Customer Reviews

Mr Coffee Black and Stainless Steel 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker FTX33GTF

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

 

 

Coffee makers in our house usually last 5 years before they have to be replaced. Last year we shopped around and decided the Mr. Coffee Black and Stainless Steel 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker had the most bang for the buck. We have never owned a Mr. Coffee until now. We loved it until recently it started to act up, and of course the 1 year warranty just ran out a month ago. So we are shopping around for a new coffee maker, it won't be a Mr. Coffee.

I love this machine. I admit, I was originally drawn to it solely for its style, but it was the features that drove me to buy one. The permanent filter alone would have driven me to this machine over the less expensive ones.

This machine operates relatively quietly and makes a very smooth consistent cup of coffee. I recommend doubling the amount of coffee that the directions suggest using, however. This is a personal choice, of course. The machine offers a regular and a strong setting, but if you really enjoy a strong cup of coffee, you will get a much tastier brew by using more coffee (about 2 tbsp per cup instead of the 1 tbsp recommended) and brewing on the regular setting. Using the strong setting tends to over-extract the bean, producing rather bitter coffee.

Anyways, the timer is great, the permanent filter is great, and the machine looks nice on top of it all. This is a winner in every aspect.

***This review was written in an effort to give hope to those out there who already own this machine and are having problems with it leaking.***
My wife bought the Mr. Coffee maker (FTX25) in June 2005. Within seven months it began leaking (used about three times a week). The leaking seemed to get worse with every use. Both my wife and I are both very busy and never really took the time to give it a proper cleaning, just an occasional rinse.
About three weeks ago (about the same time we were looking for a new coffee maker) my wife forgot to place the pot on the burner while trying to brew six cups -- of course coffee overflowed everywhere. We were already use to cleaning up coffee, so it was no big deal. I took out the plastic housing w/metal spring which comes in direct contact with the paper filter, and scrubbed it. I then cleaned the top portion inside the coffee maker, paying especially close attention to the opening where the coffee goes into the pot -- that's basically all I did.
Funny, it took us a few weeks before we realize that it had stopped leaking. Now, three weeks later it still hasn't leaked and I can only assume that it was because we cleaned it. Prior to the cleaning, it leaked every time -- I would say at least a cup worth -- very frustrating.
I just brewed six more cups, and not a single drop leaked out. If you're having problems with your Mr. Coffee, I would definitely try and clean it before throwing in the towel.
Obviously, there is some type of flaw in the design on this particular model allowing it to leak more easily, however, with proper maintenance you might be able to live with it.
This is by far the best looking coffee maker under $60 -- and overall I'm pleased with it's performance.

After 2.5 years, my Mr Coffee FTX25 coffee maker started beeping "finished" and stop brewing long before the water in the reservoir was all used up. While fixing this problem, I was able to examine the inner workings of the FTX25, and I must say, it is quite well built, and pretty easy to repair so long as the electronics haven't failed. Mechanically, very simple and well-constructed. The water heating element doubles as the pot warmer, but seems to have sufficient power to not over/under -do either task.

I noticed that my FTX25 was making it's typical "steam-venting-almost-finished" sound long before all the cold water was gone. Usually, the maker made a percolating sound while brewing, and once all the cold water was used up, a few puffs of steam would be released inside the compartment (I could hear them and see a puff or two coming out of the top lid), finally a second or two later, the finished beep would sound. Instead, right in the middle of the brewing cycle I'd hear the steam puffs then finished beep. This led me to believe that there wasn't enough water getting to the heating element.

I turned over the machine, removed the six screws from the bottom (two are under rubber feet) and opened up the bottom. Two red tubes serve as the input/output paths for cold/heated water respectively. With the front of the unit facing away from me, the tube on the right was the feeder tube. Removed this tube from the heating element and the other end from the black case piece by pulling gently. Near then end that attaches to the black plastic case (actually to the bottom of the reservoir), you can squeeze the tube and feel a small lump - a one-way (check) valve that allows cold water into the element, but prevents the pressure of the steam from pushing hot water back into the reservoir (forcing it up the path to the filter basket). This valve had been fouled ever so slightly in my case. I squeezed out the valve (like toothpaste out a tube) and cleaned the valve (careful not to loose the small white ball) with a brush and soapy water. Replacing the valve (the correct direction!), and reassembling, the coffee maker worked perfectly.

I hope to keep the FTX25 running for a long while.

This beautiful coffee maker has a reputation for leaking water. We too had to return our first unit after leaking all over the counter creating electronic water hazards, and the help desk told us to switch the back resevoir rubber piece so the hole faces down (no more leaks). Mr. Coffee was very nice and sent us a new unit right away telling us to cut the cord on the damaged unit. Apparently the units are assembled with the hole facing up instead of down. We loved the coffee (using the Strong setting, paper filter and Mr. Coffee filter), but now 6 months later it suddenly broke. Water leaked, the electronic display steamed up and blacked out, coffee slowly dripped through then burned on the bottom. If you don't mind spending this much $$ for 6 months, get it. I'm giving up since it will cost much more to replace our counters.

I couldn't understand many of the older reviews here until I realized Amazon had migrated the reviews of an earlier model, the FTX25, to this one. Or they replaced the older model and left the reviews. Either way, the earliest reviews here are NOT for the item on sale.
Although the FTX33GTF may look like the FTX25, I can go almost line by line with some of the negative reviews for the 25 and make the opposite statement for the 33.
It is obvious Mr Coffee reads these reviews as almost everything I've read here in the reviews of the earlier model that customers did not like has been remedied in this newer model.
The switch to change the brew to "strong" has a noticeable impact on the pot being brewed. For me, it's less than 10 minutes for a pot and I appreciate the beeper although some say it's a nuisance and on this model it can be turned on or off with a small switch on the front.
The poor spout design another review laments is no problem here.
This is just a simple coffee maker but I like it more than my 11 yr old, still running model. It also brews a smoother cup than my old unit.
It looks great on my counter with my stainless appliances and fits right in with my "modern" kitchen.
It's not a $100 appliance but it doesn't cost $100 either and I believe this is much more bang for the buck.

Be sure of the product model # you're reading about so as to give this one a fair shake.

UPDATE: 3/21/09
After well over a year of daily use, I still feel exactly the same about this purchase.
Money well spent.

I went to Kohls to buy a new pot when my old one lost its little mind and starting turning out burnt nasty coffee. I didn't want to spend the money but the appearance of this pot is what initially grabbed me. (I only spent 49.99 for it at a Kohls sale)

I love the way it looks. I love the glow of the front piece that everyone else seems to think is way too bright at night. It isn't any brighter than a nightlight and isn't really noticeable in a lighted room. I'm not sure why they hate it. I have three kids and a big house so the "fire alarm" beeping at the end of cycle that annoys the other reviewers so much seems barely audible to me. I like to know when the pot is done (never more than 5 minutes) so the beep works fine and isn't too long. I also like the beep when it shuts off automatically because it tells me I need to go turn the burner back on to keep it warm longer. The coffee tastes great. The pot looks great and I haven't had a single problem with leaking water or coffee yet. I've had this pot about 8 months now and it is one of the best I've ever had. Maybe I got really lucky or maybe the other reviewers got a lemon.

This is a great pot really!

I had problems with water leaking out of the black rubber piece on the back of the machine. Per another reviewers advice, I pulled it out and turned it so the hole was facing down...no problem right away. I was relieved since I was annoyed everytime I brewed coffee. I have had no trouble with coffee leaking out...I don't use the extra filter since we use filtered water from the fridge dispenser. Overall, fine for the price.

If you like coffee all over your counter you will like this coffee maker. I have had ths happen about once as week. If you dont get the pot on the hot plate just right coffee will run out on the counter. It's also hard to pour because the lid flops open and there is no way to keep it shut.

We bought this model about a year ago. It made decent coffee. The original pot that came with the coffee maker leaked, like many other reviewers have mentioned. I broke that carafe after a couple of months and the replacement carafe was better. My main complaint was that it did not use all of the water in the reservoir each time. This allowed algae to grow inside. The design of the machine makes it hard to see inside and to clean the reservoir if needed, and this ick needed more than just a run through with vinegar to fix. I tried to clean it and ended up getting water inside the circuits, which killed it. Between the leaking pot and the gross algae sludge developing in water reservoir, it just isn't worth the extra money. I replaced it with a more basic model that I can down into to clean throughly if needed.