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: Thank you Amazon reviewers!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am writing this review as I sip a cup of coffee brewed in my new Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker - and I couldn't be more pleased! My purchase of this product was the direct result of the reviews for it and similar products on Amazon...I needed to replace an old Cuisinart Grind and Brew that had been a gift. I was certain that I did NOT want another Cuisinart coffeemaker, because of all the issues I had with the design, cleaning difficulties, and drippy carafe.After reading the reviews for this product and several Krups options,I changed my mind. I agree with other reviewers, the carafe for this coffeemaker is GREAT. Nary a drip or splash! Almost too good to be true! What I did like about my previous Cuisinart is still there - the 1-4 cup feature and beep when the coffee is ready. I wasn't worried about the non-lighted LCD clock that several reviewers had panned, but contrary to what has been said, I find it easy to read. Because there are low overhanging cabinets where I keep my coffeemaker, I have always had to pull it out to make coffee, so that is not an issue for me - so far,I have not noticed that this action has resulted in any fingerprint marks that others mentioned. I have always used the carafe to fill the coffeemaker, so the "unreadable" interior markings are moot for me. It is a small opening to pour into, but the carafe works fabulously for this. In the past, I have pushed the coffeemaker back under the cabinets to brew, but this product has a top steam vent, and therefore I am hesitant to do so with this coffeemaker - that would be the only "drawback" I can find. I have not had any "dripping condensation" issues that others have mentioned either - but I do let my coffeemaker cool before opening the top and removing the grounds.
The controls are simple to use, the look is great, and the coffee tastes wonderful! I highly recommend this product - and I highly recommend purchasing it from Amazon.com - I could have driven 5 minutes and bought it at a local store, but with shipping deals, etc., it was more economical to get this coffeemaker here.
Customer Review: I'm taking mine back to the store.
Summary: 2 Stars
My Krups ProAroma died last week and I have had it since 1994. That's when I started drinking coffee. Came on to this sight and after much stress of what coffee maker to get, the reviews convinced me to get this one. I'm taking mine back and getting a refund and here is why.
1. The coffee didn't taste good. I grind my beans and occasionaly use pre-ground. I have made seven pots, a couple of 5 cups and the rest 12 cups. The coffee has just never tasted as good as it did with my old unit. I threw out the first two pots. I've never had to throw away coffee from my old unit. And yes, I ran water thru the unit like the directions said to clean it out before the first use.
2. One time on a 12 cup the grounds overflowed the filter and made a mess. I've never had that happen with the Krups. The only thing I could figure is the Krups filter is a little larger or the Cuisinart can't have the beans ground as fine.
3. At counter height, you can't look down into the back and see how much water you have added, so you better make sure you get it right on the carafe. Without a flashlight to shine down to see which little stair step water level you are at, you are out-of-luck. Only at the 11 or 12 cup mark will you know.
4. Because the carafe is tall, and the place to add the water is in the back right corner (and it isn't very big) it is hard to get all the water out of the carafe. You have to really tilt it up to get it emptied. A man might not have trouble but a 5'5" woman has a hard time getting it poured in. If the coffee maker was setting on a table instead of a counter it would help that problem.
5. And as others have said, if you tilt the lid all the way up, condensation on the lid will run down the back of the unit.
6. If you get a cup before it is done, it will drip a little.
7. The clock is hard to see, wish it had been backlit.
I do love the way it looks, I like the little toggle switch, I like the 1-4 cup option, the heating option and it does make the coffee hot. But I'm not keeping this one, I will keep looking.
Customer Review: Problems, What problems?
Summary: 5 Stars
Update:Coffee is still superb after a year. The unit still cleans up nicely. One of the best gadgets I ever bought.
Original:
I bought this coffee pot a month ago based on recommendations in Consumer Reports. Some friends also have one, and the coffee they make is always good.
Plus marks-
+ Sleek looking design
+ Water filter
+ Parts are easy to keep clean
+ Simple controls are easy to remember how to set (Hey. Read the book first)
+ Variable pot warming temparature (It gets plenty HOT)
+ Variable pot warming time (This is great - I keep mine hot for four hours)
+ Little beep when the coffee is done
+ Gold plated coffee filter (It's great not to fumble for paper cones)
Neutral marks -
= The narrow water reservoir opening looks like a daunting target at 5:00 AM, however, the pot pours *very* evenly, and I have not missed the gap yet. My Krups pot always frustrated me. I always spilled on the counter.
= The fill indicator is on the inside of the reservoir. I liked the little tube on the outside of my old Krups. However, the fill indicator inside the new unit is easy to see and use (I'm 5'10", I can peak inside without straining).
Negative marks-
- You have to pay attention when seating the brew cup in the top of the unit. If it does not audibly click and firmly seat, the coffee could overflow over the rim when brewing.
-You have to pay attention when inserting the pot in the unit. If it's not level, it might leak a little.
These are user errors, not design flaws. You have to be fairly daffy or stupid, or painfully hung-over, for this stuff tohappen -- more than once. (Remember to RTFM, read-the-******- manual)
My general take-way -
This is a great looking, highly usable product that produces great tasting coffee. I love it. My wife uses it without incident, and she can be very clumsy in the AM.
The discount on AMAZON gives you nice features and performance for the price.
Customer Review: A good coffee maker but not without it's flaws........
Summary: 4 Stars
The upside:
I did a lot of research and reading user reviews before buying it. I had a Braun Aeromaster 12 for 17 years and it was a great machine. I had looked at getting another Braun but didn't like the reviews I was reading and the construction of the machine. It seemed flimsy and cheap and the price was high compared to the quality of the unit. Then I saw the Cuisinart and I knew there was hope yet. I liked its design and I love the matte black finish. It has a nice retro feel with its knobs and switches. I like the flip up lid and it is nice and substantial. I don't feel like its going to fall over when I pull the pot out. I like the temperature control, its nice to have a hot cup of coffee without having to wait for it to cool down to drinking temperature. Especially helpful when I am late for work. I also like the time setting for how long it will keep the coffee hot after its brewed. On the weekend its nice to have a full 4 hours to drink coffee before the machine shuts off.
Now for the downside:
First I didn't like the filter provided with it so I took my old gold filter from the Braun (original equipment on it by the way) and am using it with the new machine. When you open the lid, the water runs down the back of the maker. I have a little prop stick to hold it just right so it doesn't do that while it is drying. Don't really like the way that the "stairstep" measuring device works in the water tank. I have worked out the right ratio of coffee to water by using my coffee cup to measure the water for my morning brew. I am not sure that I am going to continue with the charcol filters, I already use filtered water to make coffee with. Not thrilled with the way the lid attaches to the pot but have gotten the hang of it.
In short I like the coffee maker on the whole and if it last as long as the last one I will be very, very happy. It makes a good cup of hot coffee for me every morning and since that is what it is supposed to do, then that is all I can ask.
Customer Review: Very good, but not hot enough
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought the Cuisinart DCC-1200 a couple of weeks ago on the basis of good reviews by both Alton Brown in his book "Gear for Your Kitchen" and America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated. Only after I'd received it did I realize it was the same coffeemaker a roommate had when I lived with him several years ago, one which I thought was good at the time.
The Cuisinart replaces a manual coffeemaker by Melitta that I used and loved, but which was wearing out and isn't made anymore. I like the manual method because I like to control all the variables, including water temperature.
And while I like this Cuisinart very much, that's where it falls short. While experts vary by a degree or two, most say that a perfect cup of coffee should be brewed at temperatures between 185 and 195F. Unfortunately, the DCC-1200 maxes out at 175F (measured with an instant read thermometer at the end of brewing). This occurs whether I'm making 1-4 cups (there is a special setting that is supposed to brew 1-4 cups at a hotter temp to compensate for the shorter brew time) or more than four.
Other than that, I like the machine. Some people don't like the end-of-brewing beeping, but I find it to be convenient and it's only four beeps after all. I also like that it has a charcoal-activated water filter built in and a decalcification warning, although I haven't had the coffeemaker long enough to know if it works and whether it's just a gimmick. The variable carafe hotplate control is nice as well, because I hate burnt coffee. If I'm going to be leaving a full pot to stay warm for a while, I turn it down a notch, but for brewing and immediate pouring, I leave it high.
Clean up is easy, and the pot doesn't dribble all over the counter when pouring. Some users warn that's too high to fit under some cabinets, which might be true, although I leave it on a baker's rack which alleviates the problem. Overall, I'm very happy with Cuisinart. Now let's see how it lasts in the long term.