Cuisinart CHW-12
Cuisinart CHW-12 Review
We are in the process of writing reviews about coffeemakers and the Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System is an interesting combination. It catches the eye because there is a coffeemaker on one side and a hot water system on the other side. The benefit of this system is the ability to brew coffee and to heat water for other hot drinks.
Cuisinart CHW-12 Features
The Two Reservoirs
The Cuisinart CHW-12 has two water reservoirs. Each reservoir has its own charcoal filter which you use if water quality is a problem. One reservoir serves the coffeemaker and the other serves the hot water system. The coffeemaker reservoir has a water level indicator so you can see the current water level.
The hot water reservoir control panel includes a Water Ready indicator light which shows you when the water is at the correct temperature. The Add Water indicator light reminds you to add water to the hot water reservoir.
We Are in Hot Water Now
The hot water system heats water for making instant soup, instant coffee, tea and hot cocoa. You can program the coffeemaker to start brewing automatically, but you have to start the hot water system by pushing the On/Off button. It takes about 2 to 3 minutes to reach the maximum temperature of around 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Press the dispensing lever to release hot water or engage the safety lock to prevent hot water from being leaked by accident.
The Carafe
The carafe has markings on the side marking the amount of coffee brewed. The carafe holds 12 cups of coffee. The carafe is made to pour precious drops of coffee without dripping onto your shoes.The heater plate has three settings to keep the coffee in different states of hotness. Put it on low, medium or high. It has a nonstick coating to prevent ugly scratches.
Brew Pause Feature
The Brew Pause feature lets you remove the carafe while brewing is in progress to pour an early cup. The coffeemaker stops the coffee flowing from the filter basket when you remove the carafe from the heating plate. The manual recommends you replace the carafe within 20 seconds to avoid making a mess.
We are not sure if the Brew Pause is a benefit since the coffee will taste weak and half-brewed. Better wait for the brew cycle to end. Then you can pour a strong coffee with lots of flavor into your mug and your mouth. The coffeemaker beeps five times when the brew cycle is complete. You will not only smell the rich aroma of coffee, but you will also hear when the coffeemaker has finished brewing.
Cuisinart CHW-12: More Features
The 1-4 cup setting keeps the flavor and temperature of the coffee rich and hot when you want to brew less than 5 cups of coffee.
The Power Loss Back-up System keeps all your current settings intact for one minute if the unit is unplugged or a breaker switch trips. If the power failure lasts more than 60 seconds you have to reprogram the clock’s time and the coffeemaker’s automatic start and stop times.
You can buy the Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker with Hot Water System from online retailer Amazon. It sells for between $90 to $180. Check out what buyers thought about this coffeemaker by reading a few customer reviews.
Your purchase includes the following useful items:
* 2 charcoal water filters
* 1 permanent gold tone filter
* Measuring scoop
* Instruction manual
