Shortly after writing a review of Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker DCC-2200 not too long ago it died a pretty ugly death. The hotplate apparently overheated causing the carafe to fuse to it. Compounding the situation, when I grabbed the fused carafe it broke in half spilling coffee all over the counter and floor; no, not pretty at all. Within days I found myself in Tuesday Morning staring at the sole remaining Delonghi 14-cup Programmable Coffee Maker. Sold! Brew Performance The **Delonghi 14-cup Programmable Coffee Maker** produces a full 14 cup pot of coffee in less than a minute per cup. What I particularly like is that it produces an extremely hot pot of coffee. This is where most auto-drip coffee makers tend to fail. By the time it is poured and cream added coffee is just very warm. With its 1100 watt brewing system, this is not a problem experienced with the DeLonghi. For a particularly bold brew you can employ the *Aroma* feature that slows down the brew cycle allowing water to more fully steep the grind. Ease of Cleaning I find the DeLonghi very easy to clean and occasionally descale. The carafe has a completely removable top allowing you to easily get into it with a sponge or to place it in your dishwasher upside down. The brew basket comes with a removable "permanent" cone filter that is easy washed out and used repeatedly. To descale it I simply run a solution of citric acid (or lemon juice) through a cycle to keep mineral build-up clear. The primary cause for coffee makers to cease brewing is minerals clogging the system. Ease of Use The DeLonghi is about as easy as any programmable coffee maker to use. I'm slightly put-off by the full 24 hour clock you need to cycle through to set time and auto brew. A separate hour and minute set would have been preferable. I do however find that the back-lit clock display makes using the auto-brew feature easier. I also like the LED freshness indicator that increases and beeps every 15 minutes for the first hour on the hotplate. Design The Delonghi 14-cup Programmable Coffee Maker is a very modern clean stainless-steel with black plastic accents. The carafe cover is free-swinging so care has to be taken to keep a thumb o the hinge to avoid spills, particularly when a full pot has been brewed. Durability It's hard to judge durability of an item like this after just a short time. I've noted many reviews claiming a short product life, but I don't see any obvious flaws. I guess only time will tell.

RudiXeno

Boca Raton, FL

There were many features to this coffee maker I really liked, and unfortunately, will miss.  The gold cone filter, the audible beep when brewing was complete, programmable, and the decalcification alert made this a winner.  It was a fast brew to the first cup of coffee and the cone filter helped to make a strong, balanced cup.  When it worked, it was great.  They both had the same problem in the end, it just stopped brewing.  In fact, I bought the same one after my original one died (I suppose I should have taken that as a warning). My first one lasted 6 months or so and the second lasted about 9 months, although reading coffee maker reviews, the life seems to average 2 years.  During the time I had both of them, the only issue I had was that the paint on the coffee pot heater started to chip away; I never thought I was abusive about wiping it off.  I have a DeLonghi espresso maker that I have not had any problems with.  So, after looking at numerous reviews, we have settled on a Bunn (just arrived this evening).  Be sure to look out for a review for that!

Cheshire1

Pinellas Park, FL