Coffee Maker Reviews

The Cuisinart Brew Central DC-1200 is the most frequently recommended coffee maker in reviews. With an automatic shutoff feature, clear window to monitor water levels and pre-programming capabilities, reviews say this… expandcoffee maker is a great deal for the price. On the downside, there is some criticism of the carafe; a number of owners say the carafe leaks during pouring. The glass carafe rests on a warming plate, which some reviews say does an adequate job of maintaining heat. Experts, however, prefer thermal carafes because they don't contribute to a bitter taste. collapse

Thermal coffee makers are preferred by experts, who say that glass carafes and warming plates allow acidic buildup in coffee after just a few minutes, which can make coffee taste bitter. Thermal coffee makers, like the… expandCapresso MT500, make use of insulated walls to maintain the ideal temperature for serving coffee. Reviews say the Capresso MT500 Coffee Maker can keep coffee warm for about four hours; some reviewers suggest it's still drinkable after a full eight hours in the carafe. Thermal carafes are also useful for serving coffee outdoors, such as on a patio, without constantly running inside to refill. The Capresso Coffee Maker offers programming features and automatic shutoff. collapse

The Zojirushi Fresh Brew costs half as much as the Capresso MT500 Coffee Maker above, and although its features are similar, there are some key differences in reviews. We found more complaints about breakdowns, dribbles… expandand ease of use than we did for the pricier Capresso thermal-carafe coffee maker. Still, the Zojirushi Fresh Brew coffee maker has legions of fans, who say its thermal carafe does a nice job keeping coffee hot for at least three hours. The Zojirushi coffee maker has a 10-cup capacity and a pause-and-serve feature as well as an LCD clock and removable filter basket. collapse

If you're looking for a simple coffee maker, reviews recommend the Mr. Coffee Switch DW12, which has a 12-cup capacity and clear sides to view how much water is in the reservoir. Aside from a pause and brew feature, it… expanddoesn't have special settings and there are no programming features, but users say they are satisfied with the coffee that the machine makes. The most common complaint is that the carafe tends to make a mess when coffee is poured from it. We found some other complaints about the pause brewing function, which some owners say doesn't work well, but most owners agree it's a great machine for the price. The Mr. Coffee Switch is available in white as the DW12, or in black as the DW13. collapse