Customer Reviews

Black & Decker DDCM200 Dual Personal Coffeemaker, Black and Stainless

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

The B&D model DDCM200 is a great product for two people. It's advantage is in allowing two different cups to be brewed - different flavors, strengths, caffinated/decaffinated, or even tea.

Every cup comes out consistent once you learn how much coffee to put into basket for the amount of water you put in. We have learned this ratio for varying amounts of water so if we feel like a full or half mug we can get what we desire - consistently, and fast.

A knob on the top turned to the left diverts water to just the left side for one cup, or when turned to the right yields two cups. When brewing two, the left cup always gets a bit more water than the right - the right mug's coffee level is about 3/8ths of an inch lower than the left mug.

You can use the supplied baskets and forgo filters, but I like to use the #1 paper filters inside the baskets as cleanup is even easier than just the basket - the choice is yours.

As for noise, it does make some but I in no way find it offensive. Unlike some coffee makers that seem to linger, when the brew cycle finishes the water stops entering the basket almost immediately. I like this as when it's done, it's done.

There are no hot plates in this maker - nothing to burn any errant drippings, no safety issues. In fact if after brewing you leave the machine on, it will turn itself off. The coffee is meant to brew directly into your mug. I generally brew into an old, large, Dunkin Donuts (made by THERMO) mug without it's lid. This mug is better insulated and keeps my coffee warm enough for me for a long time. I do NOT like coffee too hot to drink. If a coffee shop wants me to use a cup insulator sleeve to keep from burning my hand, then the coffee is way too hot for me. I mention this as the B&D DDCM200 makes a hot cup of coffee but if you are expecting it to be so hot you'd need a sleeve, it won't be.

This machine is fast. It is faster than many of my Mr. Coffee machines and only the single cup machine I use at work is faster.

Would I buy it again? YES, YES, YES! I'm here at Amazon looking for a second one for use at my girlfriend's house. She got me mine a year ago (been working great for a year) and likes it so much she now wants one. When she moves in here next year, we will have two so I'll have a backup. I don't see this model # on the B&D website so I'll presume it is no longer made. Another reason I want to get a second unit ... that's how much I enjoy the one I have!

I recommend this to individuals who like different cups of coffee - gone will be the waiting between first and second pots, or arguing over which coffee do you both drink, or its strength. What a terrific peace keeper!!

My husband and I purchased this coffee maker to use in our travel trailer. It works great. So easy to make the coffee and if one of us wants a different blend or stronger coffee - no problem. It works quickly and is a breeze to clean up - no filters to buy either. We're very happy with it.

I used it for the first time and my coffee was VERY hot, the mugs are very nice with rubber gripping. It cleans up easily without having to clean a pot, just the mug. I used Starbuck coffee and it really tasted like I got it from Starbucks, hot and delicious.

I only drink 1 cup a day at work so this was perfect for me. The mug keeps it hotter longer than a mug, it's not insulated very well but you can always use another insulated mug, just take the cover off and put it on the burner. I tried Starbucks mug which keeps it hot for hours and it worked just fine. If you drink your coffee in under an hour than the mug that it came with will work just fine. If you are looking for easy, a cup of hot coffee, this one is worth the price otherwise you will have to pay $80 or more for fancy features. This is very basic and I didn't mind the noise, it wasn't louder than my Krups...I don't know of any coffee maker that is noise free as stated in the previous review.

Rec'd last Christmas & officialy broke the morning of 12/26 this year. The plastic base on the cups cracks easily. W/in a couple of months water began to creep into the space between the sleeve & the silver exterior of each cup. The insulating property of these is zip so you have to drink your coffee fast if you want it hot. The final straw was the plastic switch topside, to change from one cup to two, apparently has broke & now water pours from both sides whether you want one cup or two. Upon close inspection it appears this switch has a glass or brittle plastic rod which fractured. BUT, very easy to use, very easy to clean, great if you & significant other like different coffees. We haven't ruled out purchasing another.

Received it as a gift. It is a bit tall. I like compact appliances.
But it is exactly what you expect for the price and it works well and easy to clean. Just run some fresh water through it once in a while to clean the inside.

The reviewer that complains about wasting water by not switching between one and two cups does a diservice to Amazon by leaving such a thoughtless review.

I rely on reviews in making my purchases. You, my friend, ruin this process.

After a year, it's still brewing great coffee everyday. The quality could be a lot better, but I'm willing to work around it's shortcomings. The switch between one and two cups is VERY stiff and feels like it could break, so I leave it on two cups and brew water on the other side. The plastic handle on each nylon filter broke off within the first month. One of the filter cups comes off with great difficulty, but once you understand how it goes back on, a little brute force is all you need. The coffee could be warmer, but the flavor is always good. Coffee saved from the previous day tastes just as good. I use less coffee with this machine, have much less waste to pour down the sink and never a burned carafe to clean! I'd buy it again.

Bought this since I am the only coffee drinker in the house. Brews a good cup of coffee--although I have found some fine grounds in the bottom of my mug. I've not found that it is abnormally loud, nor does it brew a "cold" cup of coffee. I use a lot of milk, so I typically only put 3 t. of coffe in the filter vs. the 4 suggested. The coffee has been on point everytime. Based on some of the previous reviews, however, I bought the insurance for it (an extra $2.99 at Kmart) just in case. Overall, I'm very pleased.

I had read reviews of this and similar products, and so took their complaints to heart. One mentioned breakable plastic handles -- so I pull out the coffee section from below, and am careful with the switch between one and two mugs. Another I laughed at -- the complaint that it requires you to have the setting at the right spot, one or two mugs. That's not a problem with the coffee maker, but the person. ... And I've messed up a number of times myself, in just a few weeks. But that's my fault, not the coffee-maker. I have to pay attention to what I'm doing. The only thing I sort of miss compared to my old coffee-maker is not having an automatic timer to start it in the morning. But it doesn't take long to brew, so not an actual problem. One person had complained it wasn't hot enough -- I find it just perfect to drink immediately, and with the top on (I do use a different thermal mug I like better) and closed between drinks, lasts about an hour. Yes -- its mugs could be better. But all in all my husband and I are appreciating the opportunity to each have our own type of coffee ready in the morning.

I just bought this item for $20. I thought since I only drink 1-2 cups a day, this would do and I could share if I had company. The coffee comes out steaming and the flavor is fine. It is easy to use, but the knob on the top does seem flimsy, so I followed someone else's suggestion and am keeping it on 2 cups and run water through to the 2nd cup. The cups are the problem in my opinion. They hold plenty of liquid and keep the coffee fairly warm for the duration, but the lid does not stay on very tight and whether you leave it on or take it off to drink, the lip of the rim is a little too wide and makes it difficult to drink without dribbling. I guess my suggestion would be to make the coffee and then pour into a better cup. Like I said, good enough for my purposes for the money.

Received this coffeemaker as a Christmas gift in 2007 and I love it! It's perfect for my on the go lifestyle.

I have not experienced the negative aspects that other reviewers have. My coffee tastes great, never like plastic. I use high quality coffee and grind my own beans. The cup doesn't leak. It brews consistently, completely and hot. I was given this coffee maker because I could never figure out how to brew half a pot into a big 8 or 10 cup coffee maker.

The only cons I would have to say is the quality of construction. The plastic "maker" is light, meaning that it doesn't feel solid on my counter. The cups are not as well insulated as others I have used...it would be better if they were stainless steel on the inside.

Great for the price!