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Black & Decker 8 Cup Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe
Rating: 1 out of 5
Currently 1.0/5.0
I have owned two Black & Decker 8 Cup Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe Model TCM800. Overall they are fair units. They are easy to use and program, but have some design issues, which if corrected, could make this an outstanding coffee maker.
The cone-shaped filter is reusable. There is no need to purchase the paper filters. Programing the unit is simple. The control panel buttons are front and center, making it very easy to reach.
Access to the water reservoir is difficult. The reservoir has a small opening on top of the unit. This makes it difficult to pour the fresh water into it.
The unit is also difficult to clean. The only removable parts are the filter and the carafe.
The best part of this coffee maker is the stainless-steel thermal carafe. The 40 oz. / eight cup carafe keeps coffee (or any other liquid) hot for hours. Because it has the insulated carafe there is no hotplate. Once the coffee is brewed the unit turns itself off. This is a great energy (money) saving feature. Although it is not without difficulties of its own. The inside of the carafe stains. Coffee will stain it if left inside for a long enough period of time. On the other hand, it is easy to clean with simple vinegar.
The carafe's cover does take some getting use to. You must line it up correctly in order for it to fit on properly. Opening it to pour only requires a half of turn. But once the process is learned by the user, it is easy.
The downfall of this coffee maker is the location of the control panel. They are on the front of the unit, below the carafe. The placement of the control panel does offer convenience for programming and turning the unit on, but it is also subject to spills. No matter how cautious and careful the user may be, it is inevitable, coffee will find its way on to the control panel. And this is the demise of this coffee maker.
Once coffee has spilled on to the control panel, it will go inside the buttons. After a short period of time, this will render the coffee maker useless. The buttons will stop functioning, and the user will be unable to program nor turn the unit on.
If this happens, as it did to me twice. The only option you have is to return it for repair, or keep the thermal carafe, and replace the coffee maker itself.
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