my previous coffee maker, and is located on the right side of the machine. I am left handed and can still fill it easily, although due to the design of the pot it must be tilted further upside down than a glass pot in order to empty it. Not an issue.
The unit is very quiet while brewing, more so than the one it replaced.
When I make coffee I use the 1-4 cup setting, and I preheat the pot by using hot water to fill the coffee maker. When the coffee is finished brewing it is piping hot. I will further this by saying that I made 1-4 cups at 4:30 pm, and finished only 2 cups. When I returned at 10:30 pm to clean the pot before bed I found that the remaining coffee was still very hot and would not have required any reheating had I chose to drink it. This situation has been easily repeatable, and since no burner is involved the first cup tastes as good as the last, even 6 hours later.
This machine seems to be about the same speed as my previous coffee makers, and I use the slower 1-4 cup setting.
It has an area for a water filter, and came with one to get me started. I cannot taste any difference with or without it so I cannot comment on its effectiveness, although it is nice to have that as an option. It also comes with a few paper filters to get you started, or you can simply reuse the metal filter which is also included.
It beeps a few times when its finished brewing. The tone reminds me of a wristwatch beeping except it is slightly louder. It it not loud enough to be a nuisance, but I can easily hear it when I am in the adjacent room watching tv or working on the pc. It lets me know when my coffee is ready for consumption, and I like it.
Some say the pot pours slowly into the cup. It actually does, but unless you are pouring coffee in a combat zone and under fire, does 2 to 3 extra seconds really make that much of a difference? Again, not an issue. There is also no need to turn the lid in order to pour or fill the pot as with other products. Very nice.
All said and done, I am very satisfied with this product, and would gladly purchase it again.
Customer Review: Almost the Best Coffee Maker on Market
Summary: 4 Stars
Like many other reviewers, I too have had a problem with my coffee maker brewing coffee at a lukewarm temperature. Not sure how this is happening since a boiling temperature drives the water up into the hose and out the shower head. I suspect those who have not had a problem with lukewarm coffee probably drink their coffee black, or with a splash of cream. I, on the other hand use more milk than most, so I require a hot cup of coffee to start with. So after re-reading reviews on this coffee maker and reviewing what is available on the market, I decided to keep this device and see if I could come up with a way to make my coffee hot.
The first most obvious thing that I decided NOT to do was to use my filtered refrigerator water. Placing the extra demand on the coffeemaker to heat cold water could not be an option for obvious reasons. The second thing I determined I would try was selecting the "1 - 4" cup button to see if this made a difference. I noticed another reviewer felt it did. I'm not sure it made any difference at all. However, after some careful consideration on what could be causing this problem, I tried something else, which seemed to make all the difference in the world. I figured the water was not staying in the heating chamber long enough before it got sucked up into the hose (again, not sure why), so I decided to manipulate the on/off button to force the water to heat longer. So I would go through the normal brewing process, then just when the coffee started to spray out of the shower head, I would stop it, then let it sit for a few seconds, then turn it back on allowing it to heat a little more. Then when it started to spray again, I would turn it off. Repeat 3 - 5 times, pausing several seconds in between restarting. By doing this, I figured the water had more time to get heated by the coils. This seemed to do the trick and keep in mind, I have been using cold refrigerator watering my brewing process.
The obvious problem with this method is that it required me to be near the coffeemaker and pay attention to it's cycle to be sure I stopped it just in time. It is a lot of manipulation, but I now actually enjoy a hot and flavorful cup of coffee with milk - and it seems to stay hot for several hours in the carafe. Since I only brew at home on the weekends, it is a doable option for me since I feel it is overall a quality product that brews one delicious pot of coffee.
If water is not heated adequately before showering over the coffee grounds, it will not pull out the full potential flavor from the coffee beans. This is important to know in case you are spending big bucks on expensive coffee, like me. I can't help but think that since so many folks are having this same problem, that there is a coil issue with this coffee maker. Just know, it does have the potential to heat up adequately with a little manipulation.
Customer Review: Best ever, bar none
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned perhaps 15 coffeemakers in my adult life from my first cheap Proctor Sylex to my most recent Gevalia. This Cuisinart 10-cup programmable Thermal is, by far, my favorite ever.
Pros:
1. Sturdy and solid! Seems well constructed and not even a little flimsy (as cheaper coffeemakers often do.)
2. Easy to see and read dials! They aren't black on black! The controls have also proven easy to use.
3. If you take a few minutes to read the directions and familiarize yourself with the machine, you'll make perfect coffee the first time and every time and likely avoid the problems others have reported.
4. It is FAST!
5. LOOOOVE the carafe! There is only one way to put the lid on and "lock" it, so it's idiot-proof and it really, honestly, truly DOES keep the coffee hot for HOURS! I was genuinely stunned by how well it does. This saves energy because the brewer can just shut off. And I can take the pot to any part of the house. BEST part is, no overcooked bitter coffee! Last cup tastes as fresh as the first. So fabulous!
6. It is slightly taller than others, but still fits under my cabinets on a countertop. (I pull it out to make the coffee.)
Cons (not really; just slight suggestions):
1. The water reservoir level could be easier to read. My Gevalia had a red ball float in it, so I could easily see how full it was, even in the early morning, bleary-eyed state.
2. Yes, it beeps when it's done. But if this beep wakes you up at the other end of the house (as some have complained) you have bat ears. It's just not that loud.
3. It came with a permanent filter, but I don't use it because it tends to let fine grounds through. Stick with paper if this bothers you. Line up the shape of the bottom of the filter with the shape of the bottom of the filter compartment and it will give you no trouble.
4. The carafe works extremely well, but the last couple of ounces will be hard to pour with the lid on because of the shape of the inside and the relatively small opening and, yes, it pours a fairly small stream. But the thing is - what it pours will be HOT and taste FRESH!
5. Rinse the carafe when you're done and occasionally wash the inside with hot, soapy water. It will help prevent the stains coffee can lay down on a "stainless" steel interior.
I really appreciate this machine.
Update: November 27,2010 - STILL love this coffeemaker. STILL think it's the best one I've ever owned.
Update: January 2011 - STILL love this coffemaker. I'll never buy anything else.
Customer Review: Excellent Coffee maker!
Summary: 5 Stars
Easy to program, easy to see the display. You really don't need the directions to use it, that's nice for a change!
I'm thinking this will be better than my last one because the buttons are on top instead of the base so they should be less likely to get "gunk" in them over time. I think that's what killed it, the buttons stopped working and I can't get it apart to clean the contacts because it is held together with bizarre little recessed screws I''ve never seen before. I should call Cuisinart and ask them why, I'd still like to try & fix it.
My last one was a 12-cup Cuisinart, also very good, it lasted 7 or 8 years. I can say from experience that Cuisinart's customer service is very good, they will ship you a new one if it dies under warranty very quickly for $[...] They understand that most people NEED their coffee!
I love the carafe and won't own anything else. The coffee stays hot for hours without getting cooked and I don't have to wonder halfway to work if I shut the pot off. Also, you will never shatter this thing! You can take it out to the garage and leave it with the guys. You will keep the carafe long after the coffee maker dies. Then you can have hot coffee and make more simultaneously!
This is easiest to fill if you can put it somewhere not under your cabinets or on something that slides toward you easily. Filling it with the carafe makes sense but it does tend to dribble water and the last bit doesn't pour out readily.
I also liked that this came with the gold filter so should you run out of paper ones, no building your own with paper towels!
Additionally, there is a built in replaceable water filter. While I live in a rural area where the water is excellent, I'm sure this is an added bonus for many folks.
This was the cheapest high-end pot that had what I wanted ([...]). I don't see the point of a built in grinder. A grinder is $[...] and would just be more to break if it was built in.
Overall, an excellent product. You may need to experiment to find the neatest filling device.
I love that the directions warn you that the filter is only meant to hold 15 scoops. I love strong coffee but 15 for 10 cups????
Bought it through Amazon from this seller: [...] It arrived in less than 48 hours with free goodies even. I will most definitely look to them again first the next time I need anything for the kitchen, they are a true 5-star seller!