Customer Reviews

Black & Decker TCM300 Thermal Select Coffeemaker (000217)

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

 

 

This is a pretty good coffee maker. It's fast and it keeps the coffee warm for quite a long time. The only downside to it, is that it's a 8 cup instead of the regular 12 cup. It automatically shuts off so you don't have to worry if you left the coffee maker on. I think the carafe pot is the way to go. The coffee stays warm and it doesn't break like the glass ones.

Let me begin this brief review with an awkward confession. When I wake up each morning, I stare into this little Black and Decker contraption before and for longer than I stare into my wife's eyes.

My morning coffee is the essential precursor to conscioius life. Nothing can go wrong or I'm screwed.

Once I had the good sense to move over to the thermal carafe, it was a no-brainer to get this inexpensive, dependable, very basic coffee-maker onto my kitchen countertop and to get on with the complexities of life that awaited on other fronts.

It has no alarm clock. It doesn't grind your coffee for you. It will neither paint your office in earth colors nor walk your dogs.

It just makes coffee. Previously ground coffee. It then puts it into a carafe, whence you can pour it directly down your throat or partake (the recommended option) via the mediation of a coffee cup.

Greatest feature: won't complicate your life.

I received one of these as a Christmas gift a few years ago. While I prefer the thermal carafe style machines, I can't recommend this one. Like most lower end machines, the brew temperature is too low and the coffee doesn't taste right.

Another problem is that the overflow is desgned to go back into the reservoir. Most people won't run into this problem. I did because I was using a #10 SwissGold filter basket in it. That particular basket is not cone shaped and the coffee needs to flow out the sides.

This exacerbates another problem which is that most coffee makers aren't designed for brewing fresh coffee. There isn't much extra room under the shower head. The stale canned stuff would probably work okay but fresh ground, freshly roasted beans bloom when water first contacts them. I tried to make a strong pot with some freshly roasted beans and had huge mess on my hands. That was too much to deal with before my morning coffee.

We have had our B&D TCM300 for about 2 years now. We are very pleased with it with one exception: it leaks from somewhere; haven't really figured out from where. Oftentimes, there is coffee on the "hot" plate (not really hot since it automatically shuts off after brewing is complete). I just wipe up the coffee w/paper towel and I don't see any leakage after that so I am assuming it's during the brew cycle. I like the lid as compared to other thermal carafe coffeemakers we have had; it is easy to put on and turn. The pitcher is designed well as it does not spill or leak when pouring a cup of coffee, as compared to other thermal carafe coffeemakers we have had. For the price, I highly recommend this B&D TCM300. I have been researching thermal carafe coffeemakers for about the last 3 months, and after reading the reviews, I think I'll stick with this one!

This is the coffeemaker we use at the office and we all hate it! It turns itself off repeatedly (usually 3- 4 times) before it finishes making a pot of coffee! When it's not failing to continuously brew a pot,it's overflowing all over the counter. It will overflow for no reason whatsoever. I swear if it's not one thing, it's the next. If you're looking for a coffee pot that allows you to walk away from it while it brews, this is not the pot for you.

I rarely write reviews but I must remark on this coffee maker. I have used it for 4 years. It makes perfect coffee and pours into the cup without spilling. The coffee temperature is perfect. Coffee is not supposed to be HOT Hot!! I'm buying another one for my new RV. Don't hesitate to but this model.

First of all, the carafe doesn't keep coffee hot at all, just warm and barely warm after 2 hours. The water evaporates so much you barely get 8 cups out of it. Even when not submersing it when cleaning it, water gets inside the carafe between the plastic housing and the thermos glass. Then it leaks out slowly, with a dark moldy color. Also there is no "off" button...only an "on" button which is VERY easily bumped and then the brewing has to be stopped by unplugging the machine.I am completely dissatified with this coffeemaker and wish i had never bought it.

This coffeemaker has three prominent problems. First, if you do not have the carafe pushed in perfectly, brewing coffee will run EVERYWHERE except into the pot. What a MESS!!! This has happened to us repeatedly. Secondly, the on button is right in front and is easily turned on at the wrong time. The only way to turn it off is to unplug it (no "off" button), which in my case was difficult because it was plugged in behind my cabinet near the floor. Lastly, somehow coffee gets into areas of the carafe that it should not, then drips all over the place. In summary, this is a VERY messy coffeemaker. Don't buy it unless you prefer the coffee-stained look.

The carafe is the weak link in this coffee maker. I've had mine for about a year and coffee leaks from the top seal into the inside of the carafe liner. Everytime you pour some coffee the trapped liquid leaks out of the bottom seal and gets all over everything. There is no way to seal it up that I know of. I ended up drilling a hole in the bottom back side of the carafe to let the coffee drain out better then duct taped the hole to stop the leaking until I was over the sink to empty the leaky liquid. If you serve coffee to anyone in your living room make sure they are wearing their rubber underwear because they are going to end up with a lap full of yesterdays coffee.

I gave this coffee maker to my wife as a gift. She thought it looked nice and we have always preferred thermal carafe coffee makers. Two weeks after we started using it the carafe liner exploded without provocation or warning. Black and Decker was non-responsive to their one year warrantee claim I called in. I can't recommend the quality of this B&D product nor their warrantee.