Others say...

"Great little machine"
This is a great little coffee maker. It is a bit deceiving, however, because while the carafe is stainless steel, it is not thermal. It doesn't claim to be, but I assumed it was because of the stainless carafe. In any case, it does seem to keep coffee quite warm, even when the burner is turned off. This could be because the coffee it makes is much hotter than my Krups and Mr. Coffee machines, resulting in a better cup. I have had absolutely no problem with leaking as other reviewers have. It doesn't drip at all. Recommended highly.

"I can live without the coffeemaker shutting off after 30 minutes"
I can live without the coffeemaker shutting off after 30 minutes

I purchased this 4-cup coffeemaker after I broke my second (spare) glass carafe of my 4-cup Mr. Coffee maker (got it as a gift over 14 years ago). It is amazing that the cost to replace that carafe is nearly the cost of a new coffeemaker! I won't need to worry about cracking or breaking this stainless steel carafe.

One minor complaint I have with the carafe is that the plastic rim that makes up the pouring lip/lid holder/handle assembly prevents pouring every last drop of coffee. I also find it slightly annoying that Cuisinart found it necessary to turn off the heating plate after 30 minutes although I'm sure it is a safety feature with a carafe I cannot see through. I've never damaged a glass carafe from "boiling" it dry. I do not find the carafe lid annoyingly difficult to remove or place in position. This lid is different than my glass carafe version and even then, with the Mr. Coffee I need to align the lid opening to the spout like I do with this version.

I don't know if it is just the black color of the parts but the brew basket and coffee maker drip arm have remained clean after brewing over the eight months I've owned and used it. I think that the design of the Cuisinart helps keep the coffee from splashing back onto the drip arm and lid which keeps this area very clean. My old Mr. Coffee was difficult to keep clean (the water sprinkling area above the coffee basket).

PROS: The coffee maker's drip arm (so far) remains clean after use. The carafe should last long after the coffee maker stops working.

CONS: I cannot pour every last drop of coffee easily from the stainless steel carafe. The warming pad shuts off after 30 minutes.



"Drip drip drip"
Two fatal flaws in the carafe design. First, it overpours awfully when the lid is not on. I usually fill my coffe maker by filling the carafe with water then pouring it in. With this model, if you do that with the carafe lid off, you'll end up with a counter full of water. It just pours past the undersized spout. But I've adapted, and make sure the lid is on, and have a towel nearby. Second flaw is that it tends to pour badly even with the lid on. Especially when pouring the coffee into a mug, since you don't want coffee everywhere. It makes a dirty mess. I always end up with drips, so I end up pouring over the sink.

Another issue is that if the basket isn't properly seated, it will not drain into the carafe, and will overflow. The difference between "properly seated" and "not seated" is about 1/4". So I always need to check this every time I make a cup.

This is a product that looks cool with the stainless steel, but in reality, it's just a hassle with a ton of little things you have to watch out for. I'm trying to replace it now.



"great product"
As far as We have used it it works great and affordable price as compared to other sites and stores...we donot use it everyday but till now it is working great..It is cuisinart...great product

"Serious Design Flaws"
Three years ago, I purchased the black model for a lake cottage. It worked fine until two weeks ago when a critical plastic element broke. (Keep in mind, this was used seasonally, not daily for thee years.) Because I was so pleased with the black model originally, I purchased a white one for home. The carafe lip is slightly different, and all the reviews that describe it as dribbling or dripping when pouring are on target. It's a pain in the neck. The same design flaw is true of the red model which I purchased for our office. You cannot pour it without it dribbling down the side of the carafe, at least by the end of the pot. Don't waste your money.