Mr. Coffee 2143561 Drip coffee maker: Full Review

Mr. Coffee is a popular and well-known brand that has been making coffeemakers for decades. The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker, model 2143561, is one of their newer drip coffee maker models designed for home use.

This Mr. Coffee 12-cup coffee maker is affordable and simple to use while still offering convenient features like a programmable timer, pause and serve function, and removable filter basket. As a mid-range drip coffee maker, it aims to provide good brew performance and reliability without too many extra bells and whistles.

Mr. Coffee touts this coffee maker as an easy-to-use machine that can brew up to 12 cups of coffee at a time. It has a simple control panel with buttons for common functions. With its compact footprint and standard design, this Mr. Coffee 12-cup coffee maker is intended to provide an accessible brewing solution for households that want a basic drip coffee machine.

Design and Build Quality

The Mr. Coffee 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker has a solid and sturdy build quality thanks to its plastic housing. The black plastic exterior gives it a nice, clean look that will fit into most kitchen decors. The materials used seem durable enough for regular use and the coffee maker doesn't feel flimsy.

The water reservoir on the side is made of clear plastic so you can easily see the water level. The control buttons on the front have a responsive feel when pressed. The handle on the top also feels sturdy.

Overall, the coffee maker seems well-constructed out of decent quality materials. While plastic, it doesn't look or feel cheap. The design is functional and straightforward without unnecessary frills.

In comparison, the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 offers a sleek stainless steel design that appeals to many users. It features a programmable timer and a brew-pause function, allowing you to pour a cup before brewing is complete. The dual-filter system effectively removes impurities, enhancing the coffee's flavor. This model also has a 12-cup capacity, making it suitable for larger households. The combination of style and functionality makes the Cuisinart DCC-1200P1 a popular choice among coffee enthusiasts.

Key Features

The Mr. Coffee 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker has several useful features that make brewing coffee simple and convenient.

Capacity

• 14-cup glass carafe - This large capacity carafe can brew up to 14 cups (56 oz) of coffee at a time, making it easy to brew for a crowd or make coffee for the whole day. The carafe has clear measurement markings and a comfort grip handle.

Programming Options

• 24-hour programmable auto brew - You can program the coffee maker to automatically brew coffee up to 24 hours in advance. Just set the time you want it to start brewing and it will be ready when you want it.

• Auto pause - This lets you grab a cup of coffee mid-brew if you can't wait for the full pot to finish brewing. The brewing process pauses when you remove the carafe and resumes once you put it back in place.

• Sneak-a-Cup - The carafe lid has an opening that allows you to pour a cup mid-brew without interrupting the brew cycle.

Brew Settings

• Regular and bold brew strength options - Choose between a regular or extra bold coffee flavor.

• Adjustable keep warm temperature control - Customize how hot you want the heated carafe plate to keep your brewed coffee.

Additionally, consider the Amazon Basics CM4008C-UL, which offers excellent value for money with its sleek design and user-friendly controls. This coffee maker brews up to 8 cups and features a keep-warm function, ensuring your coffee stays hot. Its compact size makes it perfect for smaller kitchens while still maintaining a reliable performance. With easy-to-use features and an affordable price point, it’s a great choice for coffee lovers.

Ease of Use

The Mr. Coffee Programmable Coffee Maker scores high marks in ease of use. Initial setup is straightforward - just add water to the water reservoir and coffee grounds to the filter. The controls are simple and intuitive. There are buttons for "on/off", "start/pause", "hour", and "minute" to program the auto-brew time, as well as a dial to select the number of cups.

The control panel is easy to read, with a digital clock display. Programming the auto-brew time only takes a few button presses. The 'sneak a cup' feature allows you to pour a cup of coffee before the full brew cycle finishes.

Cleaning and maintaining the coffee maker is also simple. The removable filter basket and carafe are dishwasher safe. The water reservoir lifts out for easy filling and cleaning. Descaling is recommended every 3-6 months to keep the machine operating properly. There is an access door which allows you to easily pour descaling solution into the water heating chamber.

Overall, the coffee maker delivers on convenient, user-friendly operation from start to finish. The simple controls and programming options make this an accessible choice for any level of coffee drinker.

Brew Performance

The Mr. Coffee Programmable Coffee Maker brews a full pot of coffee in under 15 minutes. The 1500 watt heater ensures the brewing temperature is consistently between 195°F - 205°F, which is the ideal temperature range to properly extract the oils and flavors from ground coffee.

The coffee comes out with a balanced, smooth flavor without any bitterness or acidity. The brew is robust and flavorful thanks to the basket-style filter and showerhead that evenly saturates the coffee grounds. While many budget drip coffee makers tend to produce weak, watery coffee, the Mr. Coffee consistently delivers a full-bodied and satisfying brew.

The brew pause feature allows you to grab a cup mid-brew without the rest of the pot dripping and overflowing. There is also a 2 hour auto shut-off that kicks in after the brew cycle completes, which helps prevent burning or overheating the coffee. Overall, the Mr. Coffee brewer makes a delicious pot of coffee that is hot, rich, and flavorful every time.

Additional Features

The Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker comes with several convenient additional features:

• Auto Pause - This feature allows you to grab a cup of coffee before the full brew cycle ends. When you remove the carafe, the flow of coffee pauses. Once you return the carafe, brewing will resume. This prevents drips and spills.

• Warming Plate - The warming plate keeps your coffee at an ideal serving temperature after brewing. You can leave the carafe on the warming plate for up to 2 hours.

• Water Filtration - A removable water filter helps remove impurities and chlorine from the water before brewing. This improves coffee flavor and cuts down on mineral buildup in the coffee maker over time. The water filter is easy to insert and rinse clean.

Price and Value

The Mr. Coffee 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker typically retails for around $25, which is very affordable for a drip coffee machine with its features and capacity. Compared to other similar coffee makers on the market, this Mr. Coffee model is competitively priced given its large 14-cup capacity and programmable timer.

For the price, you get a substantial brewer that can make over 10 cups of coffee at a time. The programmable delay brew allows you to wake up to freshly brewed coffee, a handy feature lacking in cheaper models. Overall, this coffee maker provides excellent value for money given its low price point yet abundant features. It delivers great bang for your buck without compromising on quality or performance.

Considering its budget-friendly price, generous capacity, and useful preset brewing options, this Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker is an excellent value purchase. It stands out for offering premium features like a programmable timer and pause-and-serve function that are rare to find at this low price point. If you're looking for an affordable yet well-equipped drip coffee machine that can brew for a crowd, this model from Mr. Coffee is a smart choice.

Pros

• Programmable timer: The Mr. Coffee 2143561 has a programmable timer that allows you to set the coffee maker to start brewing at a certain time, so you can wake up to freshly brewed coffee. This is a really convenient feature.

• Pause and serve: There is a pause and serve feature which allows you to pour a cup of coffee mid-brew if you can't wait for the full pot to finish brewing. The flow of coffee to the pot stops momentarily while you pour your cup.

• Brew strength control: This drip coffee maker has a brew strength selector so you can choose regular or bold coffee depending on your tastes. The bold setting slows down the brewing process to extract more flavor from the grounds.

• Large capacity: The 14 cup carafe means you can brew large batches of coffee for gatherings or to have enough to last you throughout the day. It's great for large households or office settings.

Cons

• The water reservoir capacity is small at 12 cups. This means you'll have to refill the water tank frequently if brewing for more than a few people.

• The hot plate doesn't shut off automatically. You have to remember to turn it off or it will burn the coffee. This can be dangerous if you forget and walk away.

• The lid doesn't fully seal which allows steam and heat to escape. This can impact the temperature of the brewed coffee over time.

• The brew basket is made of plastic rather than metal. This means it can absorb coffee oils and odors over time and be harder to fully clean. A stainless steel basket would be more durable.

Conclusion

The Mr. Coffee 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is a solid mid-range drip coffee machine that offers a good balance of features, performance, and value. It brews a full pot quickly, includes useful programming options, and delivers good tasting coffee. The build quality is decent though some plastic parts feel a bit flimsy. Overall, it's an attractive and affordable option for anyone looking for an automatic drip coffee maker with the flexibility of delay brew and auto-shutoff.

The Mr. Coffee 14-cup hits a sweet spot between budget models with few extras and premium machines costing over $100. It doesn't have the high-end features of a Technivorm or Bonavita, but it costs a fraction of the price. For an mid-range automatic drip coffee maker, the Mr. Coffee 14-cup Programmable delivers very good performance and convenience. It makes an excellent choice for households that want programmable functions without breaking the bank.

In summary, the Mr. Coffee 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is recommended for anyone seeking an automatic drip coffee machine with delay brew, auto shutoff, and other useful programming features at an affordable price point. It reliably brews good tasting pots of coffee and offers solid performance for daily home use. The plastic build quality could be sturdier, but overall it provides excellent value at this price range. For an easy-to-use programmable coffee maker under $50, the Mr. Coffee 14-cup is a great option worth considering.