Cuisinart Single Serve + 12 Cup Coffee Maker, Offers 3-Sizes: 6-Ounces, 8-Ounces and 10-Ounces, Stainless Steel, SS-15P1

All right, so basically my disappointment in the Cuisinart Coffee Center lies in what you get for the money you pay. I have a lot to say here. I’ve had this for a week now, and I’m not new to the Cuisinart brand, but I’ve gotta say I am really disappointed in this. This was purchased to replace two coffee makers and save counter space. It is replacing a small one cup Keurig and a Cuisinart Grind & Brew.

First off, I want to clarify what I bought verses what you will see in my pictures. I bought the black SS-15 Cuisinart Coffee Center which comes with the glass coffee pot, NOT the thermal carafe. However, you will see a stainless steel thermal carafe in my photos because I am successfully using the thermal carafe from my old Cuisinart Grind & Brew with this new coffee center! That’s a plus, gotta say that saved me some serious cash. I found a review from another customer who said that their old Cuisinart carafe worked, and just to make sure, I actually took mine to a Target store, and with the help/supervision of an employee, checked to see if it would fit. Of course, it was still a risk, you never really know until you try it, right? So I ordered the center with the glass coffee pot, and now I can confirm that it functions perfectly fine with the Cuisinart Coffee Center. I can also say it’s a plus that the lid the water comes out of with the coffee center is full of holes so the water is properly dispersed across your grounds rather than just flowing from a center hole like my old Cuisinart Grind & Brew. The lid also seals nicely when shut, and the permanent filter is a cone shape too. Although I knew this coffee center didn’t have it when I ordered it, I also really wish they’d have kept the built in grinder design that my Grind & Brew had, I really miss it. I enjoyed that feature, and it would’ve worked well with this new coffee center machine design. They should’ve at least offered it as an option in another upgraded machine, in my opinion.

My biggest complaint from the coffee pot side is a common one. There are only two small spaces where you can pour the water into the machine with one of them being on the single brewer side, which is the middle of the machine, and although the other is on the outside on the other side, it has the removable filter for the water. Unless you have awesome aim, you’ll need to remove that water filter to avoid splashing when you pour water into the machine when using that side, which does seem to be the best place to add water. Regardless of which side you pour the water in, you need the lid up all the way to do so. Not a lot of us have a lot of space between countertops and cupboards, and I’m talking like 2 or more feet here. You can see in the photos that raising the lid up all the way will require at least 8 inches if you want it to stay open on its own, not to mention, the space needed for your hands and whatever container you’re pouring water from, PLUS a very slow and accurate pour. Don’t know about you, but even when we’re at our best, that ain’t easy. I really feel like there is a need for, and plenty of space to add a water reservoir along the back for the coffee pot side of the machine too.

Other reviewers sighted spitting from the single cup feature, and sadly, I can confirm that. Furthermore, it doesn’t just spit when using regular size coffee cups, but also the taller ones just like you see in my photos, AND it’s not just a little spitting off to one side either. You can see in the photos of the counter it’s a good 7 inches out in front, it’s to the side of the machine, and the carafe on the other side too. Guess what? Those pics are taken when brewing with a TALL cup. You can also see how little space there is between the top of the tall cup used, and the brewer too. Yea, it’s not the end of the world and I’d expect some with a shorter cup because that makes sense considering the height the coffee is falling, but I do not find this result with a tall cup at all acceptable. I shouldn’t have to find the perfect size block to put a smaller coffee cup on top of, but if I don’t, that means I will ALWAYS need to use a taller cup, AND be prepared to clean up. I had placed a paper towel around the area when I brewed to see how much spitting I’d get, and I removed it halfway through the brewing thinking it was done, but then had more show up on the counter so that’s when and why I chose to take that particular photo. I never had this problem brewing with my single cup Keurig.

Speaking of Keurig, their single cup filter adapter is much better design than the one which comes with the coffee center from Cuisinart. If my Keurig adapter worked with this new Cuisinart coffee center like my old thermal carafe does, I’d use that instead, but it doesn’t. Ok so the Cuisinart adapter, or pod as they call it, needs to be aligned correctly, yet does not actually snap or lock into position in the machine, which is stupid. The pod lid also does not cover the permanent filter around the sides; it doesn’t completely seal. Maybe that’s part of why it still spits with a tall cup? Took a photo of the pod, but the only way to really show you how loose it is when inside the machine, and that it can be totally turned around, would be with a video. I chose more pics over one video. I’m also not fond of the attached lid on the pod, or the plastic used for to make the pod. You can see in the photo it’s not very sturdy. I’m sure it’ll get broken easily during jostling if put in the dishwasher, and even during hand washing if you’re not really careful, not to mention normal use on a regular basis. For us, that’ll be every day. I would very much prefer it was made with much more durable plastic and a screw on lid that seals the pod like the Keurig one I have does. There is one plus with the Cuisinart pod over Keurig’s, and it’s the permanent filter that it comes with, also shown in my photo. It has an open bottom to allow for better water dispersement so at least there’s that. The water reservoir on the single brewer side is nice, however, the handle detaches way too easily, and doesn’t lock in. It needs to be more secure than it is, in my opinion, in order to avoid detaching while you’re trying to put the full reservoir back on the machine. I’m not even sure it’s supposed to detach! If it’s broken, it’s still functional, but I will need to watch it. Ugh. Furthermore, the single cup side has a drip try which only holds 3 ounces of liquid. If you forget to put a cup underneath to catch your coffee because you’re having a human moment, then it’s a huge mess to clean up.

As far as cleaning goes, the parts that come off for washing clean up easily enough by hand, and I am not putting them into the dishwasher regardless of the fact that they say you can do it on the top rack. I don’t see that resulting in long life. I also don’t see how they can tout this machine as being self cleaning when all it does is blink lights to notify you that it requires a descaling cycle, and it requires more than pushing a single button to do it on the single serve side. There’s a CLEAN button on the coffee pot side so why not on the other side too? The instructions are very specific about how much vinegar to use, and exactly what you need to do for descaling along with what each step looks like with regard to the lights on both sides of the machine. I just think it could be a lot simpler overall if we had a single separate button to push for this process on the single serve side as well.

So I’m keeping it, but I’m really glad I ordered it on sale and used gift cards, otherwise I probably would’ve suffered and not purchased it.

Bought this coffee maker just over a month ago. If the return window wasn’t over I would be sending it back. The coffee isn’t hot after it’s just brewed and about an hour later the coffee that’s in the THERMAL pot is COLD. The single serve coffee maker does not make the coffee hot either after it’s just brewed. We have bought cuisinart coffee makers in the past but this one is by far the worst. Don’t waste your money on buying this one

This replaced my other Cuisinart that I have had for a very long time and still works great (in my basement kitchen) I removed a star for only 1 reason. Other 1-cup machines offer inserts that fit perfectly to raise your typically sized smaller cups to a level where it won’t splatter and make a mess on your counter. Cuisinart should do the same. If you want a small cup you will end up with coffee splashing. My wife keeps a small cat food can (full) close by so she can lift the cup up. This looks very lame and is sketchy for the cup seating. It should instead be a color matched piece that fits in perfectly for this purpose. There are 3 selections of coffee sizes but if you don’t use a super tall cup you will have a mess to clean up. I have not seen where this is an optional separate item either. I’m considering making one out of wood and paint it to match the machine color.. but should I really have to do that for a brand new coffeemaker?

Funny caption but true. Think about it. All the reviews are either a love or a hate. Just like trying a new brand of underwear. On to the review, I got this for my dads Christmas in 2018 to replace the forever trusty running Mr. Coffee 12 cup. It was time y’all, it was leaking, wasn’t getting hot as it should and just looked nasty. Now this is after a good 20 years of service on a daily!

I will start with the 12 cup part first. I feel pretty sure the engineer behind this was left handed. If you take notice the 12 cup is on the left, so in order to fill the reservoir in the back you can either pour from a distance on the right side (and make a hot mess) or take the easy way and use the left edge to rest the spout and pour. Gives us righty’s a good use for our left hand. The reservoir for the 12 cup has a limited opening to put water in but we have adjusted. Bee cool if you could chose which side you would like what to be on.
The coffee grain filter is pretty cool! Some people are complaining about this making a mess for them? I could see this being a problem if you don’t put a filter in it and mistaking the little tray that holds the filters as a grain holder OR not pushing the tray down till it snaps (you will feel it and know)… Bruh. We use the reusable filter with ours with no problems and yes tinnnnny grains of coffee get through that filter but just makes it bolder. Get your paper filters if you don’t want that.

K-Cup: always wanted one but why buy two whole devices to cluster up the counter? This is not our go to but nice feature. We have not used it as much but we have used it to make hot coco with the K-Cup pericing accessory in the machine while dispensing just hot water. With the hot coco powder in the cup and the force of the water coming out of the KCup it would make a mess because of splashing. Now with the other accessory that would be used for spices and what not was a more steady stream and less of a splash. I can not vouch for those who have had issues with the KCup grounds coming out of the cup, BUT do make sure the little white arrows line up on the one accessory in the back when installing.
The water reservoir for the KCup is cool because it is removable. Some say this leaks and I could see this as the grommet gets older or faulty by factory. But I have personally not had an issue with water leaking. I always just empty it when I know people will not be using it.

The controls are interesting. Took a little fiddling to get everything straight but once you get everything like you like it you are good till it’s unplugged, power goes out, mom, lol got to blame something. There is a separate on/off switch that is good to use every day when not in use. Only catch is to the programmed brew is that the night before after you set everything up, press the on button, press bold (if you chose), press brew. Three buttons to get this thing to brew in the morning like you want it. :/ Mr. Coffee, flip the switch left and done haha. So, I’m getting to like the three button start set up. Almost like starting a spaceship haha. The on/off is a good feature to make sure it is off before you leave the house.

The reservoir has a what!?!?! A filter. This thing gets a lot of hate… “It’s not even useful because the water don’t flow past it?” Umm it was a nice thought. What other coffee pot has a water filter option? Sorry, not a coffee pot expert but been using the Mr. Coffee without a water filter for years and never died from it. People complain about everything everything these days. Got to be optimistic my friends. Good thought for the company. Dang if you do, dang if you don’t. Guess how much flow the KCup reservoir is getting when it is sitting full for about a week without use? Wouldn’t really mater where the filter would be at that point would it? So the filters are in both reservoirs. If it’s that big a deal, just take it out? Wasn’t that hard to solve… While we talking about it, if this filter was in the flow of the pump where most think it should be, the company would get complaints of no flow after a few years of service because most would not check/replace the filter in the pump, cause who wants to be charged for another device they must purchase just specific for this brand?$$$? Y’all have got to think of all angles at this when you complain.

This this has a end chime for the 12 cup which consists of 5 beeps you cannot turn off (the company should make this a option). A little obnoxious the first time I heard it. Now I can sleep right through it no problem.
Mom does not like it because it’s big, but look at it this way, have two separate gadgets would be worse.
Overall my dad and I love this device (come to find out) he was looking at this exact one around summer time and I surprisingly got it for his Christmas. The poor Mr. Coffee 12 cup pitcher had its last round in the dishwasher on Christmas Eve resulting in a cracked pitcher. Timing could have not been more perfect.

Totally recommend. I’m sure if you don’t like it you have some time to return so no loss to you except a little time. You can always go to Walmart and get you a $20 12cup and tape you Kureg to the right side of it, vice versa 😉