This state of the art coffeemaker lets you fine tune the process from filtering the water you brew with to keeping the brewed coffee at the precise temperature you desire. If you’re the impatient type you can grab a cup before brewing is complete (or program your coffee to be ready and waiting at wake up time), and if you tend to be forgetful, this appliance has auto shut off. Seems as though Cuisinart has covered all the bases in this deluxe coffeemaker.

Strikingly retro in brushed metal with black-plastic accents, this 12-cup coffeemaker includes Cuisinart’s best brewing technology and premium features for ease and flexibility. The digital clock/timer is programmable for automatically brewing “wake-up” coffee at a selected time and for turning off the warming plate up to four hours in advance. Removing the glass carafe from the warming plate automatically pauses the brewing process for a quick pour, and the warming plate’s temperature can be adjusted. For maximum flavor, the machine can be set to brew one to four 5-ounce cups or five to twelve cups, and it includes a charcoal water filter. For convenience, a permanent Gold Tone filter eliminates messy paper filters and an indicator-light shows when decalcification is needed. The coffeemaker measures 14-1/4 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 10-3/4 inches deep (including carafe handle) and carries a three-year warranty against defects. –Fred Brack

From the Manufacturer

The Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central Coffeemaker

Enjoy Great Coffee with the DCC-1200

Cuisinart introduces a coffeemaker with retro styling and the latest in high tech features, making it the centerpiece of any kitchen. The Cuisinart Brew Central coffeemaker is reminiscent of the days of classic styling and durable materials. A brushed metal exterior with retro-style controls houses the finest in coffee making technology. This coffeemaker even includes a charcoal water filter. The water filter ensures great tasting coffee by removing all of the impurities from the water. The Brew Central coffeemaker also comes with advanced features such as a programmable digital clock with 24 hour advanced-brew setting, an automatic shutoff, a self-cleaning function, and an audible beep that signals the end of the brew cycle, which makes brewing the best tasting coffee easy.

The Quest for a Perfect Cup of Coffee

It is generally agreed that there are four basic elements critical to the perfect cup:

Water & Coffee Filters

Element 1. Water:
Coffee is 98% water. Often overlooked, the quality of the water is as important as the quality of the coffee. A good rule of thumb is that if your water doesn’t taste good from the tap, it won’t taste any better in your coffee. That’s why Cuisinart has added a water filter to the Brew Central coffeemaker. The charcoal water filter removes chlorine, bad tastes and odors, for the purest cup of coffee every time.

Element 2. Coffee:
While the bulk of the liquid is water, all of the flavor should be from the coffee. To achieve the same great quality of coffee you receive at a coffee bar, you need to use the same quality beans. Buy the beans fresh and whole, only about a two weeks’ supply at a time for maximum freshness. Once the coffee bean is broken, its flavor degrades very quickly. If it is not practical to buy small supplies, we recommend you separate larger amounts of beans into one to two week portions immediately after purchase, and freeze them in airtight containers. The best way to maximize freshness is to minimize exposure to air, light and moisture. So, once removed from the freezer, beans should be maintained in a sealed container at room temperature, since damaging condensation occurs every time the beans are removed from the freezer or refrigerator. Note that some coffee experts advise against freezing dark-roast beans, because freezing can cause the oils to coagulate. Other experts disagree. We suggest you experiment and decide yourself.

The Perfect Cup of Coffee

Element 3. Grind:
The grind of the coffee is critical for proper flavor extraction. If the grind is too fine, over extraction and bitterness will result. Too fine a grind may also clog the filter. If the grind is too coarse, the water will pass through too quickly and the desired flavors will not be extracted. A medium-fine grind is recommended.

Element 4. Proportion:
The cups on the Cuisinart coffeemaker measure 5 ounces. Add the amount of ground coffee that corresponds to the number of cups being brewed. Many coffee bars and the Specialty Coffee Association of America recommend adding 2 rounded tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water. Some coffee manufactures recommend using 1 tablespoon per cup. Cuisinart recommends using 1 tablespoon of ground coffee per cup, but use more or less to suit your taste. Note: the maximum capacity for ground coffee is 15 tablespoons for the 12-cup coffeemaker. Exceeding this amount may cause overflow if the coffee is too finely ground.

Features and Benefits

LCD & Controls

1. Reservoir Cover: Flips back for easy filling.
2. Water Reservoir: When filling the coffeemaker with water, refer to the carafe height markings and fill to the desired number of cups. Be sure to add a small amount of extra water to account for the amount of water lost in wetting the grounds and lost as steam during the brewing process.
3. Showerhead: Distributes water evenly over coffee, reducing temperature loss as water passes through grounds.
4. Water Filter: Charcoal water filter eliminates chlorine, calcium and bad tastes or odors from tap water. Cuisinart recommends changing the water filter every 60 days or 60 uses ‒ or more often if you have hard water.
5. Filter Basket: Holds a #4 paper filter or a permanent filter.
6. LCD Digital Clock: Displays the time of day and set time for automatic functions.
7. Function Knob and Flip Switch: Used to initiate programming of automatic functions.
8. The Auto On feature is used to program the start time of the brew cycle. The Auto On can be set for any time, day or night. The PM indicator is displayed on the LCD for nighttime program times. The Auto Off feature is used to shut off the coffeemaker at a preset time, anywhere from 0 to 4 hours. Note: To program the coffeemaker to shut off automatically, read the instructions included in the Instruction Manual under ‘To program the Variable Auto Off’
1. Heater Plate Control Knob: For controlling the temperature of the coffee after brewing. There are three temperature settings high, medium and low.
2. 1-4 Cup Setting: The 1-4 cup setting button is used when you make small amounts of coffee. Normal coffeemakers will produce a colder batch of coffee when smaller amounts are made, because the heater doesn’t have enough time to properly ‘warm up’ to heat a small amount. The 1-4 setting basically ‘double heats’ the water, making your smaller amounts as piping hot as a full pot would be. To use simply press the 1-4 button on the control panel after turning on the unit.
3. Retro-style flip switch is used to turn your coffeemaker on and off and works in tandem with the function knob.
9. Clean Setting: Tells you when it’s time to clean your coffeemaker. Remove built-up calcification from the water reservoir, to help extend the life of your coffeemaker.
10. Brew Pause: Stops flow of coffee from basket when carafe is removed (30 seconds max) from the heater plate, so a cup can be poured in mid-brew. Since the flavor extraction rate varies during the brew cycle, we recommend allowing the brewing cycle to finish before pouring the coffee. The coffee brewed at the beginning of the cycle has a flavor profile which is very different from the flavor at the end of the cycle. Once the coffee has finished brewing, stir it before serving to blend the flavors. The coffee at the bottom of the carafe will be somewhat stronger than the coffee at the top.
11. Carafe: The easy pour, no drip glass carafe has an ergonomic handle and brewed coffee markings for two to twelve cups.
12. Heating Plate: Scratch resistant with black, nonstick coating.
13. Ready Tone: Signals the end of the brew cycle with five beeps (coffee will continue to stream from the filter for a few seconds after the tone).

Cuisinart DCC-1200 12-Cup Brew Central Coffeemaker, Black and Brushed Metal ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/08/29/cuisinart-dcc-1200-12-cup-brew-central-coffeemaker-black-and-brushed-metal.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/07/15/black--decker-dcm18s-brew-n-go-personal-coffeemaker-with-travel-mug.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/07/15/black--decker-dcm18s-brew-n-go-personal-coffeemaker-with-travel-mug.html#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 23:55:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=582

Wouldn’t this make a great gift for a student, or a commuter? The machine brews right into the thermal travel mug and then shuts itself off, so your favorite coffee lover can simply grab and go!Great for commuters, office professionals, and one-coffee-drinker households, this personal coffeemaker brews 15 ounces of coffee directly into a stainless-steel travel mug. The mug has a rubber handle for a safe grip and a lid to keep coffee hot. It’s tapered to a 2-1/2-inch-diameter bottom, so it fits most vehicle cup holders. The coffeemaker itself is designed for an on-the-go coffee drinker. It has a permanent filter–no messy disposable paper filters required–and shuts off automatically after brewing. The mug, filter, filter basket, and mug lid are dishwasher-safe, and the coffeemaker can also be used to heat water for tea, hot chocolate, and instant foods like oatmeal and soup. Made of gleaming black plastic, it measures 9-3/4 inches high, 7 inches wide, and 6 inches deep, and carries a one-year warranty against defects. –Fred Brack

Great for commuters, office professionals, and one-coffee-drinker households, this personal coffeemaker brews 15 ounces of coffee directly into a stainless-steel travel mug. The mug has a rubber handle for a safe grip and a lid to keep coffee hot. It’s tapered to a 2-1/2-inch-diameter bottom, so it fits most vehicle cup holders. The coffeemaker itself is designed for an on-the-go coffee drinker. It has a permanent filter–no messy disposable paper filters required–and shuts off automatically after brewing. The mug, filter, filter basket, and mug lid are dishwasher-safe, and the coffeemaker can also be used to heat water for tea, hot chocolate, and instant foods like oatmeal and soup. Made of gleaming black plastic, it measures 9-3/4 inches high, 7 inches wide, and 6 inches deep, and carries a one-year warranty against defects. –Fred Brack

Black & Decker DCM18S Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/07/15/black--decker-dcm18s-brew-n-go-personal-coffeemaker-with-travel-mug.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/06/14/toddy-cold-brew-coffee-maker-with-2-extra-filters.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/06/14/toddy-cold-brew-coffee-maker-with-2-extra-filters.html#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:52:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=571

Designed to brew coffee with 67-percent less acid than coffee made with hot brew methods, the Toddy Cold Brew System also makes tea, hot or cold. The patented cold brew system uses regular coffee beans to create a super smooth cup of steaming hot coffee as is often found in major coffee houses, but with no electricity required. The set includes a brewing container with handle, glass decanter with lid, four reusable filters, one rubber stopper, a set of instructions, and a recipe guide. Get more out of your coffee beans, since the coffee concentrate stays fresh for up to three weeks.

Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Maker With 2 Extra Filters ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/06/14/toddy-cold-brew-coffee-maker-with-2-extra-filters.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/31/cuisinart-dtc-975bkn-programmable-automatic-brew-and-serve-12-cup-thermal-coffeemaker-black.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/31/cuisinart-dtc-975bkn-programmable-automatic-brew-and-serve-12-cup-thermal-coffeemaker-black.html#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 08:51:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=563

Now you can enjoyed piping hot%2C full%2Dflavored coffee in style%2E This handsome coffee maker from Cuisinart features a good%2Dlooking brushed stainless steel carafe that keeps coffee hot for 12 hours%2E The patented brew%2Dthrough and pour%2Dthrough lid means coffee means less mess%2E Totally programmable%2C this coffee maker can be started any time during a 24%2Dhour cycle%2E Loaded with useful features like Brew Pause%2C automatic shutoff%2C brewing complete alarm and a %234 paper filter starter kit%2E

Cuisinart DTC-975BKN Programmable Automatic Brew-and-Serve 12-Cup Thermal Coffeemaker, Black ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/31/cuisinart-dtc-975bkn-programmable-automatic-brew-and-serve-12-cup-thermal-coffeemaker-black.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/25/zojirushi-ec-bd15bafresh-brew-thermal-carafe-coffee-maker.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/25/zojirushi-ec-bd15bafresh-brew-thermal-carafe-coffee-maker.html#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 08:46:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=553

Zojirushi’s EC-BD15BA 1.5 Liter Fresh Brew Coffee Maker with Vacuum Stainless Steel Carafe is gorgeous and functional and will look spectacular on your countertop. It has many wonderful features.

Lots of folks dislike the burnt flavor that coffee gets when it sits in a glass pot over a heating element. To avoid this, coffee shops often brew right into large thermal pots to keep the coffee warm without it becoming overcooked. The Zojirushi Fresh Brew does that, too, but in home-sized batches. It looks great, too, with a glossy black body and stainless steel carafe and brew basket.

To brew, lift the lid and swing the water outlet spout to one side while the filter is being loaded; the spout will return to its proper position when the lid is closed. A small red ball in the water gauge makes it extra simple to read. And an electronic clock module also serves as a timer that will start the brewer at a specified time. The carafe’s lid is designed to be on during brewing, with a small cap to help keep the heat in after it’s ready. The Fresh Brew also has a pause-and-serve function that stops the flow for 30 seconds while a cup of coffee is served.

To clean the brewer unit, use a solution of white vinegar and water, following the instructions in the accompanying booklet. The unit is not immersible. The exterior can be wiped with a damp soft rag; do not use abrasives or scouring pads. The filter reservoir is removable; clean with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. The coffee brewer measures 15 by 12 by 9 inches (includes carafe handle when unit is completely assembled), and it uses #4 cone-shaped disposable paper filters. The Fresh Brew comes with a detailed instruction booklet. Zojirushi guarantees its products with a one-year limited warranty. –Garland Withers

Zojirushi EC-BD15BAFresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/25/zojirushi-ec-bd15bafresh-brew-thermal-carafe-coffee-maker.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/19/cuisinart-dgb-625bc-grind-and-brew-12-cup-automatic-coffeemaker-brushed-metal.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/19/cuisinart-dgb-625bc-grind-and-brew-12-cup-automatic-coffeemaker-brushed-metal.html#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 08:41:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=539

The easiest way to great coffee is the Cuisinart Grid and Brew. This 12 cup coffeemaker automatically grinds the beans right before brewing to deliver the freshest coffee flavor and the streamlined design with brushed metal finish looks great in any kitchen. Fully programmable with a large control panel, it’s easier than ever to enjoy a hot cup of coffee any time of day. Simple, quick, easy delicious – great coffee is automatic with the Cuisinart Grind and Brew.

Cuisinart DGB-625BC Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/19/cuisinart-dgb-625bc-grind-and-brew-12-cup-automatic-coffeemaker-brushed-metal.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/13/cuisinart-dgb-650bc-grind-and-brew-thermal-10-cup-automatic-coffeemaker-brushed-metal.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/13/cuisinart-dgb-650bc-grind-and-brew-thermal-10-cup-automatic-coffeemaker-brushed-metal.html#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 08:37:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=527

The easiest way to great coffee is the Cuisinart Grid and Brew. This 10 cup coffeemaker automatically grinds the beans right before brewing to deliver the freshest coffee flavor and the thermal stainless steel carafe keeps it hot and fresh for hours at a time. Because it’s fully programmable with a large control panel, it’s easier than ever to enjoy a hot cup of coffee any time of day. Quick, easy delicious – great coffee is automatic with the Cuisinart Grind and Brew.

Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/13/cuisinart-dgb-650bc-grind-and-brew-thermal-10-cup-automatic-coffeemaker-brushed-metal.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/07/hamilton-beach-48274-brew-station-6-cup-coffeemaker-black.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/07/hamilton-beach-48274-brew-station-6-cup-coffeemaker-black.html#comments Sat, 07 May 2011 08:14:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=516

The Hamilton Beach BrewStation has the innovative dispensing method that makes carafes obsolete. Dispense one cup at a time and keep the rest of your coffee hot without scorching. Removable reservoir makes filling the coffee maker easy and mess free.

Hamilton Beach 48274 Brew Station 6-Cup Coffeemaker, Black ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/07/hamilton-beach-48274-brew-station-6-cup-coffeemaker-black.html/feed 0 http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/01/starbucks-via-ready-brew-coffee-italian-roast-33-gram-packages-pack-of-50.html http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/01/starbucks-via-ready-brew-coffee-italian-roast-33-gram-packages-pack-of-50.html#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 08:08:59 +0000 Coffee Brews http://www.coffeebre.ws/?page_id=505

Starbucks Via Ready Brew Microground Coffee.

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Coffee, Italian Roast, 3.3-Gram Packages (Pack of 50) ]]> http://www.coffeebre.ws/2011/05/01/starbucks-via-ready-brew-coffee-italian-roast-33-gram-packages-pack-of-50.html/feed 0