[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] At first glance, I love the initial appearance. It definitely looks like a professional product. It offers a great balance between base model coffee makers/brands (Mr. Coffee, Black & Decker, etc.) and top of the line super expensive coffee maker/brands (Breville, Moccamaster, etc.). At it's price point, I think this coffee maker is most definitely worth the money. I do have more CONS then PROS. However, overall I love this coffee maker as the PROS far outweigh the CONS.
PROS:
- Removable water reservoir. Excellent feature that I admittedly never experienced in any of my previous coffee makers. Also, never a feature I knew I wanted but not sure I could ever go back. Collapsable handle makes it easy to fill without getting wet or spilling.
- Adjustable hotplate temperature. I've always found most coffee maker hotplates to be too hot and they cannot be adjusted so it usually burns the coffee. Love being able to adjust the temperature so I can maintain hot coffee longer without burning it.
- Adjustable hotplate duration. In addition to the above, all of my previous coffee makers had a hotplate that was too hot and if you didn't remember to turn it off, would burn the coffee. Being able to adjust time and temperature has made the hotplate a useful feature in my eyes.
- Coffee scoop spoon. Such a simple addition that makes all the difference. Hides away beautifully, easy to grab quickly, perfect size. Never seen this in any other coffee maker. Sets this one apart. The little things make all the difference sometimes.
CONS:
- Coffee filter often sticks/folds when closing filter basket (Picture attached). When closing the filter basket, I have to be careful the paper filter doesn't fold into itself. I have adjusted to this design flaw by folding the paper filter in a certain way before placing in the basket. However, I believe this should have been addressed in the design phases. I am using the paper filter brand that matches that of the filter samples provided with the device.
- Much less real stainless steel than I expected. Only the front of the basket is stainless steel. I expected the entire surround to be stainless. I will add that it was disguised very well and most people wouldn't notice that the majority of the device is plastic unless closely inspected.
- Coffee doesn't brew the full amount of water when finished in pot. I expect that if I fill the water line to 12 that the pot will show 12 cups of coffee when finished. This one brews just above 11 when water is filled to 12. I realize some water is evaporated or lost in the coffee filter and elsewhere. However, I expect the manufacturer to plan and adjust for this as best they can when designing a device.
- When setting the time to program a coffee brew, the coffee maker beeps to confirm that the new coffee brew time has been set. However, whenever I set the program time, coffee maker beeps to confirm, but then I have to press the program button again to turn on the program. I wish that after setting a program time that the program would turn on automatically after the new time is confirmed. I never adjust the program time unless I'm setting it up for a scheduled brew. This is a personal preference that others may think differently. However, before realizing it worked this way, I missed turning on the program and woke up to no coffee brewed.
Customer reviews for Hamilton Beach Professional Programmable 12-Cup Capacity Coffee Maker for