Excellent machine that makes flavorfui, hot coffee, that stays hot for hours -- can't go wrong for the price.
Positive Product Points
- Very easy to use - Programmable - Looks good - Heats water at correct temperature - Metal thermal carafe keeps coffee hot for long periods - Gauge on side that shows number of cups of water
Negative Product Points
- More plastic than metal, so not sure about longevity of unit
Detailed Commentary
I purchased this unit to replace an older thermal carafe Krups unit that simply could not heat water to the correct temperature any longer. I did quite a bit of research before making my purchase. I was only interested in a thermal carafe unit, because I tend to drink coffee throughout the day, and do not at all enjoy the burnt coffee taste produced by warming plates. Also, I prefer not to pour my coffee into another thermal carafe (just one more thing to clean every day).
My choices came down to the Capresso MT 500, Techniform, or the Starbucks units. I ruled out Starbucks pretty quick because of all the problems reported on this site. If you get a good one, they work fine, but too many people report overflow problems. Apparently, there is a design flaw with the Starbucks machine. Techniform is a great unit, but based on reviews here and other places, the thermal carafe could be better. Plus, it is not programmable, unless you purchase a separate timer that you plug the machine into. Also, it is a little pricey. The Capresso has gotten very good reviews, but there are some reports of inconsistent water temperatures. So, taking all of this into consideration, I decided to give the Cuisisnart a shot. The Cuisinart Brew Central unit certainly gets very good reviews, and I was hoping the basic heating/pump components would be the same. I figured I could not wrong for the price.
So far, I have not been disappointed. Coffee is nice and hot with excellent flavor, and the carafe maintains the temperature for several hours. The auto programmer works great, and so far not a drip of coffee has overflowed, so no worries about waking up to a mess.
Buying Experience
I purchased this unit at an online discount store, NowOnSale.com. Buying experience was fine -- excellent price, plus no tax or shipping charge.
