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Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Review

A very affordable and straightforward coffee maker that consistently brews acceptable coffee
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Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable Review (If you are looking for an affordable programmable option, this is a great brewer for you.)
If you are looking for an affordable programmable option, this is a great brewer for you.
Credit: Laura Casner
Price:  $40 List
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Manufacturer:   Black+Decker
By Liz Nelson and Kendra Ridenour  ⋅  Jan 10, 2024
50
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 13
  • Brew Quality - 35% 4.5
  • User Friendliness - 30% 5.4
  • Ease of Cleaning - 20% 4.5
  • Consistency - 15% 6.2

Our Verdict

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable is our favorite low-budget brewer. For a fraction of the price of other coffee makers, the 12-Cup Programmable consistently brews a reasonably decent cup of coffee. In addition, this machine is relatively easy to clean, offers a simple interface, and can be programmed to start making coffee before you wake up. Of course, things can get expensive if you're looking for that perfectly extracted cup of coffee, but if all you need is a little help brewing your morning caffeine dose, the 12-Cup Programmable is a score. See how it stacks up to the competition in our review of the best drip coffee makers.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Automatic brew feature
REASONS TO AVOID
Hard to fill
Bulky
Editor's Note: We edited this article on January 10, 2024, to include new information and test results from our improved test plan.

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Price $40 List
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Bottom Line An inexpensive brewer that makes decent coffee with programmable functionsThis inexpensive machine gives you a few key features without breaking the bankThis brewer is a small and straightforward, inexpensive, and an all-around average drip coffee makerWhile we think this machine gives a mediocre cup of coffee, it is convenient to use and affordableAn affordable option with consistent brew times and temperatures
Rating Categories Black+Decker 12-Cup... Hamilton Beach 2-Way Black+Decker 5-Cup Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mi... Mr. Simple Brew 12-...
Brew Quality (35%)
4.5
3.5
5.5
4.1
4.0
User Friendliness (30%)
5.4
6.1
4.0
6.1
3.9
Ease of Cleaning (20%)
4.5
6.9
4.0
4.5
5.8
Consistency (15%)
6.2
6.1
6.3
3.6
2.3
Specs Black+Decker 12-Cup... Hamilton Beach 2-Way Black+Decker 5-Cup Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mi... Mr. Simple Brew 12-...
Average Brew Temperature 192.2 °F 191.9 °F 199.6 °F 194.1 °F 194.8 °F
Average Time to Brew 6 Cups of Coffee (minutes) 7.88 7.9 8.95 8.09 8.85
Scheduled Brewing Yes Yes No No No
Preinfusion No No No No No
Footprint Dimensions (H x W x D) 8.2" x 12.2" x 11.0" 13.9" x 12.2" x 11.1" 10.8" x 7.4" x 8.3" 10.0" x 6.5" x 8.0" 12.3" x 9.3" x 13.8"
Cup Capacity 2 - 12 cups 1 - 12 cups 1 - 5 cups 1 - 5 cups 2 - 12 cups
Single Serve No Yes Yes Yes No
Filter Shape Flat Flat Flat Flat Flat
Power Draw 975 watts 950 watts 650 watts 650 watts 975 watts

Our Analysis and Test Results

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. The 12-Cup Programmable offers reasonable cup quality, and our results show that this affordable coffee maker has a more effective spray head than most in its class.

Performance Comparison


black+decker 12-cup programmable - this brewer is an affordable option that comes with features found...
This brewer is an affordable option that comes with features found on higher-end models. However, this model can't compare to the higher end models when it comes to flavor.
Credit: Laura Casner

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.


A pre-infusion setting is something we didn't expect to find at this price point and is not one of the features of this brewer. But, we found its spray head does 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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - black+decker's strong spray head helps significantly increase brew...
Black+Decker's strong spray head helps significantly increase brew quality, though the machine doesn't brew at high enough temperatures for optimal flavor extraction.
Credit: Laura Casner

You're probably not going to extract the delicate flavor profiles of a lightly roasted coffee with this drip brewer. The 12-Cup holds an average brew temperature of 192.2°F. This sits just a few degrees below the desired 195°F-205°F range. However, we were impressed with this machine's water distribution and found the coffee it made to be totally passable.

black+decker 12-cup programmable
Credit: Maggie Nichols

User Friendliness


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 nicely. 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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - the heating plate does a great job of keeping the coffee hot, though...
The heating plate does a great job of keeping the coffee hot, though it can be difficult to clean any coffee splatter that gets burnt to it.
Credit: Laura Casner

The total brew time of the 12-Cup Programmable is about average among brewers we tested. 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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - the black+decker 12-cup programmable spray head does a good job of...
The Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable spray head does a good job of evenly distributing water across the entire brew bed.
Credit: Laura Casner

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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - the 12-cup programmable makes for simple brewing. it also has an...
The 12-Cup Programmable makes for simple brewing. It also has an auto-brew feature, so it can be set to start brewing before you even wake up.
Credit: Laura Casner

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 than other models holding brewed coffee.

black+decker 12-cup programmable
Credit: Maggie Nichols

Ease of Cleaning


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 B+D 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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - we love that this machine makes cleaning easy with a dishwasher-safe...
We love that this machine makes cleaning easy with a dishwasher-safe brew basket and carafe.
Credit: Laura Casner

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 clean. 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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - the outside of the 12-cup is a little tricky to keep clean, with...
The outside of the 12-Cup is a little tricky to keep clean, with nooks and crannies to clean out and a hot plate that can burn rogue coffee splatter.
Credit: Laura Casner

Consistency


To test the consistency of this brewer, 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. In fact, this brewer performed well in temperature consistency. 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.

black+decker 12-cup programmable
Credit: Maggie Nichols

The 12-Cup Programmable has an average brew time of 7 minutes and 53 seconds, which is pretty average. However, we found the times sped up as the machine heated up, so the first pot was almost a minute slower than this average.

black+decker 12-cup programmable - this is a great machine for the average consumer looking for a...
This is a great machine for the average consumer looking for a no-nonsense affordable brewer, but it will not impress the hard-core coffee connoisseur chasing that perfect cup and complex flavor profile.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

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 decent coffee, the Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable could be your best friend.

What Other Drip Coffee Makers Should You Consider?


If you're looking to spend a little less and you don't require a 12-Cup, you could try the Black+Decker 5-Cup. It's comparable to the 12-Cup, with just a little lower price tag. On the other hand, if you can spare the extra dough, the Ninja 12-Cup costs about double the price but has a lot to offer in both functionality and flavor.

Liz Nelson and Kendra Ridenour