KitchenAid 12-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker
3.6
5
22
25
**LOVE!*
I'm a KitchenAid fan of their high end appliances and this coffeemaker. We had a previous version, a 10-cup and needed that little extra and here it is! Great coffee, nice new features - love the water reservoir that I can take to the sink. Selecting the bold brew feature lets me use just a tad less coffee and saves me money!
November 7, 2011
Good robust coffee without the burnt taste!
I was already sold on the thermal carafe...it is the greatest way to enjoy good fresh coffee all day long without having to brew it fresh every hour. This one has a 12 cup capacity, which is next to impossible to find, the ability to brew bold or regular flavor, and the solid reputation of KitchenAid behind it. Add to that a removable water chamber which also has a charcoal filter, and you have a winning combination! I tried to find this at a local store. Searched everywhere online...up to a 100 mile radius. Chef's had it in stock, at a great price, and free shipping! We have been using it almost 2 weeks and it has not disappointed us at all. But be sure to read the manual about setup and programming...not as easy as you think if you don't read. But well worth taking the time to learn!
April 25, 2011
Once We Got the Hang of It...
We are technically challenged, so setting up the time, the auto brew and all that was a teensy bit difficult. You smart phone owning folks will have no problems at all.
Once we got the hang of it, we love it. We use both the filters and the basket, and still occasionally get some grounds in there, but we're not hyper-picky. Ideally, though, they should get that problem fixed.
I like that the water reservoir can be removed to fill. And the beep sounding when the coffee has finished brewing is a nice touch.
I would say they should redesign the pot to make it so you can pour the last quarter cup out of it. The lip on the pot also makes it more difficult to wash.
It's a beautiful machine, though. We call it the "Dalek." Dr. Who fans will know what we mean....
March 21, 2011
Great Coffee Maker
My husband is a pro at burning through a coffee maker about once every other year. With the recent expiration of a Black and Decker, I started the hunt. We were looking for something with the electronics on top, so that spills and overflows do not somehow seep into the electrical parts of the unit. I further suggested we get a thermal carafe, which reduces our electrical use.
So far, this one is great! The set-up was a little confusing (but we are not very good at reading the instructions, either). I like the removable tank, but you need to make sure that it is seated properly when placing it back on the unit. And, it keeps the coffee nice and hot.
The only design issue we found was that the design of the carafe does not allow all of the coffee to drain without turning the carafe essentially upside down. The last of the coffee will pool in the niche of the carafe under the spout. But, this is a minor issue.
Now, let's see how long it can stand up to my husband.
January 24, 2011
Not So Hot
Pros: Well built; easy to use; makes good coffee (love the BOLD setting)
Cons: Thermal carafe doesn't keep coffee warm very long.
Overall this coffee maker lives up to my expections. It's well made, easy to use, and makes good coffee. However, the coffee is cool to cold after about 2.5 hours, even after following all the hints they give (warm the carafe with water before brewing, lock the lid, etc.). We have been searching in vain for a good maker (Krupps, Cuisinart, to name two) and have been disappointed with all. I guess I'll have to live with warming my cool coffee in the microwave...
February 4, 2012
I didn't listen to the review which said it leaks. IT LEAKS WHEN BREWING! To reduce the leakage, do not have the carafe in the lock position. Let it in the open pouring position. This will drastically reduce the problem.
February 2, 2012
Leaks. Bad Design.
This rather expensive coffee maker worked well a total of 8 times, then started leaking all over. I cleaned it very thoroughly, put it back together and tested it with water only, and it leaked all over again.
I returned this product. Chef's has great customer service, and they handled the return efficiently, but this product is very poorly designed.
January 4, 2012
Not impressed at all
I recieved this for a christmas gift and tried it this am. First, the technology, while interesting, is cumbersome and difficult. I've had better machines that did not require the amount of programming and it's trying to say the least. Second, the coffee is not hot enough at all..lukewarm and that's a gift. Third, the actual lid to the coffee pot is awful and simply doesn't work. If I match the arrow to "pour" nothing comes out fo the pot. One has to actually semi remove the lid to get the coffee to pour. I'm glad I see that others have had difficulty as well. Considering returning. It's very pretty but for a kitchen aid appliance..well they should be ashamed of it.
December 27, 2011