At a Glance: Cuisinart CHW-16 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker Highlights
- Gold tone, commercial-style permanent filter and charcoal water filter
- Adjustable keep warm temperature control and Brew Pause feature
- 1- to 4-cup setting with adjustable auto shutoff
- 12-cup glass carafe; fully automatic with 24-hour programmability and LCD Clock
- Self-clean capability
- Hot water on demand for tea, soup, oatmeal, and more
- Drip coffee machine design with buttons for easy operation
- Includes glass carafe, gold filter, charcoal filter
- Dimensions: 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches
- One-year limited warranty from Cuisinart
Whether you need a quick cup of coffee to start your day or instant hot water for tea in the afternoon, the cuisinart coffee maker model chw 12 has your busy life covered. As someone who researches kitchen appliances and focuses on long-term user experience and top search trends, I’ve found that making the right coffee maker choice simplifies both routine and special occasions.
In this review, I’ll show you exactly what makes this coffeemaker a favorite, who will love it most, and where it may fall short. Setting clear expectations helps you save time and make confident buying decisions.
Why We Chose the Cuisinart Coffee Maker Model CHW 12
Through careful research comparing dozens of top-rated drip coffee machines, the Cuisinart CHW-16 stands out for its modern features and its ability to address more than just brewing coffee.
- Dual-function design: Brews flavorful coffee and provides hot water for tea or instant meals – perfect for multitasking mornings.
- Commercial-style gold tone filter saves money on paper filters, and the charcoal water filter improves taste and quality over time.
- Over 9,000 real-life ratings with a strong average score reflect long-term reliability from Cuisinart’s well-known kitchen appliance line.
The model’s extra features – like the Brew Pause and customizable shutoff – place it ahead of single-purpose or less thoughtful machines. While some competitor models may brew a cup faster, few can match its flexibility or positive user sentiment.
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Who Is the Cuisinart Coffee Maker Model CHW 12 Ideal For?
The Cuisinart CHW-16 is designed for households and small offices that value both convenience and consistency. It’s best for busy families or anyone who likes to enjoy both coffee and tea without needing separate appliances.
- Morning coffee lovers who want quick brewing and a fresh, hot pot anytime
- Tea drinkers or those who need instant hot water for oatmeal, cocoa, and quick meals
- Small offices or shared kitchens where users have mixed beverage preferences
- People looking to save space and time by combining two appliances in one
Not for: Those seeking a fast single-serve brewer, or anyone needing to heat large volumes of water all at once (like for hosting large groups).
Specifications & Practical Impact
| Specification | Details & Impact |
|---|---|
| Model | CHW-16 (also compared with chw 12 and chw 14 in style and features) |
| Brewing Capacity | 12-cup glass carafe suits families or small offices, flexible 1–4 cup mode for solo use |
| Hot Water System | Dedicated dispenser holds over a quart, heats 15oz per batch – ideal for tea, soup |
| Filtration | Gold tone permanent coffee filter and charcoal water filter for better taste and sustainability |
| Programmability | 24-hour digital clock, auto shutoff (0-4 hrs), keep warm control for temperature preference |
| Size & Weight | 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 inches, about 1 pound – fits most counters, easy to reposition |
| Operation Mode | Fully automatic with easy-to-use buttons, Brew Pause allows pouring before finish |
| Included Components | Carafe, gold coffee filter, charcoal water filter |
| Warranty | Limited three-year warranty by Cuisinart for peace of mind |
Programmable 24-Hour Brew & Hot Water System
Cuisinart’s 24-hour programmability and dual hot water system make morning routines smooth and stress-free. If you wake up at different times or share the kitchen, you can schedule fresh coffee and get piping hot water for breakfast or instant meals at the same time.
In family settings, one person can brew coffee while others make instant oatmeal or tea, thanks to the simultaneous operation. Hot water heats about 15oz at a time, which works for one or two servings – users with bigger needs may need to repeat the process.
Commercial-Style Gold Tone Filter and Water Purification
The permanent gold tone filter is a standout, eliminating the need for paper refills and keeping costs low for regular coffee drinkers. This filter, paired with an included charcoal water filter, is a big plus for anyone with tap water flavor concerns.
If you want your coffee to taste as pure as possible, this setup is designed to deliver. Regular filter changes and cleaning will keep things running smoothly and help prevent residue noted by some users.
Adjustable Temperature Control & Brew Pause Function
Customizing your coffee’s temperature and pausing the brew mid-cycle add real convenience. With keep warm temperature control, everyone can enjoy their preferred brew strength and temperature, which is a small but meaningful quality-of-life feature.
Brew Pause lets you pour a cup before the pot is finished – a lifesaver for those busy mornings or impatient guests.
Self-Cleaning & Easy Operation
The self-clean feature means you can maintain your machine’s performance without extra hassle, a handy option if your mornings are rushed. Buttons for various functions are clear to use, even if you’re half awake.
All controls are on the front, so you won’t have to move it around just to set the time or program your next brew.
Pros and Cons of the Cuisinart Coffee Maker Model CHW 12
Like every product, the Cuisinart CHW-16 has its highlights and limitations. Here’s a balanced look at what users consistently mention.
- Pros:
- Flexible hot water system for tea, soup, and more
- Consistent brewing with no need for paper filters
- Strong, hot coffee with customizable temperature
- Programmable with auto shutoff for added safety
- Easy-to-clean with a self-clean mode
- Relatively compact for a 12-cup unit
- Cons:
- Water reservoir can be difficult to fill without spills
- Initial plastic taste reported by some, fades with use
- Hot water system heats only about 15oz at a time
- Not as fast as some single-serve machines
What Customers Are Saying About Cuisinart Coffee Maker Model CHW 12
With over 9,000 ratings and a solid 4.5-star average, most users are very satisfied with this coffee maker’s reliability and the added bonus of an efficient hot water feature.
Common themes include praise for hot coffee, appreciation for the reusable filter, and convenience of having both coffee and hot water ready. Some mention minor annoyances such as a small filling reservoir or initial taste issues that disappear after a few uses.
Users often point out that the machine makes their daily routine smoother and saves them from using a microwave or kettle for simple tasks like tea or instant oatmeal.
Review Feedback Highlights
6 Month Update: It works perfectly as new and I have found no issues whatsoever. My original review below stands as originally written. If I have any problems in the future I will note them here.Since I don’t lend a lot of credence to reviews written by those who have just opened their shiny new item and are gushing with naive enthusiasm I will make my initial review quite brief at this time. I promise to follow up with a more comprehensive review in about 6 months.The reason for my purchase of this item is that my lovely wife and I drink coffee in the mornings and also I drink quite a bit of hot tea later in the day. Instead of turning on the microwave every time I need more hot water I thought this unit would satisfy both requirements nicely. And indeed so far it is succeeding nicely.I was concerned that the hot water dispenser would consume a lot of energy, but in fact it does not. Reason: While that side holds over a quart of water it only actually heats about 15oz at a time. Great idea! It takes about a minute longer to heat each batch of water than my microwave, but as soon as you dispense the hot water it immediately begins heating another batch. It might not be the best for those who want a larger amount of hot water at one time, but it works very well for my purposes. Just FYI.There are several small but thoughtful items that makes this unit a good value in my opinion not the least of which it is actually two units in one. For example:1) The #4 cone style filter that comes with this unit brews a superior cup of coffee in my opinion and better utilizes the coffee in a more even way. The fine wire mesh filter that comes with the unit sells for about $8 alone and means you never have to buy another paper filter. And you get a better yield for your coffee dollar. Its my opinion but not only mine.2) There is a small silver button looking device under where the carafe is placed that is the actual heating element. This provides a much more accurate way of keeping the coffee at the desired temperature. When you press the “1 – 4 cups” button on the front of the machine a blue light comes on.This function keeps the brewed coffee in the carafe at a lower and more desirable temperature when brewing smaller portions. It keeps the fresh brewed coffee from getting that burned stale taste that results from being heated for too long at too high a temperature. Just trivia those who care about keeping the flavor of the coffee good longer.2) The coffee maker can be set to automatically turn off after a certain period of time after the coffee is brewed.*** UPDATE of 10/25/12 ***This unit has turned out to be so practical that I have purchased a second one for my mother. For anyone who drinks hot tea or other drinks requiring preheated water, the water heating part of this unit is really useful. It heats ~15oz of water at a time and holds nearly another quart in reserve that automatically feeds into the heating area as you drain the first 15oz. I only wish it made some sort of sound to alert me once the water is hot. It only takes about 3 minutes to heat the water by the way.*** UPDATE OF 04/07/14I have been using this unit – both sides – several times a day since new. It seems there is a problem with the hot water tank leaking. It leaks into the coffee reservoir. Which isn’t so bad I suppose. After all it is a small leak, but seems to want to get bigger. Also it doesn’t leak if I don’t fill the tank to the full line. Otherwise it is still working well. I would definitely purchase again.
I bought this coffeemaker for my wife as a Christmas present (2011). We love it a lot. It makes great, HOT coffee, and the hot water system works perfectly. If you are like me, you are reading these comments in order to learn whether or not you should buy this product. With that in mind, let me give you a few things to consider:The Not So Good1. Plastic taste – A number of folks have complained about a plasticy taste, especially on the hot water side, and I can verify that we have experienced a little of that, but only on the coffee side. It took us about 3-4 pots of coffee before the plastic aftertaste went away, and we haven’t tasted it since. We have never tasted it on the hot water side. It’s possible that the people who keep tasting it truly have models that have a problem, but it’s also possible that they just imagine they are tasting it. Either way, at least for us, whatever plastic taste was there before seems to be gone now.2. Hard to fill the coffee reservoir – It is true that the hole you pour water through to fill the coffee side is poorly positioned and quite small. Some folks use a funnel, others rotate around to the side of the coffeemaker to improve their pouring angle. Me? I just pour carefully. I have not spilled any water (yet). My biggest issue is that I find the last 1/2 cup of water difficult to get out of the carafe. If I try to pour 8 cups of water into the reservoir I can get the first 7 1/2 out easily, but that last little bit is tough. To compensate I just fill the carafe with a cup or so more water than what I intend to pour into the reservoir – say, 9+ cups if I want to brew 8 – and then discard whatever extra water is left in the carafe. Problem solved.3. Slight residue from coffee grounds – We use the bundled reusable coffee filter. We have found that it leaves a very fine residue from the coffee grounds at the bottom of our coffee, which isn’t a big deal, but is at least something worth mentioning in case that sort of thing bothers you.4. Coffee brewing time – The coffeemaker is not slow, but it certainly is not fast. Reading some reviews led me to think this thing made really fast coffee, which just is not the case. I would say it’s average, which really isn’t bad, per se, but you should temper your expectations. A Bunn this is not.The Good1. Great coffee – Isn’t this why you buy a coffeemaker? This unit makes really good coffee, period. It is VERY hot. I mean, you can put cold milk/creamer in your coffee and it’ll still be hot when you’re through, especially if you select the hottest carafe heat setting (a nice touch, I might add). A coffeemaker should make good coffee, and this one does not disappoint.2. Speedy hot water system – I was very impressed with how fast the hot water system heated the water. Once again, after reading some reviews you would think this thing took forever. It doesn’t. In just a few minutes it does its job as advertised. It’s certainly faster than heating up a pot on the stove, although it only heats one serving or so at a time. But the reheats in between each serving take less time than the initial heating of the first serving, a real plus if you plan on making more than one hot drink at a time. But keep in mind that this hot water system is not intended to completely replace a kettle if you intend to fix a lot of tea or hot cocoa at one time. If you are making hot drinks for more than 2-3 people at a time, it might be faster to heat a lot of water on your stove rather than waiting for multiple reheats. As long as you keep this in mind I don’t think you will be at all disappointed with the hot water system. It really does work well.3. Simultaneous dual function – I got the impression from previous reviewers that you could not make coffee and hot water at the same time. This is not true. My unit will brew coffee on one side and heat up water on the other side simultaneously. Perhaps Cuisinart updated this model to add this function, or perhaps the previous reviewers were simply wrong. All I know is that mine does both at the same time and they both perfectly.I disagree with some of the reviewers who complained about other various issues with this coffeemaker. The hot water drain plug on the bottom of the unit is positioned exactly where it should be, and is simple enough to use. If you are using simple tap water for the hot water system it’ll work just fine. The five beeps that indicate that the coffee is finished brewing are not too loud, nor intrusive. My microwave makes more noise when it beeps. The hot water reservoir should be drained occasionally (since you canot dispense all the water you put in), but this isn’t as big of a deal as previous reviewers make it out to be. This takes about 10 seconds of your week. The electrical cord is a little short, but do people expect it to be 10 feet long?In the end, just like with any product being reviewed by hundreds of people, every possible flaw will be brought to light. But all in all I think this is a great product that is worth the money (assuming you buy it on sale – the retail price on this thing is outrageous; I got it for $85). I highly recommend it.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cuisinart Coffee Maker Model CHW 12
- Is the Cuisinart coffee maker model chw 12 programmable to brew at a set time?
- Yes. With its 24-hour programmable timer, you can set it up to brew in advance so hot coffee is ready whenever you want.
- Can I use this coffee maker to get instant hot water for tea or soup?
- Absolutely. The dedicated hot water system provides quick hot water on demand for tea, oatmeal, soup, or even instant noodles.
- Does the gold tone filter mean I don’t need to use paper filters?
- Correct. The gold tone permanent filter allows you to brew without paper filters, saving money and reducing waste. For an even cleaner brew, some still prefer adding a paper filter, but it’s not required.
- How much hot water can it dispense at one time?
- The hot water side heats approximately 15 ounces per batch and can hold over a quart in total, refilling as needed for multiple servings.
- What do I do if there’s a plastic taste in the coffee initially?
- This is common in new coffee makers. Running a few brewing cycles with just water and vinegar, then rinsing, should help eliminate the taste after initial use.
Warranty Coverage & Support Details
Warranty coverage is an important consideration for a programmable coffee maker like this. The Cuisinart CHW-16 comes with a limited three-year warranty, which covers defects in materials or workmanship under normal home use.
To claim service, keep your proof of purchase and contact Cuisinart support directly. Damage from misuse, commercial use, or unauthorized repairs are typically not covered. Always check if you’re eligible for coverage under the manufacturer or retailer warranty before requesting service.
Our Final Verdict on the Cuisinart Coffee Maker Model CHW 12
The cuisinart coffee maker model chw 12 is a practical pick for anyone wanting programmable brewing and a hot water system combined in one appliance. It streamlines morning routines, offers strong coffee with customized features, and adds the bonus of instant hot water when you need it.
While there are some quirks, like a smaller water filling area and a short warmup period for hot water, these trade-offs are minor compared to the flexibility offered. For its price point, positive long-term reviews, and helpful features, this model is a smart investment for most homes and small offices.
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