Since the 1970s, Cuisinart has positioned itself as the foremost American name in kitchen cookware. This is in no small part because of its contributions to the coffee maker market. The company has spared no expense in its research and development.
As a result, Cuisinart has created some of the most appealing products available to the millions of Americans that brew their coffee at home. Today, we’ll take a look at its most prominent machine, and the head of its homebrewing line, the Cuisinart DCC-3200 Coffee Maker.
Cuisinart DCC-3200 Review
Make no mistake – Cuisinart designed this coffee maker for its loyal, most seasoned customer. The Cuisinart DCC-3200 yields an impressive 14-cup brewing capacity (according to Cuisinart’s peculiar 5-ounce cup size), which is 2 cups ahead of most machines in its class.
Its hot plate, which already had decent temperature settings as far back as the DCC-1200, now has even hotter ones. Your coffee stays hotter for longer. The flow and brewing process of the machine does make for a better-tasting, more balanced cup of coffee in its standard, bold, and new extreme settings.
In a welcome change, analog dials are no longer used in this machine. They are instead replaced by a totally button-based menu with an impressive, bright LCD screen. The DCC-3200 Coffee Maker is programmable up to 24 hours ahead of time. It is perfect for the forgetful coffee drinker trying to maximize their sleep.
A traditional complaint of standard coffee makers is how much coffee is wasted, but Cuisinart included a 1-4 cup brew setting to allow for smaller brew cycles and less waste. The glass carafe now slides in effortlessly, a major fix from the DCC-1200, which had a protruding sensor that resulted in scratched carafes.
Pros & Cons
✔ Reusable commercial-style gold filter, conical to allow higher-pressure brewing, similar to Chemex
✔ Controls completely button-based, no analog switches
✔ “Coffee ready” beep easily shut off
✔ Transparent water reservoir for easy level monitoring
✔ The digital clock lights up, very visible
✔ Smooth hot plate, no more scratching carafe when placing back in
✔ Programmable up to 24 hours ahead of time
✔ Larger refill hole
✔ 1-4 cup brew setting for smaller brew cycles
✔ More reliable electrical circuitry when compared to earlier models
✗ Slightly awkward carafe can make it easier to spill than prior models
✗ Heavy steaming, have to be careful around wooden furniture
Maintaining Your DCC3200 Coffee Maker
Cleaning the hot plate and ensuring it is dry after use is critical with the Cuisinart DCC-3200, as the hot plate – like all other models – is prone to rusting and flaking if the carafe is left sitting on top of moisture after use.
And, like any coffee maker with heavier strength settings, the machine is prone to clog if not frequently cleaned, particularly if you live in a community with “hard” – or unfiltered – water.
If your community is prone to brown-outs or frequent power loss, it is important to remember that the Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee maker functions entirely on intricate electrical circuitry. Though more reliable than previous models, a warranty is a good consideration when purchasing the machine in a community that regularly deals with bad weather or electrical issues, as any systemic failure can attribute to a machine failure.
A wise bypass of this risk is simply unplugging the machine between uses. This can be frustrating if you use functions that utilize machine memory like 24-hour programming or the LED clock.
Though one of the leaders in the homebrewing coffee equipment market, Cuisinart machines are not foolproof and are subject to failure if not maintained properly.
Things To Consider Before Buying
The optional warranty sold with the machine, however, is generally easy to make a claim with, and the entire process can occur within 12-14 days. This Cuisinart coffee maker is great for people with elaborate morning routines but does not serve the grab-and-go coffee drinker as well as a single-serve option like the Cuisinart SS-10 coffee maker would.
While it can serve individuals, the best return on investment for it generally occurs when serving 2-4 regular coffee drinkers living in the same space.
This is not a “set it and forget it” purchase, and as with any coffee maker, the price for more functionality is generally more maintenance. But if you are diligent in taking care of your belongings and following the instructions in the Cuisinart instruction manual, you should have no problem in brewing excellent coffee for several years regularly with this machine.
DCC 3200 Alternatives
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Cusinart DCC-3200 Conclusion and Rating
Overall, this machine is a good fit for intermediate users and beyond. The Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee maker is an outstanding buy for a seasoned coffee lover that would use the advanced functions of the machine, as well as regularly comply with the cleaning and maintenance required to keep it running optimally.
CoffeeGearSpy gives it 5 stars.
Hi my name is Larry, a coffee aficionado from the US. I have already visited Colombia, Sumatra, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Jamaica in my pursuit of finding the best-tasting coffee beans. I currently write from Bali and enjoy the relaxed life that you can only find in Canggu. Welcome to my coffee world!
Last update on 2023-06-02 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API.
