Cuisinart DCC-2600 Brew Central 14-Cup Coffeemaker

Comment: I had an older Cuisinart that had to be replaced. After reading the reviews here, I decided to go with this new model. So far, so good.
I am pleased with the design changes they made. Easier to use and the coffee tastes great (bold or regular brew choices) and stays hot.
Would recommend.

Comment: I am a morning coffee addict and am always searching for the perfect cup of joe. I've been through more coffee makers than I can count, and there is a trail of jettisoned Cuisinart coffee makers littering my path.

Before this model (DCC-2600 14 cup, glass carafe), I had the DCC 2000 (on demand serving bar) and the DCC 1150 (10 cup thermal). The thermal was a total waste of $$ (lukewarm, not very good tasting coffee); the DCC 2000 was just OK -- fun to use initially -- but large and a lot of steps both to set up and to clean -- and the coffee was just OK.

I switched for a while to the AeroPress -- I give that 5 stars -- but it's a problem if you want to make a lot of cups of coffee to refill your cup throughout the morning. For a single cup, it's maybe the best solution -- easy and fun to use, and makes a cup of coffee that is completely bitter-free.

But back to the DC-2600....

Pros:

1. Good looking, reasonably compact;
2. Good controls -- You can brew, or auto-start brew at a given time; use a 1-4 cup setting for small pots; use a normal or strong brew setting (not clear to me how these latter two settings actually differ -- both slow down the brewing a bit and don't seem to want to work together); auto turn off of the thermal plate (with ability to program the time); there is an easy manual on-off control; and a control for starting a cleaning cycle (as well as a light that alerts you when you need to do a cleaning).
3. Comes with a gold cone (although I tend to prefer paper); also comes with a replaceable water filter (if you care)
4. The glass carafe has a good handle and a tight lid (sometimes you have to work a bit to get it to click on, but that's no big deal). It pours well (except for the last dribbles which can get stopped by the lip)
5. The thermal plate has 3 settings, low, warm and hot. I love the low -- it keeps the pot warm without burning
6. The water reservoir is easy to access and pour into (although not as large as on some Brauns and other makes). As mentioned, the lip on the carafe makes it hard to pour the final bit of coffee out, or, in this case, water into the reservoir, but just put more water in so you don't have to pour that final bit.
7. There is a water measure on the right side of the maker

MOST IMPORTANT -- The coffee tastes excellent, comes out hot and, using the low setting for the thermal plate, stays great tasting for a solid two hours.

Cons:

All minor -- 1. the red ball in the water measure (as has been the case in all my Cuisinarts) tends to get stuck at the bottom -- but you can still see how much water is in the tube; 2. I wish the water measure were in the front, instead of the right side (I have to pull it out to see it, but it's hard to call this a design flaw); 3. The lights can be a bit confusing -- even when the coffee maker is off there are lit lights for the 1-4 and/or normal/strong buttons; 4. The clean button is identical to the 1-4 button -- I admit to having once accidentally trying to brew with it (not good!)

Hands down, this is the Cuisinart coffee maker to get. I would deduct a 1/2 star for the minor flaws above, but fully recommend this model.

Comment: This is the 3rd generation of this maker I have used. Its "strong" setting, is indeed strong (although it takes extra time to brew, as you would expect). Coffee stays hot for the duration of the auto-time hot plate. External water volume meter is helpful (especially since carafe sizing is a little less than the water meter - 8 cups in carafe is only about 6.5 on the meter). Gold coffee filter in this model will last for years.

Comment: After lots of research,(read reviews here and other places) decided to purchase this one. I bought it about a month ago. So far, I am not disappointed with quality of coffee. Last cup tastes good as first, no "burnt" taste. The beeping sound when coffee is done was at the beginning a bit disconcerting, but I am now used to it. Putting water in carafe is not a big deal, I haven't missed yet. Fits under counter, but I do have to pull it out in order to add water. Again, not a big deal. I am the only coffee drinker in my home, wish this was a 12 cup instead of 14. My old coffee pot was a Braun, which was much easier to clean, as this carafe has many nooks and crannies in it, takes just a little be longer to clean it (by hand). Also the lid of carafe can be difficult to take off and on. Overall good coffee maker.

Comment:
I'm very happy with this coffee maker. It completes the cycle quickly, and the coffee taste is excellent. The carafe does not leak or spill when pouring. A major upgrade to our old unit. Ordering the product was easy and prompt.