Customer Reviews

Oster 4281 Counterforms 12-Cup Coffeemaker, Black/Stainless Steel

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Yes, I also really like this coffeemaker which is why I paid $99.00 in May of 07 at Kohls. However, trying to get a replacement decanter when I dropped the original one has been trying. Finally, after buying/trying 3 different ones, going to Kohls again, and trying to contact Oster including a call where I waited almost an hour and was subsequently hung up on, I managed to get a decanter on order for $24.07. So be aware that if you break the decanter, it will cost you!

While researching for a coffee maker, I went online to check out what people had to say about different makes and models. When it came down to it, even the best (Cuisinart DCC-1200) had a bunch of customer complaints against it. Then I stumbled upon the Oster 4281.

It had all the features I was looking for: Easy to read display, programmable timer (to wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee), legible cup markings both on the carafe and inside the brewing compartment. As a FYI, a cup is defined to be "5 oz." and not 8 oz. with this coffee maker. Plus it'll actively keep your coffee warm for 2 hours. It's easy to clean too. And finally the most important part: The coffee comes out delicious.

I can't think of a single negative thing to say. It completely serves my needs.

The Counterforms 4281 is Oster's only coffeemaker offering and they certainly got it right. This is a feature-rich machine that makes a truely great cup of coffee which, after all, is what it's all about - the perfect cup of coffee. The machine is attractive with a distinctive appearance. The blue display and lighted blue buttons give it a high-tech look.

Brew speed is good making 12 cups in about 12 minutes and is fairly quiet. If the strong button is selected, brew time increases to about 15 minutes. What I believe happens when set to strong is that the brewer is pulsed on an off resulting in longer soak time for the grounds. If you prefer your coffee strong, the machine remembers the setting and will continue to brew using this setting until de-selected. Either way the machine beeps to let you know when your coffee is ready then beeps again after two hours to let you know it is shutting off. The beep can be disabled if you choose.

I found the serving temperature to be perfect for me at the default setting. If you prefer your coffee either hotter or cooler the serving temperature can be adjusted either up or down. A bar-graph displays your selection.

The display has an always-on soft blue backlight and includes clock, serving temperature setting, strong or normal strength, delay brew, brewing indicator, and cleaning. The clock and delay brew are easy to program using the hour, minute, and delay buttons on the left. While not glaringly bright, the blue backlight does provides enough illumination to act as a nightlight.

The design feature that first attracted me to this machine is that all the controls and the display are above the carafe, not below the warming plate. Perhaps I'm clumsier than most but more than once I've accidentally spilled coffee on a low-mounted on/off switch which has caused the coffeemaker to quit working. This won't happen with the Oster.

A pleasant surprise was the self-cleaning feature to reduce and clean mineral build-up. Pour the recommended amounts of water and vinegar into the water resevoir and touch the clean button. About half the solution is run through the machine before it automatically shuts off for 20 minutes to allow the acid in the vinegar to de-calcify the inner workings. After 20 minutes the machine restarts, runs the remaining solution through, then shuts off and beeps to let you know it is finished. Rinse according to directions.

I had to really look to find any negatives about this coffeemaker but did find two things that may bother some folks and they both have to do with filling the water resevoir. The lid covering the coffee basket and water resevoir is rather long and is hinged at the back. If positioned under cabinets you are going to need to pull the coffeemaker forward to have enough clearance to add coffee or water. The other item is the lack of an external water guage. If you fill using the carafe that isn't a problem but if you use a pull-out faucet or hose you need to be tall enough to peer into the opening where there are markings in two-cup increments. I'm tall so can easily look into the resevoir while filling with the pull-out.

Do I recommend the Counterforms? Heck yes. I'm looking forward to a long and happy relationship with my Oster coffeemaker.

As a graduate student, I'd like to consider myself a coffee connosiour. Although I bought a beautiful coffeemaker a few months ago, it was too bulky on my countertop. I came across the Oster Counterforms design, bought it, and LOVE it. It is so chic, relatively compact, and has great functions (e.g., automatic turnoff, and a warming function). I am so pleased with this machine, and have also bought the matching toaster. I definitely recommend it both.

Great product...love the light display, easy to use. Only thing I do not like is that there is no external indicator on water volume. I have to stand on my tippy toes and look inside where you pour the water to see how many cups. There is an indicator marked by notches inside the water resivor but difficult to see the marking and not so efficent for a 5'4" person. Other than that I would recommend it!

Oster 4281 Counterforms 12-Cup Coffeemaker. I had thought about getting a Bunn coffee maker. After a lot of research ... I did not like the idea of not having a timer, we get up early, and I did not like the coffee maker being ON all of the time when I am gone from home. I bought this Oster (advice from my son) and we LOVE IT!! It has the greatest features I have ever seen on a coffee maker. It is user friendly and the buttons are unbelievable. Well located, attractive, easy to use. We are older, so easy is good. It's easy to know what you are doing when you are setting the time, and timer or making the coffee stronger. It makes fantastic coffee. It has a sprayer type thing inside that goes over the grounds, instead of pump and splash. If this only last a year, I would still buy another one just like it. The carafe is easy to handle, and is 12 cup. I just can not express how happy I am with this purchase. I looked everywhere price wise and thru Amazon was a lot cheaper, even with shipping. $8.00 shipping is great. It was fast! I ordered it Friday evening and it was here Monday afternoon. I can not say one negative thing! It is very attractive, the pictures do not do it justice. I will always own an Oster now. I am so happy with this I am looking at can opener, toaster and blender! Its the best bang for my buck I have gotten in a long while! If you just want an excellent coffee maker, for not a ton of money... this is the one!
Go Amazon.com what would I do with out you!!

This is my 3rd coffee maker in 3 years. The last 2 were terrible from the start. One a Black & Decker and the other a Mr. Coffee. This coffee maker is the best. It brews quietly, the carafe pours beautifully, and I really like the strength option. Also, it's sharp looking. 5 stars!

I have been using this very stylish coffee maker now for about 3 weeks and I am very thrilled. The large opening for the water resevoir is especially nice as no water spills all over. The blue back lighting and timing feature is also very well done. It is a little slow and sometimes loud, but this is very minor. All in all a great looking coffee maker for the price and the coffee is good as well!

Works as it should, no problems and we go through at least 5 or 6 pots a day.

It makes good coffee when the blend is a flavor I like. My only complaint about this coffee maker is that the coffee jug (or whatever you call it) is hard to clean. It has a lip on the inside of the rim, which forces you to rinse it out and dump the water a few times before you get all of the soap out of it. I suppose if I would have bought more expensive maker, that wouldn't be a problem.

This is my first coffee maker though.