Customer Reviews

Cuisinart Brew Central 12-cup Porgrammable Coffeemaker + Permanent gold-tone filter and charcoal water filter

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This unit is a step-down from the DCC1200 model. It doesn't have the self-cleaning feature and doesn't include a gold reusable filter (but it can use one if bought separately). However, its lower price makes it well worth it, as all the most important features are included such as the variable auto shut-off and drip-less carafe (the carafe really works well, it pours better than any other coffee maker I've owned). The one drawback (shared by the DCC1200 model) is that the water level in the tank can be a bit hard to see. Overall, this is an excellent coffee maker that will not disappoint whether you use it just occasionally or every day.

I purchased this at Costco. The box says BrewCentral but I believe it is a step down
from the BrewCentral 1200. I would like to echo most of AJ Andreano's comments and add
some of mine. Coffeemakers I've used have made what I thought was hot coffee but then
when I'd add my cold creamer, the coffee would be warm, at best. The first day I made coffee
with this machine - WOW - I actually burned my tongue! Silly, I know, but true. I don't know how it does it but this coffee is extremely hot...even after I've added my cold creamer! I taste NO plastic taste in the coffee. It doesn't make loud gurgle and sputter noises as it's brewing and the carafe doesn't drip when coffee is poured. I love the 4 cup brew, which is perfect for me.
It's about the most perfect coffeemaker I've ever used except for a few minor complaints. I particularly don't like the big square look (I know most people do) and the little twist-to-turn buttons are still awkward to me. Fortunately, I only use the on/off button. I also miss having a lighted clock (why put a small dark one on?) The carafe lid is not hinged so you have to snap on/off each time. Lastly, and perhaps most annoying, is the small space to pour the water. I know some people don't find this a problem but let me say it like this: My counter is 3' 2" high. The coffeemaker is 14" high. That's a total of 4' 4" high. When you figure the coffeemaker is set back from the counter's edge, it's even worse. I am 5' 4" and it's difficult for me to see down to the 4 cup mark. The pour space is a 3" x 2" triangle (a business card is 3.5" x 2".)

I'm not trying to be a complainer, I just want to give all details so that it helps others make their decision.
All in all, I think anyone would appreciate this coffeemaker solely for the HOT, great-tasting coffee it makes.

I got the Cuisinart Stainless Steel 12 cup Coffee Maker for Christmas and was very surprised to find that it actually improved the taste of my coffee. The change in taste is subtle, but I would say it is richer and smoother. The coffee maker is very attractive to look at, well made, and offers some welcome features: for example the auto on, and especially the auto off feature, and the choice of carafe temperature. I went ahead and got the Cuisinart GTF Gold Tone Filter. A great present for yourself or someone else.

If you disregard the instructions and use 2 TBsp grounds per cup, this model actually makes really good coffee...when new.

Disappointingly, this machine is put together in such a way that you can't take any of it it apart for cleaning! No matter how careful you are, grounds WILL eventually get in every nook and cranny and you'll never be able to get them all out (without doing something drastic, voiding the warranty). I DON'T WANT OLD STALE GROUNDS AND ACCUMULATED RANCID OILS MIXING THEIR FLAVOR INTO MY EXPENSIVE FRESH COFFEE. "De-calcification" only gets about 10% of the cleaning job done.

Other than that fatal flaw, it has a few cool features like "1-4 cup heating boost", 3 selectable carafe warming temps, 4 selectable preset auto-off times and clock/programmable self-brew (reason I bought it in the first place) for those early mornings when I know are going to be rushed and I don't have time to brew coffee.

I've had a Mr. Coffee coffee maker for about a year now, which made horrible coffee, which spilled everywhere when pouring. After reading others feedback, I purchased this product. I am extremely pleased with the coffee maker. It makes excellent coffee and has all the features I need (auto-shut off, timer, etc.). I've only had it about a week now, but have had no problems. The only tiny issue, is learning how to use the features, which are a little confusing. I rarely use owner's manuals, but had to with this. But the coffee that comes out is definitly worth the work!

Makes really good coffee. Am not a real coffee aficionado like many, but I do like to burr grind my beans and expect a good flavor from the maker. Have had a Gevalia of one kind or another for several years but didn't really know whether or not I was getting the maximum flavor from them. My experience with Mr. Coffee was ugly. They don't warm the water enough in the brewing process to get any flavor out and am told this is a major complaint. Besides the Gevalia had a "10 cup" capacity and I wanted twelve. All of them call a "cup" five ounces which must be a demitasse. I'm getting good flavor from this maker and a lot of it has to do with the water filter. My tap water is soft but has a strong chlorine tinge to it and this removes it. I do not like the price of replacement water filters and will probably go to a counter top filter system so I can use the water for both the coffee maker and for drinking.

Have been switching between the gold coffee filter and the paper filters because I have read the aficionados claim that paper provides a better taste. I have come to the conclusion that the gold filter which is included in the package (why does Amazon try to sell you one at the order line) makes significantly better tasting coffee.

I had just enjoyed a final cup of coffee today when I had to go to a dentist appointment. In their waiting room they had a carafe of coffee - not sitting on the burner but fresh poured and in a vacuum container. So while waiting I had a half cup of it. What rotten tasting coffee it contained. Didn't even taste like coffee. So in comparing this maker with whatever they used (tap water too, I suspect) this maker makes coffee that is light years ahead of that cup. It also makes better coffee than the local Starbucks stand provides so am pleased with the output. The one thing that I'm not pleased with is the electrical cord - the length. I can't move it as far on my counter top as my old makers but am still happy with it.

Makes good coffee = the prime directive.

Easy to use, easy to clean, BUT - this replaced a Cuisinart with an insulated carafe that kept coffee hot/warm for most of the day. This one, despite repeated attempts to activate the "keep-warm" feature (a heated plate), does not work. The first cup is hot - the second is tepid and cold in <2 hours. If I have to microwave my coffee, why bother?

so far so good, the last two coffee pots i bought from you broke within 2 months!! They were not cuisinart, so I still have my fingers crossed. The extra charcoal filter this coffee pot has makes the coffee extra special tasting.

I have purchased close to 5 of these Cuisinart coffee makers over the last 10 years for myself or family members. This particular model I bought from Costco, and like the others looked great and solid, but has some cheap faulty engineered parts. The major problem with this model bought back in March of this year, is that the filter holder bottom piece came off again, and this time I cannot find it(maybe in the trash). So now I am either trying to find the filter holder to replace(if possible) or will return it back to Costco. I wish I could find a good solid coffee maker that would last forever like the design looks when you buy it, or at least 5 years, without having to replace something other than a gold filter. Has anyone seen how many different filter holders that have for sale on the cuisinart web site? Wow! Not a good sign.

First we bought the DCC-1200, not the exact same model but almost the same except for the design of the power switch, and we really liked it. But it died within a year, the symptom in that case being that nothing at all happened when you turned the cute little toggle power switch on. Since it apparently didn't have a fuse, I figured there was nothing to be done to repair it, and assuming that the problem was an ... aberration ... replaced it with this model. Because, except for the fact that it died so young, we had really liked our DCC-1200.

We've had this one for about a year, and have been experiencing what is apparently a widespread phenomenon, which is that it shuts itself off in the middle of brewing. As I sit here writing this review with a hard-won cup of hot coffee, I can report that I had to turn the machine back on *four times* before brewing was complete. The problem has gotten progressively worse. When it started, you only had to turn it back on one time.

Great design, if long-term functionality isn't important, and I must say, great tasting coffee, which earns it a star, but I can't afford to buy a new one every year. So I'm pitching it and trying a new Melitta.

Oh, and by the way, the drip-stop never quite worked on this one.

I'd steer clear of it.