Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 is a mid-range drip coffee maker with programmable functions and a 12-cup capacity. It offers a range of useful features while keeping the design simple and approachable for most users. In this review, we'll take an in-depth look at the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1's design, features, brew performance, ease of use, durability, and value for money. We'll highlight the pros and cons of this drip coffee maker to help you determine if it's a good option for your morning coffee routine. Key aspects we'll cover include the programmable timer, brew pause function, charcoal water filter, and self-clean setting. We'll also discuss how it brews a full pot quickly while keeping the carafe at an optimal temperature. To conclude, you'll have a comprehensive overview of this Cuisinart drip coffee maker to inform your buying decision.

Design and Appearance

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 coffee maker has an attractive, contemporary design that looks great on any kitchen counter. It has a brushed metal housing available in several color options like black, stainless steel, and white to fit any decor.

With dimensions of 9.8 x 7.8 x 14.3 inches, it has a nice compact footprint that doesn't take up too much counter space. The styling is relatively sleek and minimalist, with simple lines and no fancy flourishes. The control panel on top has an LCD display and neat rows of buttons in black with stainless steel trim.

Overall, the coffee maker has a very modern, polished look. The metal housing gives it a sturdy, premium feel compared to plastic models. It's compact enough to fit well in most kitchens, while still making a stylish statement.

Another excellent option to consider is the Braun KF7070, which features a sleek design, advanced brewing technology, and an intuitive interface, making for an equally stylish and high-performing coffee maker. With its elegant finish and efficient footprint, it adds both functionality and aesthetic appeal to your kitchen.

Features and Settings

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 has several handy features and settings that coffee enthusiasts will appreciate.

• Programmable Timer: You can program the coffeemaker up to 24 hours in advance, so you can wake up to automatically brewed coffee. The programmable timer allows you to choose the exact hour and minute you want the coffee to start brewing.

• Brew Strength Control: There are options for regular or bold coffee strength, allowing you to customize the flavor and intensity of each brew. The bold setting utilizes more coffee grounds and extracts maximum flavor.

• Self-Clean Setting: The self-clean function helps keep the coffeemaker in tip-top condition by rinsing away mineral deposits and old coffee oils. Just pour water into the reservoir and run the self-clean cycle.

• Charcoal Water Filter: The built-in charcoal water filter removes impurities and chlorine from the water for better tasting coffee. The filter is designed to last up to 60 days or 60 uses before needing replacement.

The BLACK+DECKER CM2045B-1 is another excellent choice for coffee lovers, featuring a 12-cup capacity and a unique thermal carafe that keeps coffee hot for hours. This model offers a user-friendly interface and a variety of brew strength options, catering to those who enjoy both mild and robust flavors. Its quick brewing system ensures you can get your caffeine fix in no time, making it perfect for busy mornings or gatherings.

Brew Performance

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 brews a full 12-cup pot of coffee in around 10 minutes. The brew time is fairly standard for a drip coffee maker in this class.

The coffee it produces is piping hot, measuring around 180-185 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature range to properly extract flavors from the coffee grounds.

In terms of flavor, the DCC-1200P1 makes a robust, full-bodied pot of coffee. Many users comment that it rivals coffee shop flavor. The brew is aromatic and smooth without any bitterness.

The glass carafe does a decent job of retaining heat. It has an ergonomic handle and dripless spout for easy, mess-free pouring. The carafe keeps the coffee hot for 1-2 hours before cooling down. Some users recommend preheating the carafe with hot water first for maximum heat retention.

Overall, the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 delivers excellent brew performance comparable to more expensive drip coffee makers. It excels at quickly brewing piping hot, full-flavored coffee into an easy to pour carafe.

Ease of Use and Cleanup

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 coffee maker is designed for convenient day-to-day use. It has an intuitive control panel with buttons for on/off, programming the brew time, and selecting cup size. The buttons have audible feedback when pressed. The blue backlit LCD display is easy to read and shows the time of day, brewing strength, brew time settings, and status messages.

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward with removable parts like the filter basket, carafe, and water reservoir. The water reservoir pulls out from the back of the machine for fast refills. Descaling is recommended every 3-6 months to remove mineral deposits. Cuisinart provides clear descaling instructions in the user manual. Overall, the coffee maker is simple to operate and keep clean for fuss-free coffee brewing.

Durability and Warranty

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 has a heavy-duty plastic housing that feels sturdy and well-constructed. The metal accents like the handle and baseplate add a touch of elegance and durability.

Overall, customers find this unit reliable and able to withstand daily use without any issues. The machine doesn't have many plastic parts that are prone to breaking. As long as it's cared for properly, the DCC-1200P1 should last for many years of service.

Cuisinart provides a 3-year limited warranty which covers defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty is adequate for a drip coffee maker in this price range. If any issues come up early on, Cuisinart's customer service is responsive and helpful in resolving them.

So while it may not have a lifetime guarantee, the DCC-1200P1's solid build quality means you likely won't need to use the warranty unless you get a defective unit. With proper maintenance, this coffeemaker should hold up well for daily home use.

Value for Money

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 is a moderately priced drip coffee maker, typically available for around $90. This puts it in the middle of the pack in terms of pricing for 12-cup programmable coffee makers. Models from brands like Mr. Coffee and Black+Decker can be found for under $30, while premium brands like Technivorm and Bonavita range from $150 to over $300.

When you consider the useful features, solid brewing ability, and durable stainless steel construction of the DCC-1200P1, it represents a good value at this price point. While it may not have some of the bells and whistles or precise temperature control of the most expensive coffee makers, it delivers reliable performance and consistently good tasting coffee. For many home users looking for an everyday coffee maker with programmable settings, this Cuisinart model offers an appealing balance of quality and value.

The 3-year limited warranty also adds confidence in the product's reliability. Overall, while not the cheapest option, the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 offers a level of quality and performance that makes it a worthwhile investment for most coffee loving households. When compared to other programmable coffee makers in the same price range, it emerges as a good value purchase.

Advantages

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 has several advantages that make it a great option for a programmable drip coffee maker:

• Brews a full pot quickly - With its 12-cup capacity and brew speed of under 7 minutes, it can brew a full pot faster than many comparable coffee makers. This is perfect for busy mornings.

• Programmable features - You can program it to automatically brew coffee in advance up to 24 hours. This allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee.

• Self-clean setting - The handy self-clean setting helps keep the machine well-maintained by cleaning the internal components.

• Charcoal water filter - The built-in charcoal water filter helps remove impurities and improve taste.

• Stainless steel design - The stainless steel exterior gives it a modern, durable look that fits well in most kitchens.

• Limited 3-year warranty - Cuisinart offers a 3-year limited warranty to protect against defects.

Overall, the quick brew speed, programmability, self-cleaning, water filtration, attractive design, and solid warranty make this an excellent drip coffee maker with noticeable advantages over competitors.

Disadvantages

While the Cuisinart DCC-1200 performs well overall, it does have some downsides to consider:

• The water reservoir only holds 12 cups, less than some other programmable coffee makers. This means you may need to refill it more frequently.

• The hot plate does not get quite as hot as higher end models, so coffee left sitting may not stay as hot.

• The instruction manual is mediocre and lacks some specifics on programming custom settings.

• There is no backlight on the LCD screen, making it hard to read in dim lighting.

• The reusable gold tone filter allows more sediment through compared to permanent filters. This can result in gritty coffee if not rinsed thoroughly.

• Cleaning the water reservoir requires detaching a hose, which is an extra step.

• Durability issues have been reported, like leaking water or malfunctioning buttons after a year or two of use.

• Cuisinart's warranty only covers 1-3 years, short for a programmable coffee maker.

• The all plastic construction feels less sturdy and premium than metal and glass models.

Conclusion

The Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 has a lot going for it as a programmable drip coffee maker. Its solid brew performance, easy-to-use interface, self-clean setting, and durable construction make it a reliable and convenient choice for most households.

The adjustable programming, strength control, and brew pause feature allow you to customize your coffee to your preferences. It can brew up to 12 cups at a time, suitable for families or entertaining. The stainless steel carafe keeps coffee hot for hours.

For the price, the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 delivers quality and versatility. If you're looking for an automatic drip coffee maker with programmable settings, this model is hard to beat. It produces consistently hot, flavorful coffee and has useful extras like the brew pause.

The main downsides are the lack of a thermal carafe and smaller water reservoir. But overall, the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 combines functionality, durability, and performance making it a recommended programmable coffee maker for most needs.