Introducing the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker; a reliable addition to any coffee lover's kitchen arsenal. Designed for those who crave efficiency without compromising on flavor, this drip coffee brewer boasts an array of time-saving features tailored to streamline your morning routine. With its ability to brew up to 12 cups of either regular or strong coffee, this machine ensures you're never short on caffeine, catering to both casual sippers and those in need of a robust kickstart to the day.
One of the standout features of the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is its automatic brewing capability, allowing you to set it and forget it, ensuring a freshly brewed pot awaits you at your desired time. Additionally, the convenience of the Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause function lets you sneak a cup mid-brew, perfect for those moments when you can't wait for the full pot to finish. While cleanup may require a bit of effort, particularly compared to some other similar coffee machines, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker's primary focus remains on delivering a hassle-free brewing experience that consistently delivers a satisfying cup of joe.
In the realm of the best coffee makers, and drip coffee vs pour over coffee brewers at that, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker stands out as a reliable workhorse, blending functionality with simplicity. Whether you're a busy professional rushing out the door or a leisurely weekend coffee connoisseur, this machine caters to all tastes and schedules, ensuring your coffee cravings are promptly met with each brew. So, if you're in the market for a dependable coffee maker that prioritizes efficiency without compromising on taste, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is certainly worth considering.
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: price & availability
The Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is available to buy at Kohl's for $79.99 and at Best Buy for $69.99. It's available in either black or silver for the same price point.
Even considering its functionality and straightforward brewing experience without, I think the price point is too high for what it offers. There are similar models that offer the same functions for about half the price.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: key spec
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: first impressions
The Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker arrived in a cardboard box with a lot of extra packaging, which ensured the safe arrival of the coffee maker but I would have liked to see an effort to make it more sustainable. Aside from the coffee maker itself, the package included a glass carafe, two filters, a scoop, and a filter holder. The design of the coffee machine did not stand out as stylish, rather, it resembled the typical drip coffee makers found everywhere. Its compact design minimizes countertop footprint, making it ideal for kitchens with limited space. Since its weight is a low 4.6lbs, you can easily move it around for those who prefer flexibility in placement. It's worth noting that the cord length of 24 inches may pose limitations on brewing locations.
I hadn't owned a drip coffee maker in a long time, so I forgot how easy and intuitive using one could be. For the first brew, I decided to make myself four cups of coffee to share with my partner in the morning. It was as easy as inserting the disposable paper filter (bought separately), adding the ground coffee, placing the water filter holder on top, then placing the water filter that came with the brewer on top of that, and filling the water tank to the 4-cup line. With one press of the button, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker started brewing away. While a simple brew is easy to figure out and a breeze for seasoned drip coffee maker users, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker’s more advanced features, such as the delay brew and Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause function, require a thorough consultation of the manual to figure out.
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: Design
The design of the coffee machine did not stand out as stylish, rather, it resembled the typical drip coffee makers found everywhere. It's only available to buy in a black with a stainless steel front colorway, yet its compact design (3.6 x 4.3 x 5.7in) and light-weight (4.6lbs) minimizes countertop footprint and keeps it easy to move around. It's worth noting that the cord length of 24 inches may pose limitations on brewing locations. The carafe may look small when you first set eyes on it but it holds up to 12 cups of brewed coffee, which the brewer will keep warm thanks to its heated surface that the carafe sits on.
While I recommend filling the water tank with filtered water when using any coffee machine, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker comes with two water filters (one for use and a replacement). The water filter is placed above the coffee grounds within the machine so that the hot water is filtered as it’s dispensed. To make sure the water filter is securely set above the coffee ground during the brewing process, the coffee machine also comes with a filter holder, a round plastic circle, which is meant to make sure the filter hovers over the coffee grounds and doesn’t fall into them.
The control panel on the front of the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker includes a digital display. This display will show you the current time (will reset to 12:00 when unplugged), delay brew time and how long the current carafe of coffee has been sitting. Making your selections, such as brew strength and brew now or later, is as easy as clicking a few buttons.
The coffee machine also has indicators that will light up, letting you know what mode the brewer is in. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but the buttons are very intuitive and you can easily halt an incorrect selection by clicking on the Select/Off button to turn off the machine.
Score: 4 out of 5
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: Performance
The Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is your classic drip coffee maker that boasts of some pretty neat additional capabilities to make your morning caffeine routine more efficient and enjoyable. While you don’t need to employ the following functions to enjoy a good and easy cup of coffee with this brewer, it certainly elevates the experience. The paper manual that comes with the brewer applies to Mr. Coffee makers in general so you will want to google the model number that comes on the box and brewer to get a detailed description on all the functions.
One of the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker’s selling point is the Brew Selector function, which gives you the option to choose between a regular or strong brew at the touch of a button. When you plug in the brewer to make coffee, it will automatically make regular strength coffee when you press the select button. If you're craving a stronger cup of joe, just hit that Brew Strength button once. You'll see the STRONG Brew Strength light up amber, and voila! Your coffee will be brewing with an extra kick. It'll stay in that mode until you decide otherwise by giving that button another press or unplugging the machine.
Ever wonder how long your coffee's been sitting there, waiting for you? Another neat feature found on the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is the Freshness Timer that will tell you how much time has passed since your coffee finished brewing.
The Delay Brew feature is also useful, allowing you to set it up in advance for a fresh pot of coffee in the morning. This feature proved useful during busy mornings when I was rushing out the door. The night before, all I had to do was plug in the brewer and set the current time. It's worth noting that every time you unplug and re-plug the coffee machine, you'll need to reset the current time, as it resets when disconnected from a power source. Once the current time is set, you simply decide what time you want the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker to start brewing and set it up accordingly, adding the filter, ground coffee, and water beforehand. This feature worked flawlessly; every morning, I'd hear the water flowing into the brewer, greeted by the delicious aroma of coffee while still half-asleep.
It's mindful of your time through its Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause function, too. Picture this: You've got ten minutes before you need to dash out the door, and suddenly realize you forgot to brew coffee for the family. Instead of just making enough for yourself or waiting for the full pot to brew, you can set up the coffee maker for multiple cups, grab the carafe once your portion is ready, serve yourself, and then pop it back in for the rest to brew. I tried this feature out, and the coffee maker paused dispensing water when I removed the carafe, then resumed brewing seamlessly when I placed it back. No need to fiddle with any extra buttons. However, it's not entirely spill-proof; a few drops did escape, necessitating a quick cleanup of the counter before I dashed off. Plus, if you're worried about leaving the machine on too long, don't fret—the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker automatically shuts off after 2 hours.
Keeping your Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker in top shape is easy with regular maintenance. For your daily coffee maker TLC, start by unplugging your coffee maker and allowing it to cool. Then you can remove the filter basket and the carafe and wash them with mild liquid soap and hot water, avoiding abrasive cleansers or materials. In fact, you can safely clean them in the dishwasher's top rack. However, the water filter disk should not be washed in the dishwasher. A drawback of this model is that the water tank is affixed to the coffee machine so you can’t detach it to clean, making it difficult to maintain.
To decalcify your brewer, get started by grabbing some vinegar from your pantry. Start by pouring 4 cups of undiluted white vinegar into the water reservoir, making sure to remove any water filtration disks beforehand. Pop in an empty paper filter and press Brew Now. Let the vinegar work its magic, then give it a half-hour breather. Run through the rest of the vinegar, then rinse out the carafe and refill with fresh water. Hit Brew again to flush out any leftover vinegar. That's it! Repeat this process every 80 brew cycles for soft water, or every 40 for hard water, and your coffee maker will keep churning out delicious coffee like a champ.
Score: 4 out of 5
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: Taste test
I tested the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker using Folgers ground coffee. If you want to take your coffee flavor to the next level, I do recommend grinding whole beans at home but for most people, it's more realistic to use grounded coffee. I brewed both regular and strong coffee and taste tested both.
As expected, the regular coffee had a milder flavor profile, with a balanced combination of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness. The stronger brew had a robust and intense flavor and exhibited deeper and bolder notes. However you choose to brew your coffee depends on how you want it to taste and how much time you want to wait for the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker to finish brewing.
Should you buy the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker?
Buy it if...
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Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: also consider...
A similar drip coffee brewer to the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker is the Black + Decker 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, which retails for $34.99 on Amazon and $54.99 at Target. The Black + Decker model features a Sneak-a-Cup function akin to Mr. Coffee's Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause, along with a 12-cup capacity and auto brew capabilities for busy mornings.
Another similar machine is the Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer that is Available for $79.99 on Amazon and Target. This model also has a 24-hour programmable delay brew and 12-cup capacity, but unlike the Mr. Coffee model, it features a 60-oz removable water reservoir which makes for easier cleaning.
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: how I tested
- I brewed coffee from the coffee machine two times a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon for two weeks
- I spent time testing out the different features, including brewing different amounts of coffee, setting up the delay brew and checking out the Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause
- I cleaned and maintained the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker following the directions in the manual
I tested the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Maker for two weeks in my home, making several drinks per day to ensure I understood everything the machine had to offer and any potential limitations. I taste-tested the coffee with and without milk, sugar and creamer too.
Read more about how we test.
