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Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95 10-Cup Optimal Brew Thermal Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Mr. Coffee |
Color | Stainless Steel |
Product Dimensions | 8.7"D x 13.11"W x 14.33"H |
Special Feature | Thermal |
Coffee Maker Type | Drip Coffee Machine |
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About this item
- Removable water reservoir and filter basket lift out for convenient filling and cleaning
- Water filtration helps remove upto 97% of chlorine for better tasting coffee
- Stainless steel thermal carafe keeps coffee hot
- Special cleaning cycle helps maintain performance and taste. Cord length - 30"
- Grab a cup auto pause stops cycle if you need a cup before brewing is finished. Watts:1300
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This Item Mr. Coffee BVMC-PSTX95 10-Cup Optimal Brew Thermal Coffee Maker, Stainless Steel | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $149.99$149.99 | $69.87$69.87 | $69.98$69.98 | -10% $134.95$134.95 List: $149.90 | -7% $58.60$58.60 List: $62.99 | -30% $139.99$139.99 List: $199.95 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 | Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Flavor | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.3 |
Easy to use | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
Easy to clean | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.1 |
Blending power | — | 4.2 | — | 3.4 | 4.7 | — |
Sold By | always quality | always quality | Amazon.com | Beach Camera Same Day Shipping | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
capacity | 10 cups | 4 cups | 50 fluid ounces | 12 cups | 12 cups | 40 fluid ounces |
material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Plastic, Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
input interface | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons | buttons |
wattage | 1200 watts | 900 watts | 1025 watts | 1050 watts | 750 watts | 1400 watts |
model name | — | Mr. Coffee | Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker with 10 Cup | E9CUIDCC3400 | CM2045B-1 | OXO |
weight | 9.7 pounds | 1.38 kilograms | 6.15 pounds | — | 142 grams | — |
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From the manufacturer
Brew a Bolder Cup of Coffee with the Touch of a Button
Optimal Brew
Brew coffee hotter and faster with Optimal Brew. It provides the fullest, richest flavor extraction-and a great tasting cup of coffee every time-with its high brew temperature of 205 degrees F and 20% faster brew speed.*
*compared to BVMC-SJX39
Thermal Carafe
The double-walled, thermal, stainless steel carafe keeps coffee hot for hours.
Strong Brew Selector
Prefer a bolder flavor? It's easy to make a stronger cup of coffee with the Strong Brew selector.
Key Features
- Powered by Optimal Brew for full flavor extraction
- Double-walled thermal carafe
- Strong Brew selector
- Programmable Brew Now and Brew Later presets
- Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause
- Freshness Timer
- Removable water reservoir
- Water filtration system & automatic clean cycle
Enjoy a Great Cup of Coffee at the Perfect Time for You
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Brew LaterThe Brew Later feature lets you set the coffee maker ahead of time, and wake up to freshly brewed coffee. |
Auto PauseGrab-a-Cup Auto Pause lets you enjoy a cup of coffee before the brewing is done. |
Freshness TimerThe freshness timer monitors how long it has been since the coffee was brewed. |
Videos
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Mr coffee 10cup thermal programmable review!
Adriana Rueda
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Customer Review: Leaks water all over, when not even on
Stephen Brown
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Customer Review: Broke after a month of use
schaffkm
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My favorite! Nice size and super easy to use
Marley and Bailee
Product information
Brand | Mr. Coffee |
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Color | Stainless Steel |
Product Dimensions | 8.7"D x 13.11"W x 14.33"H |
Special Feature | Thermal |
Coffee Maker Type | Drip Coffee Machine |
Filter Type | Reusable |
Style | Coffeemaker |
Specific Uses For Product | Coffee maker |
Included Components | Filter, Carafe |
Operation Mode | Fully Automatic |
Number of Items | 1 |
Human Interface Input | Buttons |
Package Type | Standard Packaging |
Item Weight | 9.7 pounds |
Manufacturer | Mr. Coffee |
ASIN | B010SN80UK |
Item model number | BVMC-PSTX95 |
Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #291,831 in Home & Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen) #362 in Coffee Machines |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 15, 2015 |
Warranty & Support
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Product guides and documents
Product Description
Product Description
Mr. Coffee's 10-Cup Optimal Brew Thermal Coffee Maker is designed to extract the fullest flavor possible from your favorite roast. It boasts a high brew temperature of up to 205°. Its double-walled, stainless steel thermal carafe maintains temperature without a warming plate, which preserves your coffee's true flavor profile. The Delay Brew function lets you schedule a pot for later, so you can wake up to a rejuvinating cup every morning. And Grab-A-Cup Auto Pause allows you to pour a cup before the brew cycle finishes. Be sure to use the included water filtration disk to remove any chlorine or impurities from your water during brewing, so you can enjoy a pure tasting cup every time.
From the Manufacturer
There may be several reasons for coffee not to stay warm: Some units have an automatic shut-off feature. This is a safety feature that would automatically shut off your coffeemaker after 1-4 hours, depending on the model. Make sure that the unit hasn't been running longer than this time. The unit may require cleaning to remove mineral deposits that build up over time and cause coffee to brew cooler than normal. If your unit has a thermal decanter, make sure that it is clean and that the lid is kept closed. The thermal decanter should keep coffee warm for 2 to 4 hours after brewing.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the temperature, speed and ease of use of the coffee maker. For example, they mention it keeps the coffee hot for 3-4 hours, the stainless carafe maintains hot coffee without ruining the flavor and the delay feature is wonderful. They're also happy with appearance, and taste. That said, some complain about the leakage. Opinions are mixed on quality and cleanability.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the temperature of the coffee maker. They say it keeps the coffee hot for 3-4 hours, without ruining the flavor. They also appreciate the insulated stainless carafe, which means there's no heating element to worry about.
"...62; Pour TimeThe thermal carafe design is great for keeping coffee warm without requiring additional energy input and without burning your..." Read more
"...It perks the perfect coffee, keeps it hot, and being able to change the filter monthly for great tasting filtration in my coffee, a real positive...." Read more
"...a much shorter period of time than our previous unit and keeps the coffee hotter in the pot...." Read more
"...All in all, I am happy with the speed and ease of making coffee, it is hot and stays at better quality than previous open air coffee makers, and the..." Read more
Customers like the speed of the coffee maker. For example, they say it makes the coffee in a fairly fast time, is easy to keep clean, quiet, and holds temperature. Some mention that the delay feature is wonderful and the thermal carafe keeps the coffee hot for a few hours.
"...All in all, I am happy with the speed and ease of making coffee, it is hot and stays at better quality than previous open air coffee makers, and the..." Read more
"...The delay feature is wonderful...." Read more
"...New review 4 years later. Still going strong with this coffee maker. Brews quick and still gets the water nice an hot for brewing...." Read more
"...The reservoir is removable so no pouring the water into the pot. Delayed setting (most good ones have) so I can set it up the night before and not..." Read more
Customers like the ease of use of the coffee maker. They mention that the basket for grounds is easy to use, simple, and effective. They also appreciate the timer, which is quick and easy to set. Customers also mention that it's easy to program for delayed start, and the button/screen are easy to operate. They appreciate the intuitive push button for pouring. Overall, most are happy with the ease and convenience of use.
"...It reliably and easily makes good coffee, and it does it for a decent price...." Read more
"...quality than previous open air coffee makers, and the button/screen are easy to use...." Read more
"...kept coffee hot for more than the two hours advertised makin it very convenient. That lasted for six months...." Read more
"...a thermal decanter rather than a hot plate, and the basket for grounds is easy to use, as it loads from the side rather than the top, making it easy..." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the coffee maker. They say it has a sleek, visually appealing design that is pleasing to the eye. They also appreciate the removable water tank and the carafe. The coffee maker is well-thought-out and easy to use, with a simple button layout.
"...This Mr. Coffee is a reasonably good looking coffee machine, combining stainless steel with black and clear plastic...." Read more
"...This unit seems to be well made and well designed...." Read more
"...So overall, I am happy with this coffeemaker so far. Modern good looks, a carafe that really keeps the coffee warm for hours, fairly easy to clean..." Read more
"...Since then - morning after morning of lovely, strong, hot coffee, timed to brew about 15 minutes before we wake...." Read more
Customers like the taste of the coffee maker. They say it tastes fantastic, has no burn taste, and is rich, smooth, and chocolaty. Customers also say the carafe design keeps air from affecting the flavor, and the coffee has no aftertaste of plastic.
"...(just a well insulated thermal carafe), the coffee tastes just as good seven hours later (no burned coffee!).> Brew Time..." Read more
"...So, I’m back with Mr Coffee. Taste is pleasant, it’s just me and my husband so it’s the perfect amount of morning brew...." Read more
"...With it in place, the coffee tastes TERRIBLE (and was not very strong - I think the filter really impacts how the water hits the grounds)...." Read more
"...do like the "sealed" design of the carafe and it keep air from affecting the flavor, plus makes it easy to transport around the office...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the coffee maker. Some mention that it makes good, hot coffee in a reasonable amount of time, and it brews a robust pot of coffee that stays hot a nice long time. However, others say that it was ok but on the weak side, and a total failure. They also say that the filter pad has a strong tendency to mis-thread and become very inconsistent.
"...It reliably and easily makes good coffee, and it does it for a decent price...." Read more
"There are many things we love about this model. It perks the perfect coffee, keeps it hot, and being able to change the filter monthly for great..." Read more
"...The entire warranty system, run by off shore centers, is a total failure...." Read more
"...This unit seems to be well made and well designed...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the cleanability of the coffee maker. Some mention it's easier to clean, has a self cleaning cycle, and can fill it up directly. However, others say that cleaning is more difficult than a glass pot, the carafe is much harder to wash, and it floods brown sludge all over the counter top.
"...a carafe that really keeps the coffee warm for hours, fairly easy to clean all the components and most importantly, a nonexistent hot plate that..." Read more
"...This just makes a slight mess every time, especially when you bump the water valve and it dribbles on top of your coffee maker...." Read more
"...last few coffee makers I really wanted one that was easy to use, maintain and clean. This one fits the bill...." Read more
"...Our fault. It's easy to clean, easy to use and looks nice other than the dim display. It keeps the coffee hot for 3-4 hours. I may buy another one." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the leakage of the coffee maker. They mention that the pot leaks coffee while they are pouring, the lid drips everywhere, and the thermal carafe started leaking slightly. This caused water to come pouring out. The gasket underneath mine failed and deformed the lid.
"...Went out. Water was leaking under unit after almost 4 years (NOT a Mr Coffee). Another euro brand, before that had same issue...." Read more
"...returned to Texas in November and tried to brew, the water and grounds leaked out of the basket and flowed all over the unit...." Read more
"...When you remove the lid from the carafe to empty it, the lid drips everywhere. I still forget and make a mess all the time.Warnings:..." Read more
"...The gasket in the water reservoir eventually wears out, spilling water all over the counter...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
I am sometimes a picky, critical person. I research products carefully before I purchase. I love this coffee machine/pot, and would certainly recommend it to my friends or family. It reliably and easily makes good coffee, and it does it for a decent price. I will probably buy this pot or a very similar pot to replace it some day. Coming from me, that’s a pretty strong endorsement.
I have thoroughly reviewed many aspects of the machine below.
>>> MACHINE DESCRIPTION <<<
This Mr. Coffee is a reasonably good looking coffee machine, combining stainless steel with black and clear plastic. The machine (with carafe in its nesting place) is about 14.5” high X 9.5” wide X 11” deep. The space required to use it [without moving it] is larger though, because of the carafe, reservoir, and filter/grounds basket. The carafe handle sticks out about 2” beyond the base (making the full depth from back of machine to front of carafe handle about 13”); to remove the water reservoir and the coffee basket, one needs about 8” of extra space — I have an 18” wide space on my counter between the paper tower dispenser and the wall, and it is just barely enough room to remove/replace the water reservoir and coffee basket without having to move the machine. Because the coffee basket is so high on the machine, our toaster fits snugly between the coffee machine and wall, so there’s no wasted space!
The water reservoir is removable and holds enough water for 10 “cups” of coffee. Most people recognize that the concept of cups has been ridiculously misrepresented by the coffee machine companies. For this particular machine, 10 cups (max fill on the reservoir) is about 46oz (of brewed coffee). The reservoir itself is about 50oz, the carafe can hold about 48, but due to losses during brewing, (steam, soaking into the grounds/filter, etc) a full pot is about 46oz.
>>> USING THE MACHINE <<<
I appreciate that the water reservoir is removable. I find it much easier to fill than previous coffee machines that have the reservoir built in to the machine (this is especially useful for machines that will be placed under other cabinetry).
It is very easy to fill the reservoir, add the coffee filter and coffee, and set up the clock and delay timer. I’ve been using Melitta Super Premium coffee filters (8-12 cup) and they’ve been working great.
>>> PERFORMANCE DATA <<<
One of the important aspects of a coffee machine is the performance data. I attempted to quantify several aspects of the machine/use.
> Brew Temperature
A full pot of coffee measures about 177F just after completing the brewing process, and drops about 5.4F/hr. This means after seven hours the coffee in the carafe is still at 139F, still an acceptable temperature for my coffee (I realize this is not necessarily good enough for everyone, but it’s perfectly fine for me!). And because there is no hot plate (just a well insulated thermal carafe), the coffee tastes just as good seven hours later (no burned coffee!).
> Brew Time
The first drop falls at about 30s, the last drop falls at about 7m. If you’re extremely impatient or addicted, the first 10oz is done in about 100s and the brew pause feature allows you to pour off your fix without spilling much more than a drop.
> Pour Time
The thermal carafe design is great for keeping coffee warm without requiring additional energy input and without burning your coffee, but there is a trade-off: a restriction on the pour spout. It’s not the end of the world, but it reduces flow rate, meaning you must be patient when pouring. The pot empties at about 1.25oz/s, so the whole pot will be empty in about a minute. But for those of you who are eager to get your first 10oz of the day, waiting 12 seconds to get from the carafe to your cup can feel like an eternity. Take a deep breath; relax. It’s OK.
> Costs Overview
Trying to account for every piece of the puzzle, I came in at just under $1/pot. Pretty good! So coffee from this machine will cost about $0.021/oz; compare this to a 20oz Starbucks coffee ($2.35, or $0.117/oz). If you use this machine to replace only one cup of Starbucks coffee per week, it will pay for itself after one year ($0.99/pot/week * 52 weeks + $71/machine = $122 = $2.35/ Starbucks 20oz * 52 weeks). If you use it to replace one cup of Starbucks per weekday, it will pay for itself in about 11 weeks and you’ll save $284 in the first year. If you and a friend are each using a full pot (46oz) to replace two every-weekday Starbucks coffees, you’ll save over $500 in the first year.
> Cost Details
My cost analysis (to come up with $0.99/pot) included coffee filters, coffee grounds, electricity, water, and the water filter discs, based on whatever I paid for these things (or to order replacements). By far the biggest expense was coffee ($0.93; I purchased 126 1.5-2oz bags of coffee — perfect for a full pot — from coffeeforless.com for $115, which included shipping). The coffee filters, filter discs, and electricity needed to brew a full pot (0.14kWh) are each about $0.02. I used tap water, which, on a per pot basis, is essentially free ($0.0016/pot)
> Sounds
I roughly characterized the sounds made by the machine using my cell phone. The percolating noises were about the same as a quiet conversation. The [4 kHz] beep to signal the end of the brew cycle is about 10-15 dB above the percolation noises. Not too loud, but if you’re trying to maintain a perfectly serene household, it may bother you.
>>> THINGS OTHER PEOPLE SAY <<<
1. Some other reviewers suggested that they needed to use two filters or more coffee to get the right brew, but that hasn’t been an issue for me. I’ve been using two filters anyway, because I prefer my coffee quite strong, but I’ve tried it with one filter and it produced a good cup of coffee.
2. Some other reviewers have told tales of spilled coffee or clogged machines — this hasn’t been an issue for me (well, not often anyway; see below). Before I prep the coffee to brew, I shake the carafe and/or open, empty, and rinse the carafe to be sure it is empty.
3. Some other reviewers have mentioned a harsh and thick plastic smell that it took a long time to subdue. I agree that there was a plastic smell, and I took care to brew full pots of water, vinegar, water, coffee, water through the machine (in my garage) before bringing it into my house and using it for the first pot. But I think that might have been overkill. Some people will probably not notice any plastic flavor on their first pot, and some people will probably complain of plastic flavor incessantly; for me it has only produced delicious coffee.
>>> FEATURE WISH-LIST <<<
1. I wish I could turn off the beeps at brew completion and two hours after brew completion. They’re not very loud, but I find them unnecessary and would rather do without them.
2. A pot fullness indicator. I understand the desire to keep the stainless carafe well sealed — introducing a window into the side of the carafe would greatly compromise carafe mechanical integrity, ability to retain heat, and aesthetic. But perhaps this feature could be implemented in another way to at least provide some indication of what’s in the pot without having to pick it up, shake it, take off the top and look inside, etc. (maybe a force sensor underneath that compares the weight of the carafe vs that of an empty carafe, and uses the difference to calculate the amount of fluid in the carafe and display that on a digital meter on the side of the machine?).
3. An automatic shut-off with a full pot! I read about a few mishaps others had, and lied to myself that I would never have the problem of leaving something in the pot and accidentally overfilling it. But one day I forgot to check the pot to make sure it was empty before starting a brew. And it overflowed. And it was 100% my fault. But it sure would be nice if the pot could somehow sense that the pot was nearing over-flow, and automatically stop/pause the brew. Perhaps a good feature to combine with the pot fullness indicator discussed above?
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2017
I am sometimes a picky, critical person. I research products carefully before I purchase. I love this coffee machine/pot, and would certainly recommend it to my friends or family. It reliably and easily makes good coffee, and it does it for a decent price. I will probably buy this pot or a very similar pot to replace it some day. Coming from me, that’s a pretty strong endorsement.
I have thoroughly reviewed many aspects of the machine below.
>>> MACHINE DESCRIPTION <<<
This Mr. Coffee is a reasonably good looking coffee machine, combining stainless steel with black and clear plastic. The machine (with carafe in its nesting place) is about 14.5” high X 9.5” wide X 11” deep. The space required to use it [without moving it] is larger though, because of the carafe, reservoir, and filter/grounds basket. The carafe handle sticks out about 2” beyond the base (making the full depth from back of machine to front of carafe handle about 13”); to remove the water reservoir and the coffee basket, one needs about 8” of extra space — I have an 18” wide space on my counter between the paper tower dispenser and the wall, and it is just barely enough room to remove/replace the water reservoir and coffee basket without having to move the machine. Because the coffee basket is so high on the machine, our toaster fits snugly between the coffee machine and wall, so there’s no wasted space!
The water reservoir is removable and holds enough water for 10 “cups” of coffee. Most people recognize that the concept of cups has been ridiculously misrepresented by the coffee machine companies. For this particular machine, 10 cups (max fill on the reservoir) is about 46oz (of brewed coffee). The reservoir itself is about 50oz, the carafe can hold about 48, but due to losses during brewing, (steam, soaking into the grounds/filter, etc) a full pot is about 46oz.
>>> USING THE MACHINE <<<
I appreciate that the water reservoir is removable. I find it much easier to fill than previous coffee machines that have the reservoir built in to the machine (this is especially useful for machines that will be placed under other cabinetry).
It is very easy to fill the reservoir, add the coffee filter and coffee, and set up the clock and delay timer. I’ve been using Melitta Super Premium coffee filters (8-12 cup) and they’ve been working great.
>>> PERFORMANCE DATA <<<
One of the important aspects of a coffee machine is the performance data. I attempted to quantify several aspects of the machine/use.
> Brew Temperature
A full pot of coffee measures about 177F just after completing the brewing process, and drops about 5.4F/hr. This means after seven hours the coffee in the carafe is still at 139F, still an acceptable temperature for my coffee (I realize this is not necessarily good enough for everyone, but it’s perfectly fine for me!). And because there is no hot plate (just a well insulated thermal carafe), the coffee tastes just as good seven hours later (no burned coffee!).
> Brew Time
The first drop falls at about 30s, the last drop falls at about 7m. If you’re extremely impatient or addicted, the first 10oz is done in about 100s and the brew pause feature allows you to pour off your fix without spilling much more than a drop.
> Pour Time
The thermal carafe design is great for keeping coffee warm without requiring additional energy input and without burning your coffee, but there is a trade-off: a restriction on the pour spout. It’s not the end of the world, but it reduces flow rate, meaning you must be patient when pouring. The pot empties at about 1.25oz/s, so the whole pot will be empty in about a minute. But for those of you who are eager to get your first 10oz of the day, waiting 12 seconds to get from the carafe to your cup can feel like an eternity. Take a deep breath; relax. It’s OK.
> Costs Overview
Trying to account for every piece of the puzzle, I came in at just under $1/pot. Pretty good! So coffee from this machine will cost about $0.021/oz; compare this to a 20oz Starbucks coffee ($2.35, or $0.117/oz). If you use this machine to replace only one cup of Starbucks coffee per week, it will pay for itself after one year ($0.99/pot/week * 52 weeks + $71/machine = $122 = $2.35/ Starbucks 20oz * 52 weeks). If you use it to replace one cup of Starbucks per weekday, it will pay for itself in about 11 weeks and you’ll save $284 in the first year. If you and a friend are each using a full pot (46oz) to replace two every-weekday Starbucks coffees, you’ll save over $500 in the first year.
> Cost Details
My cost analysis (to come up with $0.99/pot) included coffee filters, coffee grounds, electricity, water, and the water filter discs, based on whatever I paid for these things (or to order replacements). By far the biggest expense was coffee ($0.93; I purchased 126 1.5-2oz bags of coffee — perfect for a full pot — from coffeeforless.com for $115, which included shipping). The coffee filters, filter discs, and electricity needed to brew a full pot (0.14kWh) are each about $0.02. I used tap water, which, on a per pot basis, is essentially free ($0.0016/pot)
> Sounds
I roughly characterized the sounds made by the machine using my cell phone. The percolating noises were about the same as a quiet conversation. The [4 kHz] beep to signal the end of the brew cycle is about 10-15 dB above the percolation noises. Not too loud, but if you’re trying to maintain a perfectly serene household, it may bother you.
>>> THINGS OTHER PEOPLE SAY <<<
1. Some other reviewers suggested that they needed to use two filters or more coffee to get the right brew, but that hasn’t been an issue for me. I’ve been using two filters anyway, because I prefer my coffee quite strong, but I’ve tried it with one filter and it produced a good cup of coffee.
2. Some other reviewers have told tales of spilled coffee or clogged machines — this hasn’t been an issue for me (well, not often anyway; see below). Before I prep the coffee to brew, I shake the carafe and/or open, empty, and rinse the carafe to be sure it is empty.
3. Some other reviewers have mentioned a harsh and thick plastic smell that it took a long time to subdue. I agree that there was a plastic smell, and I took care to brew full pots of water, vinegar, water, coffee, water through the machine (in my garage) before bringing it into my house and using it for the first pot. But I think that might have been overkill. Some people will probably not notice any plastic flavor on their first pot, and some people will probably complain of plastic flavor incessantly; for me it has only produced delicious coffee.
>>> FEATURE WISH-LIST <<<
1. I wish I could turn off the beeps at brew completion and two hours after brew completion. They’re not very loud, but I find them unnecessary and would rather do without them.
2. A pot fullness indicator. I understand the desire to keep the stainless carafe well sealed — introducing a window into the side of the carafe would greatly compromise carafe mechanical integrity, ability to retain heat, and aesthetic. But perhaps this feature could be implemented in another way to at least provide some indication of what’s in the pot without having to pick it up, shake it, take off the top and look inside, etc. (maybe a force sensor underneath that compares the weight of the carafe vs that of an empty carafe, and uses the difference to calculate the amount of fluid in the carafe and display that on a digital meter on the side of the machine?).
3. An automatic shut-off with a full pot! I read about a few mishaps others had, and lied to myself that I would never have the problem of leaving something in the pot and accidentally overfilling it. But one day I forgot to check the pot to make sure it was empty before starting a brew. And it overflowed. And it was 100% my fault. But it sure would be nice if the pot could somehow sense that the pot was nearing over-flow, and automatically stop/pause the brew. Perhaps a good feature to combine with the pot fullness indicator discussed above?
OK, so other comparisons. So you know, I came from an old, trusty Braun 10-cup with a thermal carafe, and a year-old Cuisinart 12-cup (like the DTC975BKN by picture, but I'm not absolutely sure of model number -- it is a year old or so, after all).
First, comfort. The carafe on the old Braun had a nice, smooth handle and an easy-to-remove lid. This Mr. Coffee has a similar handle but a little less comfortable, owing to the splash of metal they put on the edge. I wish they'd just made it one big plastic handle. The Cuisinart has an awful handle. It has, effectively, sharp edges, and it's heavier so you feel it cutting into your hand more. The lid of the Mr. Coffee also is comfortable, but the Cuisinart has nips for grippiness all around, but they too are sharp. Win goes to Mr. Coffee on comfort.
Second, lid function. The carafe on the old Braun took about a quarter turn or less to remove the lid. It went on and came off easily. Same goes for the Mr. Coffee. The Cuisinart? Not so much. It has threading such that it takes a 360-degree turn to fully close it, and has a strong tendency to mis-thread. Win: clearly Mr. Coffee.
Third, user interface. The main failing point of the Cuisinart here is that it has a teensy LCD display, and you're supposed to see little indicators on it to know whether or not the system is programmed to run. The LCD could have been backlit, if they'd chosen to, but it's not, so it's near impossible to read. The Mr. Coffee has a lit digital display. The "Delay Brew" button lights up at the edges when it's on. Neither is totally intuitive, but the Mr. Coffee is better.
Another user interface piece that's not as obvious is the water level indicator. The Mr. Coffee has lines on its removable, translucent water container, and the combination of the two makes it easy to load up 8 cups and know where things stand. The Cuisinart has a fixed water container, and a little red ball that rises up when you put water in. That's pretty good, but in low light, you really can't see the numbers or markings. I hacked this by putting a piece of tape on the outside at the 8-cup level so I could know how high the red ball should go.
So both in form and function, the win goes to the Mr. Coffee.
Fourth, brew. I got a little science-y on this. I ran two brews -- same pre-ground coffee, same amount (two level scoops using a big spoon I have, which ends up being about 19 grams, total), same 8-cup marking on each machine. (I also later verified that the 8-cup marking on each actually measured out to the same volume.) I did a taste test (totally subjective, and only after doing the vinegar cleaning thing), and the Mr. Coffee was indeed weaker. Perhaps this is due to the basket filter in the Mr. Coffee, vs. the cone filter in both the Cuisinart and Braun. Perhaps it's due to drip speed and brew time. I also did another brew of 8 cups in each, and then poured one cup into two identical Pyrex 1-cup glass measuring cups, and the Mr. Coffee brew *looked* weaker.
So what do you do? Add more coffee. I re-did the test using three scoops (probably 28 or 29g of coffee) in the Mr. Coffee, and the same as before (19g) in the Cuisinart. After that, the Mr. Coffee was slightly stronger and visibly similar to the Cuisinart brew. Win: Cuisinart and trusty old Braun.
Fifth: overall form, and granted I'm comparing a 10-cup to a 12-cup here. The Cuisinart, being the 12-cup, is quite tall. It nearly reaches the bottom of our cabinets. The coffee basket swings out right, and has a rather strangely placed finger hole cut-out for pulling it out. The water goes in the top, though, and the whole top surface is hinged at the back. The bottom has grippy rubber feet. So in the end, this means that to brew coffee in it, I have to slide it out from under the cabinets (hard, due to the grippy feet), and turn it sideways to fill it, because if I lift the whole lid, it runs into the cabinets again. Then I rotate it back so that the filter basket can swing out to a place where I can reach it.
The Mr. Coffee is a 10-cup and is shorter, but is designed for sideways clearance. The water holder has a slot in the back for your hand to hold it, lift it a bit, and move it out to the left. Then you can remove the lid (if you haven't already), and fill it from the tap. The water container can be a bit slippery. It would have been great if they could have added some ribbing on the outside plastic. The filter basket is on the right and is more complicated than the swing-out in the Cuisinart. You have to slide it out (at which point it typically drips a bit), then lift its lid, then remove or dump the basket-type filter, but the filter basket stays wetter than the others... In all, it's just more complicated. Also, I have things on the countertop both to the left and right of the coffee maker. So I still have to pull it out to set it up. At least the feet aren't as grippy as the Cuisinart.
Win on overall form: I still give the edge to the Mr. Coffee.
There is one danger point on the Mr. Coffee I ran into. After a brew, its lid holds onto very hot liquid. If you take the lid off to rinse it immediately after brewing, and push the "release" button on it, it will leak that very hot water onto you and potentially burn. So be careful. Most people won't remove the lid that soon unless pouring out the whole carafe. I did it when cleaning.
One final gripe: it takes basket filters and I came from a cone filter world. But out of the box, you don't get any cone filters at all. You'd think they'd supply at least a few to be nice.
So all in all, I miss my Braun, and I like the Mr. Coffee. Wash it, do the vinegar cleaning thing, make some room on the sides. Or abandon the whole drip coffee machine thing and get a French press and a tea kettle.
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Reviewed in Mexico on July 24, 2019
En mi opinión la jarra es lo mejor que tiene esta cafetera.
También me gustaría que fuese de mayor capacidad...
En los pros puedo decir que es SUPER fácil de usar, es rápida, el café es bueno y la jarra térmica en donde se guarda el café es MUY buena... a veces hacemos café por la mañana (7:00am) y a medio día que salimos a comer el café sigue calientito … son como 5-6 hrs!!!