Cuisinart DCC-2000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart DCC-2000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal
Customer Review: WE LOVE THIS FREAKING 5 Stars
It's quick, quiet, clean, and looks good too.Filling it up is EZ, especially if you have a sprayer hose thingy on your sink. Otherwise YES you will need another container (preferrably one with a spout) unless you're very adept & not clumsy. If you pour around the top sloppily it WILL get the counter wet, as others have noticed. The tank that holds the finished coffee does come out & you could use this as well but I think it would be kinda awkward, haven't tried it.
It does come with one water filter that supposedly is good for 2 months. Or just put your own filtered water in there & skip the filters all together.
The timer & clock is easily setup. It brews quietly with little gurgling and finishes with a few low non-obnoxious beeps. It's weird how quickly it sets up, I find myself standing there a few seconds afterwards trying to figure out what I forgot to do because it's that zippy of a process.
There are no swinging baskets to fiddle with - the top lifts straight up to give you access to the water area, the inner "pot" that holds the brewed coffee, and the two baskets for grounds. The larger square one is for using paper filters - this one must stay in the machine. The smaller gold filter fits in this one if you go paperless.
Coffee stays HOT but not stupidly dangerously hot like gas station coffee. The last cup is as good as the first - I've grabbed some 3 hours after brewing & tho cooling at that point (heater is on for 2 hours) the coffee tasted fine - not bitter or burned or evaporated down at all. As often as I'm up getting the last murky cup (roomie makes the pot at 5:30am) this makes me VERY happy. We use generic & Kroger brand coffees too, nothing gourmet except very rarely. I can't wait to put some REAL coffee in this to see how it does. Well actually I did today I forgot about that! Decaff southern pecan. It had a distinctive chocolate flavor that I've never experienced before, bonus!
I'd been reviewing & compairing coffee pots for a few months now looking for a number of features: extra cups (12), carafe-less or no-spill thermos, timer/clock. As a bonus this coffee maker is sexy. I like the stainless shiny plate that you put your cup on (and it never gets a drop on it) and the brushed stainless sides that wipe up instantly with a damp washrag - especially if it's hot. The finger marks just evaporate as you wipe. And it doesn't steam up the underside of the cabinets or walls either.
Serving is a breeze, just put your cup under & press the lever. Viola! For very tall cups the grill lifts out easily giving you an extra inch. For jumbo cups (like tall travel mugs) yeah you gonna have to pour in another cup & then dump into YOUR cup.
My only "EH!?" is the gold filter. The one that comes with it just feels a little flimsy to me, I have another one from an old pot I use instead. It's probably fine but I'm just used to the weight of the one I've got.
EDIT 8/30/06 STILL loving this coffee pot!!!!!
We make an average of 3 pots a day, sometimes 4. Still going strong, no problems at all. I run 2 cups of vinegar thru the system (top the rest off with water) to clean and then another pot of clear water to rinse. This keeps everything sparkling.
It's my favorite piece of kitchen equipment - to say the least. I FINALLY have a tidy area around the coffee pot with no drips or sloshed coffee. HURRAH!!!!!
Customer Review: GREAT! A CARAFE NEVER AGAIN!
Summary: 2 Stars
UPDATE: 8/25/10
I had to downgrade my original 5 star rating to only 2 stars today.
I've had this machine for 4 years and last week it started getting fussy when I hit the brew switch. Sometimes it took 2 or 3 tries before it would "take" and the brew cycle would begin. In a few days I had to leave it unplugged and turn the brew switch multiple times to get it to operate. Yesterday it died completely. Won't start today either. It's dead when it comes to brewing. Clock still works and everything appears fine - just won't make that brew cycle connection.
If this were a $25 machine I would have no gripes, but for this price I expected more than 4 years of service and I'm also reading other reviews about the switch and electronics it uses going bad for others. When I wrote my original review I was one of the first to review it and I don't think anyone of us realized that the switch goes bad.
BE WARNED! It does go bad. For some, it goes bad quicker than others (I read a few reviews that had the problem within a couple of months). The electronics seems to be affected by the condensation it receives when coffee is brewed.
This really saddens me. I can't bring myself to purchase another one because I know it will eventually die way too soon, but I really loved this coffee maker.
I'm actually going to take it apart and see if I can create a work-around using a simple on/off switch to get around the electronics of it. Will lose the timer, clock, and programmable features, but I can live with that, if I can get it to work.
END UPDATE
I've owned this for over 6 months and it truly makes the best brew I've had from a drip coffee maker. As other reviewers have stated, coffee never tastes burnt - even after reheating twice. Unit will automatically shut off after 2 hours and I will often just "start" it again (turn it back on) and after 2 more hours the last cup is as good as the first. Love the digital clock and timer indicators for having the brew ready in the morning. Programming is a snap.
It's nice not having to worry about breaking a glass carafe. Cleaning is a breeze as the entire section holding the coffee and the basket lifts out (the basket can be lifted out seperately if desired). I like taking the entire section out and carrying it to the sink if any really old coffee is left in it. Design is really sleek looking with the chrome, dial, and knobs. Drip tray is a great idea and cleaning that is also abreeze as it is removable as well. Dial indicator is fairly accurate and once you get used to where the pointer sits before the last cup is drawn it is easy to recognize where "near empty" is.
A couple of items that may seem as Cons:
Filling the reservoir takes some care as the opening isn't huge - it's adaquate, but not quite large enough. I overcame this by using a bottle of water kept in the refrigerator for my coffee needs (filtered water).
The cover flap on top is hinged in the back meaning that if you place the unit under a cabinet, the entire coffee maker will have to be pulled forward in order to access the resevoir and filter. No big deal, just a note about it.
Customer Review: Quality name, but glaring oversights in design
Summary: 2 Stars
I've written very few reviews, but this one needed to be written. We had a Hamilton Beach Brewstation for about 3 years and really liked it. The lid eventually broke and the coffee started tasting weird--even after many cleanings so we sadly "retired" it. When I went looking for a new one I prerused the reviews like you are now. This Cuisinart DCC-2000 came up with mixed reviews alongside our favorite Brewstation. I thought I would try something new and since we just built a new house the stainless design would compliment our counter space. But I must say here is the summary of our opinion on the Cuisinart DCC-2000 after owning it for six months.
Pros:
Looks really nice and classy sitting on your counter. Name recognition will earn you brownie points with the materialistic elite. Fortify your status and clout with those visitors who judge you by what you own.
Cons:
Aesthetically, (IM0) it is a bit too sterile looking--square and symetrical--which will appeal to many. It seems that it should be on a standing NASA P.O. for the staff lounge at Cape Canaveral.
The critiques that note the difficulty of getting water in the machine are valid. I should say that "getting water in it without getting water all over" is the trick. I am 48, but my hand-eye coordination is still pretty good. There is virtually no possible way to get water into this machine "consistently", with or without a special container designed to pour water into difficult openings. Even if you manage to get the water in the official opening, the water filter will inadvertantly, fall over blocking your best attempts and water will flood the counter. Keep a rag ready--maybe two. Furthermore, if you manage to get the water near the appropriate opening, but not quite, then THAT water will be directed down to a tray where, you guessed it, water quickly fills up and joins its watery cousin on the counter as well.
The Brewstation had a design that allowed the caffeine-deprived individual to shove their shaking cup under the dispenser with one hand while gently pushing, which in turn, filled the cup. The Cuisinart's shortcoming albeit trite to some, is that you must place the cup under the dispenser and THEN reach up and push down on the lever. This design is futher complicated by the fact that one cannot see the level of the coffee being dispensed until it right at the top. The square design casts a shadow right over the cup whereas the Brewstation's design is round and illuminates the inside of the cup thus confirming its design brilliance.
I paid around $90 for the Cuisinart and could have had the Brewstation for a 1/3 less, but I will be keeping this machine until it dies. Which may be quite some time. The Cuisinart seems to be made of quality materials, but designed poorly. I can say that I long for the day that this machine gives up the ghost, because THAT day will be a happy day. I will place an order for my old friend, the Brewstation, and will wait with trepidation for its arrival. I'll take great pleasure in taking my son out for his weekly target practice on our property. We will set the Cuisinart at 50 yards and giving it a last smoke and a blindfold we will execute it for crimes most heinous to coffee-lovers everywhere.
Customer Review: At last - a REAL coffee machine!
Summary: 4 Stars
After faithful service and many good pots of coffee, my Cuisinart Brew Central was fading. I was going to buy another, but disliked the very hard to reach fill area. Tried a MR Coffee Anniversary model and had problems right out of the box, so back it went. I looked at a Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, Farberware, Krups and Kitchenaid. None seemed to have the quality and the clean good looks of Cuisinart. Then I started reading the reviews on this coffee maker. I liked what I read and took pointers from the negatives. I took one of our favorite pedestal mugs with me to the store, and sure enough, it didn't fit, even with the drip tray out. Solution: I bought glass mugs (Anchor Hocking - the large ones). They hold an awesome amount of coffee and you can see when your cup is full. I also got an inexpensive plastic pitcher, 2.25 liters. That is exactly the amount for a 12 cup fill.
Pros: Clean, sleek lines, excellent design, simple controls. Well made with a hefty feel to it. Large shower head (biggest I've ever seen) that disperses water over the entire basket. Makes a rich, flavorful cup of coffee! Love the coffee guage - very cool (and useful!) The guage is accurate as is the water level. Although we have a whole house water filter, the additional charcoal filter is a plus, as is the well made permanent filter. No carafe to scratch or break. The coffee dispersing pedal works very nicely. The spill tray has circles marked on it for correct cup placement. Keeps the coffee hot and it doesn't get bitter. It shuts off automatically after 2 hours and if you need to go longer, just turn it back on. Just for fun, I kept a half pot going all day - absolutely no bitterness! Channels in the lid direct water back into the machine, rather than down the back of it, as was the problem with my Brew Central. Far less heat (practically none!) coming out of the bottom of the machine because of the internal warming plate. Can be set to brew at a specified time. Can be set to brew small 1-4 cup batches (never gonna happen in this house!).
Cons: water fill area is rather small and located at the right side rear. Solved this little quirk by placing coffee maker on a 1/2" cutting board which can be easily slid into a comfortable position to pour and use the 2.25 water pitcher to fill. Careful pouring and you get no drips.
Tips: I suspect this coffeemaker will give years of good service if properly maintained, as did my Brew Central. Regular cleaning with vinegar or coffee maker cleaning solution, and washing the basket, filter and internal carafe after each use. All are very easy to remove and all are top rack dishwasher safe.
All in all, a most excellent machine, made by a company I have come to rely on and trust. I give this coffee maker 5 stars - love it!!
Customer Review: Super convenient but might not be too reliable
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this about 2.5 yrs ago. It makes great coffee, and it's super convenient to have the coffee on the go and to be able to pour a cup without interrupting the brewing process. It's been excellent for parties. I love coffee and usually have about 4-5 cups a day not counting when I am at work. I have not measured the temperature of the coffee, but I use it in conjunction with my Capresso grinder, and it seems to be ok tastewise with some exceptions below. Also, I do the following:
Use filtered water
Use fresh beans
Use a fresh grind from a burr grinder
So, on to the good and the bad...
Pros:
1) Convenience
2) Makes some good coffee
My beef is the following that seems to be happening to other people:
Cons (Reliability and upkeep)
1) The clock display has given out and will no longer turn on. Apparently this is common, but it did take almost the time for the warranty to run out. I guess for $100 ($150 when I bought it), I can't expect it to last that long, but I still knock it one star for cheap electronics.
2) The water reservoir is very tough to clean. Since it's not removable, a lot of junk was in there. In fact, when I took it apart to see if the problem in the electronics was a cold solder problem, I was amazed at how much crap was actually in the water reservoir. I am now looking for coffee makers with removable or easy to clean water reservoirs.
3) You can't make 12 cups of coffee here. Even when tamped down properly, the grounds overflow. You can make 10 cups if you tamp the grounds properly.
4) Uses a hot plate in the reservoir which conducts heat from the bottom heating element to keep coffee warm. At times, the first couple of drops of coffee will burn off this plate if you have been making coffee for awhile (like 20 cups of coffee at a party...)
Minor issue:
1) The outside is a little tough to clean and will fingerprint easily.
All in all, I really did like the convenience of this coffee maker and the coffee was decent for the first pass (second pass you will need to wait for it to cool for a bit or run cold water in the reservoir prior to making the second consecutive batch). The problem is that I do expect reliability out of Cuisinart, Capressa, and other top name brands. It was dissappointing since I love my Cuisinart mixer. Also, my old Krups still works fantastically after 10 years and that one was $49 new, which I relegated to making decaf (I mean what's the point????)...;)
Hope this helps you in making a decision.