Review on Cuisinart DCC 450BK Coffeemaker Stainless Steel Carafe by Ashley Slater

I grunted and mumbled a little coffee maker and ended up buying it at my local B, B and B. I've been using the Cuisinart DCC-1100 12-Cup Kettle for a couple of years, so I can compare these two cars well. I also took some photos. First, it's a compact machine. It says 4 "jars" - meaning 5 ounces. Cups. Many/most coffee machines are set up in this way. The water measurement is very accurate (similar to the DCC-1100). I don't use a pot to fill the reservoir - I just use a spare water bottle or 20-ounce pop bottles. (5 ounces x 4 "cups" = 20 ounces). Filling the tank is MUCH easier from a bottle. Also, if you're just looking into the tank, there are "levels" for 2s, 3s, 4s. in it (see fig.). If the water is at or just above a step, you're on your way. Easy.Second: The extraction and brewing is superb. I opened the lid several times to check, the floors are under water. I use 1 tablespoon of coffee (Gevalia or Peet's, finer ground) per "cup" and tastes great. I bought a gold GTF filter and find it tastes slightly better than using Melitta #2 filters (but paper filters clear faster). Third, along with great flavor/strength, the temperature is HOT. The pot is metal but not insulated, so don't touch it or you could burn yourself. When you press the switch to turn it on, it only stays on for 30 minutes, which isn't very long. You can always pour the rest of the coffee into the thermo mug when it is off. Fourth: brewing time. I tested them with a stopwatch: For 2 cups: 4:25 For 3 cups: 5:30 For 4 cups: 7:30 (that's when everything is ready, squirts and spits) It's not the fastest, but it is tastes GREAT. it was worth it. Fifth: about the carafe and the spout. I think it has been redesigned since 2009 or so. I post a photo. The spout is down and curved, and the lid of the pot has a couple of small holes next to the spout to keep it from overflowing. I had no problems with drips or leaks. No one. To remove the cap, FIRST turn the KNOB up (the end of the spout is under the small plastic tab). Thus, the cover can be easily removed. Overall, the taste, strength, and temperature of the coffee is very similar to the full-size DCC-1100 coffee maker. I wanted to try the small one for easier cleaning and the smaller size on the counter. This 4-cup coffee maker makes delicious HOT coffee. Make sure to use great tasting water and fresh coffee and you'll be done. Cons: I suppose the lack of a timer; In addition, the coffee maker only switches off 30 minutes after switching on (and not 30 minutes after brewing). The oven heats up in just 22-24 minutes. I can't guarantee long-term reliability - I've only been using it for about a week. But once you taste how it's brewed, you'll love it. I'm still impressed. In my experience, it's VERY important to keep a metal pan clean as it doesn't stay as smooth as glass and can contain stale tastes and odors. In addition to washing after each use, you can regularly use a citric acid or vinegar solution or even baking soda + dishwashing liquid to remove stains or odors. No leaks or problems. Still great taste and hot temperature. Make sure you put the lid in correctly (spout first, then twist down to get the handle) and also make sure the basket is fully seated and not leaking. If it had a timer I would give it 5 stars. I ran some temperature tests; After brewing the kettle I put a thermometer in and it was 180*F. Very hot. Overall very compact and handy compared to a large coffee maker as I am a general coffee drinker. I use 'Brew Rite' cleaner and it works better than vinegar, it cleans completely with no odor or aftertaste. Update: December 2015 Still using this kettle, it seems to work well and still makes hot coffee. The heating plate has a few scratches and signs of wear, but I still wipe it gently with a clean, damp cloth every day. One thing I've noticed over time is that coffee can get really *HOT* if left on the stovetop, especially if there's very little in the pot. *Sometimes this can result in a burnt/scalded taste.* I usually like to add liquid cream and only pour it in about a minute after it's brewed, so I don't always notice it. I usually set it up the night before work and plug it in so when I leisurely head into the kitchen I can just push a button to start it up. Update: January 2016 Does a metal kettle burn/scald/overheat coffee? I compared it to the DCC-1100 coffee maker and found that the glass coffee pot tasted slightly better. Maybe after a year or so it will get very hot? The taste gets better if I use a Melitta filter (it has pores) or a gold tone filter instead of a regular white filter (the first two allow water to drain through the filter faster). I brewed about 4 cups on the DCC-1100 on setting 1-4 and compared. A larger coffee maker made the coffee taste a little better. I think if the 4 cup teapot had a glass jug it would taste better (but then it would be easier to break). UPDATE again - May 2016: Ok, sorry for the long review, I can be wordy at times. I recently decided to check it out. On holiday I tried some Gevalia House Blend again and it was a great tasting coffee, rich and smooth without getting burned. So I used some Gevalia Guatemala coffee at home and it came out pretty good, hot, flavorful. ** I seem to have had the worst taste when using darker, more roasted (burnt?) coffees like Starbucks and Caribou. They had bad taste, maybe it was the over-extraction? So I will say that medium or light roast coffee can be very tasty and hot in this coffee maker; Tastes better with Melitta #2 filters (have pores) or Cuisinart GTF-4 gold filters than regular white filters. I still wipe any drips off the stove and brew 1/3 of the vinegar every 4-5 weeks and it's pretty clean. If the filter basket wasn't so finicky to check that it was fully seated, it would be better. If the coffee is too strong with fine grinds (Peet's, Gevalia, etc.) at 1 tbsp. per "cup", then I only use 1/2 tbsp. fewer. do not leave long on the stove; I think it heats it up too hot when I do. So I just brew what I want, wait a minute after the atomization finishes, and pour it into a travel mug so it doesn't "boil" on the burner. Wow I've had it for over 2 years now and it still works great. Hey maybe Cuisinart could send me money/tips/rewards for a thorough review? jake