19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stock up on Paper Towels! You're Gonna Need 'em!, October 25, 2005
This review is from: KitchenAid KCM511OB 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Onyx Black (Kitchen)
Let me start off with saying that when this coffee machine works, it makes a very good tasting (though barely warm) cup of coffee. The coffee is rich and flavorful, never bitter or scorched. Unfortunately, the hassles are not worth it.
Like many others here, my previous Kitchen Aid coffeemaker was recalled and this was sent as the replacement.
1st off, The coffee is not warm enough until it has sat on the hotplate for about an hour (and by then the taste is ruined).
2nd, the design of this machine is questionable. There is a bizarre 'split' lid on the top of the machine (one hinged lid over the coffee grounds basket and one at the rear for the water). The rear cover is supposed to allow easy water filling, but you can't see the volume gauge unless you have both of the doors open. So what is the point of the second door? Also, when you open the top to make a new pot, you get a flood of water condensation that drips all over the place, down the side of the machine and back into the clean water reservoir.
The most serious design flaw and the reason I don't recommend it to anyone at all is the occasional overflow of coffee and coffee grounds from the machine. There is nothing like waking up to a muddy pool of coffee all over the counter, the kitchen cabinets and the floor. I have tried using a different (ie coarser) grind of coffee, used paper filters instead of the gold filter, but nothing seems to matter. It still happens about 25 percent of the time. There is no logical reason for it. I never turn this machine on unless I put a ring of paper towels around the bottom edge.
Also Because the plastic rim around the top of the pot isn't flush with the inside of the glass carafe, it refuses to let go of the last few tablespoons of coffee unless you (literally) shake it.
If people *must* have matching Kitchen Aid appliances in their kitchen, then this is the machine for you. It certainly is attractive. But if you want a coffee maker that will make a hot cup of coffee without major hassles and extra cleanup, avoid this machine like the plague.
**update. I love how follow-up reviews have insinuated that those of us that had problems with the machine simply didn't follow instructions and were too dumb to realize you can't put in both a paper filter AND the gold filter at the same time!! That or we didn't push the pot all the way in. Give us a break!! We followed all the instructions. It's just a plan defective product! It comes as no surprise to me that this poorly designed machine has been discontinued by the manufacturer for quite some time now.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Looks Great but does not Last, February 23, 2006
This review is from: KitchenAid KCM511OB 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Onyx Black (Kitchen)
I read all the Negative reviews on the Kitchenaid coffee maker. Im one of those people that keeps a open mind about the problems that other people have. Most of the time I figure its user error or that its a 1 in a 1000 chance the problem will happen to me. Well I bought the coffee maker to match all my Kitchenaid appliances. The first 2 weeks were great I thought everyone was crazy for all the Negative reviews. After 2 weeks if made more than 4 cups of coffee at a time it would leak out of the base, so I had coffee to clean off the counter after each use. I did find that if I used the 1-4 cup setting it would not leak. So Loving the coffee makers look I figured I would deal with this and use the 1-4 cup setting. For 1 month all was fine not a problem. One morning I went to make coffee and I got "ERROR 2" on the display. In the manual it said to turn off and back on and if the error came back it must be repaired. It was sent back and my money refunded. I ended up getting the Cuisinart Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker. I love it and it works like a dream. It still looks great with all my Kitchenaid. Hope this helps someone.
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
I want my old pot back!!!, July 2, 2005
This review is from: KitchenAid KCM511OB 10-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Onyx Black (Kitchen)
Hmmmmm. Seems like everyone here received this model in exchange for a recalled model, including me. Kitchenaid...please re-attach the cord and send me the fire hazard back!! This coffeemaker is attractive, but looks aren't everything. Each time we have made a full pot, the coffee grinds have overflowed into the carafe, even though we use Bunn oversize filters. We have had to resort to brewing less than the maximum amount. Sigh. The water does not reach proper brewing temperature and the coffee is weak. I guess in this case, I got what I paid for. Nothing.
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