Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Review

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable is an acceptably affordable coffee maker. This brewer is a great lightweight and inexpensive coffee maker that packs in some features that we'd only expect to see in pricier models.

Performance Comparison

Taste

Our team of taste testers agreed that the Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable produced okay coffee — not terrible, not great, but good enough for someone who just wants their morning caffeine fix. After sipping, tasting, and contemplating, our testers concluded that this machine produces an okay cup of coffee with an overall heavy flavor and mouthfeel, but some of the finer tasting notes were either harsh or entirely lost. Otherwise, it makes coffee taste extra strong.

As far as the actual flavor profile, nutty was a positive note, but everyone agreed that bitter and astringent flavors were also present. Most of the tasting crew also detected a hint of burnt, ashy coffee as well. So, while the acidity was bright and the mouthfeel was pleasant, the bitter aftertaste proved to be a bit overpowering.

Brew Quality

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable produces decent coffee quality, if not the most impressive. The coffee this brewer makes reminds us of classic diner-style coffee. The brewing temperature is not adjustable on the 12-Cup. However, Black+Decker does provide a couple of other customizable features, including an automatic brewing setting and a Strong brew setting.

The brewer doesn't come with preinfusion, and, its spray head does not do an exceptional job of evenly distributing the water across the brew bed. Good water distribution gives the coffee a better chance of evenly saturating during brewing. Even saturation significantly contributes to better-tasting coffee.

To test the consistency of this brewer, another crucial component of its overall quality, we brewed pot after pot of coffee five times for each test. Our team of professionals studied the grounds in the brew basket to analyze the evenness of saturation. We also measured the difference in temperature between each and every brew.

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable had fairly little deviation in temperature from the first brew to the fifth. However, that consistency resulted in an average brew temperature of just 192.2°F, which is below the SCA recommendation of 195°F-205°F.

Brew Time

The 12-Cup Programmable has an average brew time of 7 minutes and 53 seconds — it wasn't setting any speed records. However, we found the times sped up as the machine heated up, so the first pot was almost a minute slower than this average.

If you don't want to wait the full time it takes to brew a whole pot, the automatic brewing setting can have it ready for you when you need it. This feature allows you to prep the night before and can save you time in the morning. That means you can have that fresh pot ready for you the moment you're ready for it.

Ease of Use

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable brewer was quite average in terms of user-friendliness. The carafe is not insulated, and we found it knocked unpleasantly against the brew basket when we removed it to pour, though it did pour quite well. We also like that the brew basket fits nicely and easily into the machine, unlike some other models that are a bit awkward or tricky to get in just right.

In just a few simple steps, you can brew a big pot of coffee with the 12-Cup or set it to brew for you in the morning. The filter basket and water tank are easily accessible under the same lid but with plenty of room separating them, so it is not likely you will spill water in your grounds.

Additional features include the sneak-a-cup and automatic shutoff for peace of mind. The sneak-a-cup feature temporarily stops the flow of coffee so you can pour your first cup before brewing ends.

After two hours, the 12-Cup automatically shuts off, so you never have to stress about whether or not you remembered to turn it off yourself. This is a handy feature in general, but extra-handy with this hot plate machine. Over the course of an hour, its overzealous heating pad warmed coffee from a reasonable 171°F to a too-hot 187°F. This extra heat is more than uncomfortable in your mouth — it also speeds up the oxidation of your coffee, making it taste worse faster.

Moreover, the Black+Decker is incredibly dishwasher friendly. The filter basket and carafe are dishwasher safe. The flat filter basket is also quick and easy to clean by hand, and you could use the option of a paper filter with this brewer, making disposing of the grounds even easier.

The Black+Decker offers a programmable descaling cleaning cycle that runs between 45 minutes to an hour. We found this to be the average amount of time for this kind of maintenance; the manufacturer suggests running this cycle every 60 days. Descaling reduces the build-up of mineral deposits that collect in a brewer.

But what's also worth noting is that the outside of the 12-Cup Programmable is not as easy to clean. There are a couple of spots on this brewer that are very hard and seem impossible to keep pristine. The first is a small crack between the heating plate and the backsplash. This crack collects grounds and coffee splatters and is hard to reach with a sponge. We also discovered a white calcified ring on the heating plate, which was very hard to remove. If you value deep cleanliness in the kitchen, we suggest a model without a hotplate to avoid this mess.

Should You Buy the Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable?

The Black+Decker 12-Cup is an inexpensive coffee maker that produces a decent cup of coffee. The 12-Cup includes some programmable features generally only found in much more expensive brewers, like an auto-brew function. If you're looking for a low-budget option with just the right amount of functionality and strong coffee, the Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable could be a good option.

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