Cuisinart DCC-2200

by Leslie
(Lexington, MA)

Cuisinart DCC-2200 Brew Central
14-Cup Coffeemaker

At first I was hesitant to buy a Cuisinart coffee maker. After all, Cuisinart is a brand that is consistent with chopping and cooking, not brewing. For years I had purchased only Krups and Braun coffee makers but was generally dissatisfied with the brew, so I needed to find a new options. And the modern styling of the Cuisinart Brew Central coffee maker and it's moderate pricing soon won me over.

Made of brushed stainless and black, this sleek model makes 14 cups. It is squared off and high end looking but uses a regular glass carafe.

There are quite a few nice features. This coffee maker does come with a carbon filter which preps the water to make a tastier cup of coffee. It sounds a high pitched tone when the brewing is complete. This is useful as the coffee maker is rather quiet when brewing. However, those hard of hearing may have trouble hearing it.

It has auto shut-off and you can remove the carafe before the brewing is complete if you need to get that first coffee of the morning more quickly. You can also program the coffee maker and add water so your coffee can be ready at a pre-set time.

The major disadvantage of this coffee maker and why I wouldn't buy it again, is the water measurement function. On most coffee makers the water reservoir has markings that are clearly visible so that you can just pour water in. But Cuisinart chose to do things a bit differently. On this Cuisinart, the markings are on the inside of a dark black reservoir. It is nearly impossible to see how much water goes in with these markings so you need to use the carafe or measuring cup to get it right.

The actual coffee tastes pretty good. Better than a Krups or Braun though not as good as the higher-end models.

So in summary, if your looking for a decent brew for a moderate price (I paid $89.99), this Cuisinart might be a good option for you.