Reviews of Cuisinart Brew Central 12-cup Porgrammable Coffeemaker + Permanent

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List Price: $99.99
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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.

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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.

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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.

Honest reviews on Cuisinart Brew Central 12-cup Porgrammable Coffeemaker + Permanent

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.

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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.