Cuisinart DCC3200 review: when affordability and quality meet

Why choose Cuisinart DCC3200 coffee maker over others?

If there’s one thing we would like you to remember from this Cuisinart DCC3200 review, it would be the machine’s fantastic retail price and great features. The combination of the two makes Cuisinart DCC3200 coffee maker to be an extraordinary proposition for the price-to-value.

This drip coffee maker comes with features other machines of its type do not have, such as: a smaller brew volume, strength control, and temperature control.

Cuisinart kitchen appliances have become a staple across many households in the US. Its coffee makers are popular for their durability and quality. If something goes wrong, however, Cuisinart offers a 3-year warranty with this machine. This makes us a bit more confident that my hard-earned income will be well-spent.

Who is Cuisinart DCC3200 coffee maker perfect for?

As we were testing the product for this Cuisinart DCC3200 review, we really wanted to understand who would most likely fall in love with this product.

We feel that DCC3200 coffee maker can be a compelling choice for those who are looking for:

✓ Stylish, modern and elegant coffee maker for many kitchen spaces

✓ Trustworthy and reliable brand that sells quality and durable products

✓ Rich and delicious coffee thanks to a variety of controls (temperature, strength)

✓ Ability to program the brew 24-hours in advance (so you can sleep in a little longer!)

✓ Desire for a hot coffee (and for coffee to remain hot for longer)

✓ Affordable coffee maker

✓ Extended warranty for 3 years

Who is Cuisinart DCC3200 NOT perfect for?

Just like with other coffee maker reviews, we would love to remain honest in this Cuisinart DCC3200 coffee maker review. We think that there are a couple of examples where where DCC3200 coffee maker might not be a perfect choice:

✗ A coffee machine that will make you feel like a barista

✗ Desire to brew different types of specialty drinks

✗ A machine that uses capsules (like k-cups, nespresso capsules or other coffee pods

✗ Removable water reservoir

✗ Machine with a super fast brewing times

✗ Plastic-free coffee maker

Cuisinart DCC3200 Review and Evaluation 🕵️

→ Appearance

We were very excited when we first received our DCC3200 coffee maker. Though the coffee maker is available in 10 different colors, we purchased a standard 14-cup stainless-steel version. The other color versions include:

• Silver
• Graphite
• Light grey
• Sky blue
• Stainless steel
• White/gold
• Black stainless steel
• Black steel
• Copper
• White

All of these colors give DCC3200 coffee maker a modern yet versatile exterior appearance.

Regardless of the color, the coffee maker can come with a 14-cup glass carafe that keeps the coffee hot for longer thanks to the heating plate it sits on.

The control panel is located right in front of the machine, above the carafe. The panel has several backlit buttons that control the following settings:

• starting brewing,
• programming the next brewing,
• 1-4 cups brewing selection,
• bold coffee selection, and
• auto clean.

The control panel also has a LCD screen that can serve as a digital clock. Around the LCD screen there are also 4 other buttons that control the time settings (hours and minutes), as well as the temperature of the carafe, and the silencing of the ready tone.

The non-removable water reservoir is located at the back of the machine. The reservoir comes with a water level viewing window with separate markings for each cup. Therefore, we were able to tell exactly how much water to put for our preferred volume of coffee. Both the water tank and the brew basket can be accessed by lifting the lid located on top of the machine.

→ Features and technical specs

Voltage: Cuisinart DCC3200 is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only. The warranty becomes void in case any defects or damages happen while using a converter for non-US/non-Canadian power outlets.

Basket size: Cuisinart DCC3200 has a brew basket large enough to hold coffee grounds for 14 cups of coffee.

We were able to access the brew basket by lifting the lid on top of the machine. The same lid needs to be lifted in order to add water to the water tank.

To brew coffee, we need to use a #4 paper filter or the gold-tone filter in the basket. We should never use both the gold-tone filter and a paper filter in the same time, as this may cause the machine to overflow. The  manufacturer recommends that 1 level scoop of ground coffee should be used per each cup. The basket can hold up to 15 tablespoons of ground coffee.

Beverage size: The Cuisinart measurement is about 5oz per cup. The machine allowed us significant flexibility in the volume of coffee. We were able to brew less coffee quickly by pressing 1-4 cup button. However, the machine allowed us to brew up to 14 cups of coffee at any given time./

Weight: Cuisinart DCC3200 weighs about 9 pounds. This is a fairly light coffee maker given its size and capabilities. The stainless steel that covers the machine and the glass carafe contribute a lot to the overall weight. Other, plastic versions, likely weigh less.

Unit size: Despite the volume of coffee that it can brew, DCC3200 coffee maker is compact, slim and handsome. The machine is about 8 inches deep, 9 inches wide, and about 14 inches tall. The machine has a slightly square shape, which allows it to fit nicely on many counter spaces. It does not take much space at all.

Water reservoir: Unfortunately, the water reservoir is not removable. It can accommodate about 14 cups of water (or 2 liters). We were able to access the reservoir by lifting the lid on the top of the machine. The water tank has a water level indicator window that shows how many cups of water are already in it. The quantity of water that is added to the water tank determines the quantity of coffee that will come out.

Carafe: Cuisinart DCC3200 comes with a simple glass carafe. Mine had decorative stainless steel.

Additional perks: We were so excited for this DCC3200 Review. The coffee maker comes with really nice (and unique) features.

✓ Stronger, richer and more complete coffee flavors with a fuller control of the brewing process. Cuisinart comes with the functions that allow a user to determine the preferred temperature and strength of coffee. By pressing “bold,” the extraction takes a slightly longer time to ensure deeper and richer coffee flavors.

✓ Manual mid-brew pause to enjoy coffee faster and allow a longer extraction time. Cuisinart DCC3200 allows me to manually pause brewing to enjoy a cup of coffee faster. Likewise, I could use this option to pro-long extraction in hot water to get stronger flavors. However, because the flavor profile of coffee is different at the start of a brewing cycle, using this feature may weaken the flavor strength. Furthermore, removing the carafe for more than 20 seconds during the brew cycle may cause the filter basket to overflow.

✓ Hotter coffee with the expert coffee-brewing technology. Cuisinart claims that the coffee machine uses expert technology is order to produce hotter coffee temperature, without sacrificing flavor or quality. One of the features of the Cuisinart DCC-3200 is the “Carafe temp” button that allows me to select and set the temperature of the heating plate. The machine provides three temperature levels: high, medium and low. The manufacturers advise that the temperature level of the heating plate should be set to ‘high’ when the consumer likes to add milk or cream in his coffee.

✓ Ability to program the coffee maker 24 hours in advance to enjoy more sleep in the morning. Cuisinart DCC3200 coffee maker allows us to program the next brew for up to 24 hours in advance.

Furthermore, Cuisinart has added a couple more features in the DCC3200 14-cup coffee maker:

• Optional ready alert tone. The “tone” button on the control panel lets us turn the audible “Brew Cycle Finished” alert on or off. The alert may be annoying to some customers. Some people reported that the alert made their pets anxious, but some loved it.
• Auto off (0–4 hours). We can use the Auto off feature to program the time when we want the coffeemaker to shut off automatically. This time can be anywhere from 0 to 4 hours after the brew cycle has finished. The Auto off helps me save energy and can also be a factor in ensuring a longer life for the appliance.
• Gold-tone coffee filter and charcoal water filter. The machine comes with its own reusable gold tone coffee filter. However, #4 paper filters can be used in this machine, as well. #4 paper filters are especially useful if we do not like any sediments in coffee. Additionally, Cuisinart DCC-3200 also includes a charcoal water filter meant to remove chlorine, bad tastes and odors from the water, which should improve coffee flavor.

→ Performance

Brewing time: We can report in this Cuisinart DCC3200 review that the coffee maker takes a bit longer to brew coffee than what coffee makers should typically take. The exact brewing time depends on the volume of coffee we wanted to brew. However, in our tests, we were able to brew 9 cups in about 7-8 minutes, and 14 cups in about 10-11 minutes. It took less time to brew smaller volumes.

Flavor: We are happy to report that Cuisinart DCC3200 14-cup coffee maker brews tasty and rich coffee. The bold section also helps improve and deepen coffee flavors.

Temperature: Cuisinart claims to be using expert coffee-making technology to ensure hotter coffee temperature. In our tests, we have reached temperatures between 170 to 185 F degrees. This is slightly below the perfect brewing temperature.

One of the features of the Cuisinart DCC3200 is the ability to adjust keep warm temperature for the carafe. With this function, we are able to change the temperature of the hot plate according to how hot we would like to coffee to be.

The feature is accessible by pressing the “Carafe temp” button located on the machine’s control panel. There are three temperature levels: low, medium and high. Cuisinart recommends to choose “High” if milk is added to the coffee. Those who like their coffee black should choose medium or low setting.

Noise levels: Some buyers reported that the noise this machine makes while brewing is a bit unnerving to them. That is because the water pumping system of this machine makes a noise that is a bit irregular, with sudden louder bursts followed by lower pitched intervals. The alarm tone at the end of each brew can also be considered bothersome. However, the manufacturer provides a function to disable the ready-alarm tone.

Cleaning: As we were preparing this Cuisinart DCC3200 review, we also tested the coffee maker in terms of the cleaning ease. And, we are happy to share that the DCC3200 coffee maker was a breeze to clean.

The body of the coffee maker, the heating plate and the inside of the water tank need to be cleaned with a damp cloth. The filter basket and the carafe together with its lid can be washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed thoroughly, or can be cleaned in the upper rack of the dishwasher.

In order to receive the best performance from the Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee maker, the manufacturer recommends decalcifying the machine whenever the “Clean” LED indicator lights up on the control panel.

Customer-reported technical issues

As we were preparing this Cuisinart DCC3200 review, we did not encounter any breakdowns while testing and using the product. The only thing we did not like were the noises.

Similarly, Cuisinart DCC3200 users appear to enjoy the coffee maker, as well. The consensus is that DCC3200 brews great tasting coffee.

There are several additional areas that users appear to complain about:

• Water leaking from the machine
• Machine stops brewing
• The heating plates become rusty after a couple of months

While the warranty covers a free repair and replacement of the damaged parts, buyers indicate that they had to pay for the shipping of the new replacement machines. Further, some had to pay for the shipping of the damaged machine to and from the service facility.

→ Health and safety

In regards to transparency, we need to praise Cuisinart in this DCC3200. Cuisinart clearly states in the manual that all the parts that come in contact with coffee or liquids are BPA-free. Therefore, we really appreciate Cuisinart’s efforts in this regard.

The product is made with plastic, among some other materials.

As our readers are aware, we are typically very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

Cuisinart did not visibly publish information what kind of materials or chemicals are used, so we are not able to verify.

→ Price to value: is Cuisinart DCC3200 worth the money?

Cuisinart DCC3200 is a very strong position among drip coffee makers.

Depending on the retailer, Cuisinart DCC3200 sells in a lower $$-price point. The price-to-value ratio of Cuisinart DCC3200 is extraordinary.

This coffee maker brews good coffee, looks good, and has technical features that improve the experience of its buyers.

My favorite perks that come with the Cuisinart DCC-3200 are as follows:

• 24-hour programmability that allows me to plan my next brew and can save me some time in the morning,
• “Bold” feature that allows me to brew stronger coffee.

Considering that this machine also comes with a 3-year warranty, I think that the price is quite attractive and well deserved.

Should I buy Cuisinart DCC3200? Owly’s verdict! 🔨

As we attempted to show in this Cuisinart DCC3200 review, this is a coffee maker that balances great price with features that allow to brew awesome coffee.

The machine has a modern look and it brews great coffee. Further, it comes with technical features that set is apart from other drip coffee makers.

If you like hot coffee, then Cuisinart DCC-3200 can deliver it to you without sacrificing the taste. If your mornings are busy, this machine allows you to program your next brew in advance, helping save time.

This is a coffee maker that comes with a long warranty, which is also another good reason why this might be the type of appliance many would choose to invest in.

Will you get Cuisinart DCC3200 coffee maker? What was your experience with DCC3200? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, under this Cuisinart DCC3200 review!