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Review Overview
Overall
Affordable and Easy to Use
Summary : The machine seems to be built well, made in the USA. Overall, it's better than I expected from a forty dollar drip coffee maker.
You are currently browsing comments. If you would like to return to the full story, you can read the full entry here: “Is It The Coffeemaker From Hell? Black & Decker Stainless 8-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffeemaker Review”.
Mike, nice article. I may have a bit more insite base on our longer period of use. My wife and I used to own a coffee shop so we are a little discriminating when it comes to coffee. We had our B&D thermal machine for about 18 months before the carafe valve broke (this is the part that gets pushed down by the drip maker when it is set in place. Like you, we agree it doesn’t have a high enough temperature.
The best positive feature was that we could keep the coffee fairly hot in the carafe for a period of time without it getting that burnt taste from a hot plate. BTW, our machine didn’t even have a hot plate. The biggest negative was that, if the plastic basket where the grounds and filter are placed wasn’t seated correctly (it is surprisingly easy to displace it unwittingly), then we did get coffee all over the counter. So one does have to be careful to avoid a big mess at the time of day you really don’t want one.
Great review, Mike. I think I’ll save Black & Decker for the garage, though they do have a Brew & Go model that looks decent for someone who isn’t picky and wants coffee to go.
Another Web Picks Wednesday.
http://www.coffeekrave.com/web-picks-wednesday-2/
Thanks Daniel. When I was still commuting daily, I was thinking about picking up a Brew & Go. However, I haven’t tried it yet, so I wouldn’t recommend it just yet.
On a side note, really liked your article about coffee snobs.
I had one of these awhile back. The coffee was never hot enough for me and I thought the warmer was useless. Even if I pre-heated the carafe it was not hot enough and I’d have to use the microwave, and the programmed made pots were worse. I think it quit working after a short period of time and I thought, “just as well”. Not bitter or anything, but I’ll never get anything like that again. The hassle really dampened the coffee experience. Coffee should be HOT. Period.
Really like this site, by the way.
Thanks for the kind words about the site Bob! And your thoughts about the coffee maker.
How do you brew your coffee now?
I generally use a Hamilton-Beach Brewstation. Plenty hot, keeps the coffee hot without cooking it and I can make two to 12 cups so, to fill a thermos is not a problem unless it’s not elevated (mine’s on my kitchen windowsill over the sink, perfect). Coffee stays fresher a lot longer that a conventional coffee maker. I also have my french press, an espresso maker and a three cup stovetop cuban coffee maker which is really cool. For good measure, a Gevalia coffee maker for backup. Hmmm… may be a bit spoiled. Of course a Braun coffee grinder for the Italian espresso or if I get some other whole bean. I get gallon jugs of water at stores instead of using tap, I think that has a great deal to do with flavor and mineral buildup. Yeah, I’m pretty caffeinated.
Bob, nothing wrong with being a bit spoiled! It sounds like you have all of the bases covered.
have only seen this one in action.
there wasn’t a devil on top when i saw it
so i’d say not from hell.
the Cuisinart Grind and Brew has tweaked our
staffs interest… might try it and see if your op\
is on target Mike.
thanks for an even fair review.
I have to agree with you there howard! It may not be perfect, but it’s not the one from hell either.
I like the Cuisnart Grind And Brew. It wasn’t perfect either, but the ease of use made it a favorite in my kitchen for a while.
The on line reviews made this coffeemaker sound like it would sneak out of the kitchen and attack you while you slept, then drown you with sub-boiling water! You said at the end of your article that there were better drip coffeemaker alternatives. Could you name like the top 3 in your opinion? As usual a very informative article.
Rob, I did sleep with one eye open when I first got this coffee maker!
My top three are the Zojirushi Fresh Brew, Cuisinart Grind and Brew (although I would make some tweaks to it) or if you want to break the budget, check out the Technivorm.
Hey, nice write-up. I just saw your question and decided to answer here. Clearly my 5 + year old machine is a successor to your much improved version. I did look for model numbers or any numbers and found nothing, sorry. It was here when I got here and I do not look a gifted coffee pot in the carafe(Ha, am I funny–do not answer that.)
Claudia, I was hoping that you would stop by since your experience was definitely different than mine. I checked online and didn’t see different model numbers for the model that I reviewed, versus the ones associated with the reviews on Target. It seems like a different coffee maker.
On a side note, you did make me giggle.