DeLonghi Esclusivo DCM485 10-Cup Thermal Carafe and Coffeemaker, Brushed Stainless Steel
by DeLonghi America, Inc
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List Price: Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of DeLonghi Esclusivo DCM485 10-Cup Thermal Carafe and Coffeemaker, Brushed Stainless Steel
Customer Review: OK Coffee - bad support, so so design
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a decent coffee maker and makes reliably OK coffee. I have 3 complaints:
1. I can't find replacement water filters ANYWHERE. Yes, it works without them, but having a "feature" taht is unsupported after the first 60 days (you get 1 in the box) is simply annoying and reflects indifference to customers.
2. It is impossible to get the last tablespoon or so of water out of the carafe when you clean it because of the design of the lip. This is unsanitary.
3. Can't turn the preset clock backwards. This is a nuisance because when you want to set the timer for 15 minutes earlier you have to scroll through the whole day.
Given the moderate cost, it's OK, but not great.
Customer Review: Beautiful, efficient, high-quality coffee maker
Summary: 5 Stars
I was in the market for a new coffeemaker with a stainless steel thermal carafe. I read lots of online reviews and looked in person at the DeLonghi DCM485, the Krups FMF5 (both 10 cups), and the Cuisinart DTC-975 (12 cup). Each had mixed reviews. I ended up bringing home the DeLonghi and the Krups. Visually, there is no comparison. The Krups looked like my grandma's Buick when parked next to the elegant Ferrari-like DeLonghi. But, would the DeLonghi brew good coffee? Would I have problems identified by other reviewers, like a badly-pouring carafe or spillover in brewing?
Simply put, the DeLonghi lives up to its visual promise. It brews an extremely good cup of coffee. If you read the manual and line up the "fin" on the lid to the correct pouring location, no seepage when pouring. (I actually did it wrong before reading the manual; it was so drippy that I almost didn't keep it.) I've not had a problem with spillover during brewing, but to date have only brewed 6 cups max.
Other fabulous features of the DeLonghi:
*The removable water tank, which can be taken directly to the tap for filling and *can be removed for cleaning*. The tank even fits nicely in the built-in water dispenser in the refrigerator door - coincidence, or just smart design? (I have not noticed any plastic-y taste, either.)
*The removable filter basket - ditto for cleaning.
*The carafe has a wide mouth for easy, reach-in cleaning. (I have larger hands, and couldn't get my hand inside the Krups carafe.) The carafe keeps coffee at a decent drinking temperature for a good 6 hours. Not just-brewed hot, but decent - good performance for any thermal device, most of which, in my experience, lose a similar amount of heat over time.
*The entire body exterior is stainless steel - very little cheesey black plastic to interfere with its appearance.
*Easy to program, easy to use, and the water level indicator works just fine.
On the downside, it's a tall critter, so measure your counter-to-cabinet clearance if you want to place it under your kitchen cabinets.
This is a high-quality, well-designed machine, especially when compared side-by-side with the Krups, which just seemed flimsy in comparison - more plastic than stainless steel, a poorly-secured filter basket that seemed like it would fall off at the slightest bump, no removable water tank, a weird & less sturdy carafe lid, and seemingly less sturdy handle.
If you're looking for this type of coffeemaker, I highly recommend buying the DeLonghi. It's comparably priced in its class and offers powerful performance in an elegant package. I couldn't be happier with it.
Customer Review: Where DID I put my Chemex?
Summary: 1 Stars
Not sure why, but as I read the reviews, those who have lucky enough to receive one of the rare machines which haven't yet misbehaved, think they are virtuous and careful, and the rest of us are complete ninnies. (Kinda like really fortunate people think they are fortunate because they have done everything right. And everyone else is an idiot. Yeah. That's it.) We had the explosion problem first with two *famous coffee company* coffeemakers, then, again, with the Delonghi - one our own, and one, my mother's. We have been meticulously careful about the positioning of all parts, about the grind of the coffee, etc. I suspect the real problem is that these coffeemakers are designed such that the "shower" portion of the coffeemaker has been placed too close to the basket and the grounds. If the water goes into the grounds just a bit too quickly (not controllable by the user), I suspect a large airbubble develops - years ago, I had a glass Chemex coffee pot, and could directly observe how the brewing process worked - if an air bubble develops under the shower, and it continues pouring water, grounds will hit the shower and partially plug the holes. Then, the water will finally overflow the basket. It goes wherever it can - basically, everywhere. After patiently cleaning up after the disaster, running water through, brewing coffee again, numerous times, I can only say that you may believe you have made your peace with the machine. Don't get complacent. It will happen again. Bless *famous coffee company*, they have taken our coffeemakers back, but the only thing left in their store is a KitchenAid, which from reading Amazon reviews, has similar problems. Where did I put my Chemex? (It is possible, if you choose to ignore the negative reviews, that you will receive one of the rare coffeemakers with all of the tolerances adjusted exactly right. A Monday morning coffeemaker, so to speak. Count yourself lucky, not virtuous!)Customer Review: Buyer Beware - Quality Problems
Summary: 1 Stars
The quality problems highlighted in the other reviews are accurate. My second DeLonghi coffee maker of this model just died... completely dead... no digital display, no lights, nothing. I returned the first one because of the dribbling caraffe. While it's replacement had a slightly redesigned caraffe, the new design still dribbled. Despite what the positive reviewers say, this is not a matter of reading the manual and just using it correctly. If you are one of the lucky few who gets a good model, you can glow with inner satisfaction at your good fortune... but please don't assume that those of us unfortunate souls who got a defective unit are ignorant.
No matter how fast or how slow you pour or how precisely you line up the arrows, this caraffe will dribble. If you insist on buying it, make sure you can plug it in close to your sink so you don't have as far to go to pour a cup of coffee. Also, keep an eye out for sales on other coffee makers so you can buy a replacement when it stops working, which could be shortly after the warranty expires. If you like to play practical jokes, buy one for a friend an watch as they try to get a clean pour!
Customer Review: questionable quality for DeLonghi
Summary: 2 Stars
I recently purchased this coffee maker assuming it would bare the same quality I've come to rely on in DeLonghi products. Unfortunately it has 3 major flaws. 1- It does not brew the coffee hot enough and there is no way to maintain or reheat the coffee with the stainless steel carafe. 2- It does have a tendancy to leak when pouring and one must be extremely careful to avoid this. It takes far more patience than most of us are willing to employee just to get your morning cup of coffee. 3- The overall quality of the product for the cost is lacking. It appears to be a lower end product with a higher end cost something I would not expect from DeLonghi. The biggest hassle of all is if you bought it on line like I did your stuck with the hassle of returning it (major pain in the a--plus the lost time)so you will either live with it or put it the garage in a few months and shop more wisely for a better product. My recommendation is to check this product out in person before purchasing and know what your buying. If Starbucks is selling them take it for a test drive first.