The controls located around the clock include the 24-hour program function as well as separate hour and minute buttons. There’s nothing more irritating than having just one button that functions for setting both the hour and minute but you won’t have that problem with this machine. Blue LED push button controls make the DCC-3400 simple to operate. The easy-to-read circular buttons control the “Bold” setting, On/Off, and the “1-4 Cup” feature. So yes, this model will fill 12 regular coffee cups, but not twelve 20-ounce travel mugs.
It took seven and a half minutes to brew the four cup quantity, and the resulting coffee came out at 167oF/ 75oC. Cusinart advises warming the carafe with hot water Keurig K-Mini if you want your coffee hotter. As such, the next time we brewed four cups, we first poured boiling water into the carafe and let it sit for five minutes.
Wash all the removable parts thoroughly in the dishwasher or by hand with soapy water. Coffee can leave behind an oily residue that builds up over time and gives a bad taste to your beverage. Make sure you have enough counter space to house the unit that you are purchasing.
If you or your family members enjoy other beverages like tea or cocoa, you may want to look for a hot water dispenser. Some machines will make decent cups of different kinds of coffee, but they don’t do the best at any of them. The trade-off is more money in your pocket and more available room on your counter. Manual models don’t have timers, so you won’t be able to set them ahead. They’re typically very simple to use and may also be smaller and less expensive.
If you like your coffee on demand, this could be worth a second look. While big carafes make brew cycles easier, it tends to alter your brew’s taste whenever you leave it sitting for a while. This is often what you give up when you keep your coffee warm for a long time. One of the top features of Cuisinart equipment is that they have the needs of the consumers in mind. Made for ease of use, the water reservoir is a breeze to refill when the water supply is low, so you can get back to brewing.
Used coffee grounds are retained in the filter and the brewed coffee seeps through and is collected in a pot, carafe, or mug. Cuisinart® coffee maker machines are perfect for enjoying a single cup or sharing a pot of freshly brewed coffee with family or friends. Enjoy the gourmet taste from our single-serve brewers, large cup coffee makers or cold brew coffee makers. Hamilton Beach makers are perfect for enjoying a single cup or sharing a pot of freshly brewed coffee with family or friends.
For single-serve machines, our engineers evaluate the temperature and size consistency of individual cups of coffee. And for cold-brew coffee makers, engineers assess ease of cleaning, and taste testers judge each brew. The manual advises that if brewing Hamilton Beach four cups or less, you should add 1½ scoops of coffee beans per cup, so we added six scoops. We also hit the 1-4 cup button for this brew; it isn’t essential that you do this, but Cuisinart says it will improve the flavor of the resulting drink.