Cuisinart makes a lot of top-rated coffee makers, and the CHW-12 is one of the brand’s best coffee makers to date.
Packed with tons of features and solid functionality, this coffee maker aims to please.
With its built-in hot water system, the CHW-12 can be used to quickly produce hot water for anything from a cup of tea to a bowl of oatmeal.
But just like everything else, top-rated coffee makers also come with both upsides and downsides. So if you’re considering this coffee maker, make sure you read this review before making any hasty decisions.
The Review
The CHW-12 is quite possibly the perfect solution for those who enjoy drinking both coffee and tea.
Or perhaps you are part of a household that is divided by coffee and tea drinkers, and you would prefer to limit the number of appliances sitting on your countertop.
Whatever the case, the CHW-12′s main pull is the hot water system that it comes equipped with.
So let’s take a look at what makes this coffee maker both good and bad to help you decide if it is right for you.
The Good
- Makes piping hot coffee (Coffee side brews at 200˚F)
- Uses BPA free plastics
- Programmable
- Adjustable auto shut-off
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
The Bad
- The hot water dispenser is not programmable
- No brew strength selector like other Cuisinart models
- Hot water from the faucet has bad taste (according to many reviewers)
- Difficult to pour water into the reservoir
From a coffee perspective, the CHW-12 has very few issues. As far as the hot water system goes, many reviewers cited issues. Let’s take a closer look.
Plastic taste in hot water
Some reviewers reported a plastic, chemical taste from the water that the hot water system produced. However, these reviewers were still in the minority, which suggests that there are defective units out there. With the three-year warranty, the best thing to do would be to exchange your CHW-12 for a new one if you experience the same problem.
Fortunately, the bad water taste is not an issue with the side that makes coffee.
Completely programmable well, almost
With this coffee maker, you can program when it brews when you want it to shut off, how many cups you want it to make, and more. What you can’t program, however, is the hot water dispenser. Many reviewers found it too hot (approx. 180˚F) for their tastes and would have liked to adjust the temperature or set the water to dispense automatically in the morning.
A slight drawback, but likely not a major issue for most consumers out there.
Great coffee brewing temperature
The coffee brews at an optimal temperature of 200˚F, which many Cuisinart coffee makers can’t claim to do. This is a huge plus with this coffee maker and helps when it comes to making great-tasting coffee. Oh, and most reviewers agreed that the CHW-12 makes great-tasting coffee.
The Price
Considering the seemingly unlimited number of features this coffee maker offers, it’s hard to claim that the $100 price tag is not justified. But we still don’t think this is a perfect bargain given the cheaper models that offer similar functionality.
To stay updated on when the price is reduced, sign up for our newsletter. We frequently share price updates for the coffee makers we review.
The Coffee Quality
With practically no reports of weak or poor tasting coffee, we get the feeling that this coffee maker makes great quality coffee. Additionally, the temperature is almost perfect, which not many machines can brag about.
Score: 5 stars
The Coffee Maker Quality
Although it’s tempting to deduct a few points on this coffee maker’s quality because of the unpredictable hot water system, it really wouldn’t be fair to the side that makes coffee. The slight reduction is since the reservoir can be difficult to add empty water to and from.
Score: 4.5 stars
Easy to use?
There was an overwhelming number of reviewers who noted how easy it is to use this coffee maker. Similarly, there were no complaints in this department.
Score: 5 stars
Easy to clean?
It seems to be just as easy to clean as it is to use. The machine comes equipped with an indicator light for when the machine needs to be cleaned with a vinegar solution.
Score: 5 stars
Durability
There weren’t many reports of this coffee maker dying after a short period of use. This leads us to believe that it is built-to-last. Plus, even if you run into a dud, you are still backed by the three-year warranty.
Score: 4.5 stars
Appearance
Stainless steel and black look good in most kitchens, so as far as appearance goes, the CHW-12 is not bad.
Score: 4 stars
Brew speed
One of the few areas where this coffee maker falls short is the brew speed. Averaging in the range of 7 to 10 minutes, this is neither remarkable nor abysmal.
Score: 3 stars
Versatility
This is an incredibly versatile coffee maker. It can brew coffee and dispense hot water from the other side simultaneously. With all of the programmable features, indicator lights, and coffee maker/hot water dispenser combo, it would be impossible for this coffee maker to receive anything less than five stars.
Score: 5 stars
Final thoughts
Of all the Cuisinart coffee makers out there, the CHW-12 is one of the #1 choices to consider. This is a great option for the coffee and tea-drinking household that don’t want to have to use a tea kettle all of the time (or at all). The included gold-tone filter and hingeless carafe are also great bonuses to this machine.
If you are concerned about defective units or a somewhat imperfect hot water system, you may want to look into another option. The CHW-12 is definitely a winner when it comes to making coffee, but when it comes to tea and other hot beverages, you are probably better off with the alternatives (read: tea kettles).