Customer Reviews

Black & Decker DCM2700B SmartBrew Coffeemaker

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

 

 

I had heard about this somewhere on TV because Consumer Reports rated one of their SmartBrew coffee makers as tops in 2004. I was in the market for a full size coffee maker and picked this one up.

It has a sleek design and one of the best features of it is the carafe. It does NOT dribble. It pours with a flat plastic lip so you don't end up with 1/4 of your beverage on the counter top.

So here's a semi-quick breakdown:

Pros: It's easy to program. Adjustable hot plate temps (four settings although I don't know the exact temps), it does have a timer feature so you can set it overnight. It looks good. Price. Quick brew time. Good flavor. You can adjust the time for the maker to automatically shut off from 1-4 hours. Also, another plus, the "Sneak-a-Cup" feature is better than most. It really does stop any coffee from coming through the hole and since the lip of the carafe doesn't dribble either, there is no need to wipe down the maker after every use because coffee doesn't get on the hot plate at all.

Cons: I don't know if this is a plus or a minus but after it's done brewing, it beeps four times, loudly. I gather that can be good for the busy person in the morning but when you are making a cup of decaf late at night, it's annoying. In the keep warm mode, it has loud clicks in the beginning (right after you buy it) but eventually goes away.

Overall I rate this a thumbs up. It's a good value with features that more expensive coffeemakers have, sleek design and it doesn't dribble!

It does make a good cup of coffee by golly.

As everyone else says, it brews excellent coffee. Also, the carafe has a great design for reducing spills from pouring.

Down side for me:

- The beep when it's done is LOUD. It's "enough to wake the dead." It's pretty jarring first thing in the morning.

- It seems a little slower than some others we've used (just a subjective impression -- no data).

I thought I had made a wise decision to go with Black & Decker, but I was wrong. The hot plate and the audible tones died after less than 6 months. No more expensive coffeemakers for me, at least for now. I am going to get a cheap $10 brewer - maybe it will last longer! (and I wasted an Amazon certificate on this B&D coffeemaker!)

I got this coffeemaker to replace another Black and Decker coffemaker that broke after only 2 and a half months of use. This time, I followed the instructions for first time cleaning and that went fine, then tried to brew 8 cups of coffee and it died at 6 cups and never worked again. This coffeemaker really sucks. Never buy one.

I had the same problems as some of the other reviewers from the very start. When making the first pot, the coffee did not go into the carafe but rather it backed up inside the filter basket and started to run all over the counter. When I jiggled the carafe it emptied into the carafe until I took my hand away, then it ran all over the lid to the carafe and on to the counter...this sucker is going back to the store first thing in the morning!

We are on our second coffeemaker in two weeks. The first one spilled all over our kitchen one morning when the carafe did not hold the drip basket open during brewing. There was coffee and coffee grounds all over our kitchen counters and kitchen floor, ruining the hardwood. The second coffeemaker is now doing the same thing unless someone stands next to it holding the carafe against the back. That makes the timer useless and is generally very inconvenient.

We tried one, worked well for a couple of months; then it went into a 'cleaning cycle' and never came back. I must say the B&D service was great: One telephone call and they sent a new one right away. But after a few weeks, the new one did the same thing. Great service doesn't help a product that breaks repeatedly.

After having had several expensive coffee makers, most of which broke down way too soon, I decided to try a cheaper model to see if there really was a difference. I was pleasantly surprised by this product. It makes a good cup of coffee and I like the fact that the hot plate can be set to your temperature preference. There are two easy-to-read water level indicators and the wide spout on the carafe prevents spillage as you pour. As far as the audible "beeps" that people have complained about... yes, the thing beeps loudly four times when the pot is brewed. The beeps last a few seconds. Hardly a life-shattering experience. I would definitely recommend this product for those looking for a decent coffee maker at a reasonable price.

This machine makes a good cup of coffee and promptly, but the "audible alert" is making me nuts. It consists of a series of 4 intermittent beeps that sound at the end of the brewing cycle and are as loud as any alarm clock. Aside from being startling, annoying, etc., it really spooks the pets. There's no way to shut the thing off, so I'm stuck with it. If I had known about this feature prior to purchase, I never would have bought this coffee maker. I don't know if this is "user friendly" overkill or technology run amock, but I can't believe this thing was released on an unsuspecting public. I strongly suggest you look elsewhere for a coffee maker.

I've had this coffee pot before, and was willing to try it again even tho the beep is too loud and warranty is too short. Lasted about 10 months before water tank leaked everywhere. Bought a replacement. This one seemed more cheaply made than the other. Slightly leaked with first use. Beep is still too loud. Black plastic piece that has something to do with the pause feature kept coming off. Sorry B&D--can't recommend this product.