When I’m not writing about products, I spend time either outside hiking and skiing or up in the air in small airplanes. For my latest obsessions, follow me onFacebook andTwitter (@danwroc). Some people love them and use them all the time, however. So, if you decide to use the warmer, I recommend using the lowest setting. Launched in 2008, Coffeeness is the go-to resource for reviews and comparisons of all things coffee-related, with content in five languages.
The temperature of the freshly brewed coffee sat at 170oF/ 77oC, and we poured out a couple of mugs and left the rest in the carafe. Two hours later, its temperature had dropped to 151oF/ 66oC, which was still hot enough to drink. Five hours after brewing it was down to 129oF/ 54oC, which is just about hot enough – if you don’t plan to add milk. All in all, considering the coffee had been sitting in the carafe, not on a hot plate, for five hours, that’s a pretty good result. The Cuisinart comes with two charcoal water filters to eliminate chlorine and unpleasant flavors from tap water. A filter will see you through around 90 days, and you can purchase replacements inexpensively online.
Just dump and rinse out the spent grounds, and you’re ready for the next pot. This is where a dual brew coffee maker comes in handy. You can brew a pot to share or just a single cup, whatever you’re in the mood for or what time allows. This brewer is perfect for those of you who want an easy to use, fully programmable, compact coffee maker. But if your machine does everything for you, including cleaning itself, then maybe it’s worth considering for your next coffee investment. At least that’s how this coffee maker was built to make you feel.
There is also a problem with leaking when pouring liquid out of the carafe. The lid doesn’t just lift off; it snaps off and feels like Hamilton Beach it is going to break when you try to remove it. This unit makes a good cup of coffee, but the paper filters don’t fit smoothly.
In general, if you use a K Cup or the reusable filter cup, it’s best to brew on the 8 ounce setting per the manufacturer’s instructions. The carafe is your standard glass model and holds a healthy 12 cups of your favorite brew. That’s twelve 5 ounce cups or less, depending on your mug size and how much – or little – you coffee lovers slept last night. Right off the bat, it’s easy to see that this is a good-looking Cuisinart coffeemaker. Of course, I’m partial to the black version, but this model comes in quite a few colors. There’s your classic silver and white, but Cuisinart also offers a smart-looking copper model as well as a sleek navy blue.
If you’d rather sip tea than coffee, look for a Cuisinart kettle. Make sure you’ve reached the ideal temperature for different varieties, including oolong, green, herbal and black teas by consulting a built-in thermometer. Plus, it functions as a French press for coffee as well. You’ll pay a premium for a model with a thermal carafe. If you entertain a lot, such a model is worth the extra dollars, as you can bring the carafe to the table, where it will keep coffee hot for second cups. While Cuisinart’s insulated servers are top-rack dishwasher safe, they may not actually fit on the top shelf and the machine may not be able to thoroughly clean inside them.
There’s also only one reservoir for water, which I suspect would need to be filled up more often than the Cuisinart, given that both brew options draw from it. Once your coffee is ready, you can adjust the temperature of the hot plate to keep the carafe warm. Here at Coffeeness, we aren’t huge fans of keeping the heat on the carafe; it tends to scorch the coffee. Of course, this model also can take paper filters if you prefer those.
The versatility of this brewer is what gives it its edge. It has a single serve option in addition to the carafe in which you can brew K cups or your favorite coffee. The next few coffee maker models from Cuisinart have a variety of different features and capabilities, so try to see which one suits your brewing preferences. Regardless of how you like to brew, there’s something for everyone and at all budgets. This unit allows your customers to brew their own single servings of coffee from the convenience of their room or a small self-service station.
When looking for the perfect coffee maker to meet your needs, you first need to know what those needs are. Is this for home use for just you or maybe a couple of other people? Are you buying for the coffee room at work that serves a number of people all day long? The way you’re going to use this brewer will help you decide what kind of unit you will need. And explore additional options in our complete coffee maker ratings, consisting of more than 135 options.