smithlikeme's Full Review: Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Coffee Maker
I went on the hunt for a proper coffee maker after moving into a new apartment recently remodeled with beautiful granite countertops. I had to find the right appliances to make the kitchen complete. Let me say that it had been awhile since I had a coffee maker and the one before this Cuisinart was a Braun four cup maker (that was about two years ago). Now, the Braun didn't stop working, it's just packed away in a Bermuda Triangle of boxes that I'd rather not touch. It's easier to buy a new one, you know?
At any rate, I was on the hunt at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and this Cuisinart immediately caught my eye, but I hesitated at the price tag ($99) so I moved on. Well, upon countless minutes spent comparing the maybe ten total coffee makers they have available, I came back to the Cuisinart. It looked great with its retro stainless steel styling, complete with small knobs (and a toggle on/off switch) instead of standard digital push buttons. Needless to say, it would be the perfect addition to my kitchen. I swallowed my hesitation and paid the $99.
Back home, I followed the directions for rinsing the coffee maker by running water through it first (and because I am picky, I actually ran water through twice just to be sure) before brewing a proper pot of coffee. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't have any problem with the small area in which to fill the water reservoir and I found it easy to gauge the water level. Shortly after the two rinsing cycles, I brewed the first pot of coffee and was surprised to find that the coffee was weak. It is important to note that I was also trying a new brand of coffee so I couldn't yet say for sure whether it was the machine or the coffee. That evening I set the maker for automatic brew (as well as auto shut off) for the next morning, just hoping that the coffee would be better in the morning...somehow.
The coffee was weak again. Listen, I really wanted this machine to work because it looked so damn good on the counter, so I went out and bought a different brand of coffee (and a different type) to see if that made a difference. No such luck, still weak coffee. I even tried to brew more coffee on the 1-4 cup setting and it was still weak! Another important note is that I have worked extensively in the coffee/cafe business and I know what is required to brew a great cup of coffee...this machine wasn't cutting it.
So, I debated and decided that $99 was definitely not worth weak coffee even though the Cuisinart was aesthetically pleasing. Off to Bed, Bath, and Beyond I went. I decided on a Braun upon returning the Cuisinart and I will review that coffee maker as well.
The Cuisinart has great, original styling, but the price isn't worth the weak coffee. Buyer beware!
The Cuisinart Brew Central Programmable Coffeemaker DCC-1200 offers:
~ 12 cup brew capacity
~ charcoal water filter
~ automatic brew and shut off (up to four hours after brew cycle is finished)
~ self-clean indicator
~ digital clock (not back-lit, but not a problem)
~ 1-4 brew setting for a stronger cup of coffee
~ temperature control for the hot plate (low, medium, high) to keep your coffee appropriately warm, but not burnt
~ an overall ease of use
~ weak coffee
Introducing an evolutionary new look in coffeemakers. The Cuisinart Brew Central Coffeemaker makes a bold statement with a brushed stainless steel fin...More at BuyDig.com
Introducing an evolutionary new look in coffeemakers. The Cuisinart Brew Central Coffeemaker makes a bold statement with a brushed stainless steel fin...More at Beach Camera.com
div class="mainContainer Computers Electronics Cameras DVDs Music Games Books Toys in titles descriptions Company Info |Checkout Info |Shipping Info |...More at eBay
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.