Cuisinart DCC-3000 Coffee-on-Demand 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black

I had been considering a different brand of maker that had no carafe because that was what we used at work years ago and I loved it. I've had a Keurig Duo Essentials for a few years and hated that it wasn't programmable and we didn't really use the single cup side of the machine much. I started looking at the other carafe-free maker and saw that it had bad reviews all around for leaking which was very disappointing. I don't even know how I came across this maker but I am so glad I did. Good reviews, all around, and a great price. I watched some videos, and I loved the ease of use and sleek design so I decided to purchase. It came very well packed (no carafe to break is a bonus!) And took no time at all to set up. I ran clean water through on the first round and it already comes out way hotter than the Keurig did. I love being able to make 1e cups or 4, depending on what I need. It's easy to program, or brew immediately, and I like that it has the coffee meter to tell you how much coffee is left inside. It's easy to clean and goes back together so smoothly, and looks so cool between my black cabinets and gray granite counters. It brews quietly but the end of the brew cycle can get a little noisy. Beeps quietly five times when it's done, and the blue light when pouring is a nice touch. Probably the best coffee maker I've ever purchased!

I purchased this machine after having a Keurig type machine for several years. I was tired of using the pods and the difficulty with descaling the machine. I like that this has a lever so I can fill up my coffee cup based on how large a cup it is; some cups are larger or smaller than others and this lets you control the perfect amount. I do find the programming buttons to input the time for the clock and the auto Brew Cycles difficult to use. Sometimes I push them and the interface doesn't work and so I have to tap it some more or push harder and I worry that these will break in time. I appreciate that I can set this on a timer and it keeps the coffee warm. Unfortunately it only keeps it warm for maybe 2 hours and when you have two people using it who wake up at different times of the morning it is a little dismaying to wake up 2 hours after the machine has brewed and the warming feature has already shut off. It seems to be easy to clean and easy to fill and set the coffee and water. I like that there is a light that shines on the cup so you can see in a dark room. I think that the measurements are a bit off for us because our coffee cups are larger and when I program the machine to brew 6 cups of coffee for example we get maybe three and a half cups out of the machine so I have to brew more. Perhaps that's because our cups are larger. This machine could be improved with a electrical cord that was a few inches longer as I have accidentally unplugged this a couple times trying to pull it out to access the top of the machine without running into my cupboards above it. Having the option to increase the warming cycle would also be nice.

This makes great coffee that stays hot and doesn’t burn (as happens with glass carafes). The reservoir is removable so you don’t have to have a whole other receptacle to fill it, plus I can easily clean it.This is the second one of these I’ve purchased. The last one lasted nearly six years with daily use. The previous one stopped brewing a full pot, and I would have to restart it several times to get it to finish brewing. Honestly, it probably would have lasted longer if I had been better about descaling. The machine this one replaced had been a replacement for a similar Cuisinart that had lasted 8 or 9 years. So, that’s pretty decent longevity for a machine that delivers reliable service every day and requires very little maintenance other than descaling. I plan to descale more regularly with this machine, but my previous experience with Cuisinart tells me that this machine will serve us well for years regardless.

EDIT (8/24/18): If the "Clean" light comes on every time you run a brew cycle -- even after prior repeated cleanings -- you can probably fix this issue by unplugging the unit for at least one (1) hour, preferably longer. Doing this apparently resets the machine back to its factory settings. As I documented below (yes, I know this review is WAY too long), I had cleaned my DCC-3000 repeatedly and the "Clean" light kept coming on no matter what. There are a lot of complaints about this related to this model and its predecessors. I do not know if there is a dedicated sensor that detects calcium/mineral buildup that triggers the "Clean" light. If there is one, it might be defective if the above procedure to clear the "Clean" light's status does not work for you. I am leaving my rating at Four Stars for now; still, it is a great machine if you can tolerate its quirks.EDIT (8/19/18): For now, I am taking off one (1) star (from a 5-star rating) because the "Clean" indicator is now coming one every 7-10 days! I brewed my first batch of coffee on May 23, changed the water filter on July 23 (every 60 days as recommended) and the "Clean" light didn't come on for the first time until July 31. No problem, I figured...it's probably time for its first cleaning. Performed the vinegar flush on July 31, only to have the "Clean" light come on again on Aug. 10. That's strange, I thought. So I cleaned it again, this time using 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. Seven days later on Aug. 17, the "Clean" light came on AGAIN. This morning (Aug. 19), I cleaned it again with pure vinegar (12 cups; oh, what a stink!) and am now running a third flush with clean water. It may be time to use pure lemon juice, as the vinegar I have been using is, admittedly, old and its acidity has probably diminished with time. I'll provide another update soon, but this is a discouraging development because I truly LOVE this type of coffee dispenser.ORIGINAL REVIEW (6/10/18):Simply put, this is a great coffeemaker.When I first saw it, it reminded me of my red plastic Kool-Aid drink dispenser I had when I was a kid. Nostalgia aside, the DCC-3000 is a great value for those wanting to, ahem, dispense with the traditional coffee carafe. Initial setup is quick and easy. Just remember to pull the power cord completely out from its internal storage compartment on the back of the unit. You can also push the cord back into its storage cavity to reduce excess length.When the water reservoir is filled to the 6-cup mark, my unit completes a full brewing cycle in five (5) minutes. It’ll make a little noise – some hissing and an occasional pop or two – but that tells you it’s working as it should. During a recent brief power outage (about 2 minutes), the clock retained all of its settings. And the beautiful blue LED backlight will cast just enough light so you can prepare your coffee on the counter without turning on the kitchen light. The white LED dispensing light is just outright cool and helps prevent you from overfilling your cup. If you use a ceramic mug, be advised that the bottom of the cup may scratch the plated drip pan grate. Just place a folded paper towel atop the grate to prevent this. (Replacement parts ARE available from Cuisinart and other sources but can be pricey.)Cleaning is fairly straightforward. I clean my coffee reservoir and filter basket with warm soapy water after each use to remove any residual coffee oils. This is my personal preference; for most users, cleaning it once weekly in this manner is usually sufficient. The cavity for the coffee reservoir will capture residual condensation that remains from a brewing cycle. Just roll up a paper towel (length-wise) and wick it away from the interior.I have used the “1-4 cup” setting just once for a 4-cup brewing cycle and it produced flavorful coffee with the comparable strength and temperature of a 6-cup cycle. On my unit, I have found that each demarcation on the Coffee Gauge represents about 2 cups. I have yet to use the included gold-tone filter, opting instead for paper filters.The only improvements I would make to future iterations of the DCC-3000 are (1) a slight redesign of the coffee reservoir/filter basket lid to prevent condensation from dripping down the back of the unit and (2) a backlight for the Coffee Gauge.This machine, combined with Amazon pricing and a three-year Cuisinart warranty, represents an excellent value for those wanting to go carafe-less.UPDATE (6/19/2018): I have owned the Cuisinart DCC-3000 for 30 days now and have completed 13 brewing sessions (6 cups each). Around the 8th or 9th session, I noticed my coffee had become somewhat weak for an unknown reason(s). This morning, I filled the water reservoir to the **5.5** cup mark (1/2 cup less than usual), used my normal 6 level scoops of medium ground coffee and set the "1-4 Cups" feature. The result was noticeably stronger coffee. I know that other reviewers here have said that activating the "1-4 Cups" feature does not enhance the strength if you are brewing more than 4 cups. Regardless, I will keep experimenting until I can brew coffee consistently at my preferred strength. As stated earlier, I wash the coffee reservoir and filter basket in warm soapy water after each use. For some users, this might seem like overkill. However, I have not experienced any problems with dripping from the dispenser. At most, only 2 drops fall into the drip pan once I have filled my cup, which is acceptable. **Keeping the spring-loaded port at the bottom of the coffee reservoir ++clean and unobstructed++ is key to keeping coffee from dripping from the dispenser.** I have yet to use the gold-toned filter, opting instead for junior-size paper filters designed for 4-6 cups. All in all, I'm still very satisfied with my purchase.

We just replaced our old machine, it was similar but had a button at the back that you pressed your mug against. This one has a pull lever at the top making it really easy to dispense your coffee.. The warmer keeps it nice and hot for 4 hours (not that coffee lasts that long in our house) and it's super easy to set up and make coffee in the morning when you barely have the sense to use the grinder in the first place.Definitely recommend.