Black & Decker DCM1350 VersaBrew Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker, White Review

I wanted a coffee making gizmo, and this model came with a few extras that I thought valuable. Of course, at this price, the VersaBrew Plus does not grind coffee beans, filter water, remove CO2 from the air, or slice bagels. So here is what I like about this particular coffee maker.

First, I like being able to lift the basket with the filter free and clear without having to contort my wrist at unnatural angles or pry the whole thing loose. This feature makes it easier both to add fresh grounds and to remove the sodden used grounds.

I like having the easy-to-use timer so that, oh joyous moment, the coffee is already brewing or brewed when I stagger into the kitchen.

The carafe pours easily and does not drip, and the heating element gets the coffee plenty hot so it's not necessary to do an auxiliary burn in the microwave (as I had been doing with my previous, dying coffee maker).

Another plus is that the carafe has stairstep hash marks to show how much extra water is needed to yield how many cups. (Rumors that the extra water rematerializes in the same dimesion where all socks that vanish in dryers go cannot be substantiated at this time.)

Also, the sneak-a-cup feature allows the first person to reach the coffee maker to steal a cup of coffee during the brewing process, thereby ensuring he or she gets the stronger stuff, which, after all, is the main reason for getting up first.

There are a couple of vices to note with the VersaBrew Plus.

Early on, for two mornings in a row, I fought my way past the cats only to find that there was no coffee in the carafe, only clear, warm water. The problem was that I had failed to pour any water into the heating reservoir the night before! Perhaps future models will either mock you with shrill bursts of laughter or feature a robotic siphoning device that handles the task should you put coffee in the basket, set the timer, and still forget to pour water into reservoir.

Second, as the last dregs of water are being sucked into the innards where the heating elements dwell, this thing sounds like an old steam locomotive with vicious intentions. It's rare to hear this much noise without some sort of accompanying motion to justify the sound. I've wondered if it might be possible to attach wheels and at least get the kitchen counter wiped off during these final wheezing paroxysms.

Finally, you can only move the time on the clock forward, so if you want to set the autobrew to start an hour earlier, you have to advance the time 23 hours instead of turning it back for one. That's pretty pathetic engineering.

But hey, I've got hot, fresh coffee every morning, and that is a good thing. Maybe the others reviewers have an earlier model or perhaps the coffee gods are displaying their wrath for reasons we cannot know. (But I do know that filling the coffee maker over the maximum water level might not be a good idea.)

PS: In constrast to the experiences of others, our Black & Decker DCM1350 VersaBrew Plus 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is still on the job after three years of nearly daily use. Maybe it's because we throw a couple of scoops of decaf in with the mix.

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Product Description:
Bullet Items: Programmable clock/timer with 2-hour automatic shut-off Sneak-A-Cup interrupt feature -- grap a cup before brewing is done Water window with easy-to-read cup markings Swing-out removalbe filter basket with easy-grip handle Dishwasher-safe, 60 oz. 1800 ml carafe, lid, and filter basket Non-stick keeps hot plate Contemporary black styling fits any kitchen decor.

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