Cuisinart DCC-3200 Review: Best Money Can Buy

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 can brew you a hot cup any time you want it. Find out what makes this programmable coffee maker worthy of your kitchen!

On some days, a cup of coffee is exactly what you need in order to get your day started off right! Even better, how about starting your day waking up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee? If that sounds appealing to you then you are in the right place! The Cuisinart DCC-3200 Programmable Drip Coffee Maker can make all that and more happen every day. Today we will focus on the Cuisinart DCC-3200.

What is this magical coffee machine we are talking about? Come learn more about all the Cusinart DCC-3200 has to offer. It is one of our most favorite coffee brewers as it gives you a lot of bang for not too much buck.

Read on to learn more!

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 Review

Cuisinart is known for creating top-notch kitchen appliances, and this 14 cup programmable coffee machine is no exception.

Cuisinart is well known for their kitchen products designed with quality and functionality in mind. Their coffee makers have become a popular choice for coffee drinkers all over the world.  

Today we review the features of the Cuisinart DCC-3200, so you can make an educated decision on if this is the coffee brewing machine for you.

This machine is popular with coffee lovers all over the world, making it a top seller in 2021 for good reason!

Find out all the features that make the Cuisinart DCC-3200 machine so popular, read on to learn more.

Things We Like About the DCC-3200

1.   Offers the largest brewing capacity on the market, with the ability to brew up to 14 cups per brewing cycle.

2.  Brews extra hot coffee at 200°F.

3. Can brew coffee based on your preference, regular or bold.

4. It is fully automatic, offering 24-hour programmability so you can have your favorite brew ready when you need a cup.

5.  Has a self-cleaning function.

6.    Warming plate comes with three temperature settings hot, medium, or low.

Things We Don’t Like About the DCC-3200

1.    You’ll have to change the filter every month.

2.    The water reservoir’s opening is smaller, making it challenging to pour in water from the carafe. You have to use a bottle or separate pitcher to fill the water reservoir.

3.    No thermal carafe option.

Let’s review several of the key features of the Cuisnart DCC-3200:

Design

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 has a traditional and pleasing design.
The Cuisinart DCC-3200 features a simple, traditional design that will fit in easily with any decor.

The DCC-3200 coffee brewer features a traditional but pleasing design featuring a combination of black plastic, stainless steel and blue lights near the buttons on the machine.

The DCC-3200 coffee maker comes in a variety of colors, so you can opt for the design that best matches your kitchen decor. With this Cuisinart model, there are several design options to choose from such as black stainless steel or copper stainless finish. The simple aesthetic of this machine is versatile and will fit in with any decor easily.

At 7.75 inches wide and 14 inches tall, the DCC-3200 has a petite design which makes it a good fit for those seeking a machine for a smaller space.

One thing you will want to keep in mind is that in order to fit comfortably, the space where the DCC-3200 will be placed needs to be able to accommodate the height of the machine.

The water reservoir features an easy-to-view water level indicator for accurate filling.

The back-lit LCD screen is designed so the button options are easy to read during the day or at night. The machine also comes equipped with a ready tone that can be switched on or off depending on your preference.

Programmable Timed Brewing

Do you dream of waking up every morning to the delicious aroma of fresh coffee  brewed and ready to be enjoyed?

If you answered yes, then buying a coffee maker with programmable options is a perfect fit for you! There are not many things as wonderful as starting your day with fresh, hot coffee ready for you to enjoy.

The DCC-3200 is fully programmable, allowing you to set the coffee brewer to begin brewing at any time you want it too, making it easy for you to set it and forget it.

To use the programmable option you will select the time you want your coffee to brew and then select the Program/Auto On button. That’s it!

At a press of a button your Cuisinart is ready to brew your coffee how you like it when you want it.

Brewing

The Cuisinart  DCC-3200 has to brewing  strength settings: regular and bold.
The Cuisinart DCC-3200 brews delicious coffee and allows you to choose between a regular or bold strength setting.

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 brews a hot and tasty cup of coffee as simply as possible. This coffee maker is a perfect option for those who want to brew with a machine that makes a hot, enjoyable cup of joe with minimal fuss.

If you are looking for a machine with lots of bells and whistles, you may want to check out the single serving Nespresso Creatista. If not, then continue reading to learn more about the DCC-3200.

The DCC-3200 brews at the ideal temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit which means your cup of coffee will be blissfully hot. With this Cuisinart brewer, you have the versatility to choose between two brewing strength settings: regular and bold.

The bold setting creates a more robust cup of coffee by keeping the hot water in the brewing chamber for a longer period of time. This allows the brewing machine more time to extract the flavor of the coffee beans, resulting in a stronger cup.

Whether you opt to brew in the regular or bold setting, having good quality coffee beans such as Arabica beans is one of the most important elements to ensuring you love what is in your cup.

Whether you’re a coffee snob who prefers bold and strong coffee or a beginner interested in something mild, you’ll find Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee maker can make most coffee drinkers very happy on the regular.

 Adjustable Carafe Temperature

With standard coffee machines the carafe’s temperature is maintained by the heating element often referred to as the warming plate positioned below the coffee carafe.

The warming plate ensures you get a warm cup of coffee regardless of if it is poured immediately or several hours after brewing.

One issue with depending entirely on a coffee brewer’s heating plate is that most heating elements on carafes struggle to keep the coffee as hot as when it is first brewed.

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee maker offers a very effective solution to this issue. The carafe heater has an adjustable temperature option, which means you can set it to suit your needs.

In other words, if you enjoy a extra hot cup of coffee, you can adjust the heating plate to the hottest setting in the machine. Likewise, if you like your coffee warm versus hot you can select the lower heat setting.

One other convenient feature is the automatic shut off on the DCC-3200. If you forget to turn the coffee brewer off, the Cuisinart will shut off automatically two hours from the last brew.

If you prefer your coffee to stay warm for longer you have the option to extend automatic shut off up to four hours.

Self-Cleaning

Cleaning a coffee maker can feel like a chore.
The Cuisinart DCC-3200 has a self-cleaning option to make cleaning your coffee maker as easy as possible.

Cleaning a coffee maker can often feel like a chore. The DCC-3200 offers an easy solution to this problem by offering a self-cleaning mode.

Activating the self-cleaning mode on the DCC-3200 is very simple:

  • Start by filling the reservoir with water
  • Put an empty carafe near the spout
  • Tap the clean button
  • Step back and watch the cleaning magic happen

The DCC-3200 coffee machine’s cleaning mode work by taking pressurized hot water and flushing it through every part of the coffee brewer. After cleaning the interior parts, the water comes out through the spout, into the carafe.

Here’s a video on how to clean the Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee brewer:

Why is self-cleaning important?

 It eliminates the natural oils from leftover coffee grounds, giving your coffee a fresh and natural taste rather than a bitter one.

Not cleaning your coffee maker regularly can result in the build-up of coffee grounds leading to the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria. Yikes!

What to Consider Before Purchasing

For many, brewing coffee is a daily ritual which is why purchasing the right coffee maker to fit your needs is so important.

Here are a few factors you will want to consider when purchasing a coffee brewer:

The Brewing Capacity of Your Machine

One factor to consider is how much coffee you need to brew. If you brew multiple cups of coffee a day or brew for a large household the DCC-3200 would be a good fit for you.

If you are brewing for one person, you may be better off opting for a single serve coffee brewer such as a Keurig.

Programmability

If you’re excited about having your coffee at a particular time in the morning, you will want to opt for a brewer with a programmable option such as the DCC-3200.

It comes with programmable brewing settings where you can set it to execute brewing automatically at your preferred time of the morning.

Brew Strength

If you want the ability to decide how strong to brew your coffee, you will want a machine that allows you to select your optimal brew strength. This ensures you can make the coffee in your cup as bold or mellow as you choose.

Ease of Cleaning and Care

If you don’t want to spend hours scrubbing your coffee machine, having a self cleaning option can come in very handy. This option is a great consideration for those who are very busy, as it allows you to keep your machine up to all sanitary standards with minimal effort.

Easy to Operate

Is your coffee maker easy to use? The simpler the design the easier it is to brew a cup! For many, simplicity in brewing is a huge pro.

Cuisinart DCC-3200 FAQs

Cozy answers the most commonly asked questions in regard to the DCC-3200.
The DCC-3200 is a simple coffee brewer to use that requires little maintenance.

Q: How do I clean the Cuisinart DCC-3200 without using the self clean function?

To clean your Cuisinart without using the self clean function, place the brewer’s removable parts in the dishwasher or wash them by hand using soapy water to remove the oily residue buildup.

Descale your machine to remove mineral deposits that may have built up in the machine. Not removing these mineral deposits will cause the machine to brew slower than usual.

Remove the charcoal filter and run a mixture of water and white vinegar through the coffee maker. Rinse with plain water before replacing the charcoal filter.

Q: Why does my Cuisinart brewing machine shut off before it completes the brewing process?

When your Cuisinart DCC-3200 coffee maker shuts off in the middle of brewing, it may be a lid issue, an overflowing water basket or water leakage.

To keep it running, make sure the lid is in the lock position.  The brew-pause function may not dispense coffee to the carafe if the top is not secured correctly.

Q: What Does the 1-4 Button on your Cuisinart Coffee Maker Do?

Pressing the 1-4 button on the Cuisinart will cause the machine to drip hot water slowly over the coffee grounds and deliver better extraction results. The result is a high-quality brew with a balanced flavor profile.

Q: What is The function of the bold button on my Cuisinart coffee machine?

The Bold setting on the Cuisinart DCC-3200 helps to keep hot water a bit longer in the grounds to allow it to extract more flavor to the desired brew strength.

When you press Bold on this machine, it automatically extracts full flavor from the coffee grounds to ensure you have a stronger, tastier brew in the end.

Q: How long can the Cuisinart DCC-3200 machine stay on?

Generally, your brewer is designed to stay on for up to four hour increments. Since the DCC-3200 comes with an auto-off selection, you can program the length of time the heating plate will stay on.

The actual shutoff may be automatic, but it is you who will determine this when programming the machine.

Cozy’s Bottom Line

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 is a great option for a home or office coffee maker if you are looking for a full-flavored cup without any fuss. The machine packs in a lot of features at a reasonable price tag.

The Cuisinart DCC-2650 is another popular model, and with good reason! After reviewing the DCC-3200 you can take a look at all this machine has to offer by clicking here.

Considering this coffee maker’s ease of use and brewing capacity, this coffee maker gives you a run for your money. No matter what you decide to take home, you should make sure it has the features you need and will provide you with many quality cups of your favorite brew for a very long time.

Be sure to also check out our review of best grind and brew coffee makers. Happy Drinking!

Leave a Comment