Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup Switch Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup Switch | |||||
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Awards | Best Bang for Your Buck | Best Drip Coffee Machine on a Tight Budget | |||
Price | $40 List $40.00 at Amazon | $70 List $69.99 at Amazon | $40 List $34.99 at Amazon | $33 List $24.99 at Amazon | $25 List $24.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | An affordable option with consistent brew times and temperatures | This inexpensive machine gives you a few key features without breaking the bank | An inexpensive brewer that makes decent coffee with programmable functions | This brewer is a small and straightforward, inexpensive, and an all-around average drip coffee maker | While we think this machine gives a mediocre cup of coffee, it is convenient to use and affordable |
Rating Categories | Mr. Simple Brew 12-... | Hamilton Beach 2-Way | Black+Decker 12-Cup... | Black+Decker 5-Cup | Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mi... |
Brew Quality (35%) | |||||
User Friendliness (30%) | |||||
Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
Consistency (15%) | |||||
Specs | Mr. Simple Brew 12-... | Hamilton Beach 2-Way | Black+Decker 12-Cup... | Black+Decker 5-Cup | Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mi... |
Average Brew Temperature | 194.8 °F | 191.9 °F | 192.2 °F | 199.6 °F | 194.1 °F |
Average Time to Brew 6 Cups of Coffee (minutes) | 8.85 | 7.9 | 7.88 | 8.95 | 8.09 |
Scheduled Brewing | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Preinfusion | No | No | No | No | No |
Footprint Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.3" x 9.3" x 13.8" | 13.9" x 12.2" x 11.1" | 8.2" x 12.2" x 11.0" | 10.8" x 7.4" x 8.3" | 10.0" x 6.5" x 8.0" |
Cup Capacity | 2 - 12 cups | 1 - 12 cups | 2 - 12 cups | 1 - 5 cups | 1 - 5 cups |
Single Serve | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Filter Shape | Flat | Flat | Flat | Flat | Flat |
Power Draw | 975 watts | 950 watts | 975 watts | 650 watts | 650 watts |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup Switch is an inexpensive, budget-friendly drip coffee maker. However, it lacks any programmable features, makes subpar coffee, and is one of the most inconsistent machines we've tested. More than anything else, the low cost of the Simple Brew is an eye-catcher, but we've tested several other models in the same price range that we find to offer better performance.
Performance Comparison
Brew Quality
To determine scores for brew quality, our team of coffee experts analyzes brew temperature, water distribution, and brew features. The Simple Brew falls just short of industry standards for proper brew temperatures at an average of 194.8°F. After brewing, we analyzed the grounds and discovered a deep oval shape significantly lighter than the rest of the grounds. This suggests an uneven water distribution from the spray head and poor extraction quality. The actual taste of the coffee brewed is totally fine, though lacking in body and complexity.
User Friendliness
Without programmable features, this coffee maker is as straightforward as it gets. However, the Simple Brew is not necessarily user-friendly due to the fact that you have to remember to turn it off, among other things.
The Simple Brew has a very simple, one-button interface. It is not programmable in any way, and there is no timer to schedule automatic brewing for your mornings. It is also noteworthy that this coffee maker does not have an automatic shut-off. You have to remember to turn the machine off after brewing to avoid potential hazards.
The lid of the brewer flips all the way open to access the water tank, which is at the back of the machine. Water level marks are on the side of the brewer near the back of the machine and are difficult to see without turning the entire brewer around. We also didn't like that we had to move the showerhead out of the way to put the grounds in, but it does automatically flip back in place when you close the lid.
Ease of Cleaning
The Simple Brew components are dishwasher-safe, and the unit comes with a reusable plastic and metal filter. Paper filters will make disposing of spent grounds much quicker and easier, though. The glass carafe is fairly easy to hand clean, and the descaling process is fairly straightforward but took 70 minutes to complete, which was a bit long compared to others.
Consistency
We brewed five back-to-back pots of coffee to measure the consistency of every model. We found that while the average brewing temperature of the Simple Brew was low but acceptable for a low-budget coffee maker, the consistency of brewing temperature of consecutive brews was all over the place and just awful, ranging from 176.9°F to 207.3°F. The average brew time was also a mess, averaging a painfully long 8 minutes and 51 seconds and also ranging wildly across brews.
Should You Buy the Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup Switch?
The Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup is a budget-friendly option if you don't care about programmable functions and want a more streamlined process. Overall, we do not recommend this model unless you're pinching pennies, as we tested other similarly-priced machines that offer a better experience and a better performance.
What Other Drip Coffee Makers Should You Consider?
If you are really looking for a bargain, the Black+Decker 12-Cup Programmable offers a few more features and better-tasting coffee for a similar price. However, if can afford just a little more, we highly recommend the Ninja 12-Cup. It will give you the same kind of simplistic experience, just enough features to be versatile, and a far better-tasting pot of coffee.