All around excellence at bargain pricing., July 31, 2011

I had a Krupps and broke the pot. It would have cost me .00 with shipping to replace the pot. So I decided on this model of Mr. Coffee. Frankly, I just wanted a basic coffeemaker, no whistles and bells. Nothing complicated that required studying the book.
Just a cheap replacement. This fit the bill.
After having this Mr. Coffee for several weeks I can tell you I absolutely love it. It is a very well designed machine and the coffee tastes great too. Highly recommended. A bargain.

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It’s Still Working, February 3, 2011

I’ve used mine for 2 1/2 years.
It’s inexpensive.
And it still works. And I have to add I know of no really bad features (but I am not an expert in coffeemakers).

My only complaint (and it’s pretty important) is the quality of the brewed coffee.
This model has a “filter basket”. I believe the ones that have a “cone” shape result in a stronger brew.
Also, the resultant coffee does not taste hot enough.
I believe that models differ in this regard, and that a hotter brew tastes better.

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Worked for awhile, January 7, 2010

By 

Laurel Pritchard (Floyd, VA) – See all my reviews

  

This coffeemaker has been in service for less than two months, and we are about to replace it…I am on Amazon looking for units with good reviews. This one is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. It burbles loudly for hours (literally) by the time it finishes heating the reservoir of water, and wastes so much in steam that only about half of the water actually makes it through. Perhaps for this reason, the reservoir lid has warped. Also, the pause and serve feature dribbles on the warming plate…a safety issue? Certainly a mess. I have cleaned it twice, using white vinegar according to directions, but it actually seemed to get worse each time. We had bought it several months before putting it into service, so it’s probably not returnable. At least it was cheap… I was surprised to see that a nearly identical unit, with a slightly different model number, received good reviews. One nice thing about it: the carafe doesn’t spill coffee all over when you pour!

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I was a coffee maker snob, November 24, 2009

By 

Bruce Cuningham (Dixon, CA USA) – See all my reviews

  

Yes, I used to have to buy those overpriced, German coffee makers–but not any more. When my latest 0 coffee maker started leaking from both the underside and from the little, unreadable, glass tube on the side, I started looking around for a replacement.

I settled on this Black and Decker model because it does everything the high-priced models do, but at a quarter of the price. After three weeks, the clock still keeps excellent time, the machine still comes on when I’m sound asleep so that I wake up to coffee ready to drink. The coffee tastes very good (c’mon, drip coffee is drip coffee–and I am STILL a coffee snob) and is certainly hot enough. The coffee maker is absolutely EASY to program; each button serves but one function. Aside from the fact that it doesn’t LEAK, it seems I lose power here with disturbing regularity, so I like to be able to set the clock and the timer easily and quickly and feel assured that I’ll have coffee when I wake up.

What I don’t miss about the old coffee maker: leaks, erratic, confusing programming and multiple functions for one button, default ON for auto coffee making (and there’s no way to turn it OFF), special little (hard to find) charcoal filter gizmo, adjustable temperature settings on the hot plate, and did I mention LEAKS.

What I miss about the old coffee maker: ability to change length of time the hot plate stays hot, “CALC” calcium warning. Both of which are easy to overcome. If I want two more hours of hot plate all I do is hit the “power” button; if I want to decalcify my machine, all I have to do is run a load of vinegar through on the solstices and equinoxes.

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Delivered what was promised, December 7, 2009

I picked out this coffee maker because of a reasonable price and was a recommended best buy in Consumers Report magazine. I have only had a week or so and can’t address long term reliability. What it does do is NOT DRIP! It does not drip when pouring from the glass pot to the water reservoir or when pouring coffee into a cup. I do NOT have to be extra careful when pouring. It also stops the coffee flow from the filter as soon as I pull the pot out and does NOT drip on the warmer. Again, do NOT have to be extra careful here. It also does NOT leak condensation out of the water reservoir top when lifting the lid. The condensation on the reservoir lid drips back into the reservoir when the lid is lifted. The time and delay brew functions ARE easy to set and work fine. The coffee brewed fairly quickly and did not overflow the filter to allow grounds into the pot. So far, I am very happy with a product that someone spent some time making user friendly and practical. This is a well engineered inexpensive product.

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Incredible, January 30, 2010

By 

Scott Chalupa “Finding 42″ (Houston, TX) – See all my reviews

  

This is, far and away, the best coffee maker I’ve ever bought. My previous was a Mr. Coffee, and the caraffe dribbled everywhere almost every time. This caraffe pours perfectly every time. The controls are so intuitive, I’ve yet to pull out the instructions. It brews a full 12 cups in 10 to 15 minutes. And the coffee is sooo delicious. Don’t waste your time looking at other machines. Buy this one.

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All around excellence at bargain pricing., July 31, 2011

I had a Krupps and broke the pot. It would have cost me .00 with shipping to replace the pot. So I decided on this model of Mr. Coffee. Frankly, I just wanted a basic coffeemaker, no whistles and bells. Nothing complicated that required studying the book.
Just a cheap replacement. This fit the bill.
After having this Mr. Coffee for several weeks I can tell you I absolutely love it. It is a very well designed machine and the coffee tastes great too. Highly recommended. A bargain.

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Who approved the engineering on this carafe???, January 6, 2012

How did this product make it to market after all the testing and focus groups and still produce a huge mess on the counter after every pour? I am not new at pouring coffee. I’ve had coffee every morning for at least 20 years and every blessed time I use a Mr. Coffee 12-cup carafe it drips all over the counter. I thought it was just me, but other reviews show that this is a common problem. The money you save buying this unit will be wasted in lost coffee, paper towels and irritation.

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It’s Still Working, February 3, 2011

I’ve used mine for 2 1/2 years.
It’s inexpensive.
And it still works. And I have to add I know of no really bad features (but I am not an expert in coffeemakers).

My only complaint (and it’s pretty important) is the quality of the brewed coffee.
This model has a “filter basket”. I believe the ones that have a “cone” shape result in a stronger brew.
Also, the resultant coffee does not taste hot enough.
I believe that models differ in this regard, and that a hotter brew tastes better.

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There’s an easy way to make the water hotter, January 16, 2011

By 

Wendy E. Gauntt (SAINT LOUIS, MO USA) – See all my reviews

  

I first used this coffee maker at my parents’ house and was impressed with the flavor. For a drip coffee maker, this brews excellent coffee (I used to use a French press daily).

I was surprised to see all the comments about lukewarm coffee, as I hadn’t noticed this problem. I do use cream so it concerned me – you have to have hot coffee if you are going to add cold cream.

Turns out, reading the manual gave me the answer I needed: that button for 1-4 cups “provides doulbe heating of the water, so coffee is piping hot.” You can use this button no matter how many cups you brew to get the water hotter. I’m having no problems at all.

Hope this helps!

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Buy It, December 5, 2010

I read every review anybody ever wrote for a coffee maker. Conclusion: Somebody doesn’t like something about every coffee maker that’s ever been made.
What I’ve found in the month that I’ve had it: The carafe keeps the coffee hot for at least 3 hours. It pours without going all over the counter. I can’t make the thing drip one drop. I still pour my cup over the sink from years with a different pot where about half of the coffee went down the drain. Not this one. Not a drop. I measured the brew temp. with a meat thermometer stuck in the grounds at 202 degrees. Any coffee maker will overflow all over the counter if the pot isn’t correctly positioned. It’s easy to position correctly and a quick peak at the pot:drip hole makes it obvious if it’s where it belongs. Some reviews complain about difficulty in pouring water from carafe to the water tank. Could be, I’ve got a kitchen faucet that lets me stick the faucet right into the tank so it’s not a problem for me. It’s probably time you get one of those anyway. It is a little hard to read the water level scale on the tank, but I’m old. I put a black dot with a magic marker at the 6 cup mark. Problem solved.
Summary: It brews hot, stays hot in the carafe, easy to pour with no mess. That’s really all I was looking for. I’d recommend and I buy another.

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Great Coffee Maker — Always Follow Instructions; Always Heat the Pot!, February 26, 2011

I’ve been using this coffee maker for about a week. I bought it as an upgrade over a Black and Decker coffee maker that was generally good, but I wanted a new one with a cone filter. The cone filter gets more flavor out of the coffee than the basket filter: it’s a must.

The other must, for me, is the thermal carafe. I wake up earlier than my wife and if we’re both drinking out of the same pot the coffee can’t continue to cook on a warming plate. The coffee quickly turns bitter. The thermal carafe keeps it near the brew temperature for a couple of hours, and you can keep it hot longer if you heat the pot before brewing the coffee. If you brew it into a room temperature pot, the coffee is 177 degrees. If you brew it into a pot which you’ve filled with hot water (and emptied, of course) the coffee will be 182 degrees. Both temperatures were hotter than my old pot.

I tested the heat degredation and found:

182 — fresh
174 — 1.5 hours later
168 — 3 hours later
162 — 4.5 hours later

I’ve read a lot of reviews of this product, and it’s clear that some buyers didn’t follow instructions. Thermal carafes punish you if you don’t. You have to position the carafe properly or you’ll have a mess to clean up. I’ve done it a few times with my old coffee maker. It’s always my fault, never the coffee maker’s.

This is a well designed thermal carafe since you can pour without having to open it and letting too much air into it. This is a good product, and at a good price compared to more expensive models from Bunn or Zojirushi. It is more expensive than the Black and Decker but worth the cost because you get more out of your coffee beans.

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An Inexpensive Treat, December 9, 2008

By 

J Keistler “johnrktx@sbcglobal.net” (Lake Jackson, Texas USA) – See all my reviews

  

  

This was my first French press. I have always enjoyed this type of coffee, particular after dinner. However, I was attracted to the plastic framework surrounding the carafe, as I can be clumsy at times.

This press has worked just as well as the more expensive, more traditional looking French press pots. I set the coarsest setting on my Braun grinder, and no grounds get through the screen. It is just perfect. I haven’t ever run my press through the dishwasher, it isn’t necessary with the easy cleaning with this one. I just put hot soapy water in the carafe, up-and-down a few times with the plunger and it’s all ready to use again. I have heeded the warning not to stir with a metal implement; I use a wooden spoon.

I would heartily recommend this model of Bodum for someone who would like to experience French press coffee at home, inexpensively.

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Tidy Adaptation of the Cowboy Coffee Brew Method, June 8, 2009

Let’s face it, dumping coffee grounds into a bucket of hot water is nothing new. The Bodum Press is a refinement of the cowboy coffee brewing method, minus the campfire & straining it thru a sock. In My world, there is no such thing as “too Strong” for coffee. There IS, however, too bitter & too acidy. The press does what perking, dripping and steaming ground coffee cannot do: produce a stout, yet smooth cup of coffee – just like the stuff made around decades of my campfires.

Model Brazil, made in Denmark by a Swiss Company & called a French Press. No wonder the confusion over exactly how many cups this actually makes. The Euro-instructions for the press say 4 oz. per cup, but even my fine Bavarian China cups (from when I lived in Munich) are 6 ounces.

Just look at it this way: It holds 32 ounces of water.

The instructions on your roast coffee container usually say to use 1 TBSP per 6 ounces of water (NOT 4 ounces & NOT 8 ounces). Again, in MY world, 32 ozs. makes about 2 cups of coffee.

I toss in 6 or more scoops of ground coffee, pour in hot water & wait the obligatory 4 minutes. The result is a smooth coffee that you can drink by the quart without that nasty heartburn/reflux side effect.

It’s ideal for work, where the office sissies are afraid of offending anyone with REAL coffee, so they make it weak. I simply step up to the hot water spigot & take the Press to my desk.

Now, you, too, can have coffee the way you like it at work without having to cover up someone’s botched brew with that foo-foo Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Cream or other phoney-flavored faux creamers.

Cleanup? Swirl around some soapy water, & dump the grounds down the sink – just be sure to have the water blasting & the garbage disposal running, so as to not plug up the sink trap.

Even if you already have the coffee-brewing apparatus of your dreams, buy the Bodum 32 oz. model. You won’t be disappointed.

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Love it, January 2, 2009

I have two Chambord models, and this one. I prefer the features of the Brazil’s keyed lid, and secured plastic frame to the Chambord models. I’ve had this for about 3 years now, use it every day, and it’s held up perfectly. Great press.

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Excellent Coffee Maker for Single Coffee Drinker!!, March 15, 2009

By 

Derek E. Schader – See all my reviews

  

Ok, in my family, I am the only one who drinks coffee. My wife does not. This coffee maker is perfect for myself. It allows me two full 14oz mugs of coffee without wasting an entire pot on just myself.

Most 10-12 cup coffee makers don’t do a good job of making smaller amounts of coffee for those of us that may have a single coffee drinker family. The coffee is either lukewarm or not strong enough when trying to make a smaller batch. My wife doesn’t like coffee so I am stuck either getting an expensive single K-cup style coffee maker, pod maker or a 4-cup drip brewer. However, thanks to the Hamilton Beach 48274 Brew Station 6-Cup Coffeemaker, I can end my search for the perfect solution.

The Brew Station makes an excellent, piping hot cup of coffee. It is said to be a 6-cup brewer and that may be the case for a regular 5oz mug. But for me, I use a 14oz mug and this brewer makes exactly two full mugs of coffee with none to spare. The coffee maker does an excellent job of keeping the coffee hot until needed, without continuously cooking the coffee or burning it. The programming is easy to use, and the overall design is simple enough once you get used to filling the water reservoir. I immediately ran three brewing cycles of just water once I opened the box and then made my first batch. There was no plastic taste or any other chemical taste to my coffee.

Other reviews have stated their Brew Station leaked, but mine does not. There is a little plastic arm that swings out over the coffee ground basket which dispenses the water. I could see that if this arm was not swung out over the basket, it might leak out the back. Also, the actual dispensing mechanism might be another place for leakage if there are coffee grounds or some object stuck between the valve and gasket so be sure to make sure this area has no coffee grounds in it prior to using. Again, I have not had this problem and don’t anticipate that I will as I am really careful to not get coffee grounds in the coffee reservoir and always make sure the arm is over the brewing basket.

Others have mentioned that 8-12 cup filters don’t fit this maker. The manual does not state which size filter to use either. I have found that 4-cup filters are a perfect fit for this maker and most likely what Hamilton Beach intended. Walmart sells 200 of these filters for around one dollar. If they aren’t on the coffee aisle at Walmart, then check where the coffee makers themselves are sold as Walmart tends to sell things in multiple locations inside a store.

Overall, I am very pleased with this maker especially considering the price.

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I love my little coffee maker, October 18, 2009

After reading the negative reviews, I was a little leery of buying this coffee maker, but my daughter bought it for me, and I’m thrilled. I have found that if I’m careful pouring the water in and if I pack the 4-cup filter in the basket before adding the coffee, I have no problem with leaks. The little arm that sprinkles the water over the grounds moves automatically in place when you close the cover, but I just position it myself to be sure. The programming function has worked great so far. The best part is that I no longer have to put the coffee in the microwave after pouring it-it’s nice and hot. I think the dispenser is cool, and I love the fact that there’s no glass coffee pot to play around with. I feel it’s very easy to clean-I just let the pot cool and then soak it for a few minutes and wipe it out. There’s hardly any water left in the reservoir after brewing which is great
A word of caution-the components are made of cheap plastic so you do need to be a little careful putting them in place. Don’t let the cover slam because it won’t close tightly and I think I may have displaced mine a little but it still works fine. It’s a little noisy-makes a soft perking type noise as long as there’s coffee left, so I know when it’s almost empty because the noise stops. There were complaints about it not really making 6 cups, but as far as I know, every coffee maker on the market uses the 6 ounce measure as 1 cup, even though there are probably not many people who use that in real life. What does a 6 ounce cup even look like???
I think there may have been some improvements since the earlier reviews-there is a picture guide inside the lid, and a very basic manual. One thing it does say is not to use more that 5 Tablespoons of coffee, probably because if you use much more, it will leak or get grounds in the coffee. I have had no trouble so far with using heaping spoonfuls

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It might not be so bad if they would revise the manual, February 7, 2009

Made my first cup of coffee this morning in my new 6-cup Brewmaster. I read the reviews of the thing after I bought it (of course) and took note of the many complaints about leaking. It is an idiosyncratic little device. The coffee basket isn’t quite deep enough for standard 10-cup filters, so that when you close the top, the mashing action can push the water arm out of the way, which I’m guessing can lead to leaks. Thing is, I see no mention of a water arm–dripper–whatever in the instructions or in the diagram, and the part is movable. If it moves, you should mention it in the manual, especially if said ‘it’ needs to be in a certain position for unit to work properly. Because you have to move the water arm out of the way to take the basket and reservoir in and out, and if you don’t move it back in place after you put the reservoir and basket back in the machine, the water will not drip over the coffee but elsewhere. Given that the arm can also move around after you close the lid, it really needs to be mentioned in the directions. Too bad it doesn’t lock in place. It moves too easily.

The brand of coffee you use will help determine whether you can 1) fill the thing to capacity, and 2) get a decent cup of coffee. Instructions say to add 3/4 tbsp per 6 oz cup instead of the usual 1 tbsp (or 2 tbsp in the case of Starbucks coffee, which I tried first). Make note of your preferred coffee if you’re thinking of buying this. My first cup of Starbucks was definitely weak. I then made a cup using Eight O’Clock French Roast, and that tasted better but was still a little weak for me. My rule of thumb will be ‘more coffee, less water.’

During clean-up, I noticed dried coffee on the reservoir’s metal warming plate. Not sure how much flavor that would lend to any coffee left in the reservoir, but it’s one more reason to stick to one cup at a time.

I agree with the other reviewers who say that the coffee is not piping hot. Not much of a drawback for me, but if you’re one of those people who adds a lot of milk/cream to your coffee, you will wind up with a lukewarm brew.

Over all, the unit is a decent fill-in for someone who just wants a cup at a time–many larger coffeemakers have trouble when brewing smaller amounts. I like it because it’s fast, small, doesn’t take up much room on my kitchen counter, and there’s no carafe to worry about. As for the coffee-water proportions, every coffeemaker is different and you always need to work that out anyway.

One star for the manual, because it’s incomplete. If I hadn’t read the other reviews here, I wouldn’t have been on the lookout for leaks and wouldn’t have caught the fact that the water arm had moved after I closed the lid.

UPDATE (8/29/2010): Still using my Brew Station. It still makes pretty good coffee. If I fill to the 4-cup line, I add 6-7 level tablespoons of autodrip-grind coffee. Yes, it’s more coffee than the directions say to use, but that’s the amount needed to make a strong brew.

The unit has leaked since the beginning, but these aren’t signs of breakage or damage. It just isn’t a tightly closed system, so there are plenty of places for water to condense and drip. The underside of the lid especially collects water, which can drip down the back of the unit when you open it to remove the used grounds. Leaking also increases as deposits build up–it really is important to clean the unit regularly with a good descaler like CLR.

Still give it 3 stars, maybe 3 1/2 for lasting as long as it has. If it breaks down at some point, I would consider getting another.

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A great 4 cup coffee maker !, July 26, 2007

I have owned several Mr. Coffee 4 cup models, going back to the one that looks like it was made in the 1970′s (with the floating orange water indicator) – This one is the best one to date.

The high points:

1) It’s small and light

2) While the lid is up, the water will simply cycle through the resovoir ( a great way to preheat your water is to simply keep the lid up while the machine is running until it gets (quite) hot – then close the lid. )

3) It came with a re-usable basket filter (a nice feature considering the machine was only ~ 20$ )

The negative

1) The carafe is just a tad difficult to pour from. Do not get me wrong, if you concentrate and proceed with caution, it does function without error. However, without due attention you might notice some drops spilling over the edge. That said, when pouring out the last few ounces at the end you will feel the steam/vapor rising up to your hand – it is HOT.

For , I would reccomend it to everyone I know as the perfect 4 cup maker.

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A great replacement, July 6, 2009

By 

Judy K. Polhemus “Book Collector” (Louisiana) – See all my reviews

  

  

  

I finally had to admit: My Krupps 4-cup coffee maker no longer made good coffee. I faithfully cleaned it with vinegar, kept coffee oils wiped off, but to no avail. After weeks I had to admit that the “Folger’s in my cup” no longer had the power to make me sing. I turned to Community coffee–egads! How was this possible? Even my strong Louisiana coffee was lacking. Then I tried Starbuck’s. No deal there either. OK, it’s my old coffee maker, I thought. That made me sad–my long-time companion had to go.

I searched everywhere and finally settled on Mr. Coffee TF4-4-cup Switch Coffeemaker, white, of course, and couldn’t be happier! With the very first cup, I was back in business–the business of taste and looking forward to that cup in the morning. I should say mug (equals about one and 1/2 cups of regular-sized coffee cups).

Here are the reasons I like this new coffee maker:
1. It is easy and convenient to lift the lid and place the filter.
2. Of course, putting coffee into the filter is easy, too!
3. What is superior about this unit is the water-free pour into the little tank. Sometimes I spilled a few drops of water with my old unit, but Mr. Coffee’s carafe is designed to prevent spillage. The shape of the spout allows a good pour from one unit into the other.
4. The light right in front is an easy signal that the unit is either on or off.
5. Cleaning the unit is simple: Remove filter, remove basket, swipe through dishwater or rinse under running faucet, return to basket-holder.
6. But here’s the best reason: Mr. Coffee makes a great pot of coffee!!

Now I can sing again: The best thing about waking up is Folger’s in my cup and Mr. Coffee on my counter!!

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No problems., July 30, 2007

For anyone who can get by with only 4 cups of coffee Ive found this to be a great product. Before I was married I always used one every morning. Now, I have one that I take on trips with us. It makes a great cup of coffee without having to worry about all the gizmos that people criticize [as having various problems] in the reviews of most larger multi-function coffee pots.

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great coffee maker, great value, May 16, 2011

By 

Daniel R. Jackson “Rupert68″ (Trusville, Alabama) – See all my reviews

  

My old coffee maker broke and I went looking for a new one, I had a limit. I was reading reviews of coffee makers and one reviewer said something like, “hot water poured over grounds, why spend a fortune”? I realized the reviewer was right; that really is all there is to drip coffee makers. This pot serves HOT coffee but no scalded taste and keeps the coffee hot on the warmer. I did notice the coffee was not as hot after the first cup but it’s still on the hot side of warm. Read the instructions to set up the auto maker function, it’s not intuitive. The water pours in easily on either side of the grounds basket. For me if there is one negative thing it’s that when you poor the water in you must pull the unit out from under the overhead cabinets, the water reservoir lid in the up position won’t fit under the cabinet. It’s cheaper at Wal-Mart.

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Love, Love, Love – Simple and Functional!, November 26, 2011

I bought this coffee maker when our Mr. Coffee maker quit working after 6 months. I was very skeptical to purchase another “simple” coffee maker and did a lot of research on more expensive options. Ultimately, I purchased this maker because I needed my morning coffee and was willing to invest in a cheaper model while I finished my research on my “dream” coffee maker. We’ve been using this maker for about 2 weeks and I am very impressed! We make one pot of coffee each day and the sneak-a-cup feature works perfectly…. no leaks whatsoever! My husband used to dribble coffee all over the counter with the previous maker, but this one hasn’t leaked during pouring at all! I also love the shower style water spout. Other makers I’ve owned had a movable spout that seemed to always be in the way. It brews coffee quickly and the flavor is quite good too! It’s simple to program and the 2 hour auto shutoff is the ideal timeframe for our family. Plus, it keeps the coffee hot enough for the full 2 hours so that, even with cream added, the temperature is perfect for drinking.

I’ve postponed my search for a more expensive maker because this little dream machine is already meeting my needs! Thank you Black and Decker for making a simple and functional coffee maker!!!

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Great value! Easy to use, Good coffee, December 28, 2011

After having 2 expensive Cuisinart DCC-1200 coffee makers die, I needed a replacement. I found this one locally for an amazingly low price. The unit is smaller than the Cuisinart, and easier to use. It is easy to fill with water and coffee. Even though it is not shown as a feature, it does have an automatic shut off after 2 hours. It does have a clock and programmable timer so you can wake to brewed coffee. There is no audible alert to tell you the coffee is brewed, or shutting off, but that really seemed unnecessary anyway. It’s pretty easy to tell when it stops brewing.

As for the quality of the brewed coffee, so far so good. I do think that the Cuisinart was a little better, but it may be too soon to really say, it has only been used for 2 pots of coffee so far.

Others seem to complain about the pot dripping when pouring, this is NOT true, this thing doesn’t spill a drop. It is actually better in this regard than the Cuisinart that it replaced. So unless you are a gorilla, I can’t see how you will have a problem. Really, it has maybe half a drop at most left on the spout. You can tap it into the cup if you like, or just leave it, it is not even enough to drip. There are many reviews on Amazon for this and the essentially identical similar models complaining about how horrible it drips, and how their whole counter if filled with coffee. Either they are gorillas, or they are simply writing negative reviews for some reason. It absolutely lives up to the drip free claims, it works, and works well.

I can’t speak for the long term reliability of the product as I just got it last night and made coffee with it the first time this morning. However, while it would be a major inconvenience if it died, I could buy 8 or 9 of them for the cost of the Cuisinart! It cost less than the “free” warranty replacement from Cuisinart would have.

The nearly identical DLX1050B was rated a best buy by a major consumer ratings magazine.

Some of the few negatives:

1. It didn’t come with a permanent “gold” filter. This was pretty minor and I picked up one at the store the same time I bought the coffee maker for less than . There are several available on Amazon. Just choose the basket type, not the cone/Mellita style.

2. No back up power for the clock at all. If the lights blink, even briefly the clock will reset. The Cuisinart would withstand outages of at least a few seconds which covered the occasional light blink during a storm. The best was my old Braun that would work for almost half an hour without power, but sadly Braun doesn’t have coffee makers anymore it seems otherwise I would buy it instantly.

3. No adjustments for brew strength, pot warmer temperature, or option for 4 cups or less, or turn off time. None of these seem a big problem, on coffee makers that had these features I left them at the nominal setting anyway. The small pot brew option I did use a few times, but I also expect that it will brew a small pot just fine without that option.

4. No water filter. For me this was of no value as I use filtered water to fill the coffee maker anyway. If you use only tap water this could be a bigger deal though. Keep in mind though that the coffee makers that do have filters have fairly small, expensive filters that will need to be replaced. An external filter is probably cheaper in the long run, and you can use if for more than just coffee. The filter is also a source of failure as well. The Cuisinart had a filter, and even though I filled the coffee maker with water from an Reverse Osmosis filter, the filter ended up getting clogged with coffee grounds from the times that it overflowed from the brew basket into the water compartment and needed replacement. I will note too that there is much more space between the brew compartment and the water reservoir so even if the brew compartment did overflow it is less likely to fill the reservoir with coffee grounds.

5. After only 2 pots it is soon to tell, but I do think that the Cuisinart coffee tasted a little better.

6. The appearance is fine to myself and my wife. This unit is a glossy black plastic with a some shiny silver trim. It is also available in white. To us, this looks just fine, certainly not something to be ashamed of in any way. However the Cuisinart was available in a Stainless look and a Black Chrome look. I actually had one of each color. When clean they were attractive, but both, especially the Black Chrome showed every finger print, even spot of water, anything, so in real use it didn’t look good all the time. I expect that the glossy plastic will show finger prints and smudges as well, but nothing like the Black Chrome of the Cuisinart. While it may not look nearly as attractive, textured plastic solves all of these issues, but most coffee makers tend to be shiny.

Also be aware that there are…

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A very good coffee maker in spite of negative reviews, March 14, 2008

After buying a succession of cheap coffee makers which broke down after a year or two and made mediocre coffee, I decided to upgrade to Cuisinart.
I don’t agree with the negative comments about this product.
The clock is easy to program and it’s clearly indicated that you should either use paper or gold filter (twice in the instructions). It’s also easy to pour water in the reservoir if you use the carafe. You can turn the coffee maker to the left, and the reservoir opening is easily accessible. Its opening is by no means tiny, as a reviewer described it.
The center funnel which holds the filter is well situated and there is very little risk of dropping coffee grounds into the water reservoir.
The carafe is well designed, with a comfortable handle. It pours neatly, without dripping coffee all over the counter, something which always happened with my old Mr. Coffee.
You do have to realize the lid snaps down on top of the carafe. This is not explained in the instructions.
Most importantly, it makes an excellent coffee.
There is a 3 year guaranty which is more than I have seen for others.
So far, I have no complaint, and I am glad I bought this product for a great price.

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Best coffee maker I ever had!, August 13, 2008

By 

R. Samanas “Coffee Addict” (NW Indiana, USA) – See all my reviews

  

My name is Ryan, and I’m a coffee addict… My habit ranges from 1 to 3 pots a day just to remain conscious. So you can understand the level of misery I have had to endure this past week as my 4 year old Gevalia machine met an untimely death during a recent lightning storm. I then began the hunt for a new machine. Basically, Amazon was my first stop since they have everything. I read all sorts of reviews, and finally settled on this one. I must say, this is by far the best machine I’ve ever owned.

In reading the reviews, I found a few gripes that I don’t agree with, so here’s my response to those:

1. The number one gripe I see is filling difficulty. The fill hole is much larger than my old machine. Some people said its too small and makes a huge mess. My first time, it did drip a little bit but if you leave the lid off the pot while pouring, works like a charm. Let me put it this way… I wake up in the morning with the jitters, like a fiend looking for some crack… If I can pour it without making a mess ANYONE can. And that’s a fact.

2. Numero Dos: Programming difficulty. I’m no rocket scientist by any means, but I had this thing programmed within about 5 minutes. I had no problem understanding the directions. I believe most gripes in this area are operator error.

3. Basket issues: It doesn’t stand up on it’s own, true, but I don’t understand how anyone could miss the basket. Leave it in the machine for pete sake! I hope they don’t miss their mouth with that hot coffee! Again, If I can do it without making a mess, anyone can. As for choosing paper or mesh filter, paper of course filters better, but mesh makes it stronger and leaves a bit of sediment in the pot… each way has it’s benefits depending on how you like yours.

4. Flip-top so large you have to pull it out from under the counter: True, but how lazy can you be… honestly? It’s not that hard of a chore. You’d be hard pressed to find a machine that isn’t like this.

I, like others, had some pre-conceived notions from negative reviews, but I found most if not ALL of those to be some pretty weak arguments. I guess some people have more problems than others when trying to understand directions and such. This machine is top notch for the price, hands down!

OH! And please look through all the comments, It’s going on 3 years and I have given multiple updates as time has passed. I’m sure you will enjoy!

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Everything you could want, April 10, 2008

Hello fellow coffee drinkers. Like most of you I have looked long and hard for a good basic coffee maker. In the last 5 years I have gone through 4 new products and have been quite dissapointed in this whole experience. I mean how hard can it be to make a good coffee maker. I had the basic braun coffee maker for 10 years and loved it. However, two new braun coffee makers later I realized that quality had gone down the drain with the coffee grinds. Then I purchased a krups. I returned it to the store within two weeks as it stopped working. They gave me a replacement which lasted just past the warranty. (figures) Then I tried a GE combo grinder brewer. That was the worst mistake I could have ever made. The first sign that it was garbage should have been when the GE emblem fell off. It leaked. It spilled. I spent more time cleaning than brewing, and thankfully it didn’t last as long as its warranty and I had no intentions of getting another one free or not.

I have had this cuisinart now for three weeks. It does everything it says it will do. It never leaks, spills or makes a mess. As per the other reviews I feel it could have a bigger fill area but it really is no more difficult to fill than any other brewer I have owned. (don’t let that stand in the way of buying this) I also think it is very easy to program and will even keep your settings in memory if it is unpluged for a short period of time.

This coffee maker works perfect and I hope it lasts as long as the warranty and beyond.

Happy brewing.

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What a great idea!, December 19, 2002

By 

Scott Pointon “Former Marine, Librarian, Wood… (Crest Hill, IL United States) – See all my reviews

  

  

I bought this coffeemaker for home about 2 months ago and I love it! It is extremely convenient to be able to quickly brew coffee for just one person. The best features of this unit are:

1. It has a built in, "permanent" filter which is a HUGE plus. No more running out of filters, EVER.

2. It is fast. In just a couple minutes I can go from sleep to sipping coffee.

3. It brews the coffee right into the travel mug. The unit I bought included an extra mug which is also a great convenience.

4. It is inexpensive!

The only downside I can see is that I would have made the travel mugs a bit larger, but that is not a serious problem. I would buy this coffeemaker again without hesitation.

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Great Coffee With No Fuss, July 18, 2002

I read the reviews before ordering this personal coffee maker, and since some people had ‘overflow problems’ and some talked about coffee not being quite hot enough, I almost didn’t get it.

Glad I went ahead. First, I put a small tray under the coffee maker in case of an overflow…I also always use a No. 1 size Mellita Filter in the basket, which makes it easier to clean and may help with the overflow problem, since I have never had that happen.

I use Folger’s Classic Roast and use one and a half scoops with a regular size coffee scooper..I fill the cup within about 1/2" of the top and pour it in…put the cup in place, click the switch and ……perfectly hot, full bodied coffee every time with no problems at all so far…have used it about 20 times.

It makes a great large cup of coffee and the mug has a very comfortable feel to it. This coffee maker comes in handy when you don’t want to mess with a full pot and it is very fast. I couldn’t be more pleased – well worth the price!

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Marriage saver, January 5, 2002

By 

J. BURGESON (Stratford, CT USA) – See all my reviews

  

This nifty little coffeemaker is difficult to find in stores, so I was glad to see it at Amazon. It saved my marriage because my spouse doesn’t drink coffee (hates the stuff) and there’s no pot to clean. Even though it comes with a huge mug, the coffee tastes best when you use it with a normal china mug or cup, and with beans that are ground fine. I’m on my second one — it lasts about four to five years in daily use. Not bad for the money. I won’t drink coffee that’s been sitting for more than five minutes, so the Brew ‘n Go is perfect. If you’re the only Joe drinker in the house, it’s an absolute must!

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