Cuisinart DCC-1120BK Classic 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker, Black

My purchase of the Cuisinart 1120BK 12 cup coffeemaker with glass carafe was made as a replacement for my Cuisinart 1100BK (which is still working and able to brew a great cup of coffee). The 1120BK has some noticeable improvements over the 1100BK, most significantly for me is the lighted clock display. The clock display on the 1100BK was an unlighted LCD and very difficult to see. While the control buttons on the 1120BK have the same functionality as those on the 1100BK, they are laid out better and are easier to use. I haven’t been able to discern any improvement in the taste of the brewed coffee over the previous model (both excellent) as a result of the larger spray pattern on the inside top of the coffeemaker. Pouring fresh water into the machine can result in water going where you don’t want it to go as one reviewer complained if you don’t exercise some care. Trying to perform this function too quickly is usually the reason for a spillage problem. I do not use the supplied water filter since I only use filtered water in my 1120BK. Thus far, the unit is working well and brewing good tasting coffee. The clock is accurate and my programming for the brewing process to begin at 6:00 a.m. every day has been flawless. I only brew six cups which takes the unit about 7 minutes to complete. I haven’t found the 5 beeps signaling the end of the brewing process to be excessively loud as some have complained. I do prefer the green and red operating lights used on the 1100BK over the bright white light on the 1120BK. While handling the removable black filter basket and the lid of the glass carafe, I sense that they are made of a lighter gauge of plastic than those of the 1100BK model giving the impression of a diminished build quality. Perhaps the whole machine is made of a lighter gauge of plastic, but if it is, it doesn’t seem to have any detrimental effect on the coffee brewing process or functionality of the unit. I have noticed that coffee stains have not begun accumulating on the filter basket and the carafe lid. This coffee stain buildup was a significant problem with the previous model, the 1100BK. The filter basket on the 1120BK does need to be pressed down after being fitted with a paper filter or the gold tone permanent filter and snapped into place. Otherwise the top lid will not properly close. This extra step was not necessary on the 1100BK where the filter basket did not need to be snapped into place for the top lid to close properly The small protrusions on the back of the removable carafe lid are helpful for removing the lid for carafe cleaning. Over time, the paint on the warming pad of my previous model, the 1100BK, wore off and began to show signs of discoloration which may have been rust. I’m hopeful that the warming pad on the 1120BK will be more durable and not suffer that same fate — time will tell. Also, all of the coffee in the 12 cup glass carafe can be completely poured out. I believe that the inability to pour all of the coffee out of the carafe only occurs for those who have a different model of coffeemaker that utilizes a metal thermal carafe. Overall, after just a couple months of use, I’m pleased with my purchase. I had requested the free Amazon packaging (and always will going forward); my coffeemaker came through shipping via the USPS in perfect condition. Another thought for those who have suffered catastrophic failures with their 1120BK coffeemakers, if those failures occurred within three years of your date of purchase, Cuisinart warrants this product for three years. So, kwitchurbellyakin.

I don't like this one's physical design, there's less room on the fill side that means unless you're one of those folks who can fill a glass from a height without spilling a drop, you're going to have water on your counter and not in the coffeemaker. I also don't like what could be a designed in flaw meant to force users to either trash their coffeemaker or clean it monthly (manual says every 2 months but mine fails to brew completely once it's even remotely clogged. For hard water areas this would mean cleaning probably weekly to keep it from losing its mind. By "Losing its mind" I mean that if it's even slightly clogged, it starts acting oddly, the brew does not complete and to get it to finish you have to restart the brew multiple times.)... At this point I am unsure if this is a problem with the actual controls or a "safety feature" but now the machine randomly starts (without pushing the Brew button! and then stops and beeps as it will do when it is set to auto-off. So I am unsure whether cleaning it will fix the issue if it's just randomly starting and stopping. Very odd and I suspect it's a defect. Will update if the cleaning fixes things but with the bizarre stopping and starting without my intervention its either paranormal activity (joke) or a defect of its control system.

Great coffee machine UNTIL the one time your guests don't seat the basket correctly (I know human error but still) and the ground overflow back into the water reservoir and get sucked back up into the machine. This is the second time I'm replacing the machine....

I purchased this coffee pot to replace a very old, very awesome Cuisinart machine. I have always had Cuisinart Coffee Makers for the last 20+ years and have never been so disappointed in a device. No matter what there are always wet spots beneath the carafe while brewing, despite specifically drying the carafe and heating base. This causes the machine to boil the water on the heating plate and make all sorts of fun noises in the morning. The other major issue is that despite all attempts to remove and properly replace the filter basket, on several occasions, in the short time of use, the drip has failed to engaged causing a major overflow of the filter basket creating a huge mess and again, very unpleasant sounds in the morning. Unfortunately, I was traveling after purchasing this POC and will not be able to return it, now that I am actually using it. This is also the most money I have every spent on a Cuisinart Coffee Maker, for less than Cuisinart quality. This waste of money will be going in the trash and I will no longer be purchasing Cuisinart products because of this product.

We’ve had good experiences with Cuisinart appliances, so when it came time to replace our old Braun, we picked this one. While it makes good coffee, there are some features that bug me…every morning. First, using the carafe to fill the water tank is a disaster. The carafe lid has to be removed entirely to fill it with water, it doesn’t just tilt up. Even Mr. Coffee got that right about 50 years ago. And it’s crazy that popping off the plastic lid is so difficult. Next, the opening to the water tank is minuscule, so water often spills everywhere. Also, the carafe itself has not once poured without dribbling. A lot. Like a teething baby. When you’re pouring cold water into a tiny hole, it’s annoying. But when you’re pouring hot coffee into a travel mug, it’s dangerous. Seriously, I’ve tried pouring very slowly, pouring quickly, having my husband try it…any way, it spills off the back of the pot, leaving my precious, absolutely necessary coffee on the counter or floor. So, I’m still using it because, we’ll…coffee. But I wouldn’t buy it again. Who needs this kind of hassle?