Cuisinart DCC-3400 12 Cup Programmable Thermal Coffee Maker Review 2022

Our Rating:

Our Rating:

4.3

Build Quality
4
Features
4.3
Brew Anatomy
4.5
Ease of Use
4.5
Brand & Warranty
4.5
Value for Money
4

Material:

Stainless Steel

Brew Type:

Drip

Cup Capacity:

12 Cups

Price:

$

Pros

  • Serves a hotter cup of coffee than other brands
  • Fully-programmable features 
  • Coffee stays warm for 2-4 hours 
  • Produces 12-cup of coffee in one cycle 

Cons

  • Difficult to pour carafe spout 
  • Plastic smell/taste in the first few brews 
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The Cuisinart 12 cup programmable coffee maker comes with cutting-edge features to deliver a hotter cup of Joe without compensating taste and flavor. It is built for personalization, allowing you to choose your preferred flavor profile, from regular to bold strength control. 

You can schedule the brew-time 24 hours ahead of time. Its backlit LCD is easy to understand and an indicator light serves as a prompt when it is time for decalcification. 

In this Cuisinart DCC 3400 review, we are going to find out if it is worth the investment.

Design and Construction 

The Cuisinart 12 cup programmable thermal coffee maker sports a stainless steel exterior, which makes the unit appear durable and sophisticated. Its black plastic accents, together with the brushed steel construction, create a modern look that goes perfectly well with modern kitchen styles and minimalistic apartments.

It comes with a stylish stainless steel handle. The Cuisinart DCC-3400 delivers a consistent design and a durable build for longevity. 

Size

The Cuisinart 12 cup programmable coffee maker stands at 14.25 inches tall, 7.75 inches wide and 9 inches deep. It is definitely not one of the bigger coffee makers in Cuisinart’s product line as it is smaller than Cuisinart DCC-1200 by a few inches in overall dimension. 

This fits well in studio apartments and offices because it does not use up much space on kitchen countertops. The size makes it easy to bring during the apartment and office moves. 

Material

Cuisinart DCC-3400 3D View

The Cuisinart 12 cup programmable thermal coffee maker is a combination of plastic and metal parts. It gives off a modern look as a result, making it an attractive add-on to your kitchen’s line of appliances. 

The plastic accents complement the brushed chrome exterior and do not get easily chipped off. Still, if you live a mobile lifestyle, take extra care in handling the coffeemaker to make it last longer.

Cuisinart 12 cup programmable coffee maker comes with a stainless steel carafe that is dishwasher safe. This means easy clean-up and maintenance.

Safety Features

The Cuisinart DCC3400 12 cup programmable thermal coffeemaker has an auto-off feature, it turns off on its own when left unused for hours. This gives you an economical advantage, saving you from paying higher utility bills. The same feature also keeps the appliance working for longer.

This also has a 60-second reset recall feature in case there is a power outage while the machine is brewing coffee. 

Accessories Included

Cuisinart DCC-3400 Accessories

In this Cuisinart DCC 3400 review, we find that Cuisinart is focusing on the coffee experience and convenience of the buyers. The package includes a gold-tone coffee filter and charcoal water filter to ensure you are brewing a rich-flavored cup of Joe every time. This also has a stainless steel thermal carafe with an ergonomic handle. The coffee pot is dishwasher safe. 

Brew Time 

The Cuisinart DCC 3400 stainless steel thermal coffeemaker 12 cup carafe delivers a standard brew time of under 12 minutes for 12 cups of brewed coffee. One 

It brews 12 cups of coffee under 12 minutes. It is not a match for models that can brew the same quantity at a shorter amount of time, but considering the price you are paying for, it outwins more expensive units.

It has a 24-hour programmable feature that allows you to set a brewing schedule a day earlier. This means you can have your caffeine fix on the dot.

Brew Quality 

One of the key highlights of the Cuisinart DCC3400 12 cup programmable thermal is its incomparable brew quality. Because of its advanced coffee-making technology, you get to drink a hotter cup of coffee than what the other units provide without sacrificing its rich flavor and taste. 

Cuisinart also made a smart move by including a gold-tone coffee filter and charcoal water filter into the mix. It promises quality-brewed coffee in every sip. For any coffee lover who wants to drink nothing but the best coffee, the additional accessory will make a huge difference. 

The brewed drink stays warm in the carafe for two hours, too. 

Ease of Use

The unit is fully programmable, making it an ideal coffee maker for both beginners and advanced users. The buttons are labeled clearly, so it only takes a few minutes to understand the knobs and buttons on the appliance. 

There is an easy-to-read user manual (1) included in the package to walk you through on how you use, brew, and clean the coffee machine.

The LCD display allows you to check and modify settings for a more personalized experience!

Simply adjust the brew-strength control feature to choose your desired flavor. You can also choose from the machine’s 1-4 cup setting in just one push of a button. You are prompted with an alert tone when your coffee is ready. 

Clean-Up

The Cuisinart DCC-3400P1 is super easy to clean, thanks to its self-cleaning feature. It gets the work done for you, so you do not have to spend too much time on regular maintenance and cleaning. 

You have to empty the machine’s filter basket once a day, wash the parts and wipe the surfaces. Do not open the lid too much to avoid water entering the coffee maker. 

It is recommended to hand-dry the appliance, use a paper towel to clean the interior. Open the portion of the lid to let the unit completely dry off. 

Brand & Customer Service

In our Cuisinart DCC 3400 review, we came across positive customer comments on the brand and experiences with customer support. Cuisinart is known for its credibility all across the globe, they put value in service quality since the start of operations. 

The brand is a household name all around the world due to its long line of kitchen appliances. Cuisinart’s focus is on providing an all-around culinary resource in different areas of the globe. 

U.S consumers have it lucky since the Cuisinart 12 cup programmable thermal coffee maker is offered to them with a limited 3-year warranty. The same cannot be said for those purchased at retail. The company does guarantee (2) that the coffeemaker is free of defects and will be in good working condition for 3 years of its working life from the date of purchase.

The result of being in business for decades has led them to win Good Design Awards and other international awards since their launch. You can contact their customer service team (3) through their website, their staff will assist you with product-related concerns and service inquiries.

Value for Money 

Is Cuisinart DCC-3400 worth the price? Absolutely!

The machine’s expert coffee-making technology is its highlight. You get to enjoy an extra hot cup of coffee at an affordable price with fully programmable features. Maintenance is easy, sports an attractive build, an auto-off feature, and a 60-second recalls feature. 

It is not a stretch to say this is one of the best coffee makers Cuisinart has produced in the last decade. 

Downsides

The Cuisinart DCC-3400 is not for coffee drinkers who prefer a simple machine because it comes with a number of features and buttons. It is not a one-press coffee machine. However, as mentioned earlier, learning how the machine works only requires you to spend a few minutes to understand it.

It has a plastic smell/taste in the first few brews and this lingers for the next 2-3 pots. It does not bother most of the users since similar coffee machines have this issue, and it does not pose a threat to your health.

Another disadvantage is the lack of warranty for buyers outside the U.S. and those who buy it at

retail for personal, household, or family use.

Who Should Buy this Coffee Maker? 

The coffee maker is for coffee lovers who like their caffeine fit extra hot to draw out the coffee’s flavors. It comes with a much more compact design than other Cuisinart coffee machines, so if you are saving on countertop space in your home office, this fits perfectly.

Final Verdict

The Cuisinart DCC-3400 sits at 4.3 out of five mainly due to the plastic smell and taste and design flaw. It does have an easy-to-see water window to make filling easier, but the carafe spout is a bit challenging to pour coffee into cups for first-timers.

It does affect the initial coffee experience, but it gets better as time goes on. The DCC-3400 is one of Cuisinart’s finer models when it comes to coffee quality, programmability and price. 

Cuisinart DCC-3400 Brew Video Review

Our Rating:

Our Rating:

4.3

Specifications

Cuisinart DCC-3400 12 Cup Programmable Thermal Coffee Maker Specifications
Brand Cuisinart
Model DCC-3400
Material Stainless Steel
Brew Type Drip coffee maker
Cup Capacity 12 Cups
Warranty 36 Months
Price $

Frequently Asked Questions

References

  1. https://www.cuisinart.com/manuals/coffee_makers/
  2. https://www.cuisinart.com/share/pdf/manuals/dcc-3400.pdf
  3. https://www.cuisinart.com/customer-care/internationalcustomers
James Kilpatrick

Article By:

James Kilpatrick

I’m James, a self-professed coffee enthusiast in pursuit of finding the perfect daily brew and likes to live by the motto ‘Just brew it”.