Customer Reviews

Black & Decker CM1010B 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(47)

 

 

There MUST be two different carafes that can come with this model. The reviewers below that say that they have no problem with dribbling/spilling from the carafe absolutely do not have the same carafe that I and others have. Perhaps B&D fixed the problem somewhere along the line, and there are still older ones on the shelves? Don't know. But the carafe I got with mine (purchased 11/07/09) is the worst I have ever seen! Here is the feedback I sent to B&D's customer service today:

"I can't believe that a coffee maker designed and sold in 2009 has a carafe lip that dribbles coffee down the pot onto the counter - not just a little, a lot! I've seen plenty of carafes over the past 50 years that either pour perfectly or will dribble just a bit if you pour way too fast, but this carafe deserves an award. You can't pour anywhere *near* a normal speed without getting coffee all over the carafe, the cup and the counter. How can this be? How could such a design ever get out of R&D? I challenge anyone at B&D to try this carafe and tell me I'm wrong. It is so bad that I have resorted to using a single-cup maker until I either replace this carafe or discard the whole maker and buy another. Question: Is there another carafe I can use with this model that pours properly? Thanks."

*If* I get a response, I'll post it here.

I confess, I didn't purchase this coffeemaker through Amazon. I bought it about a week ago from a local major chain store.

In the past 10 years, I've owned a number of much more expensive, popular, and respected name brand coffeemakers, which I'd researched well before buying, that have made quite good coffee...until they quit, all within 3 years or less. Most of them have had some frustrating issues of some sort, usually with poor pouring and spilling if you got in too big of a hurry. Most of them have had a permanent filter basket and water filters, of which I needed to buy rather expensive replacements for. I've had thermal pots, which I like, but which require "preheating" to be most effective, another step that some folks don't seem to appreciate. In the end, after each of these "deluxe" models failed, I would fall back to an old standby coffeemaker that had been stored away on a shelf. I've been using this old machine for some months now, until I cracked the pot. I've read tons of reviews of other coffeemakers, which all seem to have many unhappy owners, and finally just brought this one home, figuring I'd only be out $30 if it didn't last.

To my great surprise and in spite of all the negative reviews, I really like this coffeemaker! I don't seem to have any of the problems that other reviewers have mentioned. I've only been using it for a week but, (knock on wood), it's doing what it was designed to do, and well, I might add. Let me mention some of the features I think are worth noting.

First off, this is an attractive unit and rather tall, at about 14 inches. The top lifts up to access the water reservoir and filter basket, so you have to pull it out if you store it beneath most cupboards. I enjoy how easily accessible the basket and permanent filter are, which completely lift out for cleaning, either by hand or in the dishwasher, and the quite large, open area to pour water into. The charcoal water filter is located on the right in the back and is easy to change, at least with my average, woman-sized hands. There are cup markings on both the pot and the side of the water reservoir to verify the correct amount has been added.

Many (most) complaints I see here are with the pot and pouring. Before I used my coffeemaker the first time, I ran a vinegar and water solution through it, and then a few pots of plain water, to clean it. I had no problems with spilling, pouring into the reservoir, or out of the pot, or leaks anywhere. I did overfill the reservoir once, not paying attention to the cup markings and just pouring a full pot into it, but that is a clear user error and not a flaw in the design of the unit. After the cleaning was completed, I assembled and placed the charcoal water filter and successfully brewed my first pot, which took about 8-10 minutes.

The included manual has easy-to-follow instructions for setting the clock and timed brew. So far, it works great! There is no battery backup memory so if you unplug it or your power goes out, it all needs to be reset. There is a selection button on the front for brewing 1-4 cups, which slows brewing to extract extra flavor from the smaller amount of coffee. This unit also includes a standard "sneak-a-cup" feature and a keep warm function with a 2 hour automatic shut-off, which I appreciate after having returned home to a charcoal-caked pot too many times.

Of note, I measured the coffee temperature after brewing with my trusty candy thermometer and it was 165 degrees. After sitting on the warmer plate, it was 175 degrees. For me, this is hot enough, even after adding a bit of milk or cream. I don't know if that suits everyone's tastes or how consistent this is, but it's info I have to share.

A new feature that I found interesting was a special cleaning cycle, using white vinegar, which is recommended every 60 brew cycles. The coffeemaker records the cycles and a "clean" light appears on the display to remind you. Conveniently, this is also the recommended time to change your water filter.

One "complaint" I have is that the front of my box claimed to have a "gold-tone" filter basket and I have a nylon mesh one. The gold tone ones I've had in the past seemed sturdier, but I'll have to see how durable this one is with time. I normally use paper filters as well so can't address the effectiveness of the filter basket related to extremely fine coffee grinds. Another concern is that this unit is not noted on the Black and Decker website so I don't know if it's specially made for the chain stores or an older unit, which has been replaced with a new number.

To summarize, I have to say I'm very happy with my purchase. For $30, I not only have a nice looking unit that is easy to use and brews a good cup of coffee. I feel that there are many desirable features that I would not expect at this price. Reassuringly, there is a two year warranty on defects in materials or workmanship. I need to locate a source for the correct water filters, but there is an 800 number in the manual for parts and service that I've not yet tried. I will edit my review if I have any other information to share, but, so far, so good.

UPDATE- I've had this coffeemaker about a month now and I admit, I've had some drips. It seems to be most likely to occur when the pot is full, but is intermittent at other times. Pouring slowly seems to be the best way to avoid it, but this does not guarantee it to be drip free. I still like the coffeemaker and am happy with my purchase. I just don't want to mislead anyone about the dripping. All other functions are performing as designed.

This coffeemaker is a SCANDAL. The lip of the carafe had apparently NOT been fixed as of my purchase date of 12/29/09. My considerable respect for Black & Decker is GONE. The human race has been engineering the lip of a pouring vessel since AT LEAST 2000 BC (Mycenaean Greece). Yup! since 4000 years ago. And probably since much earlier (ancient Egyptian, Chinese?). The solutions to the problem that work are KNOWN. I guess B&D fired their engineers and hired a bunch of swishy "designers." They must have also fired their product test people and hired a few more marketing specialists. Hint: Try pouring out the side of the carafe, avoiding the lip. But remember to curse Black & Decker each time you do it. And it's not exactly the perfect solution. These folks expect me to buy a POWER TOOL from them?? NOT ANY MORE! I am not "irritated." I am ANGRY!

Dont buy this coffeemaker! The first one I recvd leaked from under the plastic rim. The 2nd drips no matter how you try to pour it. Unless you enjoy licking your coffee off of the counter or pouring it into a cup over a sink and wasting half the pot, buy a Mr. Coffee coffee maker. Black and Decker should recall all those made and replace them. Shame on Black and Decker for making such a piece of junk!Black & Decker CM1010B 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe

Carafe does not just dribble it streams coffee all over the counter! Programmable function does not work right. Press program and the coffee starts to brew! The only way to stop it is to unplug coffee pot, reset clock and then when you press program it works correctly. Man I hate this thing. Wish I could give it 0 or 1/2 star.

My hubby bought this coffee maker for me because it has a programmable feature, which makes my mornings much better. I can set it up at night, and get over my grogginess as soon as I wake up. I, like other posters here, had the issue where the dang carafe leaked all over the counter/floor. I called B&D's appliances division at 1-800-231-9786 and after going through a 4 minute phone tree, a rep answered. She had me read the model number, CM1010B, and had me read the manufacturer's code (located on the prong of the plug.) She asked how long ago I purchased this (about a month or so) and where I purchased (Target.) She said that it was under warranty and she'd send a replacement carafe in a week. I asked her if it was the same carafe, since there appears to be a design flaw. She said she thinks that they'll send me an updated version that doesn't have the leak/spill issue. Problem solved! I'll update when I get the new carafe in the mail. I putting four stars here because they didn't get it right before they manufactured, but they're willing to replace and the customer service experience was actually pretty good.

This model coffeemaker exemplifies a new low in appliance design.
We plugged this piece of junk in, turned it on, and the very first thing it did was spray water from the left side all over the counter. We shut it down and on on inspection, saw that there was a tube in the water tank that discharges water (with force) straight at the seam where the lid meets the body of the machine. I fixed the problem by attaching a makeshift "hood" over the tube, which deflects the water downward, back into the tank.
Okay, ready to try for coffee again. We cleaned up the mess, set the contraption up for 10 cups and gave it another go. It took 37 minutes to come up with 4 cups - this is the slowest brewer I've ever seen. When we got around to actually pouring a cup of hard-won coffee, some of the liquid actually made it into our mugs, with the rest of it dumping all over the counter! This is the worst carafe design I've ever seen! I just unplugged the whole mess and tossed it in the dumpster with the rest of the trash.
Black&Decker / Applica Consumer Products, Inc. should have actually done some product testing before unleashing this stupidly-designed piece of junk on an unsuspecting public.

Black & Decker used to be a product you could trust. Apparently not anymore. This is the worst coffeemaker ever! Just quit working after less than two months. Had a significant problem with the carafe design, when filling the reservoir with water it would go everywhere. Just don't buy it! Better yet don't buy Black & Decker products they are not the quality they used to be.

I purchased this coffee pot at the local retailer. Wish I had read reviews before purchasing. I had the same problem with the carafe the coffee spills out of the bottom part of the black rim so it covers the counter in coffee. I returned it, figuring it was just a bad apple. I got the same model. This one the carafe doesn't leak but it cannot be programmed. If I didn't want a programmable coffee pot, I wouldn't have bought one. Please don't aggravate yourself, if you're like me, mornings are bad enough without coffee all over the counter and a programmable coffee pot that you have to drag yourself out of bed to turn on and wait.

This coffeemaker is the worst thing I've ever purchased, ever. The lid design sucks, the carafe is garbage, and it's impossible to make a reasonably strong full pot of coffee. When my father visits he likes to get up early and make what I call mud by grinding the beans to near espresso fineness and then literally packing them into the filter and even that didn't produce a moderately strong pot. So if you don't like your coffee as weak as a newborn child and don't feel like using $10 worth of coffee to make a half a pot I suggest you look elsewhere.