The Cuisinart Coffee on Demand 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker DCC-2000 is part of a new breed of coffeemakers. Whereas other machines brew coffee into a glass or thermal carafe, this unit brews coffee into its own internal holding tank, where it is kept at the ideal drinking temperature.

Imagine never having to worry about dropping, breaking, chipping or washing a coffee carafe. There’s no need with the DCC-2000. This unit consists of a moderately large rectangular housing (10 inches wide by 9 inches deep by 15 inches tall) with flip-back lid, 12-cup water reservoir, removable coffee reservoir, and removable filter basket with permanent gold-tone filter.

The boxy design includes a black pedestal base with a top-mounted reservoir housing in brushed stainless steel. The upper housing projects out and over a recessed drip tray, with a 5.25-inch clearance for standard coffee mugs. A simple press on the dispensing lever releases coffee into your waiting mug. When you release the lever, the flow of coffee stops. If you need to fill a taller travel mug, you can slide out the drip tray to gain an additional inch of clearance.

The control panel has a retro design with a combination of radio-style and pushbutton controls. This model also has a convenient programmable clock/timer that lets you preset the brewing time up to 24 hours in advance.

Since the true test of any machine is the finished brew, we were not disappointed when the coffee emerged hot and flavorful. The initial temperature of the coffee (approx.170 degrees Fahrenheit) remained constant for the length of time the machine was turned on. An auto-off feature will shut the machine off after the preset time has elapsed. The default setting is two hours, but you can change the setting (from zero to four hours).

Another desirable feature is the charcoal water filter cartridge. Since water quality is critical to good flavor, the filter removes chlorine, bad taste and odors before brewing. Each filter is designed to last for 60 days or 60 uses. Replacement filters are available in stores or via the website. The filter is not required for the unit to operate so if your water is of good quality, you can choose to bypass this feature.

When filling the water reservoir, you need to use a separate container (i.e., pitcher or measuring cup) to pour water into the rear of the unit. A handy side water-level indicator helps you judge the correct amount of water. The coffee brews into a separate, double-walled plastic tank, which removes for easy cleaning.

With all Cuisinart products, we are always impressed with the little extras, such as the front gauge, which displays the amount of coffee remaining in the tank; the showerhead water sprayer, which distributes water evenly over grounds for thorough saturation; the 1-4 cup setting (for best quality with small batches); and audible beeps at the completion of the brew cycle.


Pros: 12-cup capacity, efficient double-walled storage tank keeps brewed coffee hot and ready to serve for hours, programmable clock/timer, water filter, auto shutoff
Cons: bulky housing, requires separate container to pour water into rear reservoir

Warranty
3 years, limited