We put this Cuisinart coffee maker to the test. Here’s what we thought

The Cuisinart Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is well positioned as a low-cost but midrange-quality drip coffee maker. It has some kinks, such as an initially confusing set of controls and a hard-to-read screen, but overall the BestReviews Testing Lab enjoyed its performance. 

We were especially impressed by how effective the hot plate and its three heat settings were, as it kept the coffee at a consistent temperature for hours. We think it’s an easy recommendation for anyone who likes to drink a few cups of coffee a day, and it’s also a strong budget pick for office breakrooms.

What is the Cuisinart Brew Central Coffee Maker?

The screen is hard to read, but you only need it to set up automatic brewing.

Product Specifications

Dimensions: 7.75” L x 9” W x 14” H | Brewing Size Options: 5 | Pod Compatibility: No | Water Reservoir Capacity: 12 cups | Brew Time: 15 minutes for a full carafe

Once you find the proper ratio of coffee to water, the Cuisinart Brew Central is able to make a quality cup of coffee every single time. During our testing, we found it could consistently brew a full 12-cup carafe of coffee in 15 minutes, or four cups’ worth of coffee in about four and a half minutes. The hot plate has three settings, and each consistently maintained the carafe’s temperature at 160 to 170 for low, 175 to 180 for medium and 180 to 185 for high, which is also its brewing temperature. Its small footprint of 7.75 inches by 9 inches is another big plus if counter space is a concern. 

It does have some issues, though. For one, the controls aren’t intuitive at first glance; however, once we did a quick scan of the instructions, they were easy enough to use. The other, more minor concern is we found the carafe itself to be uncomfortable to hold and pour, plus the final cup doesn’t come out easily. 

Pros

• We found that it consistently brewed a quality cup of coffee. 
• The hot plate was highly effective at keeping the coffee at the temperature we selected. 
• It’s easy to use (once you read the instructions). 
• We liked its sleek, small body that can fit into small kitchens.

Cons

• Its controls confused us at first.
• Its knobs, levers and buttons feel cheap.
• The screen is difficult to read, though you only need it to set up an auto-brew time.

Who is it for?

This Cuisinart is an excellent choice for anyone who drinks several cups of coffee throughout the day and who wants to try to keep costs down. It’s also perfect for small-to-medium-sized coffee-drinking households or for the average office breakroom. It’s not ideal, however, for anyone wanting a more refined or feature-rich coffee maker.

How we tested

Its compact size helps it fit even in galley kitchens.

We focused on four aspects during testing.

• Brewing quality (flavor and aroma): For this, we used the instruction-recommended ratio of beans to water. The results were a touch watery but still had good flavor and aroma. After a few hours in the carafe and on the hot plate, though, came the introduction of a burnt flavor, but this is normal.
• Brewing time: For this, we timed the brewing of one cup (it took roughly one and a half minutes), four cups (taking roughly four and a half minutes) and 12 cups (taking roughly 15 minutes).
• Temperature: We took readings immediately after brewing completed (this was consistently 185 degrees) and at 30-minute intervals over several hours on each of the three hot plate settings. All settings were consistent with low being 160 to 170 degrees, medium being 175 to 180 and high being 180 to 185.
• Carafe performance: We checked to see if the carafe had issues with drips while pouring (it didn’t), assessed how balanced and comfortable it felt in the hand (it was unbalanced and uncomfortable) and how easy it was to pour (no issues until we got to the last cup, then it became difficult to get out — and the lid doesn’t flip up to make things any easier).

Additionally, we considered the overall user experience and cleaning and maintenance against machines we’ve tested or used personally in the past.

Price and where to buy

The Cuisinart Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker retails for $99.95 and can be found on Amazon and Walmart.

How to use the Cuisinart Brew Central

The controls look a little intimidating, but they’re surprisingly easy to learn.

1. Using the Cuisinart Brew Central is about the same as any other drip coffee machine, with the occasional quirk. Before using it for the first time, Cuisinart recommends operating it once with only water and a paper filter to remove any factory smell or residue. 
2. When you’re ready to make your first pot of coffee, pour your water into the carafe and look at the markings on the side to determine how many cups you need (adding a little extra to account for water lost to steam). Then, pour this into the reservoir. 
3. Insert a paper filter into the basket and add the ground coffee (Cuisinart recommends 1 tablespoon of coffee per cup and cautions not to exceed 15 tablespoons to avoid overflow). 
4. Place the carafe on the heating plate and close the top cover of the machine. 
5. If you want to brew a full carafe, twist the left knob to “brew.” If you want to brew between one and four cups, add that much water, press the “1-4” button, and then twist the control knob to brew. Flip the power switch to the On position. 
6. Wait for it to finish brewing (it beeps when ready), stir to ensure the coffee is well mixed and enjoy.

How does it compare to other coffee machines we tested?

We found this Cuisinart to be an excellent midrange option between high-end machines and the ultra-budget drip makers that we tested. Some specific boons here also include that it’s surprisingly compact, making it great for small kitchens, and it looks nice and sleek.

Should you get one?

The testing team found that the Cuisinart Brew Central made consistently good coffee.

If you drink a couple of cups of coffee a day, or at least have a few days a week where that’s the case, then this low-cost drip brewer is easy to recommend.