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: Fantastic coffee maker - if you have the space
Summary: 4 Stars
When my Braun FlavorSelect coffee maker unexpectedly stopped working, I had to scramble to find a new machine. I wanted another Braun, but unfortunately, they seem to have stopped making a 12 cup coffee maker. So I had to begin an intense search for a machine that had the features I wanted combined with good value. I finally found it with this Cuisinart model. The advantages? For one, it makes excellent and HOT coffee. The carafe is solidly constructed and fits securely in square body so there's no chance of someone accidentally knocking it loose. Because the lid fits tightly, the pour is precisely narrow and smooth, with no side leaks even when the pot is full. The basket fits inside the housing instead of swinging free like so many models which prevents a misalignment between the water and the filter; the conical (Krups/Braun style) basket accepts both paper filters and gold-tone, although I learned the hard way that not all gold filters fit. The timer is very easy to program, as is the clock. The carafe warmer can be set at low, medium, or high for the temperature that's right for you. I found the "high" setting too hot since I drink my coffee black (I like my coffee hot but not scalding!), but those who add a lot of milk might appreciate it. The brewing is quick and efficient, with the process taking about a minute a cup, maybe less. The retro/stainless look complements most modern kitchen décors. There's a 1-4 cup setting to make sure such small amounts stay hot, and you can select how long the warmer remains on. The pot beeps five times when brewing is complete and just before the warming plate shuts off. Parts are top rack dishwasher safe. It comes with a water filter system designed to improve the taste of the brew.
But the Cuisinart does have disadvantages. The water reservoir is located on the right side, in the back, which makes it a little challenging for lefties like me to dump the final bit of water inside even though the carafe pours very accurately. Although I haven't yet missed the opening, I do struggle briefly with those last few drops unless I use my right hand. The housing is fairly tall, so if your counter space is only under the cabinets, you may not be able to lift the top in its entirety. (This is when the small rear reservoir becomes a major issue as you have to have room to completely lift the rather large top toward the back.) Clearance required: 7.5" wide by 8.5" deep of counter space with no overhead obstruction to pull out for filling OR 21.5" of overhead space to fully lift top. Without the top open, the coffee maker measures 7.5"w x 8.5"d x 14.25"h.
If you have the space for this coffee maker, you'll love it. I can't attest to how long it will last, but, as it comes with a three year warranty, I'm hoping for a good run.
Customer Review: [Cuisinart DCC-1200] Design & durability flaws don't make up for the nice interface.
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased the Cuisinart DCC-1200 in October 2010, and I really liked the design & interface at first. Over time I realized how strange & inconvenient the design was compared to "conventional" coffee makers.
0. The insert for holding the filters has a cheap plastic ring to pull it out of place (which it snaps into place rather well.) This plastic piece is thin and can break rather easy if you are not careful with it, then you end up pushing the insert out by the bottom or pulling from the inside of the insert (which is not very effective.)
1. The idea of cleaning the water reservoir/back part of this coffee maker is nearly unpractical due to the very compact design of the reservoir. This also includes the drip tube (Don't try and take it off or apart, if you do be very careful, because it doesn't come apart very easy.)
2. The space for filling water is relatively compact and the *carafe has a strange lip to it so you can't pore all the water out of it (unless you shake it back & forth.)
3. The carafe design is also different than a "traditional" coffee carafe & lid, part of this is mentioned in the 2nd flaw*. The lid does not flip up and down on a hinge like most lids, it snaps on & off.
3a. Also the half circle that pushes the spring to allow coffee to pass though the filter/holder does not disconnect for convenient cleaning. Unless you use paper filters all the time this area tends to build up grime and will require a Q-Tip to clean properly, due to the permanent connection to the lid.
4. Aesthetics of the DCC-1200 is rather attractive, unless you touch the stainless with your hand and makes a unsightly grease mark. It takes a bit of rubbing to try to clean off these finger prints, although a bit of rubbing alcohol helps.
5. The "walls" of the coffee maker don't allow you to pull the carafe off to the sides, only straight out. This is alright because it tends to keep the heat in better (although it brews rather hot, and the carafe warmer can keep it insanely hot if you want.)
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Like I said the DCC-1200 has a nice interface, just too many design & durability flaws. Wish I would of bought a different Cuisinart model or another brand that I am accustomed to.
Some nice things about the DCC-1200:
1. Switches for many options including ("Self clean," Carafe warmer with low, med. & high temperature settings, Brew pause & setting a time limit for the warmer to turn off.
Of course there is the set time for brew/warm and the slightly power saving LCD display for time.
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Choose a different model or use paper filters & be extremely careful/gentle with the coffee maker at all times...
Hopefully this will help people with some possible frustration.
Customer Review: Fantastic coffeemaker - if you have the space
Summary: 4 Stars
When my Braun FlavorSelect coffee maker unexpectedly stopped working, I had to scramble to find a new machine. I wanted another Braun, but unfortunately, they seem to have stopped making a 12 cup coffee maker. So I had to begin an intense search for a machine that had the features I wanted combined with good value. I finally found it with this Cuisinart model.
The advantages? For one, it makes excellent and HOT coffee. The carafe is solidly constructed and fits securely in square body so there's no chance of someone accidentally knocking it loose. Because the lid fits tightly, the pour is precisely narrow and smooth, with no side leaks even when the pot is full. The basket fits inside the housing instead of swinging free like so many models which prevents a misalignment between the water and the filter; the conical (Krups/Braun style) basket accepts both paper filters and gold-tone, although I learned the hard way that not all gold filters fit. The timer is very easy to program, as is the clock. The carafe warmer can be set at low, medium, or high for the temperature that's right for you. I found the "high" setting too hot since I drink my coffee black (I like my coffee hot but not scalding!), but those who add a lot of milk might appreciate it. The brewing is quick and efficient, with the process taking about a minute a cup, maybe less. The retro/stainless look complements most modern kitchen décors. There's a 1-4 cup setting to make sure such small amounts stay hot, and you can select how long the warmer remains on. The pot beeps five times when brewing is complete and just before the warming plate shuts off. Parts are top rack dishwasher safe. It comes with a water filter system designed to improve the taste of the brew.
But the Cuisinart does have disadvantages. The water reservoir is located on the right side, in the back, which makes it a little challenging for lefties like me to dump the final bit of water inside even though the carafe pours very accurately. Although I haven't yet missed the opening, I do struggle briefly with those last few drops unless I use my right hand. The housing is fairly tall, so if your counter space is only under the cabinets, you may not be able to lift the top in its entirety. (This is when the small rear reservoir becomes a major issue as you have to have room to completely lift the rather large top toward the back.) Clearance required: 7.5" wide by 8.5" deep of counter space with no overhead obstruction to pull out for filling OR 21.5" of overhead space to fully lift top. Without the top open, the coffee maker measures 7.5"w x 8.5"d x 14.25"h.
If you have the space for this coffee maker, you'll love it. I can't attest to how long it will last, but, as it comes with a three year warranty, I'm hoping for a good run.
Customer Review: Good coffee
Summary: 4 Stars
My wife it the coffee drinker in the family but I make the coffee. All I can say about the taste is that my wife likes it. We had a Braun 12 cup that developed a leak after 5 years so I went to get another one. What I found is that they don't make that model any more and there wasn't another model like it.My requirements were 12 cup capacity, automatic timer that stays through a power failure, easy grounds removal, easy cleanup, warming plate.
While styling wasn't that important I did want it to look OK in the kitchen. I almost passed this up because of it's retro style.
Now that I've used it for several months I can say I'm glad I got this model. It comes with a reusable gold mesh filter so all you have to do is dump the grounds and rinse. This isn't quite as easy as with my old one which also had a reusable mesh filter because it had a handle on it, whereas this one has just a loop for your finger. It took a couple weeks of practice but now it doesn't make any difference in cleaning. Filling with water took a little getting used to as well. There isn't a real big area to dump the water in and it is right next to the grounds. What I found is if you put the no drip top on and rest the spout on the edge of the coffee maker you can pour it almost as fast as you can into the opening. The warmer has 3 settings for coffee temperature. The medium seems about right for all day coffee drinking and the high works if you want a really hot cup of coffee. I also like the 4 hour heat time. That way the timer doesn't have to be reset on the weekends when you sleep later. Since my wife works from home she only needs to reset it once by brewing again (it knows there is no water in it so it says it is done right away) to keep the coffee hot all day. It has a self cleaning feature that also warns you when it needs it but I haven't had to use it yet. I noticed a complaint about humidity from the coffee maker. I don't have that problem with mine if I make sure the top is fully closed. It does have a lot of moisture inside but it is channeled back into the coffee maker. There is a red light to tell you that it on and a green light to tell you that it is programmed to go on at a later time. The number of cups of water are easy to see stairsteps with numbers and it has a 4 cup setting. I have only made 12 cups.
I have one minor complaint. It is designed to go on a countertop which means there are usually cabinets above it. When you fill it it fills from the top by opening a flap door that is hooked to the top. To fill it you need to pull it out beyond any overhanging cabinets. This could also be a problem it is used anywhere the top of the coffee maker is close to eye level as it would be difficult to fill.
Customer Review: Good, solid machine; makes good, solid coffee
Summary: 4 Stars
I did weeks worth of research, and was so discouraged reading reviews of coffee makers--one review would claim a machine made coffee that was too hot, another that the same machine made coffee that wasn't hot enough. People complained about beeps and no beeps and carafes that wouldn't come out. I was at a loss. I finally decided that since Cooks' Illustrated had determined that this one one of the few machines that could hold water at a proper brewing temperature over the whole brewing cycle, I could live with some annoyances if it made decent coffee.
Luckily, I didn't have to. The coffee is really quite good, and the machine looks good, seems sturdy, and is easy to use.
Now granted, I did rearrange my counters so that I didn't have to worry about pulling it out to fill the reservoir--but I was unable to find another well-reviwed machine that wouldn't have required that. But I've never had any of the problems with overfilling the reservoir; and if you can't see the markings inside, then you can always use the carafe to measure the water before you fill. (Doesn't everybody do that, anyway?)
The beeps that everyone complains about aren't loud enough to be heard in another room, and I find myself actually waiting to turn on the faucet so I don't miss them.
I had originally wanted the model with the thermal carafe, but on reflection, I realized that brewing directly into a thermal carafe isn't much good if you want to set it to brew before you get up--because it really needs to be preheated to work properly. So I bought this model and a Zojirushi thermal carafe; I program the coffeemaker, and the coffee only sits on the burner for a few minutes until I can get downstairs and preheat the carafe. (The Zojirushi is awesome, by the way--one AM I poured out coffee from the previous morning, and it was almost at a drinkable temperature!)
Although I haven't tested the theory, I think part of the problem with coffee temp (with this model and others) is the temperature of the water you start with. It isn't much of an issue if you set it the night before, but if you get cold water from the fridge filter, it might not be able to get quite up to temp within the normal brewing cycle. But since this machine has a water filter, if I'm not setting it the night before, I just get slightly warmer water from the tap, and the coffee temp is fine.
So, in short, the machine does everything I need, looks great (the black chrome is gorgeous if you're not into the shiny stainless look), and makes a good cup of coffee every time. I did subtract a star for having to rearrange my counters, but again--it's a pretty standard setup for most coffee makers.