Monday, August 31, 2009

Cuisinart DCC-2600 Brew Central 14-Cup Coffeemaker

Cuisinart DCC-2600 Brew Central 14-Cup Coffeemaker

Coffee lovers will find all their favorite features in this extra-large capacity coffeemaker. Flavor is a matter of taste, so Cuisinart now offers both regular strength and bold settings! And since temperature is important, too, we???ve included an adjustable heater plate that keeps coffee at the temperature selected. With a built-in 60-second memory in case the power goes out, and full programmability, this is a coffeemaker that???s easy to love!Features:Regular and Bold flavor strength settings.Fully automatic with 24-hour programmability, self-clean and 1 to 4-cup setting.Brew Pause??? feature lets you enjoy a cup of coffee before coffee has finished brewing.Easy to view water window for easy filling.14-cup (5 ounces each) carafe with ergonomic handle, dripless spout and knuckle guard.60-second reset ???remembers??? where it was in the brewing process and settings.Adjustable auto-shutoff - 0-4 hours.Gold tone filter and charcoal water filter.Adjustable heater plate with high, medium and low temperature settings.Instruction book included.

Customer Review: My new BEST friend!


Who in the world would have a coffee pot as a best friend? When you make and drink 5 to 7 pots of coffee a day you need a best friend. You need a friend who is there for you anytime you need one and that friend has to be consistent; i.e., one good pot after another. The DCC-2600 is my new best friend. In a short time it has performed better than its older cousin, the DCC-1200. The DCC-122 is still right up there with the DCC-2600; however, I wanted a 14 cupper and it is perfect.

The coffee tastes the same: great. It still takes about one minute per cup. That is perhaps a tad too much time but I don't care. I can always do something else while it is brewing. After all, a super cup of coffee is worth waiting a few minutes. I can always set the timer and have it ready when I awaken. The setting process is still simple enough for me to do. I really like being able to see the plain water display on the outside instead of having to strain and look over the top of the pot. That's a nice enhancement just as it the anti-drip change Cuisinart made.

I'm not an interior designer; however, I like the changes made to the outside appearances of this pot compared to the DCC-1200. I just looks better to me. The included gold filter is a nice touch and its inclusion should be a constant; however, I still prefer the cheap, paper filters. Paper filters are easier to clean up from than the gold filter. That is the only reason for my statement.

Best friends do not let you down and this pot pumps coffee without one retort. It works well and performs the job with vigor.


Customer Review: Love This Coffee Maker


We take coffee very seriously in my house and when our old Cuisinart broke I wasn't sure I wanted another. But they fixed the design problems (hard to pour the water without spilling, no visible water gauge) and it makes great coffee. Highly recommend it.

Cuisinart EM-100 1000-Watt 15-Bar Espresso Maker

Cuisinart EM-100 1000-Watt 15-Bar Espresso Maker

Imagine a cup of your favorite espresso, cappuccino or latte – hot, rich, fresh and flavorful – anytime you want it. The stainless steel Cuisinart® Espresso Maker is the real thing and looks like the professional it is. Make espresso in your own kitchen, then use the stainless steam nozzle and frothing cup to turn it into cappuccino or latte. You can even heat the cups on the warming plate on top – just like the pros! 15 bars of pressure guarantee perfect results!

Customer Review: Good Machine w/ Slight problem


This is the 3rd Espresso Machine I have used and the first one I purchased. My two previous roommates had krups machines that worked great and produced a good espresso w/ good crème. This machine is very good as well. It is relatively small, which works nicely cause I am limited on counter space. It heats up quickly (~ 1minute), steams milk quickly and easily and produces a good shot of espresso. My problem with the machine and reason for giving it a 3 star review is the beginnings of the espresso are watered down. I am using pods and for some reason when I first flip the switch and the machine begins producing espresso the first 3-5 seconds the liquid is almost clear. After a few seconds the liquid changes consistency and you can noticeably tell the difference. So, what I have been doing is just let the machine run for a few seconds before I slide my cup underneath. Using this method I get a fairly consistent shot w/ good crème. The more espresso shots you make the better/darker they become. My only problem is getting the first one to be as dark as the 2nd or 3rd.


Customer Review: Pretty Good for the money...


I spend way too much on coffee... so when I cashed in my coins I decided to look again at espresso machines. After reading lots of reviews, and comparing the worst that people had to say about a variety of machines (Think about it; if the worst people say is that its a little slow, or the steam wand drips- I can live with that... if reviews said, "it quits working after a few weeks" I avoided those, even if it got good reviews overall.) I finally took a chance on the Cuisinart... and although its only been a couple of weeks, I am pretty happy.

I grind the coffee fine (not extra) and pack it fairly firmly and the espresso is really pretty good. My first few draws were ok but it got better when I adjusted the grind to a little finer grind. The machine warms up pretty quickly, and I like the water tank (Its about an inch thick and fits on the back of the machine. You can lift it off to fill, or just open the lid and pour water in. I have not had any problems. If problems develop, I will add that to this review.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Cuisinart DGB-700BC

Cuisinart® introduces a fully programmable coffeemaker with a burr grinder for superior coffee. Our special burr grinder grinds the coffee without influencing the integrity of the bean, so the true flavor is maintained. The sealable bean hopper holds up to ahalf-pound of beans, and the strength selector and the grind control functions fine-tune intensity and volume. Its never been easier to make a great pot of coffee!
24-hour fully programmable, 12-cup (5 ounces each) capacity. Brew PauseTM feature lets you enjoy a cup before brewing is finished. Adjustable auto-shutoff (0-4 hours). Grind-off feature. 2 to 4 cup feature integrated into unit.

Customer Review: Awesome so far!


Now, granted...I'm coming off of 12 years of using a Black and Decker model with a manual Cuisinart blade grinder, so there is some level of satisfaction just from being able to program a machine to make coffee for me before I get up. :)

I cannot confirm what a lot of the negative reviews said. And I completely believe that some folks get duds and have to return them. It *will* happen during the manufacturing process of anything with complexity and you are FAR more likely to hear from those people than those who are pleased. The below are not exact quotes, but I'll paraphrase.

Complaints about the pot: "The pot has to be turned almost upside down to get the last of the coffee

home coffee maker

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Cuisinart (DBM8) Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill Coffee Grinder + Grindz Coffee Grinder Cleaner

A stylish grinder for the serious coffee buff, this Cuisinart Supreme Grind automatic burr mill provides plenty of options and good results in an attractive and tidy structure. This makes it a great appliance for houses where coffee is a steady dietary staple and preferences vary from espresso to French drip. Outfitted with a heavy-duty motor, the machine has 18 grind settings ranging from fine to extra-coarse, which are controlled by a clearly marked, pleasantly clicking dial. Rotate the hopper to personal preference, and the machine does the rest, using burr plates for a highly uniform grind that protects bean oils and releases more flavor. Automatic operation in this grinder covers quantity as well--simply set the amount slide control anywhere from 4 to 18 cups. The grinder shuts off when the desired level is reached. Transfer of ready grounds to a coffee pot or espresso group is quick and tidy, because the grind chamber slides out with its clever lid in place.

Cuisinart DCC-2200 Brew Central 14-Cup Coffeemaker

Includes Cuisinart Brew Central Coffeemaker Gold Tone filter Charcoal water filter Instruction book Measuring Scoop

Customer Review: Perfect Coffeemaker


We tried several coffeemakers prior to purchasing the Cuisinart DCC-2200. The Cuisinart is absolutely
the best.A great cup of coffee is supposed to be the result of using a coffeemaker and in the case of the DCC-2200 it is. The Cuisinart operates silently, quickly and without any spills when being filled. We have given these units as gifts to friends who appreciate a great cup of coffee.


Customer Review: Best Coffee Maker


I have purchased many coffee makers over the years, but this Cuisinart DCC-2200 is undoubtedly the best one yet that I've come across. It makes the best tasting coffee to my taste buds. I attribute part of this to the built in water filter. The coffee taste pretty consistent pot to pot. It also makes it hotter than other coffee pots that I've had, plus the warming plate keeps it nice and hot, hotter than other brands that I've owned. Another big plus, it's easy to clean after use. It's also a very attractive looking unit, looks nice sitting on the counter. They did a very nice job on this coffee maker.

The biggest negative to me is the clock display, it would be nice if it were larger and was lighted. Other than that, a big thumbs up.

Cuisinart DGB-550BK Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker

The Grind & Brew™ Coffeemaker form Cuisinart automatically grinds the beans right before brewing to produce a fresh and flavorful pot of coffee. Fully programmable with a brushed metal finish, this deluxe 12-cup coffeemaker will be right at home in any modern kitchen! Cuisinart has a long-standing history of receiving prestigious design awards for a wide range of items, keeping the company at the forefront of product innovation. These include the 2006 iParenting Media Awards (Mix It In Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker), 2005 Chicago Athenaeum GOOD DESIGN Award (Coffee on Demand Coffeemaker), and the 2005 iParenting Media Awards (Waffle Dippers and Griddler). In addition, Cuisinart has garnered several awards for its signature food processor. In 2007, the company received the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Award of Excellence in the Corporate Marketing Campaign category , and in 2006, Cuisinart won top honors for the web site from numerous organizations, including the Web Marketing Association, the League of American Communications Professionals (LACP) and the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

Customer Review: Cuisinart


I have had numerous coffee pots in the past, most more expensive than this one. I find this an excellent product that makes very hot coffee. What is also nice is you have the option of putting in regular coffee and turning the grinder off.

Would highly recommended.


Customer Review: Performs poorly in almost every way


"I hate this coffee maker" has unfortunately become a common refrain in our kitchen. I will concede that, when everything works perfectly, this coffee maker produces a good cup of coffee. However, everything seldom works perfectly.

Let's start with the grinder, which is noisy and inefficient. It produces irregularly sized chunks of bean that routinely clog the basket. So we always press "grind off" and grind our own beans. Then there's the programmable timer, which is far from intuitive, so we rarely use that either. So much for the convenience features.

It's impossible to add enough coffee to make twelve strong cups--I've tried, and the result is that the basket overflows and gushes hot liquid and coffee grounds all over the counter. Of course, it often does this when the basket's not even close to full. Then you have the unalloyed joy of mopping up the coffee, plus swabbing out the inside of the machine, and dumping the coffee, which has also gotten permeated with grounds and sludge.

So it's really a ten-cup coffee maker, because you'll never get it to produce twelve cups in a single batch. They're great cups of coffee--IF you ground your own beans, IF you didn't rely on the timer, IF you didn't expect twelve cups, and IF it miraculously didn't turn into a coffee geyser. I will never, ever buy another Cuisinart coffee maker again.

Cuisinart Coffee Maker

Cuisinart DCC-1150 10-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker

Customer Review: Makes good coffee but ....


This is a good buy on Amazon with a very good price. And, it makes good coffee.

That said, you might want to know in advance about a few minor issues. The small black on grey time readout is ridiculously hard to read because it is recessed and lacks a backlight on the LCD. For the some strange reason, the clock didn't start working after setting it until I turned it to brew for the first time. After that, no problems at all so it might just be a software glitch. You might want to use the 1-4 cups button even when making 10 cups to make the coffee hotter and a bit stronger. And, it helps to use something with a spout to pour the water into it.

On the more positive side, the coffee does come out tasting as good as a coffee shop. It has a smaller counter footprint but makes the same number of cups as my old one. The thermal approach means less energy use and the coffee stays tasting good. If you want, you may pour it over ice or heat up a cup of coffee in the microwave later in the day and it will still taste as good as the first cup in the morning. And, it doesn't leak all over the counter like some other brands which will remain nameless here.


Customer Review: as scientific as I can get - not in love with it YET


I must say, a lot of reviews I have read have been negated by my initial tests.
I JUST bought one and ran two loads of water thru it.
No coffee. I wanted to hear the ungodly loud beeps, see the leaks, and measure the temp so my wife would have an excuse to take it back.

Weellll, where should I start????????

BEEPS
I was around the corner from the coffee maker when the beeps went off. I barely heard them. The gurgling water is louder, which is a lot quieter than my old pot. Unless this is a QA problem or some people can easily hear past 20,000 such that they are very sensitive to 2000-4000 Hz - this myth is debunked. I agree the smell of coffee would wake me up sooner than the beeps. My microwave, now THERE is aggravating beeps.

VALVE LEAK
The valve leaked while I was playing with it (measuring temps) with the pot removed. Can't say that is a problem, but I can't make a judgment on that so soon. I'll report at a later date. However, I am sure a dirty valve is the main culprit, or not positioning the carafe properly.

WATER TEMP - I added my old unit for comparison, a Gevalia special with a cracked glass carafe.

coming out of the shower head = 85-95°C = 185-203°F (thermometer was right under shower head) >> old unit = could not measure
it varied because of the way it came out (a stream, none, steam).
The water in the basket was 89°C = 192°F >> old unit 82°C = 179.5°F

I'll wait for a while....................I shut the old unit off right after "brewing"
--- the carafes were used to fill the tank so that was the start temp of the carafe. 25°C = 77°F

In the pot right after "brewing" = 83.5°C = 182°F >> old unit 79.5°C = 175°F

---The effect of a metal carafe not warmed up first is seen here.
---A delta of 5.5° vs 2.5° for the glass, between in-the-basket vs in-the-pot.

in the pot 1 hrs after "brewing" = 81.0°C = 178°F >> old unit 59.0°C = 138°F
in the pot 2 hrs after "brewing" = 79.5°C = 175°F >> old unit 45.5°C = 175°F
in the pot 3 hrs after "brewing" = 76.5°C = 170°F >> old unit 41.0°C = 106°F
in the pot 4 hrs after "brewing" = 72.0°C = 162°F >> old unit

Measurements were taken with a lab grade mercury thermometer.
Anyone who has only "warm" coffee needs to take it back.
I wonder what the difference is with using COLD water. Be right back............

POURING
Pouring from a stainless carafe - any type - is different than pouring from a glass one.
There is a top lip on all of them so the carafe has to be tipped almost upside down to get it all out. A wine decanter works the same way.

It pours slower because there is a top on it meant to keep the coffee hot. If it were an open lip like a glass one people would complain that the coffee doesn't stay hot, but it pours fast. You could always remove the cover as long as you drink it all up now so it doesn't get cold.

All-in-all I'm liking it a lot. Now to brew some real coffee.