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Automatic Coffee Makers, Programmable Coffee Makers

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In this review:
  1. Best Cheap Coffee Makers
  2. Coffee Maker Reviews
  3. 12-Cup Coffee Makers
  4. Automatic Coffee Makers, Programmable Coffee Makers
  1. Stainless-Steel Coffee Makers, Coffee Maker Design
  2. Single-Cup Coffee Makers, Pod Coffee Makers
  3. Discount Coffee Makers Features Comparison Table
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Related Guides: Coffee, Coffee Grinders and Espresso Machines

Automatic Coffee Makers

Enthusiasts who insist on freshly grinding their coffee while boiling the water for an individually crafted cup might scoff at the idea of an automatic coffee maker that can be set the night before. But many people enjoy waking up to a pot that's already being brewed.

Programmable coffee makers are by no means confined to the high end of the market. In fact, some of the most expensive machines don't offer this option. All the budget models on our list are programmable coffee makers, save for the Cuisinart DCC-450. Consumers may fear that programming a coffee maker will be about as confusing as programming a DVD player, but based on our reading of reviews, that does not seem to be the case.

Pause and Serve.

If you don't want to wait for a full pot to finish brewing, a "pause and serve" option suspends brewing to let you pour a cup before the entire cycle is finished. Almost every automatic coffee maker comes with this feature, although it doesn't always work. Some consumers posting reviews of the Mr. Coffee JWX27 on Amazon find that if you pull out the pot while the machine is still running, it dribbles hot coffee onto the burner plate.

Automatic Shutoff.

Most automatic coffee makers shut off after two hours. The Hamilton Beach BrewStation Summit 48464 and Black & Decker CM1650B can be set to remain on for up to four hours. The hotplate on the Cuisinart DCC-450 goes off after 30 minutes, which some users posting reviews on Amazon complain is way too soon. However, others like that the burner shuts off before the coffee gets ruined. Experts at the Coffee Tea Warehouse and elsewhere agree that coffee begins to lose its flavor within 15 minutes of brewing, and coffee kept on a hotplate for an extended period can taste burnt and acrid. They recommend immediately transferring coffee from a glass carafe to an insulated pot. That's why some people prefer automatic coffee makers with thermal carafes.

Review continues below

Other Settings.

While some people just want to pour in the water and coffee grounds and press start, several automatic coffee makers on our list offer extra settings. Experts warn that making only a few cups in a 10- or 12-cup machine can produce weak coffee, so a "small batch" setting helps make an optimal pot if you need only a few cups. This function adjusts the water flow so it spends the proper amount of time in contact with the grounds. It's usually found on higher-end models but is available on the Hamilton Beach BrewStation Summit 48464 and Black & Decker CM1650B. Those models and the Mr. Coffee JWX27 can also be adjusted to produce a stronger brew. This feature

earns praise from several users posting reviews of the Mr. Coffee JWX27 at Walmart. Consumers say the resulting coffee actually has a bolder flavor, as opposed to the bitter brew that results when you simply add more coffee -- a strategy that also gets expensive. The Mr. Coffee JWX27 boasts another feature called a Fresh Brew Timer, which tells you exactly how long the coffee has been sitting on the plate.

by Elizabeth Sheer (Google+ Profile)

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Don't Bother Cheap Coffee Makers

Mr. Coffee TFTX85

The thermal pot on this 8-cup programmable coffee maker would be useful for keeping coffee hot -- if the coffee that came out was hot to begin with. Users find the lid difficult to get on and off and the pot hard to clean. Read more »

Cuisinart DCC-450

At first glance, this 4-cup pot with a cone filter and durable stainless-steel carafe is ideal for couples who make two mugs of coffee in the morning. However, reviewers complain of messy pouring, leaking, and wear on the heating plate. Read more »

 
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