Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Brushed Metal
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Brushed Metal
Customer Review: Take the bad reviews with a grain of salt -updated Oct 2010
Summary: 5 Stars
When shopping for a new brewer I read a lot of reviews & almost didn't purchase this model because of the bad reviews. I read that the casing looked cheap, the coffee didn't get hot enough, coffee was weak, the machine "creaks", the beeping is excessive, it's difficult to program, it's difficult to measure water, etc. However I also read some really good reviews & took a leap of faith & bought it. I figured worse case scenario I send it back.
My husband and I drink at least one pot of coffee each day, flavor is very important & this brewer creates a very good flavor of coffee. I believe it is the internal water filter that makes the difference. Here are my thoughts on the negative reviews:
*First of all, this machine is very attractive. You have the stainless look to match your appliances, without dropping $2k on a genuine all stainless machine. It is often a topic of conversation with it's unique styling. It really is a jewel among all of my other stainless & chrome treasures. Over-all with this brewer I felt as though I received much more than I paid for. It's stylish & makes a good tasting brew.
*I don't understand the reviews about the temp not being hot enough - the hot plate has 3 temp settings. I keep it on high & I've scalded my tongue more than once. I could not imagine wanting my coffee any hotter!
*We drink strong coffee - so if your coffee is weak I have a technique for you to try...add more coffee. We use a paper filter & have no problems.
*As for the creaking, I've not heard it. (The machine makes noises typical of every coffee pot I have ever owned while brewing...percolating water, etc)
*I like the beeper that lets me know my coffee is ready. Much like Pavlov's dog I now get happy & crave my coffee when I hear that wonderful little beep. I don't think it's excessive - it reminds me of our microwave timer.
*The operating instructions are very simple to read & understand. The little booklet gives you detailed step-by-step instructions on setting the pot up & details on the features. My 2 year old even knows how to set it up on the auto timer & turn it on to brew. (He's our helper monkey)
*I do agree that the measuring steps inside the pot are useless. They're difficult to see, but I'm o.k with that. I just use the clean pot to measure my water. I've survived many years measuring my water in this fashion without the aid of an internal measuring device on my brewer.
I feel over-all that this is a sound purchase and you will get your money's worth and more.
UPDATE: NOW all that being said...I did NOT edit any part of my original review but I would like to make one final comment. I purchased this coffee pot in February 2008 it is now October 2010 and yesterday morning my beloved coffee pot failed to work. It had power going to it, as the lights came on, however it did nothing else.... it didn't make any noises, didn't heat up...it just sat there mocking me as I waited longingly for my cup of brew. Do I think it should have lasted a little longer? Yes....however I will very likely purchase this coffee maker again, because despite it's short-lived existence it still made an excellent cup of coffee and looked perfect in my kitchen at an affordable price.
Customer Review: How Does This Company Keep Its Good Name?
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm 65 years old and prone to giving products - that deserve it - good reviews. Actually I'm a nice guy old geek, and not a grump. I'm an addicted coffee drinker and a retiree.
Over many years I've owned and used this model and several similar Cuisinart models. Why? First, I'm a slow learner and I just couldn't believe that this good company would sell such a shoddy piece of merchandise. Secondly, because the lady of the house said this was the one we were going to buy. Third, and most importantly, because - as some other reviewers have mentioned - this model has outstanding good looks. Fourth, we all know that this exact model has been prominently shown on EVERY season of TV's "Two and a Half Men" EXCEPT this most current season where even Hollywood no doubt had to replace what I'm positive was a leaking and/or scorched unit.
So how can something that looks so chic be so awful? Can you say "design flaws"? No? Then just try "defective". I won't go into them at length, they are so well enumerated in other user reviews on this fine website, but I do want to mention one in particular: The heating element WILL fail.
It's not "if", it is just "when", usually in about a year. Wanna know "how"? With the intense flash of a heating short under the unit and tons of acrid, putrid smell of electrical burning. This is such an obvious fire hazard that I just don't see why fire marshals allow this product in consumers' homes.
"Why"? Some Internet theories (and there are a bunch if you look) claim that the heating tube - that would be a metal tube with WATER inside surrounding all types of electrical connections - eventually leaks and the water forms a "perfect" electrical short to any and all nearby electrical components.
And as other fine reviewers have pointed out, there are a million other ways to GET water down there, because if you actually USE this coffeemaker, it WILL run over. My favorite way is if you put a FULL pot of water in it, IT WILL RUN OVER. THE RESERVOIR WILL NOT HOLD A FULL POT. Now there's a design by a real first rate company, right?
Lest you think one of this company's similar models might not have all these problems, think again. Why do you think there are so many "Refurbished" units for sale all over the Internet? These models have more, and amusingly DIFFERENT flaws. My favorite is the too-close filter basket button that hangs on the carafe when you try to remove it. Pull hard enough and you will break the button off completely, thus ending forever the "steal-a-cup" feature. Frankly, that is as it should be, i.e., we the foolish know where the stealing has been occurring.
What do you want to hear about Cuisinart's Customer "Service"? I don't want to even go into it; it's actually hilarious if it didn't involve time and money. The central theme and boilerplate is "What problem?!? No one else has any problems with our products!?!" Actually, I'm sure they are virtually overwhelmed with customer complaints. If you've seen the current TV commercial, "My name Peggy," you're well on your way to knowing how you will be treated.
Now, I gotta get a cup of coffee . . . and a mop.
Customer Review: Finally! No dribbles and splatters....
Summary: 5 Stars
I had no idea that finding an acceptable coffee pot would require so much research! I've had a heckuva time finally finding a coffee pot that meets my needs. This one does.Let me just start by saying that in the last few years I've gone through about 5 cofee pots! That's ridiculous. Hopefully the Cuisinart will live up to its reputation for lasting quality. Of the various coffe pots I've owned they have ALL dribbled coffee and water when I tried to pour--my last being so bad that I had to pour my coffee over the sink. Ugh! Several of the various pots broke altogether. The last two, both Mr. Coffee brand, leaked so badly I got rid of them. Thus far I've been of the mindset that a coffee pot should be around 20 bucks. I've finally decided that if spending 100 would give me a machine that would not leak and last (hopefully) I'd be willing to pay it! I actually spent quite a bit less buying refurbished and now I see that a popular warehouse store is selling the unit for less than list price, so check around!
I read many reviews of various coffee pots and this one seemed to meet my needs, the greatest being a no spill spout.
So far this coffee pot is GREAT! It has many features I like, the primary being the EXCELLENT design of a spout that I can't make leak! No matter how quickly I pour there isn't a drop lost to stain my counter. Isn't it silly that I have to be so excited by something like this? Shouldn't ANY coffee maker provide pots that you can pour without dribbling?
Other features I like is the ability to program the auto shut off! I set mine for 5 minutes because I transfer coffee to a carafe to maintain freshness (carafe pots DON'T brew coffee hot enough though). I also like the ease of setting the clock (I almost thought it was broken--you have to hold it down for about a second before it starts changing the numbers--not a big deal). The reservoir is a little small, but the wonderful clean pouring makes it a snap to get the water in. The pot looks beautiful and classy. I LOVE the beep to alert me the brewing cycle is over. It's NOT loud. It's a teeny-tiny series of five beeps. This is nice because I don't have to wonder if the coffee is ready. I also love the series of two beeps that lets me know auto shut off is working--that way if I haven't switched the coffee to the carafe I have a little reminder to do so.
I'm glad about the self cleaning feature that tells you when the pot is dirty. I always wonder when I should clean the pot so this will be a handy little feature.
All isn't perfect. There is one feature I don't like. The lid of the pot has to be removed fully. Other pots I've owned had a thumb depressable lid that allowed you to pop it up to fill the pot. However, I've found I can just let the water go into the spout without removing the lid so it's not a huge deal to me. Just one of those minor annoyances.
Bottom line--if you're SICK TO DEATH of incompetent coffee pot designers leaving your counter coffee-stained then this might be the pot for you. I'm very happy I spent a little more to get a lot more of the features every good coffee pot should have.
Customer Review: Last Chance, Cuisinart !
Summary: 3 Stars
The Brewstation is the third Cuisinart machine we've had in the past 6 years. We only bought it this week, but we have some experience with Cuisinart, so we have a lot to say.
The Grind and Brew made excellent coffee and had unique features that we enjoyed. I am the only coffee drinker in our house, so the small batch setting was great and it really makes a difference in taste. Using beans improves coffee richness and body tremendously, and it was great to have it done all at once. However, the carafe lid broke within a few months of owning the machine, the system was difficult to clean, and eventually the clock and timer malfunctioned. The customer service was great and we had a new replacement quickly. The second machine was very reliable for three years, but despite careful cleaning and drying everyday, recently the grinder got stuck and could not be removed from the pot. We called Cuisinart and they said that this was a common problem, but we were beyond warranty and they don't do repairs. In the meantime, the small knob on the flavor select control broke, the carafe lid broke, and the water guide was useless.
I would not buy another Grind and Brew, I grind the beans myself now. I researched many different coffee maker brands and am aware that the basic Braun model is rated the best, if you can live without the extra features. But we are giving Cuisinart another chance, because overall, their machines make great coffee and they offer a combination of unique features. It was difficult to find a pot that had a timer, auto shut off, a small batch setting, and a glass carafe. Many new coffee makers now have thermal carafes, and I like my coffee hotter than the thermal systems can promise. The Brewstation carafe is nice and big, and although the lid is tricky, it seems to be made of sturdy glass. You can also adjust the heat of the hotplate so your coffee doesn't burn. I like the audible signal when the coffee is done. I got the black matte metal finish and it really is striking and stylish. It also seems more durable than the stainless and definately better looking than the plastic.
I can understand the concerns about this Brewstation, the carafe top and filter basket are sensitive and if not aligned right, the coffee could overflow through the top of the pot. This hasn't happened to us yet. Also, why on earth would they not include a water window? That seems so basic, and I almost didn't buy it because of this, but we resorted to using alternative measuring pitchers instead. I never use the pause and pour feature because I think that it changes the rest of the pot. I also don't use the water filter, because we have a filter on our tap.
So, Cuisinart, the coffee is hot and flavorful, and the pot starts and stops on time, but the jury is still out on the reliability of your products!
My advice to buyers out there, know the features you want and choose carefully what fits your lifestyle. Use fresh beans, a grinder and a basic pot and you should be fine.
Customer Review: Plusses and Minuses
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had the Cuisinart DCC-1200 for about a week now. I was hesitant to spend so much on a coffee maker but I'm happy to report it's well worth it. Sure, you can get other brands of coffee makers for under $25 if economy is the most important feature, but I've had those machines and I decided that, this time, a good cup of coffee was most important for me. This unit makes the best coffee I've had in a home or office machine and better than most coffee I've had in restaurants.
This coffee tastes smooooooth! I suspect the charcoal water filter is the reason for that. I also like the "shower head" design of the water spout. The water actually runs up a track onto the underside of the lid and is sprinkled over the ground coffee like a rain shower.
It's an attractive unit but it also looks like a serious coffee maker. This unit is no toy. It looks and feels solid. The carafe has a good solid feel and balance. The plastic parts (like the plastic carafe lid and handle) feel like good heavyweight plastic and are well molded. It's not the lightweight crappy plastic that cracks and discolors easily in the cheap coffee makers.
I like the 5 beeps when the coffee is ready. Now I can leave the kitchen and go clean or whatever and I don't have to keep running back to see if I can get a cup yet. I can hear the beeps. But if I really can't wait and want a cup in mid-brew, I can just remove the pot and pour a cup - you've got a full 30 seconds to reinsert the pot, before you risk an overflowing filter.
I like the permanent gold-tone filter too. I always thought paper filters were a pain. They'd fold over sometimes and there'd be grounds in my coffee. But you can use paper filters in this machine if you want to. I just prefer the convenience of the gold-tone filter (top rack machine washable too).
It has an indicator light for cleaning -- it says it's "self-cleaning" but really it's just a light telling you when you need to pour in a pot of water/vinegar and run it through to decalcify the unit. (I never thought to do that with my other units. Probably another reason my coffee wasn't as good as I wanted it to be.)
The low-medium-high setting on the hot plate is pretty nice too. And the auto-shutoff feature is great. I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn the machine off.
The instruction booklet is very good and very thorough. Comes with a parts reordering form too.
What don't I like about this machine? It requires maintenance in that you have to change the charcoal filters. But actually I don't mind since I think they are the reason the coffee tastes so smooth, and they are very easy to change and not expensive [...]
Also, the area in the top of the machine where you pour in the water is narrow but again this is just a minor inconvenience. Just have to pour a little carefully.
So really it's almost all positives with a couple of very minor negatives. I highly recommend this coffee maker.