Coffee & Espresso Makers Tips

Cuisinart Brew Central™ DCC-1200W 12-Cup Coffee Maker Product Technical DetailsEMGDCC1200W Key FeaturesTypeCoffee MakerBuilt-in Water Fi...

Cuisinart 12 Cup Brew Central is a keeper updated 06/16/07 Cuisinart Brew Central DCC 1200W 12 Cup Coffee Maker *Please see update on bottom* Cuisinart 12-Cup Brew Central Programmable Coffeemaker DCC-1200 I have ...

Cuisinart DCC-1200 12 Cup Coffeemaker

Revised to add comments about the carafe temperature control.

You will like this product in spite of the relatively high price. Marilyn got ours at a large employee discount. Thank you, Mervyn’s. After a year of use, this friend of the consumer has won us over. We use the whole 12 cups nearly every day. In general, nearly everything we have put through it is palatable but we still temper it with a flavored creamer - cut 50% with skim milk. It is a fast worker, quiet and easy to program. As a rule, the coffee will be ready before we are. We are not slouches, our Mugs hold 2 cups each and we usually get 3 refills, depending upon who gets there first.

CAVEAT

As with all other coffeemakers we have tried over the years, Cuisinart is not wholly immune from the dreaded overflow disaster. That is why I mention “Pyrex” - to limit the damage we ALWAYS set the coffeemaker in a flat dish 2″ Deep x 12″ x 14″. That dish will catch and contain the 12 cups of Water/Coffee that will otherwise flood the counter and floor below. Sorry, but that is life and the only better prevention is Instant Coffee. Overflows are caused by a number of things some of which are: 1. Coffee ground too fine, mixed with regular grind; 2. Improper insertion of the carafe into its holder; and sloppy insertion of the paper filter.

On the Pleasant Side

Use it right out of the box. It comes with everything you need but the place to put it.

The Carafe is graduated to the advertised maximum of 12 Cups. When you pour (Keep the spout cover on while doing this) you will be pleased to see that the tank also holds 12 Cups. Almost exactly.

As noted, carafe placement can determine what kind of day you will have. The receptacle is made of slick surface materials but it is possible to ‘hang it up’ ever so slightly. If you succeed, the spring loaded drain valve will not open, the basket where the grind is put will overfill after 2/12 of the water has been pumped in. After that, the other 10/12 will wash the grounds out of the basket and flood your kitchen. This has actually happened to us only once so far. Thanks to the “Pyrex” habit, we saved the kitchen. And the day.

The ground coffee may be placed right in the basket; which happens to be one of those expensive “Gold” filters. Cleaning out the used grounds can be problem; we used them for a while on a red ant nest but they did not appreciate it. They did go away for a while. We usually place a #4 paper filter cone right into the Gold filter. Take care to fold the creased edges so that the paper does not protrude above the basket rim. (We think that condition caused the paper filter to collapse, fold itself over and allow the grounds to escape into the carafe and elsewhere).

Of course, the easiest way is from the Gold Filter into the Waste Disposer.

I don’t like that solution because of potential downstream problems; we pay the sewer district to maintain and operate the water treatment plant - no sense in adding to their woes and our utility bills.

Cuisinart must have searched the earth for the engineer who designed the body of this coffeemaker. Whoever it is, kudos. The works/innards/timers, switches, lights are all AT THE TOP of the body. That is some 8″ above high water mark. We had a Gevalia that was free so we were told. I won’t go into the hidden costs but will say that the Gevalia drowned itself in its little “Pyrex” wading pool. DO NOT buy any Coffeemaker with the controls in the base.

Forgotten Feature:

Like your fresh coffee hot? Cuisinart’s DCC 1200 has a three position switch to set the carafe contents temperature to “L - M - H” positions. It won’t hurt to translate these cryptic markings: L(ow) - M(edium) - Hot).

I prefer the H setting; with other Coffeemakers, I moved my filled mug to our AMANA Microwave for a 25 second burst. I don’t think Cuisinart saves electricity but it is nice to think so.

Finally, the brushed metal finish should be classy addition to your kitchen.

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