Cuisinart DCC-1150BK 10-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker, Black Review. The sleek, attractive thermal carafe and stainless accents blend seamlessly to achieve a classic look with modern conveniences. With easy 24 hour programmability to ensure a fresh pot of coffee anytime, and a 1-4 cup setting to maintain the delicious coffee taste when making a smaller pot, this 10-cup coffeemaker is a smart addition to the countertop. And the gold-tone coffee filter and charcoal water filter always ensure fresh, great tasting coffee....
"If you want a coffeemaker, look no further" 2008-05-11
By Savor.NYC (NYC)
I have this one in black, and have been making coffee at least once a day for the past three weeks. I was debating between this 10-cup thermal ($80), the 12-cup thermal ($130), and the 12-cup glass carafe with warming plate ($80), all by Cuisinart. In the end, I wanted something that used less electricity, so I went with the thermal. The added bonus with a thermal is that the coffee taste doesn't change from your first cup to your second cup a few hours later. I finally decided to save $50 and buy the 10-cup thermal because everything else was the same except for the 10 ounce difference (both coffeemakers brew 5 oz cups). I purchased mine from a different store, and I found out that there was no gold cone filter. I called up Cuisinart and they said depending on where you purchased the coffeemaker, it may use paper cones, or it may come with the gold cone filter. They graciously sent me a gold cone for free. So after 3 weeks:
PROS:
-easy to set up, easy to use
-charcoal water filter (I use tap water, so I like the fact that the machine filters it before going into my coffee)
-auto brew timer (the smell of coffee helps me wake up in the morning and I am fully brain dead when I first wake up. I can barely get dressed, much less make coffee. So I set it up the night before and I have amazing, fresh coffee ready for me in the AM).
-beeps to signal that coffee is ready
-coffee stays fresh for at least 4 hours. On weekends, I set my coffee to brew as normal at 7AM, but sometimes I sleep late until 11AM or later. I go to pour my coffee and it's still steaming! (and not burnt from the warming plate)
-thermal carafe saves electricity because there is no need for a warming plate
-I can use both paper cone filters or the gold cone filter. The gold cone is just as easy to clean as the disposable paper cones. I just shake out the grinds into the trash, and rinse with water. SO easy. And I save money because I don't have to buy filters!
-I drink my coffee black, so I can tell good coffee from bad coffee. I also like my coffee strong and bold. When I'm lazy, I use Illy medium grind, medium roast pre-ground. One mountainous scoop (comes with the coffeemaker) per 10 oz. of coffee. My one mug of coffee is equal to the coffeemaker's two cups, so yes, the machine makes 5 mugs total. When I make coffee for just myself, I fill the reservoir to 2 cups, add one giant scoop of coffee to the filter, press the 1-4 cups button, turn the dial to brew, and press "on." I love it.
-I have no problem with the size of the machine (I thought it was small). It is sitting on a side table in my tiny kitchen, not on the countertop or underneath cabinets. So I can easily flip up the top and have easy access to the water reservoir. It is also on the right side of the table, so I just use a cup and pour water into the reservoir. I don't think it's hard at all to pour water in. The triangular opening is on the right, back corner of the machine and is about 3" x 3" x 4".
-The water level is very clearly marked and easy to see on the right side of the machine.
CONS:
-The beep is not just one cute beep. It is 4 or 5 beeps in a row. This could be annoying to some people.
-Not really a con for me, but other people have commented on the pouring as "difficult." I think it is the nature of a thermal carafe to require some patience when pouring into a cup. It is well sealed to keep the coffee hot, so when you pour, the liquid has to go through a maze to get out. On my last cup, I just take the top off and pour. Definitely worth the "effort." It's really not hard, I promise. :)
-I read reviews of how people wake up with coffee all over the counter because the carafe was clogged at the top. So whenever I set up the machine to brew, I make sure to rinse the top with hot water and shake it around a bit to make sure the little ball isn't stuck. Also, not difficult to do.
-I guess if you don't have easy access to the right side of this machine, it could be difficult to pour water in and see the water level. If it's in the middle of your countertop, you may have to turn it to the side in order to pour the water in. For me, it's easy because my coffeemaker sits on the right side of a table in my kitchen.
I am so glad I went with this machine. I hope it lasts for a long time.
"Wonderful coffee maker" 2008-04-27
By Lori Topaz (Texas)
I purchased this coffeemaker after careful research and like it very much. It makes delicious coffee that stays hot for about 4 hours. The coffee retains good flavor for the whole time. It is also easy to clean. With a regular coffee pot (not thermal), the coffee loses its flavor after an hour. This one meets my needs. Also, Cuisinart warranties it for 3 years. I have owned a grind and brew coffee maker and prefer this one which I use in conjunction with my grinder.
It isn't perfect, but the small drawbacks don't bother me. Yes, it is a little hard at first to read the fill markings for water. To get the last bit of coffee out of the carafe, you do have to take off the lid and really tilt the carafe. On the other hand, that last bit tastes good.
I also like the looks of this device. The stainless steel goes with many other appliances. Overall, it is a recommend.
LT
"GREAT!!! - DONT GO BY OTHER REVIEWS" 2009-04-21
By Gene Friedman
I've been using this for 4 months now and I dispute all these reviewers who's review is laughable. Yes, the machine beeps 4 times when ready to alert you. But wake up the whole house???? Who are these people and do they sleep in the kitchen?
Next, are the whiners about lukewarm coffee. If you want hotter coffee just press the 1-4 cups button - it double heats the water for more extraction. Guarantee if you drink it black it'll burn you.
Next, is the carafe criers. In 4 months I havent had this drip once. Its quite impressive in that I CANT get it to drip no matter how slow or fast I pour it. It takes me 5 seconds to pour the cold water in the spot in the back. And the carafe has a long lip so it goes right into this spot - its foolproof really. The water level on the side is highly visible and much preferred over pots with markings on the inside.
Finally, it makes a consistently good cup of java pretty quickly and the stainless steel carafe will never break - unlike the glass ones. It looks great on the counter. And even though the inside is plastic you do not get that plastic taste in your coffee like other brands that overheat the water - I like that for safety.
With a thermal carafe you can put it on the table to serve guests at your card game or whatever and it keeps it hot - try doing that with glass pot.
Go ahead and buy this with confidence and enjoy a great cup of coffee!
"I AM VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT COFFEE!!" 2009-07-03
By Kevin Fazio (Grand Rapida, MI)
I am very particular about just about anything. But especially Coffee. I drink 4 - 6 / 12 - 16 oz's a day. I read almost every positive and negative review about this product. This coffee maker lives up to the positives. First, It looks great.
The only problem I had was figuring out how to set the clock. (you have to hold down the clock button until it blinks). Second, I did run water alone through it like the directions suggested to make sure it was clean and free of dust. There was no plastic smell at all.
Third, I decided to try the permanent filter even though I had a fear it would leave grounds. It does not leave any grounds in the coffee!. The only disadvantage is cleaning the filter. When you dump it in the trash only about half the grounds come out and you have to rinse the rest of them out in the sink. Not a deal breaker just an FYI.
Fourth, I put cream in my coffee. UPS delivered my coffee pot around 11 AM and my 11:30 I was having my first cup which was plenty hot. I made a full pot without using the 1-4 cup button. We then went out for the day and at 6:35 PM I decided to have a cup. Now I was assuming I would have to nuke it by then and was just curious how warm it would be. Now I can not stand luke warm or cold coffee, to me it is disgusting! at 6:35 with cream the coffee was still hot.
Now I know I just got it today but seriously for the money I do not think you can find a better coffee maker. Oh as far as the beeps. They ARE NOT crazy loud. Whoever said that is crazy. Also as far as the small marker on the side of the pot to tell the water intake and the small opening to pour water. Ok yes it is a little small. But I have always used a plastic pitcher that I bought at a store for [...] bucks and I have no problems pouring it in. as far as the marker goes, I actually look at it from the inside as I pour and I have not had any problems.
Lastly what I do love about it is that is does not leak at all when pouring. My old one leaked because I was trying to pour too fast. I do rinse the top of it to make sure the ball does not stick. Anyway so far so good. I would definitely recommend this product.
"Nice replacement for my old unit" 2009-09-04
By AKO California (Los Angeles)
I'd read some of the negative reviews but took the chance anyway and bought one. After over a month of use, I'm very happy with this coffee maker.
There is a "1-4" button that makes the water hotter if just 1 through 4 cups of coffee are being brewed. I think hitting that button first would help some of the lukewarm problems some people are having. My coffee comes out hot. Although some do appear to have defective units.
Other pluses:
- Carafe keeps the coffee hot for hours without the hot plate being heated. Saves electricity.
- No worrying about forgetting to turn it off. It brews and then is off. (I had to call a neighbor to turn off my old coffee maker after I'd flown out of town on a trip.)
- Included gold filter basket can be used instead of paper filters. I don't notice a difference in taste, at least on different days. Maybe side by side there would be. Either way, if I run out of filters, I can still make coffee.
- Water level indicator is on the side rather than having to look down from the top.
Minuses:
- The carafe is harder to pour than a regular carafe.
- No way to monitor how full the carafe is.
- More expensive than other brands.
The beeps are completely normal from my view. Not too loud at all. It didn't even occur to me to comment on them except others have. That's about my only comments on this machine since it is just a coffee maker.
By Savor.NYC (NYC)
I have this one in black, and have been making coffee at least once a day for the past three weeks. I was debating between this 10-cup thermal ($80), the 12-cup thermal ($130), and the 12-cup glass carafe with warming plate ($80), all by Cuisinart. In the end, I wanted something that used less electricity, so I went with the thermal. The added bonus with a thermal is that the coffee taste doesn't change from your first cup to your second cup a few hours later. I finally decided to save $50 and buy the 10-cup thermal because everything else was the same except for the 10 ounce difference (both coffeemakers brew 5 oz cups). I purchased mine from a different store, and I found out that there was no gold cone filter. I called up Cuisinart and they said depending on where you purchased the coffeemaker, it may use paper cones, or it may come with the gold cone filter. They graciously sent me a gold cone for free. So after 3 weeks:
PROS:
-easy to set up, easy to use
-charcoal water filter (I use tap water, so I like the fact that the machine filters it before going into my coffee)
-auto brew timer (the smell of coffee helps me wake up in the morning and I am fully brain dead when I first wake up. I can barely get dressed, much less make coffee. So I set it up the night before and I have amazing, fresh coffee ready for me in the AM).
-beeps to signal that coffee is ready
-coffee stays fresh for at least 4 hours. On weekends, I set my coffee to brew as normal at 7AM, but sometimes I sleep late until 11AM or later. I go to pour my coffee and it's still steaming! (and not burnt from the warming plate)
-thermal carafe saves electricity because there is no need for a warming plate
-I can use both paper cone filters or the gold cone filter. The gold cone is just as easy to clean as the disposable paper cones. I just shake out the grinds into the trash, and rinse with water. SO easy. And I save money because I don't have to buy filters!
-I drink my coffee black, so I can tell good coffee from bad coffee. I also like my coffee strong and bold. When I'm lazy, I use Illy medium grind, medium roast pre-ground. One mountainous scoop (comes with the coffeemaker) per 10 oz. of coffee. My one mug of coffee is equal to the coffeemaker's two cups, so yes, the machine makes 5 mugs total. When I make coffee for just myself, I fill the reservoir to 2 cups, add one giant scoop of coffee to the filter, press the 1-4 cups button, turn the dial to brew, and press "on." I love it.
-I have no problem with the size of the machine (I thought it was small). It is sitting on a side table in my tiny kitchen, not on the countertop or underneath cabinets. So I can easily flip up the top and have easy access to the water reservoir. It is also on the right side of the table, so I just use a cup and pour water into the reservoir. I don't think it's hard at all to pour water in. The triangular opening is on the right, back corner of the machine and is about 3" x 3" x 4".
-The water level is very clearly marked and easy to see on the right side of the machine.
CONS:
-The beep is not just one cute beep. It is 4 or 5 beeps in a row. This could be annoying to some people.
-Not really a con for me, but other people have commented on the pouring as "difficult." I think it is the nature of a thermal carafe to require some patience when pouring into a cup. It is well sealed to keep the coffee hot, so when you pour, the liquid has to go through a maze to get out. On my last cup, I just take the top off and pour. Definitely worth the "effort." It's really not hard, I promise. :)
-I read reviews of how people wake up with coffee all over the counter because the carafe was clogged at the top. So whenever I set up the machine to brew, I make sure to rinse the top with hot water and shake it around a bit to make sure the little ball isn't stuck. Also, not difficult to do.
-I guess if you don't have easy access to the right side of this machine, it could be difficult to pour water in and see the water level. If it's in the middle of your countertop, you may have to turn it to the side in order to pour the water in. For me, it's easy because my coffeemaker sits on the right side of a table in my kitchen.
I am so glad I went with this machine. I hope it lasts for a long time.
By Lori Topaz (Texas)
I purchased this coffeemaker after careful research and like it very much. It makes delicious coffee that stays hot for about 4 hours. The coffee retains good flavor for the whole time. It is also easy to clean. With a regular coffee pot (not thermal), the coffee loses its flavor after an hour. This one meets my needs. Also, Cuisinart warranties it for 3 years. I have owned a grind and brew coffee maker and prefer this one which I use in conjunction with my grinder.
It isn't perfect, but the small drawbacks don't bother me. Yes, it is a little hard at first to read the fill markings for water. To get the last bit of coffee out of the carafe, you do have to take off the lid and really tilt the carafe. On the other hand, that last bit tastes good.
I also like the looks of this device. The stainless steel goes with many other appliances. Overall, it is a recommend.
LT
By Gene Friedman
I've been using this for 4 months now and I dispute all these reviewers who's review is laughable. Yes, the machine beeps 4 times when ready to alert you. But wake up the whole house???? Who are these people and do they sleep in the kitchen?
Next, are the whiners about lukewarm coffee. If you want hotter coffee just press the 1-4 cups button - it double heats the water for more extraction. Guarantee if you drink it black it'll burn you.
Next, is the carafe criers. In 4 months I havent had this drip once. Its quite impressive in that I CANT get it to drip no matter how slow or fast I pour it. It takes me 5 seconds to pour the cold water in the spot in the back. And the carafe has a long lip so it goes right into this spot - its foolproof really. The water level on the side is highly visible and much preferred over pots with markings on the inside.
Finally, it makes a consistently good cup of java pretty quickly and the stainless steel carafe will never break - unlike the glass ones. It looks great on the counter. And even though the inside is plastic you do not get that plastic taste in your coffee like other brands that overheat the water - I like that for safety.
With a thermal carafe you can put it on the table to serve guests at your card game or whatever and it keeps it hot - try doing that with glass pot.
Go ahead and buy this with confidence and enjoy a great cup of coffee!
By Kevin Fazio (Grand Rapida, MI)
I am very particular about just about anything. But especially Coffee. I drink 4 - 6 / 12 - 16 oz's a day. I read almost every positive and negative review about this product. This coffee maker lives up to the positives. First, It looks great.
The only problem I had was figuring out how to set the clock. (you have to hold down the clock button until it blinks). Second, I did run water alone through it like the directions suggested to make sure it was clean and free of dust. There was no plastic smell at all.
Third, I decided to try the permanent filter even though I had a fear it would leave grounds. It does not leave any grounds in the coffee!. The only disadvantage is cleaning the filter. When you dump it in the trash only about half the grounds come out and you have to rinse the rest of them out in the sink. Not a deal breaker just an FYI.
Fourth, I put cream in my coffee. UPS delivered my coffee pot around 11 AM and my 11:30 I was having my first cup which was plenty hot. I made a full pot without using the 1-4 cup button. We then went out for the day and at 6:35 PM I decided to have a cup. Now I was assuming I would have to nuke it by then and was just curious how warm it would be. Now I can not stand luke warm or cold coffee, to me it is disgusting! at 6:35 with cream the coffee was still hot.
Now I know I just got it today but seriously for the money I do not think you can find a better coffee maker. Oh as far as the beeps. They ARE NOT crazy loud. Whoever said that is crazy. Also as far as the small marker on the side of the pot to tell the water intake and the small opening to pour water. Ok yes it is a little small. But I have always used a plastic pitcher that I bought at a store for [...] bucks and I have no problems pouring it in. as far as the marker goes, I actually look at it from the inside as I pour and I have not had any problems.
Lastly what I do love about it is that is does not leak at all when pouring. My old one leaked because I was trying to pour too fast. I do rinse the top of it to make sure the ball does not stick. Anyway so far so good. I would definitely recommend this product.
By AKO California (Los Angeles)
I'd read some of the negative reviews but took the chance anyway and bought one. After over a month of use, I'm very happy with this coffee maker.
There is a "1-4" button that makes the water hotter if just 1 through 4 cups of coffee are being brewed. I think hitting that button first would help some of the lukewarm problems some people are having. My coffee comes out hot. Although some do appear to have defective units.
Other pluses:
- Carafe keeps the coffee hot for hours without the hot plate being heated. Saves electricity.
- No worrying about forgetting to turn it off. It brews and then is off. (I had to call a neighbor to turn off my old coffee maker after I'd flown out of town on a trip.)
- Included gold filter basket can be used instead of paper filters. I don't notice a difference in taste, at least on different days. Maybe side by side there would be. Either way, if I run out of filters, I can still make coffee.
- Water level indicator is on the side rather than having to look down from the top.
Minuses:
- The carafe is harder to pour than a regular carafe.
- No way to monitor how full the carafe is.
- More expensive than other brands.
The beeps are completely normal from my view. Not too loud at all. It didn't even occur to me to comment on them except others have. That's about my only comments on this machine since it is just a coffee maker.
