Cuisinart DCC-1200
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Coffee Maker Review
The Cuisinart DCC-1200 coffee maker is immensely popular, and it is not hard to see why.
It is not a difficult coffee maker to get to grips with, but spending 10 or 20 minutes with the manual to get started is recommended. To make coffee with the DCC-1200 you simply have to place a filter into the holder and get your coffee in there.
Video Walkthrough
Before we begin the review, you can watch this video walkthrough of the machine to see what it looks like and what features it offers.
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Review: The Machine At A Glance
The Cuisinart DCC-1200 coffee maker looks shiny and simple due to its classy stainless steel housing and black reservoir cover. It looks inviting in most kitchens and offices. It brews a maximum of 12 cups of coffee which is stored in a glass carafe at the bottom.
It also boasts a 1 to 4 cup setting which produces smaller amounts of coffee while still heating the brew to the correct temperature. It has a charcoal water filter to remove bad tastes and chlorine from the water used for brewing to ensure a better tasting cup of coffee.
A digital clock display is used for checking when your coffee break begins and ends and for programming the next cup of stimulating coffee. A self-cleaning function will flash a light when the coffee maker needs to be cleaned.
It beeps when the brewing cycle is complete. It has an automatic shut-off function. All this and a cup of steaming coffee too, for around $70? Sounds good to us.
Let’s take a closer look. The most important parts of the Cuisinart DCC-1200 coffee maker are discussed below.
Filters
We love the fact that Cuisinart has added a water filter to this model. While the water filter is able to remove chlorine, calcium and strange tastes from the water, poor quality water can damage the machine or force it to require more frequent cleaning. You pour water into the water reservoir by flipping back the cover on top of the machine.
The filter basket has a place for a paper filter or a permanent filter. The water filter can be changed every 2 months or after about 60 uses. The coffee filter basket can take a maximum of 15 tablespoons of ground coffee.
The Brew Pause
If you need your coffee NOW, you can remove the glass carafe while the coffee maker is still brewing and pour yourself a cup. The Brew Pause function will stop the coffee from flowing onto the hotplate below while it keeps on brewing.
Just replace the carafe within 30 seconds of removing it or the coffee might spill over the filter basket. Remember that the coffee will not be as strong as when the brewing cycle has completed.
Clocks and Buttons
On the front beneath the Cuisinart brand name is the LCD Digital clock. It will display the time you set using the hour and minute buttons for automatic coffee brewing. You can turn the function knob to set the start time of a brew cycle and also when it should turn off.
A flip switch turns the coffee maker on or off. A handy temperature knob allows you to keep the coffee at a low, medium or high temperature in the carafe on the hotplate. You’ll also find the 1 to 4 cup button for brewing small amounts of coffee here.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The Cuisinart DCC-1200 features a handy indicator light to tell you when it should be cleaned. If the machine is operating and the Self Clean light starts to flash, the machine is drawing your attention to the build up of calcium deposits in the water reservoir and rest of the machine.
Finish brewing the coffee and then prepare to clean the coffee maker. You can use a simple white vinegar and water mixture to clean the machine. Pour the mixture in the water reservoir and press the self clean button which puts the machine into self-cleaning mode. The manual has more details on this, but the warning light is a great feature to have as regular cleaning can prevent long term damage to the machine.
Problems
The most common issue that users experience with the Cuisinart DCC-1200 is failure of the electric heating element. This could indicate that this machine is more suitable to light use, and serious coffee drinkers that demand heavy daily use from the machine may be well served to consider a more upscale model like the excellent Cuisinart CHW-12. Still, this is an intermittent problem reported only by a small percentage of users.
Summary
The Cuisinart DCC-1200 coffee maker creates a delicious cup of coffee. Cleaning is fairly easy, and the unit it sturdily built. We highly recommend it for the $70ish price tag. Pros and cons as well as product feature highlights are summarized below.
Cuisinart DCC-1200 highlights:
- retro-style looks
- a 24-hour timer that will help you wake up to a fresh cup of hot coffee every morning
- different brewing options for maximum flavor
- the ability to brew 12 5-ounce cups of delicious coffee
- a decalcification indicator
- heat adjustable warming plate
- water filter to remove unwanted chemicals, odors and tastes from the water
- 3 year warranty to guard you against defects
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Makes great coffee
- Brew Pause
- Attractive retro looks
- Non-drip carafe
- 24 Hour clock and auto shutoff
- Reliable and good warranty
- Affordable pricing
Cons:
- Reservoir located on right side could be inconvenient for left-handers
- Clock display can be hard to read in normal light
- Complaints about electric heating element failure
User Reviews:
On Amazon.com, the Cuisinart DCC-1200 has collected 2616 user reviews at the time of this writeup. Of these 1903 (or 72%) are decidedly positive (4 or 5 stars out of 5). That’s a solid customer satisfaction ratio.
