Black & Decker TCM830 10-Cup Thermal Stainless-Steel Coffeemaker
by Black & Decker
|
List Price: Our Price: $54.99 You Save: $15.00 (21%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
|---|
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Black & Decker TCM830 10-Cup Thermal Stainless-Steel Coffeemaker
Customer Review: 2 Year User
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had a B&D TCM830 brewer for at least 2 years. I believe I have had mine since it first came out as a product.
I have been extremely happy with mine, thus the 5 stars.
Over the years I have used "warmer plate" brewers (along with their resulting burnt coffee). Next I used a B&D 8-cup thermal carafe (w/ glass internals carafe) brewer.
I really wanted a brewer with a 10-cup size thermal carafe, and I wanted the "cone" (Melitta) type filter. But at the time, all the 10 cup thermal carafe brewers available that met my requirements cost +/- $100 USD or more. I didn't want to spend that much.
Then I found the B&D TCM830. A 10-cup, thermal carafe, and cone filter, under $50 USD. Sold! (I still have my B&D 8-cup as a backup. Have not needed it!)
What I like about the B&D TCM830:
-Brews great coffee!
-10 cup Stainless thermal carafe, no power waste and no burnt coffee
-Coffee stays hot in carafe long enough for me to drink in morning and early afternoon
-Cone type filtering
-Removable water reservoir
-Programmable "on" time
What I don't like:
-Dropped the water reservoir on the ceramic tile floor and fortunately it only cracked at the top, it is still usable
-Thermal Carafe plastic top piece (cap) separated into 2 pieces (still held together by its valve and spring), making the 2 piece cap harder to "spin/thread" to insert and remove than the one piece cap
This brewer meets my requirements and after 2 years I am still very happy with it. I believe even now (early 2009) that by comparison, this is the most product for the least cost.
The thermal carafe is stainless steel, and is Double Walled, which means "insulated". If you fill the carafe with hot liquid (water/coffee), let it sit, and then put your hand on the bottom/sides, you will not feel any heat. To me this means No Heat Loss.
After you brew coffee, you do need to remove the thermal carafe from the brewer to make the lid stopper close up, thus avoiding heat loss there.
Having read some users having trouble with their unit making a partial pot of coffee: All I can offer here is, I've not had that happen over 2 years daily usage. We have a whole-house water softener, and a under-sink RO water filter, and that is the water I use to brew coffee. I think the softened water is easier on coffee makers, as it does not leave calcium deposits behind like hard water does. I think this may be a reason why I have had good longetivity with my coffee brewers.
The B&D "parts" (and "product") web site (as of early 2009) lists the TCM830, the carafe/cap/reservoir/basket/manual are available as parts.
I hope this provide some additional data from a 2+ year user of the TCM830.
Customer Review: Great thermal coffeemaker
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had this coffeemaker for just about two months now, and have been very happy with it so far. When I first got it I ran through a full load of water, to see if it would overflow on a full brew. The first time I used it, yes it did overflow a bit, but that was due to me putting a touch too much water in the reservoir. You have to make sure you set the reservoir on a completely flat surface, I made the mistake of setting it in our slightly rounded sink. Due to the angle it was sitting at, what I thought was 10 cups was in reality a bit more. After I learned that, I haven't had any problems with overflowing at all. I really like the removable reservoir, I can leave the coffeemaker tucked back under the cupboards and not have to pull it out in order to fill it with water.
The lid of the carafe is a bit touchy to get on, sometimes it takes a couple tries to get the threads lined up. But it's nothing that takes longer than an extra 30 seconds for me. The carafe is excellent at keeping coffee hot. It comes out hot, and stays hot for several hours. We previously tried a Cuisinart thermal carafe machine, and the coffee didn't even start out hot from that one, only warm. This one brews hot coffee that stays that way for a long time.
The removable filter basket is nice, you can carry it right over to the trash to empty it. The unit looks pretty sharp on the counter as well. Overall this is a great coffeemaker and I'm very pleased with the purchase. Time will tell if it doesn't fall apart, but two months in it's a good buy.
Customer Review: Thermal Coffeemaker
Summary: 5 Stars
If you choose the thermal carafe over the hot plate glass carafe model, you will enjoy a much better cup of coffee. There are some compromises; one of them is that coffee will not be as hot in a thermal carafe. This model, unlike the Black and Decker 8 cup model, makes an excellent and satisfactorily hot cup of coffee.
There are some complaints that the cover is difficult to screw on, and the poring spout is small. Since most of the heat that does escape escapes through the cover, a small fine threaded cover is the best solution to keep heat loss down. A little patience and several uses will make using the lid no longer a challenge. We have been using thermal coffee brewers for many years, and I find this model an excellent design. The removable water reservoir is really nice, there are no annoying beeps, the clock is LCD, and the brewing light is a pleasing green.
Since some heat loss is inevitable in this type of brewer, I suggest the following for those who have to have a steaming cup of coffee: Heat your cup or mug before filling with coffee, rinse carafe with hot water before using, use slightly warm water in the coffee reservoir, make at least 8 cups of coffee even if you want less, pour milk into heated mug before adding coffee, and best of all remove carafe from brewer and cover with a tea cozy to reduce heat loss from the top of carafe
Customer Review: Excellent Thermal Coffeemaker
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this Black and Decker coffeemaker after my last two Braun thermals died. They were good coffeemakers that each lasted about three years (before leaking from the bottom) and are now outdated models. I searched prices for stainless steel thermal coffeemakers, coming up with several very high-priced models with only "okay" reviews. When I saw the pricing and the comments about the Black and Decker TCM830, I thought it would be a good one.
I was right! It makes great coffee that stays HOT for several hours. I have rinsed out the pot in the evening before bedtime and have found the morning coffee inside still very warm. The cap really keeps in the heat not only after brewing, but during the brew process as well. My previous coffeemakers let a lot of steam out during the brewing process; but the Black and Decker TCM830 keeps it tightly inside. My wood cabinets appreciate that as well as my tastebuds!
While the reservoir is removable to fill at the sink, a convenient feature, I leave it on and fill at the flap opening. The pot doesn't drip after pouring either. It's a perfect size for under cabinets and doesn't hog counter space. Oh, and it looks nice with my stainless steel appliances!
I would recommend this coffeemaker to anyone. It makes good, hot coffee, it's attractive, and it's well priced.
Customer Review: Just what I was looking for
Summary: 5 Stars
I had a similar B&D for over 10 years with zero problems. It has been moved to my camper for many more years of use. The TCM830 is a well built unit with a sturdy base and pot. My wife likes the looks of it, I like the functionality. I wanted a removeable water container so I didn't have to fill with the pot. They always seem to slobber and spill. This water container has a hinged tupper-ware style lid that stays in place. If you put too much water in, it has an overflow hole in the back. That shouldn't be an issue though as the container is semi-transparent and also has clear markings on it. I also wanted a removeable filter caddy so that I wouldn't run the risk of dumping the filter and contents all over the place. This has that as well and works very well. Straight to the trash with no spills. I am not sure if I like the #4 cone filters or not yet. Lastly, I needed an insulated carafe, which this also has. It's very sturdy and keeps coffee at a drinkable, but not hot, temperature. The temperature would stay longer if a person would pre-heat the carafe with hot water first, just as you would with any thermos.
Other features that I don't use are the auto-start timer and the pause and serve carafe/filter housing.
I'm pleased with my purchase.