A coffee pot...uggh, I never wrote anything like this before so please bear with me as I stumble through.

I drink a lot of coffee, I mean at least 3 or 4 cups each morning and sometimes more in the night, and my boyfriend will drink a whole pot himself each morning. The only problem is that I have to drink me coffee when I first get up and I can't drink any after I get out of the shower. Why you ask? Well, I don't know but it just taste different to me. The biggest dilemma I have is my boyfriend and I lay in bed each and every morning arguing over who is going to get up first at start the coffee. (this can get brutal) This went on for a little over a year with our old coffee maker till we wised up and bought a programmable.

Alas; we stumbled on the Black & Decker VersaBrew.

The Stats:

12-Cup Coffee Maker
Sneak-A-Cup Interrupt Feature

Water-Window with Cup Level Markings
Water Reservoir with Flip Up Lid
Brew Select
Filter Basket
Carafe Serving Lid
12-Cup (60 oz.) Carafe
Keep Hot Plate
On/Off Control
Digital Clock/Timer
On/Off Auto Control

What is does:

Well duh you say, it makes coffee? Right, but the reason that I bought the Black & Decker VersaBrew is because it is a programmable maker. Which means before I go to bed every night I can lift the Flip Up Lid to the Water Reservoir and fill with water to the 12-cup level (it has a clear window so you can see where you fill to). I then swing open the Filter Basket, place a coffee filter in the basket and then add my desired amount of coffee grounds to the filter in the basket. I then close the Filter Basket securely and push the Auto Control On button (Which I have previously set the time to 6 am). Easy, Right? That is exactly why I bought this model, no more fighting! I wake up each and every morning, stumble down the hallway with my eyes half open, fumble with the sugar and creamer and delight in fresh coffee!

Nifty Features:

Brew Select. This is a feature I have never seen on any other coffee maker. It allows you to select from Mild, Medium and Strong Brews. There is a lever on the top front of the maker that slides left to right.

Sneak-A-Cup Feature. This feature allows you to steal a cup of joe before the whole pot is finished brewing. Most new coffee makers come with this feature but not all of them actually work. I have successfully used the Sneak-A-Cup of the Black & Decker VersaBrew with no spillage other than a drip or two.

Digital Clock/Timer. This feature is just as it says a digital clock on your coffee maker. It is used for the Auto On feature. You just set the correct time of the day when you plug the maker in. I have been using this for 6 months and it has never lost time. You can then set the time that you want the coffee to be made the next morning. There is an Auto button next to the clock button. When you push this a little dot appears next to the time, which shows you that the Auto is on. You do have to push this each time you want to use the auto.

Auto off. This is great for me since I have burnt up a number of pots by forgetting to turn them off. The Black & Decker VersaBrew has an automatic shut off after two hours. Love it!



Tips from the Care and Use Manual:

Use the Carafe to fill the Water Reservoir with cold water. I don’t because it takes too long to fill that then pour into the back of the maker. I simply use my sink sprayer to directly fill the reservoir.

Wash the lid and Carafe in hot, sudsy water, Rinse thoroughly. These parts are also dishwasher safe on the top rack.

They say to clean mineral deposits from hard water by pouring white vinegar to the 6-cup level the water to the 10-cup level and then run it through half way. Shut your pot off for 15 minutes to let it soak then finish brewing. Dump the cleaner and fill with 10-cups of cold water to rinse.


What I Think:

To be honest, this isn’t the best coffee maker I have ever used. I definitely prefer Mr. Coffee brand, but when shopping for a new coffee maker the Black & Decker VersaBrew was on sale about $10 cheaper than comparable models. The few problems that I have are minor. One of which is the design of the Carafe. My problem is basically with the pouring; I am always spilling coffee on the counter. My boyfriend says because I don’t take my time, which is probably true but I have never had this problem before either. Another odd problem is that I always have a spill under the pot of the counter. I still haven't figured out where it comes from but I'm guessing I must spill it some how.

Another thing that bothers me is the hot plate. I like hot coffee, I mean HOT! I don’t think this hot plate is at a high enough temp to keep a full pot hot, it keeps it warm for sure but not hot enough to burn your tongue (like I prefer).

It is however very easy to use. It is made very well and cleans quite easily. I love the Brew Select feature and the Auto On/Off feature. I think I paid $20 on sale at my local K-mart and it was way worth every penny.

Contact Info:

Black & Decker

1-800-231-9786


Recommended: Yes