Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker
by Cuisinart
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List Price: Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker
Customer Review: In the End, It's About the Coffee
Summary: 4 Stars
This machine replaced a still perfectly functional Black and Decker Smart Brew Plus, in its day a Consumer Reports best buy. The Cuisinart was top rated by the magazine in its December 2009 issue.
The Black and Decker makes a decent cup of coffee, and is easy to work with. With an easy to use carafe, an exterior water level indicator, and very intuitive controls, it was a pleasure to work with.
By comparison, the Cusinart has its problems. Water level can be eyeballed if you look over the top and toward the back of the machine. Below 8 cups the indicators fade away into darkness. The Black and Decker machine and carafe has indicators that took coffee absorption into account, the Cuisinart doesn't.
Both are programmable, but the Cuisinart adds hot plate temperature controls (you want medium, unless you add lots of cold milk), and a small brew feature. The Black and Decker turns its plate off after two hours, the Cuisinart's is programmable. The Black and Decker has an easy to read clock; the Cuisinart's requires squinting. The Black and Decker is cheap; the Cuisinart isn't.
In the end, the Cuisinart makes a better cup of coffee. In small batches, the Cuisinart makes a much better cup of coffee. I've used a lot of coffee makers over the years from Braun, Krups, Mr. Coffee and the aforementioned Black and Decker, and none matched the brew this unit produces. In the end, I'll put up with a few quirks for a good cup of french roast.
One final note: I compared the two units by using the Black and Decker carafe to measure water. Cuisinart uses a smaller cup size definition than Black and Decker, but with equal amounts of water, the Cuisinart still produced a stronger, smoother brew. I suspect it heats the water hotter.
Customer Review: Makes great tasting coffee
Summary: 4 Stars
Bought this for my wife and she loves it. I chose this coffe machine because it is highly rated. We have been using it daily for several months and it makes great tasting coffee. A little more effort to clean than using disposable filters, but after getting used to it we don't mind at all. Using the wire mesh filter is better for the environment and it makes the coffee taste better(paper filters absorb oils from the coffee). We leave the top open for a few hours after use to let it dry.
The clock and program brew options are nice to have, as well as the carbon, though not critical. The only downside is when filling the tank, it is a little tough to see how much water you are putting in. You have to look down from the top of the maker and if there is not enough light, it's very tough to tell how much water you put in. If it had a side indicator of water level that would be more conevnient. That is why I am giving 4 instead of 5 stars.
Customer Review: Works good untill it fails
Summary: 1 Stars
Have had two units fail in less than a year each. When the three year warrantee expires will not waste money again on this product.
It does work well when it is working,though.
Customer Review: Cuisinart DCC-1200
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this model based on a recommendation from a leading consumer magazine. It performs very nicely. It requires a little more coffee than my old unit to get the same full bodied taste.Customer Review: Bottom line: It makes great coffee
Summary: 5 Stars
This coffeemaker makes an excellent cup of coffee with minimum hassle. We've owned a couple of the Cusinart grind and brew coffeemakers, which worked fine but cleanup was a pain in the neck. The Brew Central just has four part to clean, then it's ready to go again. If you like good coffee and you don't want to spend a lot of time on preparation and cleanup, you'll love the Brew Central.