Side by Side Comparison of: Cuisinart vs Melitta

Great for someone who doesn't drink much coffee. I had a Keurig but kcups are too expensive and you can't control how strong to make the coffee if you have different cup sizes. Old school coffee maker is far superior. Much better than Keurig.

Quality Product. This is a very good Coffee Maker. It took some time to figure out how to open the lid and such. But, once I got the hang of it, it works really good. Solid construction. And most of all...makes great tasting Coffee. Highly recommend.

Have used this model for over 20 ears. Needed a fresh maker as the old one had stains, etc. and scale. for the price I purchased just what I wanted at Amazon. It cam with a newer on/off button and the usual auto off in case you forget to shut it down. Perfect for a single person who likes one full cup of coffee every morning to wake up. My previous one was used at work for years so it is very durable and dependable. I think it makes great coffee.

I wanted a 4 cup coffee maker to replaced the B&D that I had. I was not sure that I would like the stainless steel carafe but after reading the reviews decided to give it a try. I like the coffee maker very much. The pot does not leak when poring a cup or filling the maker. The automatic shut off after 30 minutes is just write for me to get my second cup. I also like that the size is more compact then my previous one. I would recommend this to a friend.

Nice little coffee maker for one person. It would make two small cups of coffee at a time but for typical big cup coffee drinkers this is a one person brewer. The coffee tastes fantastic & the stainless carafe is a nice change from the thin glass ones. But what sold this one to me was the auto shut off, I've never understood why the 4 cup coffeemakers don't have auto shut off!! I still shut mine off after brewing but I have no worries about leaving the house & thinking I might have left it on.Another plus is the BPA free plastic, although I suspect all plastics are bad, at least this one doesn't have the, already proven to be harmful, BPA.My only concern is that the instruction booklet mentions a carbon filter that can be ordered (buy 6 filters for the same cost of the coffeemaker), yet I could not find any information about how to replace it in the booklet. It sounds like a racket to me, or at least something that will get yucky after a while - if I only knew where this filter was I would pull it out & toss it.

It is replacing an 83.00 coffee system I bought earlier in the year, or the end of last year: it was the hamilton beach one that made one cup or 12 cups....separate cup and filter for the one cup. It just stopped working....I feel really ripped off.Got this one yesterday. No problems with filling the water tank. No problem with water leaking on the counter nor pouring the coffee into a cup. I like the 30 minute timer that turns itself off.The coffee is very good and hot.I will never pay alot of money for a coffee maker again......they are all made in China and god only knows what you'll get .....This one seems to be really good....we'll see how long it lasts. There is just me. I rinse and clean the permanent filter after use as well as the pot.I have soft water but nevertheless do the vinegar cleaning once per month.There is no reason for the hamilton beach breaking down in such a short period of time. I've had krups pots that lasted years! But now that China is the producer, I've decided to go with the small cuisinart....if I want 4 cups instead of the 2 it makes, it's a breeze to make another pot.I'm sure I will be wasting less coffee...and that's another good thing!Have had the maker for a month. No problems. It does not leak. There is no problem pouring....I think people who complain about leaking are not putting the water in right and are spilling it behind the maker!As for pouring, you have to pour it slowly into your cup!I bought a grinder and am now using it to get a great cup of coffee. This coffeemaker does, overall, a good job.!

I am really liking this coffee maker so far after a few brews. The only negative thing to say is that the plastic "lip" around the carafe prevents me from pouring all the coffee out - there is always a little bit amount that's left in the carafe.

This is my third purchase (but the first from Amazon)I'm the only one in my entire clan who drinks coffee, so a four cup is just perfect. I'm also very happy that the Cuisinart Company finally fixed the two big problems with the previous coffee makers.1. the spout was not deep enough so the coffee always spilled over. They fixed that!!!2. A one handed shut off ... Previously, one needed both hands, one to hold the machine steady as one clicked off the machine. This resulted in many a burn on the hot pot. THAT WAS FIXED...So, with these two fixes, I'm now happy with the pot.

I purchased this coffeemaker in the pink color, and it's the cutest coffeemaker I have ever seen! I joke that it's my "Barbie" coffeemaker since it is so compact and girly, haha! I love the aesthetics of it so much. It also has been durable so far and works beautifully every time! The reason I took a star off is because I do not like it's super fast automatic shut off...it shuts off and starts to cool before I can come back to grab a cup sometimes! If I was always on the run, this would be a fantastic feature as it is reliable as well here, but alas, it's a caveat that is kind of disappointing for me personally. I'm still thrilled with my purchase though, this baby brews smoothly and efficiently and I haven't had one technical issue with it yet. It is also easy to clean and maintain. I cannot say enough about the great quality and adorable look of this machine, thank you Cuisinart, I will definitely purchase from the company again.

My husband quit coffee several years ago. When he drank coffee, he ground it daily, and we used a Krups carafe style coffee maker that fit nicely under our cabinet. Those were the days! (the good coffee days, anyway)Fast forward a few years: the Krups didn't last forever, and the style we had and liked so much was discontinued. And with only one person (me) having coffee, I decided to switch to a 4 cup model. I bought the Mr Coffee basic coffee maker. It served me well for 2-3 years and then suddenly died.I was going to buy another Mr Coffee but was concerned that it might contained BPA. I emailed Mr Coffee and asked about that. After not hearing back from them in over a week, and inferring though google that Mr Coffee makers MAY have BPA, I decided to look at Cuisinart, as the brand is known for being BPA free AND they document they they are. I would have sprung for the full-sized Cuisinart DCC-1200 as I gave one to my dad, and it is great (has a 1-4 cup setting), but it would be inconvenient to use under our kitchen cabinets, due to its height and top-loading hatch.So I bought this little model on Amazon. As far as I know, it's the only 4 cup coffee maker offered by Cuisinart. Because of that, I chose it despite some of the the negative comments in the reviews. About the spillage: As long as I get the lid on right, id does not spill. You just have to use a little Zen to do that, and then you used to it right away. (At least that's how it is with mine, I realize it may be an improved design, and older ones could be different). About making weak coffee, that may be sorta true. If I use just a little more coffee than I would think, the coffee strength is just right. And when I buy coffee from the local barista and have it ground for a Melitta style filter (not flat bottom), the strength is perfect when made in this machine.Next, let me compare this coffee maker to the Mr Coffee 4-cup basic model that it replaced in our home: (1) this machine is way more expensive, (2) this one more assuredly is BPA free, (3) the Cuisinart makes hotter coffee: maybe a little too hot initially, but you get to enjoy it in your mug longer, (3) the Cuisinart uses Melitta cone-style filters instead of the basket style, which I think improves flavor (4) the Cuisinart looks a little more upscale in our kitchen, and (5) the Cuisinart has an auto shutoff at 30 minutes. Also (6), the Mr Coffee has a glass carafe, which I prefer to the metal of the Cuisinart, though I don't think the latter tastes "tinny" if well washed before initial use.I was thinking about returning this machine since it wasn't perfect, and it is a little pricey. But it's already become part of our kitchen and my routine, and I've adjusted to it. I like it better than the little Mr Coffee now.PS - if you decide to buy this coffee maker, make sure to also get some #2 Melitta cone-style filters (or you can cut down some #4s). There was no starter pack in my box, and it does not come with a permanent filter. Not a problem as long as you know in advance, since you'll want to try it the next morning!UPDATE: about the BPA issue, I finally got an reply, by email, from Mr Coffee. They say that their TF series of coffee makers is BPA free for all food-contact surfaces. That's good to know for next time, but I have adjusted to this little Cuisinart now, and am enjoying it too much to return it.

I hemmed and hawed about a small coffee maker and ended up buying this at a B, B, & B store locally. I have used a Cuisinart DCC-1100 12-cup maker for a couple years and so can compare the 2 machines well. I took a few pics of it as well.First: this is a compact machine. It says 4 'cups' - and means 5 oz. cups. Many/most coffeemakers are set up that way. The water measure is very accurate (as with the DCC-1100). I don't use the pot to fill the tank - I just use a spare water or pop bottle that is 20 oz. (5 oz. x 4 'cups' = 20 oz.). It is MUCH easier to fill the tank with a bottle. Besides, if you just look in the tank, there are "steps" for 2c, 3c, 4c. in it (see the pic). When the water is level with or just over the step, there you go. Easy.Second: the extraction and brew is excellent. I opened the lid to check a few times, the grounds are underwater. I am using 1 TBSP coffee (Gevalia or Peet's, a finer grind) per "cup" and have great taste. I bought the gold GTF filter and I think the taste is a little better than using Melitta #2 filters (but the paper filters have faster cleanup).Third: along with great taste/strength, the temp is HOT. The pot is metal, but not insulated, so do not touch it or you may get burned. When you push in the switch to turn it on, it will only be on for 30 minutes, which is not very long. You can always pour any leftover coffee into a thermal mug if it shuts off.Fourth: brew times. I used a stopwatch to test them:For 2 cups: 4:25For 3 cups: 5:30For 4 cups: 7:30(these are when it is all done sputtering and spitting) It is not the fastest, but the taste is GREAT, so it's worth it.Fifth: regarding the carafe and spout. I think it has been redesigned since 2009 or so. I'll post a pic. The spout is set down and curved, and the pot lid has a bunch of small holes by the spout so it won't all dump out. I have had no troubles with any drips or leaks. None. To get the lid off, pivot the HANDLE side up FIRST (the spout end is resting under a small plastic projection). That way it is easy to get the lid off.Overall, the coffee taste, strength, and temperature is very similar to the full-size DCC-1100 maker. I wanted to try the small one for easier cleanup and a smaller footprint on the counter. This 4-cup maker is making good tasting, HOT coffee. Be sure to use good-tasting water, and fresher coffee, and you'll be all set.Cons: I suppose the lack of a timer; also, the maker shuts off in only 30 minutes from when you turn it ON (not 30 minutes after the brew is done). Thus, the plate heats only for 22 to 24 minutes.I can't vouch for the long-term reliability - I've only used it about a week. But once you taste how it brews, you'll like it. I am impressed thus far. From experience I can say that keeping the metal pot clean is VERY important as it won't stay as smooth as glass does, and it can harbor old taste and smells. Besides washing after each use, you can periodically use Citric acid or vinegar solution, or even baking soda + dish soap to remove any stains or smells.UPDATE: August 2014Still using this little pot, and it works great. No leaks or problems. Still great taste, and hot temperature. Be sure to properly insert the lid (spout end first, then pivot down to handle) and also be sure the basket is fully seated, and no leaks. If it had a timer I would give it 5 stars.I did some temperature testing; after brewing a pot, I put a thermometer in it and it was 180 *F. Very hot. Overall, it is very compact and convenient vs. a big maker, since I'm the main coffee drinker. I've been using "Brew Rite" cleaner and that works better than vinegar, it cleans fully with NO smell or aftertaste.Update: Dec. 2015Still using this pot, it seems to work well, and it still makes hot coffee. The warming plate has a couple scratches and is showing some wear, but I still wipe it gently with a clean wet washcloth each day. One thing I've noticed over time is that the coffee can get really *HOT* if you leave it on the burner, especially if only a little is in the pot. *At times it can make it taste burnt/scalded.* I usually like to add liquid creamer, and I pour it only a minute or so after it's done brewing, so it's not all the time I notice that. I usually set it up the night before work, plug it in, so when I saunter into the kitchen I can just push the button to start it.Update: Jan. 2016:I am noticing that the taste seems off lately - I think the metal pot is making the coffee burnt / scalded / too hot? I compared it to the DCC-1100 maker, and the coffee tastes a bit better in the glass pot. Perhaps after a year or so it starts running too hot? The flavor is better if I use a Melitta filter (it has pores) or the gold tone filter, versus a normal white filter (the first 2 allow the water to drain through the filter faster). I brewed around 4 cups on the DCC-1100 maker, on the "1-4" setting, and compared it. The larger maker made a bit better tasting coffee. I think if the 4-cup maker had a glass pot, it would taste better (but then easier to break...)UPDATE again - May 2016:Okay, sorry for the long review, sometimes I can be wordy... I decided to test this out some more recently. On vacation I retested some Gevalia House Blend, and it was good tasting coffee, rich and smooth but not burnt. So, at home, I used some Gevalia Guatemala coffee, and it came out quite good, hot, flavorful. ** I seemed to have worse flavor when using darker, more roasted (burnt?) coffees like Starbucks and Caribou. They were tasting bad, maybe it was overextracting them?So I'll say that a Medium or Light roast coffee can taste pretty good, and hot in this maker; the flavor with Melitta #2 filters (have pores) or the Cuisinart GTF-4 gold filter is better than plain white filters. I still wipe up any spills from the hot plate, and run a 1/3 vinegar brew every 4-5 weeks, and it is pretty clean. If the filter basket weren't as finicky to double check for being fully seated, it would be better. If the coffee comes out a little too strong with fine grinds (Peet's, Gevalia, etc.) at 1 TBSP per "cup", then I just use 1/2 TBSP less in total.I will say that coffee tastes better if you don't leave it on the hot plate a long time; I think it heats it too hot when I do. So I just brew what I want, wait a minute after the sputtering is done, and pour it into a travel mug so it doesn't 'cook' on the burner. Wow, have had this over 2 years now, and it is still working perfectly. Hey, maybe Cuisinart could send me some dinero/tips/remuneration for the thorough review? jk

I have owned this about a month. Love the compact size, it makes just the right amount of coffee for me, so I could put away the big coffeemaker and save counter space. The red is great, matches my kitchen. The coffee tastes really good. Like the auto shut off, although wished it stayed on an hour instead of 30 minutes, but I can live with that. I don't use the stop and pour feature because the coffee is too strong at the start of the brew, but it does work. There is a permanent coffee filter you can buy for it, I got it right here on Amazon. The flaw is what many others have complained about, the coffee dripping all over the counter. Mine did not do that at first, it started after about the 4th use. However, the dripping is not from the spout- it is dripping from underneath the bottom of the red band under the spout, where the red band meets the stainless steel base. I did not want to have to send it back. The fix : My husband brought home some food safe silicone, which I applied around the bottom of the red rim/ band on the outside and also to the upper inside of the pot. Waalah, No more leaks. Now I will keep it.

Nothing special, buy the Black + Decker, same version, cheaper + as good. Difficulty to open carafe, must be open with force every time,Should have a glass indicator where you can see exactly the water level. The light indicator must be turned on every time when you preparethe coffee, with the B+D coffee pot the light stays on even if you unplug. Not happy w this purchase.

It makes great coffee for my two cups I have in the mornings!!! However, when pouring the coffee into the cup the coffee runs down the side of the pot and gets all over the counter.

The 30 minute shut off timer is way too short for me - coffee gets cold very quickly. Also, the temperature of the coffee when it is first brewed is not very hot. It's ok but would look for something better next time.

I bought one of these after breaking the glass carafe of a Gevalia machine and a Mr. Coffee, and having a Cuisinart's electronics die.The good: inexpensive, takes minimal counter space, makes good coffee if provided with good ingredients, carafe doesn't break if placed hard onto granite.The bad: carafe not insulated, makes only enough for one (or two very light drinkers--these are "4" very small cups), warmer turns off in about five minutes, carafe doesn't slide into position smoothly, and pouring must be done slowly (and aimed carefully when filling water tank).Despite the drawbacks, I own two of these in two homes, coupled with two Hario Ceramic manual Coffee grinders. But my wife doesn't drink coffee, so it is just big enough. If you drink your coffee fast, it is fine. If I sit with mine too long, I have to keep turning the machine back on; otherwise, I have to reheat the last cup in the microwave, ruining the high quality coffee I'm getting by coupling reverse osmosis water with fresh ground beans. And I buy standard #4 cone filters and cut the top inch off with scissors, several at a time.Most people would probably prefer an electric grinder, despite more mess and noise; and a larger coffeemaker with an insulated metal carafe.

Why do things look larger in a product brochure than in real life?Opening the package was a little disappointing. The coffee maker is magenta not red. Ok magenta is red but come on. It doesn't look like the red in-catalog. The product feels of a quality that maybe mrcoffee wouldn't be proud of. I own other Cuisinart products and expected a quality piece not something that looks and feels so "plastic".Running water through it now to clean out manufacturing debris and it works well. Pour spout is hydrophobic and the water streams off nicely so no runs or drips happen.It fits my counter space well and is the right capacity for me, being single but I make coffee for my company so a single cupper wouldn't do.I expect I'll get used to the color and will enjoy using the unit.I would have ordered a small capacity maker with a vacuum or otherwise insulated carafe but I didn't find one.$14.95 to $19.95 would have been a more appropriate price bracket for this product. I think Cuisinart is trading on their name with this one.Follow up: Oct. 10, 2012The unit is still working. The power switch is annoying as pointed out by other users. The force needed to flip it too high for the weight of the unit so it will slide along the counter top. I like the short timer cycle ~ 30 - 40 minutes on the hot plate. Hot plate coating is beginning to peel off. The carafe leaks at the handle. The unit makes a good mug (2) of coffee though. The water temperature and flow must be well controlled so I'm happy about that - the most important bit.

I've used this coffee maker daily, often twice a day, for a couple of months. In short, it works well for one person if you follow a few precautions. Of course, groggy, pre-coffee morning moments are not well known for precaution, so you may want to prep the machine before going to bed.PROs:1. V-shaped coffee holder makes tastier coffee than the flat-bottom coffee holders, in my opinion2. Stainless steel urn3. Compact size and price4. Enables taking coffee mid-brew--kind of (see CONs)CONs:1. Coffee holder uses #2 V-shaped filters, which can hold only perhaps 2 or 3 heaping tablespoons of grounds. If you use more than that, it splashes the grounds up and they wind up getting past the filter and clogging the drip mechanism, thus causing it to back up and overflow.2. The mid-brew drip-stopper mechanism is fragile. The design is such that the urn must be in juuust the right position to hold up the bobber on the drip mechanism. If the urn is a little out of place, the bobber springs down and stops the flow, thus causing it to back up and overflow.3. The spout on the urn seems to dribble coffee no matter how fast or slow I pour it, so I tend to pour over the sink.Overall, this little coffee maker is definitely worth $20, but I don't expect its design to last more than a year or so. TIP: if you want to take the urn out mid-brew to get your first cup right away, lift the urn in place a few times--this will prepare the flow-stopper to pop down. If you do this, you get less dribble on the heating plate while you're pouring your cup.

I assumed as with other carafe coffee makers that the carafe on this model would keep coffee warm for more than 30 minutes. Unfortunately, with no seal on the top of the pot, the coffee does not stay warm to the second cup.

I actually don't like this coffeemaker much. Coffee tastes ok but the model coffeemaker is rather unadorned. It has no timer, it keeps coffee warm for only a half hour. The rim of the coffee pot has an inside edge that prevents the complete clearing out of water when one rinses out the metal pot. It's weird that this pot wasn't designed for draining better. The lid of the pot requires one tip the pour edge in under a little plastic nub and fit the back part into the handle. The lid of the reservoir is awkward also. This is just a miserable item and I won't buy this coffeemaker ever again. The next small coffeemaker will be a Mr. Coffee. Thank you.

It works just ok. But it's barely better than pouring hot water through a cone. The aluminum pot is hot when first brewed and a large hand has to be cautious not to touch it. There's a black plastic lip to the pot which prevents all the coffee from pouring. It brews; stays hot a few minutes and the plate shuts off. If you drink cup and come back in 10 minutes; it's cold which requires nuking. I'm marginally dissatisfied. But it works and is easy to clean/operate.

I would return this if I had kept the packaging. The carafe feels like cheap tin. It is thin and does not hold heat but if you leave the heat on, it scorches the coffee. I am looking for another model.

Very attractive small coffee maker. It makes two decent sized cups of coffee. However, when pouring water from the carafe into the machine it spills, and when taking the pot off the burner mid-way through to pour a cup of coffee it definitely leaks. Additionally, the top/lid of the carafe doesn't flip up like larger coffee makers; you actually need to remove it. For the price, I would have hoped for better quality and functionality. That said, I've tried other compact coffee makers and I don't think any are better.

The good: Keeps coffee warm as the stainless steal gets hotter than glass carafes. Looks nice. Nice size.The bad: There is a nub that holds the lid down and is really a nuisance when trying to get the lid off and on.Not all of the coffee gets poured out of the pot so you have to tilt the pot to an extreme to get all liquid out.Power button is on the side so it's easy to forget that it's on.Overall: just get a Mr. Coffee. I have had mine for a few years and works swimmingly. No complaints for my Mr. Coffee, just wanted to upgrade. Sort of downgraded. Just paid more to do it.

I had a larger Cuisinart that I needed to replace. Tried out 2-3 coffee makers and could not find one that makes good tasting coffee. This does. That's all I care about. Good hot strong coffee, easy to operate. The only little complaint is the lid is a little tricky to take off.Update 12/16, I am now changing my review to one star. First the spring to prevent it from leaking stopped working, and it would spill all over the heating unit. Then it stopped draining into the carafe and the water and coffee would just pool in the filter part. Tried several times with the same result. Bummer, really wanted this to work.

I purchased this exact coffee pot and it lasted 5 years last time. So how shocked was I when this one that I just purchased started falling apart within weeks. The teflon coating on the warmer is completely peeled off. The buttons don't work property -- sometimes the on/off connects; sometimes it doesn't. The quality, materials and workmanship are ridiculously substandard. Just awful. And, of course, made in China.

This is the worst coffee maker I have had. It leaks, the parts are cheap plastic, they don't fit together properly. I have purchased Cuisinart products in the past, but this will be the last one. I purchased for my guest cottage and so was unaware of the problems until a friend who was stayingbrought it into the house and asked "what am I doing wrong". It wasn't her it was the poorly made pot. Very disappointed.

Even after repeated washing and run-throughs of vinegar solutions, coffee tastes like plastic. Amazon gracefully refunded the full price.

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS ITEM. I HAD ONE FOR YEARS THAT WAS GREAT SO GOT ANOTHER ONE AND SAVED IT FOR COMPANY; IT IS TERRIBLE AND THE BAD REVIEWS ARE TRUE. IT OVERFLOWS AND THE COMPANY HAS DISCONTINUED IT.I DO NOT KNOW WHY AMAZON KEEPS ON SELLING THIS ITEM SINCE CUISINART JUST TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE IT HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. I BOUGHT A NEW MODEL FROM CUISINART THAT REPLACES THIS BAD ONE.

I purchased this unit primarily for it's small size and capacity... which actually turned out to be only 4x 5oz cups, or just 20oz.Owning Bunn commercial Pourover coffe makers I am accustomed to using varying amounts of coffee and or different grinds to brew a great cup of coffee.Unfortunately all the coffee that I brewed with this machine came out really horrible.That led me to check the brew water temperature, which turned out to be right around 180 degs.Note* " Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 195 - 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction.Colder water will result in flat, underextracted coffee while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the coffee."It may be that I just got a bad unit, but I suspect that the low brewing temperature is something they all may have, the heating element heats both the water and the "warming plate" under the carafe as on most other low cost coffee makers, which is not optimal. Those machines using a thermal carafe without a warming plate may be a better option.For now I'll just keep using my AeroPress when brewing just one or 2 cups of brewed coffee.