A coffeemaker plus hot water definitely begs to be tested, but would it really dispense water hot enough for tea or instant oatmeal?
Product Description
- Cuisinart® CHW-12C Coffee PLUS™ Programmable Coffeemaker and Hot Water System
- 12-Cup Carafe with drip-free spout
- Hot water system to make instant soups teas, hot cocoa
- Brew Pause
- 1-4 Cup setting
- 24-Hour Programmable; blue backlit LCD with clock
- Auto shutoff
- Carafe Temperature Control with high, medium, low
- Self-clean function
- Removable drip tray on hot water side
- Charcoal water filter; gold tone cone-shaped filter
- French control panel sticker
- Limited 3-year warranty
- Learn more from the manufacturer
- MSRP $99.95US
How the Cuisinart Coffee Plus Performed
September 15, 2010
A smaller overall size than expected, yet it's much more functional than I first thought because the hot water is super hot (around 185 degrees F) and yes, you can make tea. This hot water temperature may not suit all tea lovers, but for the occasional cup of tea - I think it's great. Leave the tea leaves or bag to linger longer in the cup for a stronger brew. The hot water function on this brewer is super convenient for instant oatmeal, soups, or for cooking and making gravies or sauces. It takes longer for hot water from a cold start (4 minutes or less; shorter when water is warm), but you can choose to keep that side on which maintains heated water in the inner reservoir, or turn it off for awhile to save energy. Heating does not take long and I love the safety lock/unlock sliding tab. It is possible to drain the water reservoir, should that be necessary. For instant oatmeal, allow a few seconds after adding water for oats to soften and follow measurement directions as for kettle use (I used 1/2 cup of water per package of instant oatmeal. I find this hot water dispensing safer for children to use, than to handle a heavy hot kettle.
The 12-cup Coffeemaker makes excellent coffee, has a cone-shaped filter and shower head drip feature. The carafe is drip-free, handles nicely, has an adjustable warming plate temperature, similar to the Cuisinart Brew Central carafe. All functions work well on either side. The unit seems well made and is easy to keep clean. Overall size of the Coffee PLUS is 10.25"W x 7.75"D x 14.25"H, so this dual machine takes less counter space than a coffeemaker plus a kettle. You can accommodate a high (6.5") cup or travel mug on the hot water side and even more if needed, since the bottom plate is removable.
A smaller overall size than expected, yet it's much more functional than I first thought because the hot water is super hot (around 185 degrees F) and yes, you can make tea. This hot water temperature may not suit all tea lovers, but for the occasional cup of tea - I think it's great. Leave the tea leaves or bag to linger longer in the cup for a stronger brew. The hot water function on this brewer is super convenient for instant oatmeal, soups, or for cooking and making gravies or sauces. It takes longer for hot water from a cold start (4 minutes or less; shorter when water is warm), but you can choose to keep that side on which maintains heated water in the inner reservoir, or turn it off for awhile to save energy. Heating does not take long and I love the safety lock/unlock sliding tab. It is possible to drain the water reservoir, should that be necessary. For instant oatmeal, allow a few seconds after adding water for oats to soften and follow measurement directions as for kettle use (I used 1/2 cup of water per package of instant oatmeal. I find this hot water dispensing safer for children to use, than to handle a heavy hot kettle.
The 12-cup Coffeemaker makes excellent coffee, has a cone-shaped filter and shower head drip feature. The carafe is drip-free, handles nicely, has an adjustable warming plate temperature, similar to the Cuisinart Brew Central carafe. All functions work well on either side. The unit seems well made and is easy to keep clean. Overall size of the Coffee PLUS is 10.25"W x 7.75"D x 14.25"H, so this dual machine takes less counter space than a coffeemaker plus a kettle. You can accommodate a high (6.5") cup or travel mug on the hot water side and even more if needed, since the bottom plate is removable.
Overall Impression
The hot water side reservoir is a nice capacity, is easy to fill and holds at least five cups of water (needs about 32 oz to refill when the 'add water' light goes on). The coffeemaker water reservoir filling can be a little challenging. The dual function design makes it difficult to pour into the right rear water recess of the coffeemaker without some spilling, but I worked around this by pouring water from the carafe into the left (water filter) side. That side is slightly smaller, but there's an exterior water level window and more room to maneuver the carafe. The coffeemaker water filling reservoir could possibly be larger, but I'd hate to see the overall size of the unit increase - it's nice as is.
The Coffee PLUS makes a rich flavorful coffee, has a drip-free carafe and loads of convenience features including a clean function. The Coffee PLUS™ Coffeemaker makes the grade as a great coffeemaker, but this unit is innovative and the addition of the hot water, definitely gives it consumer appeal. It's ideal for homes with both coffee and tea lovers, but would also be a hit with the rest of the family for instant oatmeal or soup noodles, teas and hot chocolate.
The Coffee PLUS makes a rich flavorful coffee, has a drip-free carafe and loads of convenience features including a clean function. The Coffee PLUS™ Coffeemaker makes the grade as a great coffeemaker, but this unit is innovative and the addition of the hot water, definitely gives it consumer appeal. It's ideal for homes with both coffee and tea lovers, but would also be a hit with the rest of the family for instant oatmeal or soup noodles, teas and hot chocolate.
Related Resources
Read Cuisinart Brew Central Coffeemaker DCC-12C Review
Compare prices of Cuisinart products
Compare prices of coffee makers
Compare prices of coffees and teas
Read Coffee Maker Reviews
Coffee Maker 101 - From Buying to Caring for a Coffee Maker
Coffee Maker Care & FAQ's
Go to Main Coffee Maker and Tea Maker Page
Go to Home Page
Compare prices of Cuisinart products
Compare prices of coffee makers
Compare prices of coffees and teas
Read Coffee Maker Reviews
Coffee Maker 101 - From Buying to Caring for a Coffee Maker
Coffee Maker Care & FAQ's
Go to Main Coffee Maker and Tea Maker Page
Go to Home Page
Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
