BLACK+DECKER CM1110B-1 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Black+Decker CM1110B-1 is a compact yet powerful 12-cup programmable coffee maker aimed at home users. It offers many useful features like an adjustable warming plate, cleaning alerts, and a handy delay brew setting to schedule coffee for the perfect wake-up time. With its sleek, modern design and stainless steel accents, this coffee maker looks great on any countertop while taking up minimal space.

Made by Black+Decker, a trusted brand known for quality, durability, and performance across their products, the CM1110B-1 promises to deliver easy, customizable brewing for coffee lovers. It combines simple operation with options to tweak your coffee how you like it. The machine is designed to be straightforward to set up, use, and keep clean day after day.

Overall, the CM1110B-1 provides exceptional value in an entry-level programmable coffee maker. For those seeking a fuss-free, versatile machine that produces great tasting coffee, this Black+Decker model is an excellent choice worth considering.

Design and Build Quality

The Black+Decker CM1110B-1 has a solid plastic housing and brushed stainless steel accents that give it an attractive, modern look that would complement any kitchen decor. The materials feel durable and well-constructed.

The water reservoir and filter basket are made from sturdy plastic that should hold up well over time. The removable drip tray is stainless steel for easy cleaning.

The control buttons have a nice tactile feel and don't seem prone to getting stuck. The cord wrap on the back keeps the power cord neatly managed.

Overall, the build quality is impressive for the price point. The coffee maker feels substantial and able to withstand regular daily use. The mix of materials and subtle design touches make this an appliance you'd be happy to leave out on the counter.

The Hamilton Beach 49933 is another excellent option in this price range. It features a sleek and compact design with a combination of durable plastic and stainless steel components. This model is known for its user-friendly interface and easy maintenance. The water reservoir is easily accessible for filling and cleaning, and the carafe has an ergonomic handle for comfortable pouring. The control buttons are responsive and intuitively placed, ensuring a hassle-free brewing experience. Its robust build quality and efficient performance make it a reliable choice for any coffee enthusiast.

Features and Settings

The CM1110B-1 has several useful features and settings to customize your coffee experience:

• Programmable timer: You can program the machine to start brewing up to 24 hours in advance. This allows you to wake up to a fresh pot of coffee.

• Pause and serve: The pause and serve function lets you sneak a cup mid-brew without the mess of drips.

• Brew strength control: Customize the flavor with regular and bold brew strength options. The bold setting slows down the brewing process for a more intense flavor.

• 12-cup glass carafe: Brew up to 12 cups of coffee with the included glass carafe. It has an ergonomic handle and pour spout for easy serving. The carafe is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

• LED control panel: The easy-to-read LED control panel lets you program settings like the timer, brew strength, and clock.

• 2 hour automatic shutoff: The coffeemaker will automatically turn off after 2 hours for safety and energy savings.

• Removable filter basket: The filter basket lifts out for fast and simple cleanup.

If you're looking for an alternative, consider the KitchenAid KCM1208DG. This model features a unique spiral showerhead for even saturation, a dosed brew to maintain consistent flavor, and a warming plate that keeps coffee at the perfect temperature for up to 2 hours. The 12-cup capacity ensures you have plenty of coffee for family and friends. The intuitive design makes it easy to brew a delicious pot of coffee every time.

Brew Performance

The Black+Decker CM1110B brews a full pot of coffee in under 10 minutes, which is decently quick for a budget drip coffee maker. The coffee comes out at an ideal temperature between 195-205°F, ensuring you get a hot cup of joe.

The machine uses a standard basket-style filter, which produces a clean, flavorful brew. The filter does a good job of extracting oils and flavors from the coffee grounds. Reviewers note the coffee has a smooth, balanced taste without any bitterness or overextraction.

One downside is that the CM1110B lacks any kind of temperature control or brew strength settings. This means you can't customize the flavor profile or tweak the brewing parameters. The machine is designed for convenience rather than maximum flavor customization. But overall, it brews a solid pot of drip coffee that many owners are satisfied with.

Ease of Use and Cleaning

The BLACK+DECKER CM1110B-1 is well-designed for convenience and ease of use. It has an intuitive control panel with buttons for choosing brew size (small, medium, large), setting the brew start time, and turning the unit on/off. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback when pressed.

The digital display shows your selections and counts down the minutes until brew time. It's bright and easy to read. All the controls are located on the front of the machine so they are readily accessible.

Taking apart the CM1110B-1 for cleaning is straightforward. The water reservoir lifts out easily, as does the filter basket. The carafe detaches from the heating plate with the flip of a switch. The drip tray pops out for emptying.

The removable parts are dishwasher safe for quick cleaning. Alternatively, they can be hand washed with warm soapy water. The heating plate is wipeable. Overall, the coffee maker does not require much effort to keep clean and maintained.

Capacity

The Black+Decker CM1110B-1 has an ample 12-cup glass carafe that can hold and keep up to 12 cups of coffee warm after brewing. This makes it a great option for families or those who like to make large batches of coffee at once.

The maximum brew capacity is also 12 cups, so you can brew a full carafe in one go. This saves time compared to smaller capacity machines that require multiple brewing cycles to fill the carafe. The water reservoir can hold enough water for the max brew amount as well.

Overall, the generous 12 cup capacity is perfect for households that go through a lot of coffee in the mornings or host gatherings frequently. You won't have to waste time making multiple small pots.

Warranty and Support

Black+Decker provides a standard 1-year limited warranty on the CM1110B-1 coffeemaker. This covers defects in materials and workmanship for 1 year from the date of original purchase.

For customer support, Black+Decker offers options to contact them by phone or email. Their customer service team can be reached by calling 1-800-54-HOW-TO (1-800-544-6986) Monday through Friday between 8am-7pm EST. Email support is available by filling out a form on their website at www.blackanddeckerappliances.com/customer-support.

According to customer reviews, Black+Decker's customer service team is generally responsive and helpful in addressing any issues or concerns with the product. However some customers have complained about difficulty getting a replacement under warranty. Overall, the warranty coverage seems fairly standard but experiences with customer service may vary.

Advantages

The Black+Decker CM1110B-1 has several key advantages as a drip coffee maker:

• Simple to operate with easy to access control buttons. The controls are intuitive and allow you to choose cup size, brew strength and automatic start time.

• Delivers consistently hot coffee. The heater keeps the carafe at an ideal serving temperature.

• Includes a reusable mesh filter. This eliminates the need to buy and replace paper filters.

• Programmable timer allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee. You can set it to start brewing up to 24 hours in advance.

• The glass carafe has a comfortable grip handle. It also features a drip-free pouring spout.

• Fast brew time of less than 5 minutes for a full 12 cup pot. Makes the process quick and convenient.

• Separate dispenser lid allows you to pour a cup mid-brew. Helpful when you need coffee immediately.

• Compact footprint doesn't take up much counter space. Fits well in small kitchens.

• Affordable price point. Provides good value for a programmable coffee maker with useful features.

Disadvantages

The Black+Decker CM1110B-1 has a few drawbacks to consider:

• The water reservoir has a smaller 32 oz capacity compared to some models that hold 40-60 oz. This may require refilling more frequently for households that brew multiple cups per day.

• There is no thermal carafe option, only a glass carafe. This means coffee won't stay hot for as long after brewing. You'll need to drink the full pot soon after brewing or the later cups may be lukewarm.

• The control panel is simple with limited programming options compared to more high-end coffee makers. There are no settings to adjust brew strength or temperature.

• The materials and build quality feel lightweight and plastic-y according to some reviews. Durability over many years of frequent use is questionable.

• A common complaint is that the coffee maker is noisy when brewing. This could be disruptive early in the morning if you're brewing coffee before others in your household are awake.

• Descaling regularly is recommended to prevent mineral buildup and ensure optimal brewing. But the descaling process is tedious and time consuming.

• The warranty is only 1 year, which is relatively short for small kitchen appliances. If issues develop after the first year, you'll have to pay for repairs or replacement.

Conclusion

The Black+Decker CM1110B-1 programmable coffeemaker offers a good balance of features, performance and affordability. It brews a hot, flavorful pot of coffee and has handy programmable settings to automate the brewing process. The design is compact and sturdy, though some materials like the water reservoir could be higher quality. Overall, it's an economical choice for anyone looking for an entry-level programmable coffeemaker with the basic features to brew good coffee.

I would recommend the CM1110B-1 to those seeking an affordable programmable coffeemaker that gets the job done. The programming options add convenience, while the permanent filter eliminates ongoing costs for paper filters. Just keep in mind that more expensive models will offer higher-end materials, more precise temperature control and brewing, and extra features like a built-in grinder. However, for the price, the CM1110B-1 delivers very good value and performance. It's a great option for college students, offices, or anyone who wants fuss-free, programmable coffee without breaking the bank.