Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker, Black and Stainless Steel Reviews

• Cuisinart DCC-1200 easily trumps Krups 180-46 Aroma Control

  
  By A15NW0J705BMO9 on 2001-12-01
  Two weeks ago, I needed a new coffee maker. The Krups Aroma Control maker is in all the stores and catalogs, so I bought one in the local mall BEFORE reading the Amazon reviews. BIG MISTAKE. Lesson learned - read the reviews - many negative comments. I used it for 3 days, and readily understood the description (...) of "eye candy" (looks nice, but seems like cheap plastic) and weak coffee (what they describe as a feature - allowing the coffee to steep - is really a euphemism for a poorly designed system that is guaranteed to give you a weak cup of coffee). One redeeming feature - the carafe is very nice.
  Within 2 days of having the Krups, i was on Amazon looking for a replacement coffee maker (a good cup of coffee is critical in the morning!). I went out on the risk curve and ordered the new Cuisinart - no reviews yet. The Cuisinart has a more classic brewing system (water goes through grinds via gravity), yields a delicious cup of HOT coffee, has a variable temperature hot place, and looks and feels solid. We happen to have stainless steel appliances (refrigerator, freezer, stove), and it matches beautifully. Best news - excellent coffee!. I would highly recommend the Cuisinart.
  
  

• Finally Found It!

  
  By on 2002-03-17
  After purchasing 3 other coffee makers, the 4th one is the charm! This coffee maker makes great tasting coffee. I never knew there was a difference -- it's worth spending a few more dollars on. It also has all of the features I was looking for such as: adjustable warming plate, 1-4 cup selection, water filter, programmable. It is a rather tall machine, but certainly not a problem as it fits fine underneathe most cabinets. Als, the carafe is well-made and has a spout that pours nicely without spilling. No complaints about this one!
  
  

• Brew Central DCC-1200, Good, Hot Coffee

  
  By A1DM83B4WZCK4E on 2004-03-12
  First I'd like to say that these review sites really kill me. Invariably, you have to wade through countless trivial comments like, "I had to turn the spool wheel too many times before I could change the string on my string trimmer" or, here's a classic, "the stereo I bought is just too loud and I have to keep the volume at the number 5 setting all the time." (trust me, this is from an actual review). Well, you'll be happy to know that the reviews for the DCC-1200 are no different. Anywhere from "why do you have to turn the knob to brew and then flick a switch for on" to, "I can hear the plastic creaking as it heats up" (that one really makes me laugh) to, "it's just too tall and doesn't fit under my cabinets" (didn't you size it up before you bought it)?

  Look people, this unit makes coffee. It does it well and it does it like it's supposed to. You pour water in the top, add your favorite beans, wait a bit and, here's the kicker, coffee comes out the bottom! Holy smokes! It's got two knobs, an on and off switch and a few buttons to set things like the clock. To brew, turn the knob to brew and flick the on switch. To auto-brew, turn the knob to auto-brew and flick the on switch. To program the clock/auto on/auto off, turn the knob to clock/auto on/auto off and... press a button. Wow, this is really tough stuff. And, to make matters worse, omygosh, the LCD clock doesn't have a back light!! Armageddon here we come. You don't have enough clocks in your kitchen between the wall, the microwave, the oven, and every other stinking thing that has to tell you the time these days?

  The other knob adjusts the hot plate setting. Low-Med-High. Trust me, there are many complaints that the Cuisinart doesn't get their coffee hot enough. Not hot enough? How hot do you really want it? I'm sure Cuisinart wasn't thinking about their specs reaching boiling temperature when they designed this thing. Trust me folks, it's close enough. I'd say close to McDonald's scalding hot coffee but I won't even sue Cuisinart for potentially burning my crotch.

  As for the plastic creaking, when the temperature heats up, the plastic expands inside, what do you want anyway? Whatddya mean it's only stainless steel on the outside? I've been ripped off!!! I mean come on, if you really want a true stainless steel coffee maker, go spend the $2000 and buy professional so that you can mount it on the dash of your Beemer. Just don't waste our time with comments like this.

  Oh yeah and the alarm/beeping that everyone's complaining about? Well, let me just say that the "Hounds of the Baskervilles" comment is a little unjustified. I would hate to hear what this person does when their microwave goes off, or, if their telephone rings, or if one of the kids makes a noise. Folks, this is a series of 5 small beeps when the brewing cycle is near completion. Kind of a tee tee tee tee tee. So, unless you sleep with your coffee maker on your night stand, I wouldn't worry so much about this one.

  Condensation. I don't know one coffee maker out there that when you open the lid to dump your grounds just after the brewing is complete where some of it doesn't drip on the countertop. So, suck it up. Get your sink sponge and wipe it up. Are we that inconvenienced by this?

  And finally, the dreaded reservoir comment. "It's too small and I pour water all over the place." Blah blah. Pour water in, get coffee out. So far, I haven't missed the bullseye. Could I be doing something wrong here? And about those darned tank markers. Does anybody honestly use those things? Fill up the pot and pour it in. Now you know how much coffee you'll make. Huh?!

  The bottom line is that this is a good coffee maker. It has a self cleaning cycle to tell you when to decalcify, makes piping hot coffee but... oh no, produces condensation. It's kind of like when you heat water on the stove and it produces that steamy stuff, and it forms those... water droplets. Ah whatever.

  Look, if you're the type who doesn't have to have their maid do everything for them or worse flog the person who doesn't quite fold the towel right on the towel bar, go out and buy this product, you won't be disappointed.
  
  

• Fantastic coffeemaker - if you have the space

  
  By A23GFTVIETX7DS on 2005-09-25
  When my Braun FlavorSelect coffee maker unexpectedly stopped working, I had to scramble to find a new machine. I wanted another Braun, but unfortunately, they seem to have stopped making a 12 cup coffee maker. So I had to begin an intense search for a machine that had the features I wanted combined with good value. I finally found it with this Cuisinart model.
  
  The advantages? For one, it makes excellent and HOT coffee. The carafe is solidly constructed and fits securely in square body so there's no chance of someone accidentally knocking it loose. Because the lid fits tightly, the pour is precisely narrow and smooth, with no side leaks even when the pot is full. The basket fits inside the housing instead of swinging free like so many models which prevents a misalignment between the water and the filter; the conical (Krups/Braun style) basket accepts both paper filters and gold-tone, although I learned the hard way that not all gold filters fit. The timer is very easy to program, as is the clock. The carafe warmer can be set at low, medium, or high for the temperature that's right for you. I found the "high" setting too hot since I drink my coffee black (I like my coffee hot but not scalding!), but those who add a lot of milk might appreciate it. The brewing is quick and efficient, with the process taking about a minute a cup, maybe less. The retro/stainless look complements most modern kitchen décors. There's a 1-4 cup setting to make sure such small amounts stay hot, and you can select how long the warmer remains on. The pot beeps five times when brewing is complete and just before the warming plate shuts off. Parts are top rack dishwasher safe. It comes with a water filter system designed to improve the taste of the brew.
  
  But the Cuisinart does have disadvantages. The water reservoir is located on the right side, in the back, which makes it a little challenging for lefties like me to dump the final bit of water inside even though the carafe pours very accurately. Although I haven't yet missed the opening, I do struggle briefly with those last few drops unless I use my right hand. The housing is fairly tall, so if your counter space is only under the cabinets, you may not be able to lift the top in its entirety. (This is when the small rear reservoir becomes a major issue as you have to have room to completely lift the rather large top toward the back.) Clearance required: 7.5" wide by 8.5" deep of counter space with no overhead obstruction to pull out for filling OR 21.5" of overhead space to fully lift top. Without the top open, the coffee maker measures 7.5"w x 8.5"d x 14.25"h.
  
  If you have the space for this coffee maker, you'll love it. I can't attest to how long it will last, but, as it comes with a three year warranty, I'm hoping for a good run.
  
  

• Read This One! The problems are fixed on the current models.

  
  By ALYOX26LFLP2V on 2002-11-22
  Folks, this is one excellent coffee maker. I read the comments here and decided to get it even though some had complained of spillage when lifting the lid and also the coffee not being hot enough. Well I can tell you that when I lift the lid on mine, the water rolls to the back and then drips back into the machine on a nifty little lip attached to the back of the machine. It appears that Cuisinart has engineered a solution for the complaints of spilled water that some reviewers mention. Also, the coffee coming out of the carafe of my machine has steam drifting off of it, so it is plenty hot, another complaint that seems to have been remedied. There were also a couple of complaints about finger prints on the stainless and the small LED clock being hard to read, but let's be for real, all brushed stainless appliances will fingerprint and this is a very stylish coffee maker, not a kitchen clock(that's what your microwave is for! (wink)). Actually I think the Cuisinart guys intended the clock for autoprogramming functions and made it LED to match the stainless on the machine. And if you don't like the water filter, you don't have to use it. It is a nicety and can be readily found if you search the net for "dcc1200 water filter".
  Enough defending complaints though. This machine makes superb coffee. It has the best carafe I have ever used(it will not spill a drop and it has a built-in plastic rim to keep you from busting it on the sink). It comes with a gold metal filter. Buy it and you will like it. And if for some strange reason you don't, then take it back. All jabs aside, this is an outstanding machine in form as well as function, and the people at Cuisinart obviously care what their customers think of their products. That means alot to me. How about you???
  
  
• Design Flaws Aplenty
  By A28J1OWDX35U77 on 2007-07-03
  OK, I admit it, I bought this machine because I thought it looked terrific, cool design, heavy duty manufacture, and I was fond of the retro-chic of the dials and switches, like an airplane dashboard from thirty years ago. The machine, however, has several design flaws that have greatly mitigated my warm feelings.
  
  For one thing, the water reservoir into which you pour the water is located in the very back of the machine, next to the hinge for the lid. It is awkward to use, the opening is too small, and your water often either splashes out of the back or into the coffee grounds.
  
  Second, the hot water comes out of the lid and onto the grounds, but when closed, the lid is too close to the grounds and gets a lot of backsplash. The grounds end up adhered to the lid which must be wiped off every time you use it or it will clog. But when you wipe it actually pushes the grounds into the spray head. Also, if you fill the (too small) gold filter while it is seated in the machine you are very likely to get grounds into the water reservoir which then necessitates a difficult cleaning of the entire works. And I suspect that even if you fill it and then place it in the machine, the grounds sometimes get splashed into the reservoir during the brewing process.
  
  The gold filter that fits this machine is too small. We like our coffee strong and if you put in enough coffee for a whole 12 cup pot, it expands into the works and again clogs everything making you have to clean it.
  
  Lastly, within about two weeks of our purchasing the machine, the little thingy at the bottom of the filter holder fell out (it is held in by a rubber band) and now we can no longer pull the pot out in the middle of the brew cycle (a convenient feature for those of us who are impatient and/or in a hurry) but must wait until the whole pot is made to get that first cup.
  
  In sum, a beautiful and indeed heavy duty machine, but quite flawed. I liked our old Braun maker much better.
  
  
  
• Design flaw
  By A3PEOF0GX4EN38 on 2005-07-17
  This is a beautiful coffee pot and the brew was terrific. No complaints there. My problem was with the design and layout of the clock. When the coffee was brewing, excessive steam would rise and completely disable the clock. The steam would get inside the mechanism which could only shorten the life of the timer I so desperately needed. It would take an hour to regain visibility and after a week, I returned it as defective. The second pot did exactly the same thing and I decided there must be better out there. I can't recommend this great looking coffee pot, even though it made a really good cup of coffee.
  
  
• Plusses and Minuses
  By A283BJKXJVEZ9E on 2005-07-18
  I've had the Cuisinart DCC-1200 for about a week now. I was hesitant to spend so much on a coffee maker but I'm happy to report it's well worth it. Sure, you can get other brands of coffee makers for under $25 if economy is the most important feature, but I've had those machines and I decided that, this time, a good cup of coffee was most important for me. This unit makes the best coffee I've had in a home or office machine and better than most coffee I've had in restaurants.
  
  This coffee tastes smooooooth! I suspect the charcoal water filter is the reason for that. I also like the "shower head" design of the water spout. The water actually runs up a track onto the underside of the lid and is sprinkled over the ground coffee like a rain shower.
  
  It's an attractive unit but it also looks like a serious coffee maker. This unit is no toy. It looks and feels solid. The carafe has a good solid feel and balance. The plastic parts (like the plastic carafe lid and handle) feel like good heavyweight plastic and are well molded. It's not the lightweight crappy plastic that cracks and discolors easily in the cheap coffee makers.
  
  I like the 5 beeps when the coffee is ready. Now I can leave the kitchen and go clean or whatever and I don't have to keep running back to see if I can get a cup yet. I can hear the beeps. But if I really can't wait and want a cup in mid-brew, I can just remove the pot and pour a cup - you've got a full 30 seconds to reinsert the pot, before you risk an overflowing filter.
  
  I like the permanent gold-tone filter too. I always thought paper filters were a pain. They'd fold over sometimes and there'd be grounds in my coffee. But you can use paper filters in this machine if you want to. I just prefer the convenience of the gold-tone filter (top rack machine washable too).
  
  It has an indicator light for cleaning -- it says it's "self-cleaning" but really it's just a light telling you when you need to pour in a pot of water/vinegar and run it through to decalcify the unit. (I never thought to do that with my other units. Probably another reason my coffee wasn't as good as I wanted it to be.)
  
  The low-medium-high setting on the hot plate is pretty nice too. And the auto-shutoff feature is great. I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn the machine off.
  
  The instruction booklet is very good and very thorough. Comes with a parts reordering form too.
  
  What don't I like about this machine? It requires maintenance in that you have to change the charcoal filters. But actually I don't mind since I think they are the reason the coffee tastes so smooth, and they are very easy to change and not expensive [...]
  
  Also, the area in the top of the machine where you pour in the water is narrow but again this is just a minor inconvenience. Just have to pour a little carefully.
  
  So really it's almost all positives with a couple of very minor negatives. I highly recommend this coffee maker.
  
  
• A good coffee pot with some design flaws that quickly become obvious
  By A1FHUYGO3OWWRF on 2006-05-20
  So, our Krups coffee maker died and we needed a replacement. The wife had a gift certificate to Amazon so we started shopping there. The newest Krups didn't get very good reviews but this Cuisinart sounded promising. After all, the gift certificate covered it. We got the white and stainless model.
  
  Good points--it looks good and makes a good cup of coffee. But it took a few pots to figure out how to get a good cup of coffee out of this pot. After fiddling with the amount of water and the amount of coffee and then finally using the gold filter for a pot, we got some good tasting Joe. We have four or five gold filters from various pots we've had over the years and none of them ever got any use--until now. Using unbleached paper filters with this pot resulted in weak, unflavorful coffee. Don't know why, but we were disappointed until we tried the gold filter.
  
  Bad points---there's quite a few of them.
  
  What time is it? Unless you have the pot on a shelf that is eyelevel, you will not be able to see the clock. Not much of a problem until you have to set the program for auto brew. You have to get in a stooped position to see the time settings and this really hacks me off. What genius came up with this?
  
  What program are you using? On the white model, the knob that selects the program has one tiny black line inside one of the knurls of the knob. If there is a bright light directly over the pot, I suppose you can see it okay. In our kitchen, the pot is under overhead cabinets that cast a shadow. The setting line looks the same as the knurls of the knob. If there was one nice big dot on the front of the knob, you would be able to tell what you were doing. Again, who was this design genius?
  
  Let's wash the carafe. If you have the black model, you'll never notice this but if you have the white model.... The top of the carafe has a plastic lip that surrounds the rim. Coffee will get underneath this lip and evaporate, leaving a nice ugly ring of old coffee stains. How would you clean it? By taking apart the carafe, I guess. The genius strikes again.
  
  Fireworks. No, not really. But this pot crackles and snaps the whole time it's on. I have no idea what's going on with it but it's distracting. Read the morning newspaper and listen to the popping in the kitchen. Nice way to start the day. I don't know if this was a design genius idea or it's just this particular pot.
  
  Yeah, condensation does drip down the back of the lid but that's not a big concern to me. I have no problem pouring water into the reservoir or pouring the coffee into a cup. In fact, the carafe drips a lot less than any previous one I've used.
  
  Now, the bad points I listed is stuff you can live with but you really shouldn't have to. We're living with the poor ergonomics, at least for now. But beware: it's not as great a coffee pot as some of the reviewers would have you believe and it's certainly not the world's five-star coffee maker designed in heaven.
  
  Now, the real disappointment. Right after we got this pot, we decided to replace the Mr Coffee we have in our RV. The wife found a DeLonghi 12-cup coffee maker at Target for $30. We figured, what the heck, at that price we can toss it out after a year if we don't like it. And it was only going to get occasional use when we use the RV anyway. When she brought it home, I plugged it in and discovered everything that was wrong with the Cuisinart was right with the DeLonghi. The clock is put in at an angle so you can read it, the controls are readable and set-up and use didn't even require reading the instruction book. First cup of coffee out of the pot was better than the Cuisinart.
  
  I'm thinking of having coffee in the RV in the mornings.
  
  
• Strikingly Retro
  By A1TPW86OHXTXFC on 2007-04-13
  Yep, a darn good looking coffee maker- retro steel and sparkling black. Easy to understand directions, the glass carafe is classy looking and easy to handle. The on/off button right up front. A clock for all seasons, and if I want my coffee at 0600, I can program it for that time. A lovely gold tone filter that can be removed and washed efficiently. The usual charcoal filter that requires a few minutes soak. A price that is affordable and wonders of all, one of the best cups of coffee I have made at home! Whooppee! I am in heaven.
  Heartily recoommended. prisrob 04-12-07
  
  
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• A Coffee Maker for the Wanna-Be Connoisseur
  By A2RO40LIBUA67E on 2006-08-25
  The unit itself is a beautiful matt black that fits with any kitchen's decor. It's a very sturdy unit and just the "heft" of it pleased me. The unit comes with a few paper filters, a scoop, and one charcoal water filter. Having the filter built-in to the unit is going to be a real convenience. The manufacturer recommends replacing the filter every 60 days, so you're going to want to lay in a supply, but fortunately these are easily obtained directly from Cuisinart and they may be available from Amazon, but I haven't been able to find them. The paper filters are actually optional, due to the included gold-tone filter, but I've found it's a lot easier to clean out the basket by just dumping out the paper filter and, as others have noted, you get a better tasting brew.
  
  If you grind your coffee, you need to be aware that any coffee maker can overflow if you grind the beans too fine - they'll plug up the outlet, so don't get carried away. This is coffee, not espresso. Also, I seen where others have mentioned that it's difficult to measure how much water is in the brewer and all I can think of is that normally you have an external water level somewhere that you can see and people are used to those. The Brew Central has a stepped-measure in the machine that I find easier to use. It's hard to describe, so I'll post a picture of when I get a chance. But the reason I like it is that while your pouring the water in, your looking right at the level and not testing your eye-hand coordination by pouring water while your looking someplace else.
  
  All-in-all, very pleased with the Brew Central. The coffee tastes great, stays hot, and the no spill carafe is a joy. Highly recommended.
  
  
• Superb Coffeemaker
  By A1GG7Z2GXJ1ANE on 2002-10-08
  Listen to me, folks. Stop shopping around. This is the coffeemaker you should purchase. My friends, co-workers, and family members were beginning to show concern for my pathological obsession with my own search for the perfect coffeemaker. I began with a Krups. The coffee was not warm enough. I moved onto a KitchenAid Pro 12, which was excellent and would be my second recommendation. (Only complaints: The cord is too big, as are all KitchenAid cords, and the exterior water level indicator is not readable.) When my ex-fiancee kept the KitchenAid after the split, I tried the 4-cup model, but that was a huge disappointment. Too many problems to list. Don't waste your time. Finally, I found the Cuisinart, and have been happy ever since. This model has everything I was looking for: a water filter, cone-shaped basket, program capability, etc. The look and design of the Cuisinart was a big selling point for me, as well: sophisticated without being pretentious. Also, whether I use Folger's or freshly-ground Gevalia, guests always compliment my coffee now. There is a slight problem with condensation that drips down the back when the lid is lifted, and fingerprints show up easily, but these are minor issues when the coffee is this good. In fact, these complaints don't warrant so much as a half-star reduction. I believe you will be very happy with this coffeemaker.
  
  
• Best Coffeemaker that I have ever owned..Hands Down
  By on 2003-09-03
  The Cuisinart DCC 1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker is the best coffeemaker that I have ever owned. I have been using it for the last several months and have not regreted making this purchase. I looked at other manufacturers of coffeemakers, Braun, Krups, and the like, but I felt that they didn't offer what this coffeemaker has to offer. I love the retro style with the stainless steel look. It's a breeze to program and if you don't need 12 cups a coffee, you press one button on the front and you can make a great small pot of coffee. It by far makes the best pot of coffee that I have ever tasted, and since I roast my own coffee at home I should know.

  There are a couple of minor issues, but they are so minor it isn't a large drawback to the machine. It can be a chore to pour in the water and with it large size, with top lid open, you have to pull it out from under the upper kitchen cabinets to fill. It's a minor inconvenience, but when you use it daily you slowly find little tricks that make those minor issues seem to disappear. Others have complained about not seeing the clock very well, but why depend on your coffeemaker to tell time when it is really there to be programmed to wake up to a hot pot of delicious coffee. The condensation issue hasn't been a problem for me, so I can't comment on that issue that some have had with this coffeemaker.

  I will say that if you are looking for a great coffemaker, then this is the one for you. It's a bit more money than most coffeemakers, but I think that for the money this coffeemaker is the best bang for the buck and you will never regret owning one.
  
  

• A Fabulous Coffeemaker! Buy The Best - It's Worth It!!
  By A1RECBDKHVOJMW on 2004-05-30
  I recently decided that it was time to buy a new coffeemaker and wanted the BEST! I did my research thoroughly, online and by word-of-mouth, and decided on Cuisinart's DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker. This terrific gadget arrived a week ago and I am thrilled with it.

  I love my coffee and usually make time to have at least one, if not two, 12 oz. mugs of freshly brewed java before I leave the house in the AM. Although this is a 12 cup coffeemaker, the settings are geared for a 5 oz. cup. So, for those of you who think a 12 cup machine is too much, this factor should be considered. Coffee is 98% water and if the quality of water used is not good, your final result won't be either. Cuisinart's DCC-1200 has a charcoal water filter that removes chlorine, calcium, bad tastes and odors. The self-cleaning feature is terrific and a warning light will flash to notify when calcium buildup is interfering with the machine's functioning mechanism. Programming for delayed brew time is a snap with the LCD digital clock. One of the features I like best is the heater plate control knob. I like my coffee steaming hot - and this feature assures that I can control the temperature of the nonstick heating plate. The machine also looks great on my kitchen counter.

  I had thought about buying a combination coffeemaker/coffee grinder and decided against it. Apparently, many combination machines leave a sludgy residue and are a hassle to clean. I preferred using my own grinder, which is easy to clean, and this coffee maker - also very easy to clean and maintain. This machine is a coffee lover's dream!!

  I bought the BEST! Very highly recommended!!
  JANA
  
  

• Geat little coffee maker!
  By A2VIBW6JFZ10MQ on 2006-07-23
  I had been using an old, inexpensive Krups coffee maker before I switched to this one and wow, what a difference! I never knew there could be so much difference between a $40 coffee maker and an $80 one, but there really is. I'm the type of person that really loves coffee; I don't just drink it to wake up, I truly love the taste and would drink it all day long if I could. The coffee from this Cuisinart is so hot, so strong and so flavorful! If I had to complain about one thing, it's that the water fill level is inside the machine so it's sort of hard to read unless you have a strong light directly over the coffee maker. Otherwise I would have given this one five stars. Great cup of joe!
  
  
• Many Down Sides But Brews Good Tasting Coffee
  By AH9737KI440JL on 2004-02-06
  THE GOOD:

  1. The brewed coffee tastes very good - and you might think that would be enough.

  2. It's attractive enough.

  3. Nice carafe.

  THE BAD:

  1. The water needs to be poured into a slim opening and if you're not very careful slops over the sides. Who wants to be that careful when they need coffee?

  2. There is no external water gauge - you need to look down into the water resevoir to see how full it is.

  3. The control panel - why so many steps? Rather than just turning to BREW you need to turn to brew and then press the ON button. Same for everything else - auto set for a later time, then turn it on. It's not a great chore, but why 2 steps rather than 1 for every function?

  4. THE ALARM! It produces a high pitched alarm every time coffee is brewed! AND YOU CAN'T DEACTIVATE IT!

  This is a problem in my house because my spouse and I wake up at different times, but both want coffee when we get up. So whoever gets up first gets coffee - but whoever is still sleeping gets a high pitched ALARM while they're trying to snooze.

  The alarm can come in handy, and I've had other pots with the function, but it's absolutely insane that cuisinart added this function with NO ability for the consumer to deactivate it.

  I recommend the KitchenAid KCM400WH Pro 12 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker instead. That was the product I replaced after it was damaged. It was a very fine coffee maker with all the good points and none of the bad.
  
  

• Pretty on my counter, but has design flaws...
  By A3NIXZNOIRCFAT on 2005-11-02
  I have a love hate relationship with this product. I love the way it looks, but it has two major design flaws. After six months of use, I have learned to work around these flaws, but I would not recommend this coffee maker to a friend.
  
  I have two issues with this coffee maker. First, the burner where the pot sits is very shallow and if the carafe is not placed exactly right on that burner, the water will not drain into the pot but get trapped in the brew basket until it overflows all over everything. When we first got this coffee maker, this happened AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. Many, many times have both my husband and I thought it was placed properly only to come back and find coffee all over the counter and grinds in the pot. I have become fastidious in noting the position of the carafe and so this happens to me only occasionally now, but it still happens to my husband a lot.
  
  My other complaint is that the water reservoir is at the VERY back of the coffee maker, and the water indicator is built INSIDE of the reservoir so that I have to pull the coffee maker way out and look STRAIGHT DOWN into it to see how many cups of water are indicated. It cannot be viewed any other way. I have learned to just measure carefully in the pot at the faucet, but why such a poor design? It is inconvienient at best.
  
  Since an upscale coffee maker like this is a significant investment, I think the consumer deserves a more thoughfully designed product for the price. In my opinion, it's a classic case of form over function.
  
  
• Preferred this over the Grind & Brew Thermal
  By A1LX9GSMN66L7E on 2006-06-05
  We got a Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal (DBG-600) as a gift but returned it and got this DCC-1200 model instead, largely on the weight of reviews that consistently reported difficulties in cleaning the inside grind/brew area of the DGB-600. But we've realized other important differences as well.
  
  A timer's pointless for us, since the kids (and therefore us) wake up at variable times. And a grinder might wake them up earlier than natural.
  
  The DCC-1200, like the DGB-600), has a 24-hour programmable timer and brew-pause function (neither of which we use), a charcoal water filter (which does, indeed, make a taste difference), and a smaller portion brewing option (forcing water through at a different rate, to maximize flavor in less water but the same size grounds container and pot).
  
  The DCC-1200 lacks the grinder we wouldn't use, and a double-walled caraffe that might be nice (both of which the DGB-600 have), but includes a decalcification indicator, a heat-adjustable warming plate (I don't like my coffee HOT, just very warm), and a programmable shut-off (1, 2, or 4 hours) rather than an auto shutoff (which would leave coffee cold before I got to my 2nd cup).
  
  Also, with a larger grounds bin and caraffe, the DCC-1200 holds 20% more grounds and could make 20% more coffee (60 oz vs 50) - though I tend to make fewer stronger cups.
  
  Fine machine, great coffee, and easy to clean - yahoo. :)
  
  
• Doesn't make the coffee hot enough
  By A93Q94IOGXF6P on 2002-07-04
  First of all, this is a very nice-looking coffee maker with a restaurant-quality appearance and has really useful features, like the programmability and the variable auto-off, good coffee flavor, and the little beep that lets you know you can start pouring your first cup is really cool. However, I'm taking this unit back to the store tomorrow for a refund because, as another reviewer has stated here, this coffee maker does not make the coffee quite hot enough. At first I noticed the 3-way warming switch was factory-set on "medium", so I thought no problem, I'll just switch it to "hot" setting and that'll take care of the less-than-restaurant-temperature hot. No, I couldn't tell much difference. So, then I tried using the 1-4 cup button that is supposed to make the water twice as hot- still not hot as it should be, if any hotter at all. So, I decided that for a hundred bucks, I'm not happy with this discrepancy and back to the store it'll go.
  
  
• Different breed of cat
  By AX7SUGXBGO5MC on 2003-01-08
  Just brewed my 1st cup of coffee with the Brew Central DCC-1200.

  Before my purchase through Amazon I read all 58 reviews of this product and was concerned about the 50-50 division of opinion on the quality of the brew, whether it was hot enough (I need it hot), and the water mess on the counter when the cover was raised. I should add that I recently purchased and returned a Krups (great coffee but a clunker for endurance--froze up twice after a few months operation) and Capresso (dull, undrinkable coffee).

  My empiracle assessment of the DCC-1200 is that:
  1. The brew is superior;
  2. It is hot--can't see how it could be hotter;
  3. A plastic lip connected to the reservoir cover on the back of the machine catches any condensation runoff when the cover is raised.
  
  

• Fantastic coffee maker - if you have the space
  By A23GFTVIETX7DS on 2004-04-03
  When my Braun FlavorSelect coffee maker unexpectedly stopped working, I had to scramble to find a new machine. I wanted another Braun, but unfortunately, they seem to have stopped making a 12 cup coffee maker. So I had to begin an intense search for a machine that had the features I wanted combined with good value. I finally found it with this Cuisinart model.

  The advantages? For one, it makes excellent and HOT coffee. The carafe is solidly constructed and fits securely in square body so there's no chance of someone accidentally knocking it loose. Because the lid fits tightly, the pour is precisely narrow and smooth, with no side leaks even when the pot is full. The basket fits inside the housing instead of swinging free like so many models which prevents a misalignment between the water and the filter; the conical (Krups/Braun style) basket accepts both paper filters and gold-tone, although I learned the hard way that not all gold filters fit. The timer is very easy to program, as is the clock. The carafe warmer can be set at low, medium, or high for the temperature that's right for you. I found the "high" setting too hot since I drink my coffee black (I like my coffee hot but not scalding!), but those who add a lot of milk might appreciate it. The brewing is quick and efficient, with the process taking about a minute a cup, maybe less. The retro/stainless look complements most modern kitchen décors. There's a 1-4 cup setting to make sure such small amounts stay hot, and you can select how long the warmer remains on. The pot beeps five times when brewing is complete and just before the warming plate shuts off. Parts are top rack dishwasher safe. It comes with a water filter system designed to improve the taste of the brew.

  But the Cuisinart does have disadvantages. The water reservoir is located on the right side, in the back, which makes it a little challenging for lefties like me to dump the final bit of water inside even though the carafe pours very accurately. Although I haven't yet missed the opening, I do struggle briefly with those last few drops unless I use my right hand. The housing is fairly tall, so if your counter space is only under the cabinets, you may not be able to lift the top in its entirety. (This is when the small rear reservoir becomes a major issue as you have to have room to completely lift the rather large top toward the back.) Clearance required: 7.5" wide by 8.5" deep of counter space with no overhead obstruction to pull out for filling OR 21.5" of overhead space to fully lift top. Without the top open, the coffee maker measures 7.5"w x 8.5"d x 14.25"h.

  If you have the space for this coffee maker, you'll love it. I can't attest to how long it will last, but, as it comes with a three year warranty, I'm hoping for a good run.
  
  

• Excellent
  By on 2003-12-23
  Disregard the "very disappointing" review -- it's talking about the combo grinder/brewer and not this product. I've had the brew central for a couple of weeks now and it makes the best pot of coffee I have ever tasted. Very hot, and the little shower head over the grinds does seem to make for a stronger brew.
  It's bulky, certainly, but is an excellent machine. The white/steel finish is much brighter than the trendy, mod, black-on-steel favored in last year's kitchens.
  
  
• Just can't get enough
  By A2WWA42EUT36JC on 2003-03-17
  That's right, I can't get enough of this coffee maker. Sure, I thought it was a little pricey, but it's been a big hit. My husband is a major coffee drinker, often drinking 2 pots a day (yes he has a problem). However, when searching for the new coffee maker I was torn. The Braun costing approx. $40 dollars less or the Cuisinart. I have been happy with the choice. The stronger glass on the pot was a huge selling point especially for clumsy morning hands. The other was appearance, this metal finish was perfect for my husband who loves the look of industrial. The coffee is superior, flavorful, strong, and very HOT! (One promise by the manuf. is that this pot will deliver the hottest coffee with the most flavor). We love the features my fav is the beep at the end of the brew cycle. Helps get the husband out of bed. Downsides: Small pour opening for water and the lack of ability to adust the strength of the brew which is a feat. in the Braun. Advantages: It looks sexy, the adjustable warming time and temp, and according to my checks the filters for this comaired to the Braun are less expensive (saving a little dough & they can be picked up at Bed Bath & Beyond) & the fact that we love it!!
  
  
• Style AND Substance
  By A2YBRVEJZC5S7J on 2002-02-24
  After MUCH comparing of coffee makers I decided on the Cuisinart. Yes, it's beautiful but is it worth taking up space on your counter? I absolutely love this thing. It makes good HOT coffee and did I mention that it was beautiful? Others have complained about it being hard to pour the water in? I haven't had any problem with it. If you use the carafe that comes with the unit it has a nice pointy spout that easily pours into the tank. I have gotten rid of my Brita water filter as a result of buying this pot as it also comes with a water filtration system of it's own. Make sure that you have space for this that is NOT under a cabinet as it's rather tall and you'd have to slide it out from under the cabinet to open the top. I also have started to leave the top cracked open for a few hours after I'm through with it to allow the condensation to evaporate. Sometimes quality kitchen items have to be handled with a little extra care you wouldn't put your Sabatier knives in the dishwasher would you? I also found the price very reasonable for the quality of this item and I can't even remember the last time I said THAT!
  And - it IS beautiful afterall.
  
  
• Finally a dripless carafe
  By A26I4O8Y80OFDP on 2003-08-20
  I have used Krups, Braun, Mr. Coffee and others,but I am impressed with this coffee maker. It does not have a door to swing open, the carafe is absolutely dripless!, the controls are above the carafe and out of the way if coffee is spilled, it is easy to program, and best of all it makes a great cup of coffee. Thanks.
  
  
• Good from the first drop...
  By on 2002-03-02
  When my fiancee and I saw this coffeemaker, we knew we had to put it on our wedding registry. Sure enough, a good friend of my finacee's, knowing how much she and I love our morning coffee, bought it for my fiancee's bridal shower. Not only does the Cuisinart look really cool [I love the stainless steel, and the toggle switch and dials instead of buttons]it brews a great cup of coffee.

  It has a built in charcoal water filter similar to what you'd find in your average Brita pitcher [only smaller]. It comes with it's own conical permanent filter, that comes easily out for cleaing with a swinging handle. Even the basin in which the filter rests comes out for cleaing. Both are easily replaced. The Caraf is not likely to spill, and is sleek. [It also holds 12 cups].

  The Maker has a self-cleaning mode for cleaning out calcified deposits.

  It has a 1-4 cup heater that allows you to brew just enough for that on the go mug in the morning, and still get nice hot coffee.

  It's vey easy to program the automatic start times. Just dial to the "program" mode, and set the time. Then dial back to "auto start" and turn it on! It has three settings for how warm you want the caraf to be kept, and it allows you to adjust the automatic shut off time.

  Replacement water filters are 10 bucks on the website, and need to be replaced every 3-6 months depending on how much coffee you brew.

  You can also use the maker without the filter, if you wish.

  All in all...it's a classy product, which looks and works great.
  
  

• Have had two defective ones, don't buy this unit!
  By A3FIT9V4F33WLI on 2005-03-05
  The first one I bought was a factory refurbished unit which lasted less than three months and the pump stopped working. I wrote to Cuisinart twice, and never received a response. I was frustrated, and purchased a second unit, first quality, new from Costco thinking it was just bad luck. It lasted less than 2 days. I returned the unit to Costco, and stood behind another customer who had returned three of the units and finally purchased a Krups stainless steel model that I did also, and have had no problems. If you search the internet, you will see that there are many of this for sale as "factory reconditioned." I think they have a problem with this unit, and cannot recommend this to anyone. Sorry Cuisinart, I have other products in your line, and will never buy another after this experience!
  
  
• Much preferred over other Cuisinart models
  By A1LX9GSMN66L7E on 2006-06-05
  We got a Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal (DBG-600) as a gift but returned it and got this DCC-1200 model instead, largely on the weight of reviews that consistently reported difficulties in cleaning the inside grind/brew area of the DGB-600. But we've realized other important differences as well.
  
  A timer's pointless for us, since the kids (and therefore us) wake up at variable times. And a grinder might wake them up earlier than natural.
  
  The DCC-1200, like the DGB-600), has a 24-hour programmable timer and brew-pause function (neither of which we use), a charcoal water filter (which does, indeed, make a taste difference), and a smaller portion brewing option (forcing water through at a different rate, to maximize flavor in less water but the same size grounds container and pot).
  
  The DCC-1200 lacks the grinder we wouldn't use, and a double-walled caraffe that might be nice (both of which the DGB-600 have), but includes a decalcification indicator, a heat-adjustable warming plate (I don't like my coffee HOT, just very warm), and a programmable shut-off (1, 2, or 4 hours) rather than an auto shutoff (which would leave coffee cold before I got to my 2nd cup).
  
  Also, with a larger grounds bin and caraffe, the DCC-1200 holds 20% more grounds and could make 20% more coffee (60 oz vs 50) - though I tend to make fewer stronger cups.
  
  Fine machine, great coffee, and easy to clean - yahoo. :)
  
  
• Buy the Grinder Separately
  By A193YKDRW0LKVO on 2004-04-29
  I love this coffee maker! It's looks and feels substantial, and the retro design and stainless steel exterior provide a sleek look on the counter. I was glad to FINALLY toss my OLD $100+ Cuisinart coffee maker in the trash! The old one had a built in grinder, which seemed like a clever idea when I bought it. But, after spending the last two years cleaning this monster, I had developed a hatred for the thing. The brewing process steamed every surface of the grinding apparatus, so the entire machine had to be thoroughly disassembled and washed every time-- and it had to be perfectly dry or it would clog up. I would never recommend that style maker! By contrast, this machine is easy to clean and simple in design. It has all the features you'd want without useless bells and whistles. The separate burr mill still gives you the fresh brew without the mess, and you just grind beans as you need them. You don't have to refill it every time, either. These two pieces look good together with similar style and durability. Criticisms? The simple liquid crystal time display is dim and hard to see during the day and unreadable at night. More importantly, there is no external gauge or window to show you how much water you are adding. The measurement gauge in inside the water reservoir and hard to view. The machine sits high on my counter and it is hard to look into the reservoir if you are using a spray nozzle on the sink to fill it. It's more accurate to fill the pot, then use that to fill the reservoir, but that takes twice as long and usually produces dribbles and spills.
  
  
• Will keep it cuz I bought it: Serious Caveat Emptor!
  By A8YV7A3UGM1Z9 on 2002-11-18
  ...P>Well anyway, I bought this Cuisninart...

  I did the charcoal filter soaking and a rehearsal run with plain tap water and then the actual first brew, just like the book said. Guys, no pretense, this is a cool looking coffee maker that goes nicely with my stainless steel appliance kitchen, but as for performance - there is not a whole lot to write home about. .

  First, the manual [did not meet my expectations]. If I had not read the reviews here, I would not have realized that the power cord could be hidden. Also the manual never talks about the gold toned permanent filter that is supplied.

  Second, whatever the charcoal filter is supposed to do, at the recommended changing frequency and the price of the filter (7.50 for two), I don't think I will ever buy a replacement.

  Third, the one feature that I thought was cool just reading the Amazon.com reviews was the three different temperature settings - but it turns out the temperatures are just the hot plate settings for the carafe not the brewing temperatures. And yes, the coffee is not that hot right out of the carafe. ... I will continue to use my ... 4 cup Mr. Coffee for everyday use and only use this for times when I have guests over.

  And oh yeah, it doesn't take much to put your finger prints all over its body.

  
  
  

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