Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200 Review

COMPLETE REVIEW

Cuisinart is a well-known appliance maker with over 40 years in creating innovations in the kitchen. Considering the amazing reputation this company holds for creating high quality, reliable products, it’s no wonder that the Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200 is the second Cuisinart coffee maker in our review. And while it might not be as sophisticated as the DCC-2650, it retains many of its features as well as affordability. It’s a very versatile product since it can serve perfectly as a simple coffee brewer, but it can also be tweaked in numerous ways to make specialty drinks.

Waking up in the morning will never feel the same after you buy the Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200. This exquisite coffee maker comes fully automated with 24-hour programmability which means you can set the timer so that you have a fresh 14-cup batch of coffee waiting for you when you open your eyes. This function can also be used to set the machine to automatically turn off after a certain period. If for any reason you wake up earlier than usual and the brewer is still running its cycle, you can use the Brew Pause feature and sneak a cup before letting the machine finish. Since not many coffee makers offer this function, it’s a great feature to make use of.

There are several features displayed and accessible directly from the front panel of the coffee maker. If you’ve used these types of appliances before, you’ll notice it’s rather odd to have a “Carafe temp.” option. What this does is actually brilliant. Since some people like to take their coffee with milk or cream that are cold, they will cool your coffee before you have a chance to enjoy its fresh taste and aroma. To prevent this from happening and still be able to enjoy your cuppa the way you like it, you can set the carafe temperature to high which essentially heats the coffee to a higher temperature so you still enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee even after you’ve added milk. The other two heat levels – Low and Medium can be used if you’re in a hurry and don’t want to burn your tongue on scorching hot coffee.

Another nifty feature not necessarily crucial to the taste of your coffee is the option of turning off the alarm on the machine. And while you’ll still get a blinking light alert that your coffee is ready, the beeping sound will be silent. Some people prefer the sound off so it wouldn’t disturb their pets or family.

Everyone likes their coffee a certain way and there’s no reason you should change your preference just because you’re making your favorite drink at home. The Bold button allows you to set the brew strength of each cycle so in case you like your coffee with a richer, bolder flavor, you should select this option. If you don’t, you’ll still be getting a perfect cup of regular coffee. And while this coffee maker can brew 14 cups in one cycle, it also allows you to make a smaller batch of one to four cups. There’s not much work in switching to this option since there is a 1-4 button on the front panel of the appliance.

The Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200 comes with a gold-tone coffee filter that was designed for maximum efficiency with every brewing cycle. But, if you prefer a “cleaner” alternative, you can always use disposable paper filters you discard after each use. The filter basket can hold up to 15 coffee scoops which means you can additionally adjust the strength of your coffee by adding more, or less of it for each brew. It’s also important to note that the Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200 has a program memory of 60 seconds in case of a blackout or if you’ve unplugged the cord by accident. If the machine was mid-brew when it was disconnected, it will automatically pick up where it left off when it was interrupted.

Cuisinart doesn’t offer a thermal metal carafe as an alternative to the glass one. And while this isn’t such a big deal, some customers who prefer stainless steel carafes because of their durability and heat retention, might want to look at other models that allow for this swap.

Ease of use

The Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200 coffee maker is very easy to use. It is averagely sized and it comes in two color options. Using any of the features it offers comes without much hassle. Anything you might want to try out is clearly labelled under the buttons on the front panel of the appliance. Preparing the coffee maker for its first cycle is just as easy.

First you need to pull out a vertical holder where you will place you previously prepared charcoal filter and place it in a compartment at the bottom of the vertical holder you pulled out. Once you’ve got the filter ready, you can add the coffee to the gold-tone filter, or you can use a disposable one. Add the water, close the lid, select if you’d like a bolder coffee and start your brew. All this can be done in advance and the machine can be programmed to start the cycle at your preferred time.

Putting in the chlorine filter as a first step is essential since it blocks and harmful substances in the tap water from making it into your coffee cup. It also gets rid of the chlorine in tap water which can significantly alter the taste of your favorite hot beverage.

Cleaning this coffee maker is as easy as using it. Once it needs a “good scrub” the LED indicator under the “Clean” button will come on. After that, all you have to do is make a water-white vinegar solution and let the machine run its cycle. You should also run another one with fresh water to make sure all the vinegar taste is out. All detachable parts of the coffee maker are dishwasher-safe.

The Cuisinart 14-Cup DCC-3200 is a great value-for money product. It comes with several great features allowing you to fully customize the taste of your coffee. This coffee maker lets you choose between using disposable filters or the gold-tone one that comes in the package. It’s fast and while it can make 14-cups in one batch, it also lets you brew smaller amounts of coffee. With a price tag of under $100, this coffee maker is a steal considering everything you’re getting.