Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus Review

Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus Review

The only solution to coffee addiction is having an elegant-looking coffee maker that brews coffee that tastes as good as the machine itself looks. That way, you have reason to become even more addicted to coffee.

This is the very logical reason behind our excitement about the Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus. Many customers online have nothing but nice things to say about this CHW-12, and we wanted to see if all that hype is true. In this review, we take a look at this beautiful machine from Cuisinart.

Noticeable Features

  • Awesome tasting coffee
  • Fully automatic
  • Easy to use
  • Programmable up to 24 hours ahead
  • Brews quickly
  • Stylish look
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The carafe, for some reason, appears to be poorly made in this CHW-12 model. In fact, when we began typing the product name on our browser’s search bar, the first search term suggestion that came up was “Cuisinart CHW-12 replacement carafe.” We sure hope this issue has been resolved by now because Cuisinart coffee makers are known to work very well.

Key Features of the Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus

Key Features of the Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus

Separate Hot Water Dispenser

Not a lot of coffee makers come with this feature. The CHW-12 has a separate dispenser for hot water, which you can operate simultaneously with the main nozzle. That makes this Cuisinart coffee machine model perfect not just for brewing coffee but also for making tea, hot chocolate, oatmeal, and soup!

Fully Automatic Operation

Like other Cuisinart coffee makers, the CHW-12 has a fully automatic system, which takes the work out of creating and enjoying a good cup of coffee for you.

In addition, this model has an automatic switch-on and shut-off feature, which is good news for people who tend to forget their coffee a lot. Also, Cuisinart CHW-12 has a 24-hour programmability feature, so your coffee is ready right when you are. Lastly, the CHW-12 has an auto shut off feature.

Adjustable Carafe Temperature

This is a nice feature into the Cuisinart 12 cup coffee maker that will help a lot if you have very little coffee left and want to make sure it does not get too hot. The interface does not show you exact numbers, though. The settings are labeled high, medium, and low.

Self-Cleaning Feature

We have always loved the self-cleaning function of Cuisinart coffee makers. In this CHW-12, the self-cleaning technology is made even better by the fact that the carafe is dishwasher-safe! You will not appreciate something like this until you have had to spend many precious minutes trying to get residue out of corners and sides.

Brew Pause Feature

If you want to enjoy a cup of what you are brewing even before it is done, the CHW-12 offers you the option to pour a cup mid-brew.

BPA-Free Materials

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a harmful chemical that has recently been found to be quite dangerous to human health. The worse thing is that BPA is normally found in plastic kitchen utensils, appliances, and similar items. Yes, unfortunately, that includes coffee makers. It is nice for Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus to make a move right away after the negative impacts of BPA were discovered.

A Few Extras

With every purchase of the CHW-12 come a gold tone coffee filter and a charcoal water filter that remove impurities from your coffee.

Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus vs. DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Evoluo

Comparing the Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus with a much more expensive coffee maker kind of gives you the feeling you already know which one is better. But is that really the case? Let us compare the CHW-12 with DeLonghi’s Nespresso Vertuo Evoluo.

In terms of capacity, the CHW-12 wins over the Nespresso, which has roughly half the capacity of the former. The CHW-12 has a 12-cup capacity, whereas the Nespresso’s tank is capable of holding up to 54 ounces, which converts to a little more than 6 standard cups.

Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus vs. DeLonghi Nespresso Vertuo Evoluo
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The Nespresso takes the cake when it comes to technology, though. It has some high-tech features we did not know had any business being in a coffee machine. There is their patented, so-called Centrifusion technology, for one. It blends ground coffee with water by spinning a capsule (more on this later) at 7000 rpm, exactly like a centrifuge.

Moreover, the Nespresso has an automatic blend recognition system. There is a barcode on the rim of each capsule, and the machine reads that to find out what kind of coffee you are putting in. Then, the coffee maker automatically adjusts its settings to bring out your chosen blend’s flavor. All you have to do is press a button.

Now all of that sound good, but what are these capsules DeLonghi is talking about? Yes, these are proprietary technology. They are pre-prepared coffee packed in hermetically sealed aluminum capsules. They are the ones you place inside the coffee maker for any of it to work, and it does say on the packaging and on the site that the Nespresso is specifically designed to work with those capsules.

The capsules are recyclable, so you can probably skip ordering more from the manufacturer once you are out, but you will want to check your warranty first.

There are other differences between the two but these are the main ones. When compared with the Nespresso, the CHW-12 surely lags in technology. However, that is not the point of buying a coffee maker.

You buy a quality coffee maker so you can prepare a nice cup of coffee without a lot of fuss. For as long as the Cuisinart CHW-12 fulfills that condition, we are fine with it. Why spend more for something you can get at a much lower price?

But then again, some people would love the flashy Nespresso and its arsenal of technologically advanced features. If you are one of these folks, then by all means, order yourself a Nespresso Vertuo Evoluo.

Is the Cuisinart CHW-12 Worth It?

Every. Single. Penny. First of all, its look makes it appear ten times its price. The thing is just beautiful. Second, it does nearly everything for you: from turning on, brewing, and boiling hot water, to cleaning itself and turning itself off automatically. The only things left for you to do are press buttons and drink your coffee.

Moreover, the coffee it makes has a unique kind of signature flavor in it. Sure, ultimately the taste of your coffee depends on what kind of coffee it is to begin with, but the kind of coffee maker you have and its technology can greatly affect the flavor of your drink.

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Final Verdict

The Cuisinart CHW-12 Coffee Plus is not difficult to appreciate at all. From its top-notch looks to its great tasting coffee, there is hardly anything that can change our love for it.

This coffee maker is fully automatic, and it is very easy and convenient to use. Its controls may look intimidating to some, but they are quite easy to understand. You may not even need the manual to operate it.

More importantly, it makes delicious and hot coffee. It manages to keep the coffee tasting as good as if it were always freshly brewed even after you have left it to itself for a long time. The CHW-12 allows you to prepare yourself a nice cup of Joe in the easiest way possible. Who can say no to that?

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