Cuisinart PurePrecision 8-Cup Pour-Over Coffee Brewer with Thermal Carafe

I want to start this review by stating that I haven’t used a drip coffee maker in years. I am what people describe as a “coffee snob.” I grew up drinking the traditional Mr. Coffee-style drip brew that my parents were happy with and wasn’t happy with the plastic taste and lack of flavor that came with each cup, even though they always bought the “really nice” models. I can’t stand drinking coffee from restaurants or even mainstream coffee shops, as they still lack the flavor and taste that I want with my coffee. I’m also less than impressed with Keurig coffee and other single-serve brewing systems. For years, as a result of these tastes, I initially made pour-over coffee, then transitioned to the French press method as the best, richest, and full-bodied coffee that I’ve ever had, and I only use certain brands/types of coffee. It’s one of the few things I splurge on.Then I bought a house with a septic and no garbage disposal. And my coffee grounds became a Big Problem with my husband due to concerns about clogging the system – which is valid – not to mention that now we have room for guests, running out to Dunkin Donuts to get a box of coffee for them has become inconvenient, since people don’t want to wait 15 minutes for me to slowly brew them cups of coffee. All things considered, I decided I had to finally bite the bullet and procure an automatic coffee maker.I did a lot of research on the SCAA approved coffee makers since I didn’t want to compromise my taste. After reading about how the heart-attack-inducingly-expensive Technivorm requires “stirring the grinds” in order for even water dispersal (I mean, who wants to babysit the coffee if you’re getting an automatic machine? For me that totally defeats the point), I turned my attention to the second best recommended coffee maker that was far more affordable, the Bonavita. I saved up and purchased one only to find that it felt flimsy and the carafe leaked buckets, retaining liquid inside the upper lid, no matter what I did. Back to the drawing board.I looked at all of the other SCAA certified coffee makers and kept coming back to this Cuisinart PurePrecision Pour Over brewer. It looked very new, was a fairly reasonable price, and the top reviewer notes that he has compared it to the other certified coffee makers and prefers it, which gave me some reassurance. I had a bit of trepidation since there wasn’t a lot of feedback or reviews online since this model is so relatively new, but decided I would give it a shot.The design is very sleek. It looks great in our kitchen – my husband, who doesn’t drink coffee, even commented that it has become a statement piece on our counter. (Photo attached; glass foggy as it was just cleaned with hot water.) The coffee maker looks and feels sturdy, with an impressive display and simple controls that make programming it easy. You set the auto-on time and can also set an auto-off time for the heating pad beneath the glass carafe. I found it interesting that the device comes with a charcoal filter designed to improve the water’s taste should the owner not utilize a water filter on their own. As I use ZeroWater filter pitchers, I probably will not replace the filter when the time comes as I consider it unnecessary.Since other reviewers noted that the steel carafe has leaking issues, as well as the Bonavita I had tried, I chose the glass carafe. I don’t care about heat retention because I pour my coffee immediately into my Zojirushi thermos and go to work in the morning, which keeps the coffee piping hot. What matters to me is whether or not the carafe leaks when I pour from it. And this one does not. If heat retention is a concern, increasing the amount of time prior to the auto-off is probably good idea. I can say that the coffee brewed by this machine is as hot as when I boil water to French press, and I’ve been satisfied by the temperature.As I am the sole coffee drinker in my household, I make about 4 cups and use 2 scoops of coffee per cup. While this is below the recommended flavor amount for the machine (Cuisinart recommends making at least 6 cups for best flavor), I still thoroughly enjoy the coffee made. It is strong and full-bodied, rich. I have used up to coarse coffee and have no problems with it. The one thing I will note - there is almost an imperceptible burr to the flavor of the coffee with this coffee maker that is not there, is smoother, when it is prepared with the French press method, but it is so negligible a difference that it can be overlooked in favor of the time savings and ease of clean-up that comes with this machine.In conclusion, I highly recommend this coffee maker. It produces the best coffee that I have ever tasted from an automatic/drip machine and I am happy with my purchase. I am awarding this product 5 stars and, in my opinion, it is deserving of its SCAA certification. If something should happen or my satisfaction changes, I will update this review.::UPDATE MARCH 2018::This coffee maker still works like it is brand new. I'm still very impressed with it and still love it. I have experienced no issues with water fog or the display dimming, and I periodically clean it out by doing a vinegar/water flush until the water runs clear. I use it every day and have no regrets about my purchase. And, since apparently there is someone on this site attempting to cast doubt on this review and that of the other top reviewer, I can affirm here that I was not given a discount on this product, I was not paid to do this review, I was not asked by the company to do a review, and I have not received any subsequent discounts or perks from doing this review. I am simply a lover of coffee.

This is the second Cuisinart Pour Over drip coffee maker I have bought in the past few months because it is so great! After buying one for home, I bought one for the office. We are coffee snobs and savor good coffee flavor and like it hot. This coffee maker does the job! It is nice to have a coffee maker that allows you to adjust the flavor from mild, medium, to bold. The hot plate that keeps the brewed coffee temperature is also adjustable. It also comes with a useable filter that is easy to clean and does a good job of keeping the coffee grounds out of the coffee. So nice not to have to mess with coffee filters. It is also is a little more compact so doesn't take up a lot of space on the counter and looks nice there, too. Highly recommend!

We have a Technivorm Moccamaster at our house and are spoiled with the quality of the coffee it makes and the simplicity of the unit. Yes, it's expensive but worth it, for us anyway. We have a 2nd house and I've stalled on buying another Moccamaster because we're not here very much. I've been using a French press, which makes great coffee but is a bit of a hassle when making multiple cups throughout the morning for my wife and me. With COVID, we're able to spend much more time at the house so I decided to buy a good coffee maker and grinder. I still didn't want to spend quite as much as the Moccamaster so, after a bunch of research, I chose this Cuisinart with the thermal carafe. The main deciding factors were the good customer ratings and the SCAA certification. The latter may seem picky but I've found that the water temp is very important. I didn't care about much else as I'm used to the simplicity of the Moccamaster.I use the default settings (HOT water, MEDIUM strength) and the recommended amount of coffee (66g of freshly ground coffee on setting 28 of the new Baranta Encore grinder that I also bought). The coffee is excellent – great flavor, very hot, brews fast. The insulated carafe works pretty well. I like my coffee hot and am still happy with the temperature 30-45 minutes later. It's better than the Moccamaster insulated carafe, at least the one that came with my unit 7 or 8 years ago. I use a Zojirushi carafe with the Moccamaster. I may still get one to use with the Cuisinart but the included carafe works well enough for now.I lowered my rating 1 star because the filter basket leaks with the carafe removed and I haven't been able to figure out how to fix it yet. One feature of the Moccamaster that I really like is the simple flow lever on the basket. When I only want to make a small amount of coffee, I use the Moccaster basket like a Clever dripper, adding a smaller amount of coffee, closing the flow lever and letting the coffee steep in the hot water for 4-5 minutes, then draining. I was hoping to do the same with the Cuisinart by removing the carafe and letting the water and coffee steep in the basket. It doesn't work, though, because the basket leaks. The water is completely clear so it appears to leak around the edges and not after flowing through the grounds. For now, I put a coffee cup underneath the basket to catch the hot water and then drain the steeped coffee into the hot water. It still tastes very good but it's kind of a drag that the basket leaks. I'll still play with it and hopefully can stop the leak.All in all, we're very happy with this coffeemaker and recommend it without reservation.

This in an excellent product that provides a true and well-made pour-over cup(s) of coffee combined with easy-to-use automatic features, e.g., setting it to brew just before your wake-up time.Do read and keep the manual. The machine isn't complicated, but you'll want to properly understand how to use it and clean it.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.