It’s also clear that longevity is an issue across all the kettles we analyzed. But we’ll need to do some more digging to state that with any certainty. The device can brew up to 14 cups of coffee at a time and is fully programmable. You can set it any time within a 24-hour period, choose your cup settings, and it has automatic on and off capabilities. The “duo” refers to its ability to brew either a single cup or a full carafe of coffee at a time .
Our mission is to help you live your life to your tastes by empowering you with the most useful information, inspiration, guides, and reviews to help life taste sweeter. The Cuisinart Coffee Center measures 14.25 inches tall, perfect for a coffee bar, and fits underneath most cabinetry. Descaling should be done every three to six months, so hang on to the User Manual for instructions on doing this correctly. This model has a Self Clean feature to help you with descaling, too.
But we found the CPK-17 wasn’t as accurate at hitting lower temperatures, measuring 8 degrees over when we set it to 160 °F. On temperatures of 175 °F and up, however, it measured only 3 to 4 degrees off, which is pretty accurate. The Cuisinart CPK-17 is easy to clean, with a removable scale filter in the spout and a lid opening large enough for you to get a hand inside. Just avoid splashing water on the control buttons located on the handle, and be sure to clean them only with a damp cloth and a mild dish soap . Harsher cleaners, like Lysol wipes, may cause the labels on the buttons to fade or disappear.
It’s a bit tricky to access the filter basket and the water tank when the lid is fully opened. As the coffeemaker is taller than the space below cabinets when the top is opened, you will need to move it to pour in water and add ground coffee. If cold brew is your preferred style of coffee, this simple system from Takeya functions as a brewer and serving carafe in one.
The small size and its internal cord storage compartment made it easy to store. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Clean push on the front panel will light upwards to permit you know when this happens. We also have picks for a budget option, an espresso machine, and more. In our tests, the 1.7-liter Capresso H20 Steel Plus heated water nearly 10 degrees over the preset temperature.
But with the Cuisinart coffee maker, you won’t need to since it extracts more oils and flavors, leading to great-tasting coffee. While I don’t support the use of pre-ground coffee since it’s basically expired coffee, if you have no other option, it can still taste decent. This machine grinds, brews, and keeps your coffee nice and warm. This makes the Cuisinart difficult to beat when it comes to convenience and ease of use. This residue is not something to leave on; it must be thoroughly washed and dried off after each use.
The kettle itself has a sturdy build, very similar to any stovetop kettle, but the base felt flimsy. It doesn’t compete with other kettles in this price range. Some other models we encountered, Keurig K-Mini such as the Breville BTM800XL One-Touch Tea Maker, were exorbitantly priced. More than $200 is too much to spend on a kettle, especially if it has only a one-year warranty.
Still, maybe I was just a little edgy from all that caffeine. I have to say, the Center did a solid job of teasing out the orange and chocolate notes that make me love this coffee. Still, I missed the depth and complexity I’m used to when brewing the freshly ground coffee beans from Nicaragua in a Chemex. I didn’t embark on this Cuisinart Coffee Center review expecting to get pour over quality coffee. However, I was pretty impressed by the results I got from the drip brewer side.