DeLonghi DC55TCB Review

What the reviewers like:
During testing at The Wall Street Journal, the DeLonghi DC55TCB was deemed the best value for its great-tasting coffee and low price for a thermal-carafe coffee maker. Some owners say it looks nice on the countertop. A small number of owner-reviewers attribute other owners' problems to user error.

What the reviewers don't like:
Dozens of negative reviews from owners of the DeLonghi DC55TCB thermal carafe coffee maker overshadow the nice review in The Wall Street Journal. The main complaint is about the DeLonghi's design. Owners say the basket overflows if the carafe is not in the perfectly correct position on the plate. A few owners also complain that the DeLonghi coffee maker broke within a short time.

DeLonghi DC55TCB review highlights

Compared to other thermal-carafe coffee makers (or even to coffee makers in general), the DeLonghi DC55TCB doesn't usually stand out in reviews. Similarly priced models like the Zojirushi Fresh Brew (*est. $90) receive better reviews overall. Some owners say the basket can overflow, and other owners complain about overall durability.

We found the best professional review for the DeLonghi DC55TCB thermal-carafe coffee makers in a five-model test at The Wall Street Journal, where the DeLonghi is judged the best value. However, dozens of owner-written reviews at Amazon.com, Epinions and Target.com paint a less enthusiastic picture, cancelling out the positive review from The Wall Street Journal.

Also see full report: Coffee Makers

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. The Wall Street Journal
Warming Up to Thermal Coffee-Makers
Melissa Schorr
May 19, 2006

Editor Melissa Schorr enlists three Seattle-area coffee-roasting experts to help taste-test coffee from five thermal-carafe coffee makers. Models are also tested for temperature retention after four hours. Although the Capresso MT500 is judged best overall, the DeLonghi DC55TCB is rated the best value. Taste-testers liked its thick, flavorful coffee.

2. Amazon.com
DeLonghi DC55TCB reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

Amazon.com is a great source for owner-written coffee-maker ratings, and we found a wider variety of comments posted here than at Epinions. The majority of the nearly 40 owners who review the DeLonghi DC55TCB thermal-carafe coffee maker aren't too happy. Many owners complain over overflow. Another common complaint is that the carafe has to be in just the right spot or coffee won't flow into the pot. Others complain about durability and note that the coffee doesn't stay hot enough. Overall, the DeLonghi DC55TCB earns just 2.5 stars out of five, a lowly score.

3. Epinions
DeLonghi DC55TCB ratings
Contributors to Epinions

There are only a couple of reviews here for the DeLonghi DC55TCB thermal-carafe coffee maker, evenly spit between positive an negative. There are far more reviews for this model at Amazon.com.

4. Target.com
DeLonghi DC55TCB reviews
Contributors to Target.com

Of the six owners who rate the DeLonghi DC55TCB coffee maker (at the time of our visit), all of them rate it only one star out of a possible five. The common complaint is that the basket overflows when the carafe isn't in the exact right spot on the plate. Durability is also a problem.

Also see full report: Coffee Makers

DeLonghi DC55TCB Review