Are you on the lookout for a new coffee maker? Chances are, you’ve already heard the names Mr. Coffee and Cuisinart.
Both are well-known manufacturers of coffee makers. But which one should you buy?
This guide is here to help you answer that question. By comparing Mr. Coffee vs Cuisinart using both of their most popular coffee makers, we’ll help you make your decision.
Here’s what you can expect to learn:
- Similarities shared by the Mr. Coffee and Cuisinart coffee makers.
- What differences there are between them.
- Which considerations you should think about before choosing either one.
Let’s jump right in.
Quick Summary
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Attribute | Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker | Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker |
---|---|---|
Image | ||
Carafe Capacity | 12 cups | 14 cups |
Carafe Material | Glass | Thermal or Glass |
Auto Shut-Off | No | Yes |
Adjustable Brew Strength | No | Yes |
Cord Storage | Yes | No |
Brew Pause | Yes | Yes |
Ideal Uses | Home | Home |
Pricing |
The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker is a basic and reliable model. Capable of brewing up to 12 cups of coffee, you’ll likely have enough to share if you want to. Plus, thanks to its simple on-off control panel, it’s very easy to learn, which is why we recommend it for coffee beginners who just want a simple cup of coffee.
Customization might as well be the name of the Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker. Available in a wide range of colors, it can fit into just about any kitchen. Because it gives you control over the brew strength, batch size, and temperature of the pot, this is the best pick for anyone who wants more control over their coffee brewing.
Similarities
Water Level Indicator Windows
The first step to brewing a batch of coffee is being sure you have the necessary amount of water. Without the ability to see the water levels in your coffee maker, you’d be left having to check the water tank manually and you’d potentially overfill it on accident.
This isn’t a problem with the Mr. Coffee and Cuisinart coffee makers. Both incorporated water level indicators in their design. Just by looking at the clear windows, you can see how much water is in your coffee maker’s water tank and if you need to refill it.
There’s only one difference here: the Mr. Coffee machine has dual water windows. This allows you to visually gauge the water level from either side of the machine.
Read Also: Mr. Coffee vs Keurig
Brew Pause
Sometimes, you just need a cup of coffee ASAP. If you’re having a rough morning, chances are, you don’t want to wait until the coffee maker is finished brewing before you get your cup of joe.
You won’t need to wait with either of the coffee makers in this comparison. Both have a feature that allows you to pause the brewing temporarily while you grab yourself a mug.
That way, if you absolutely need a cup to finish your morning, you can get one even sooner. It also can save you some time if you’re in a rush.
Glass Carafes
There are two main types of carafes on coffee makers: thermal stainless steel and glass. You can see right away that the Mr. Coffee and Cuisinart both use glass carafes. It should be noted, however, that the Cuisinart has an optional thermal carafe if that is your preference.
Why does it matter? It mostly comes down to insulation and cleaning. A thermal carafe can keep your coffee warm without using a warming plate.
However, glass carafes don’t get stained or odorous after multiple batches of coffee. Furthermore, you can tell how much coffee is left in them simply by looking at them.
If you’d like to learn more about Cuisinart coffee makers, be sure to read our Ninja CE251 vs Cuisinart comparison.
Warming Plates
One issue with brewing a pot of coffee at home is keeping it warm. Unless you like having to constantly heat up mugs of coffee in your microwave, you probably would be concerned about how to prevent your batch from cooling.
That’s where either the Mr. Coffee or Cuisinart could come in. Both have warming plates built in right beneath where the carafe rests.
The warming plate heats up after your pot has been brewed. This heat applied directly to the carafe keeps your pot of coffee warmer even longer, giving you more time to savor each cup.
Dimensions
If you were to set both of these coffee makers beside each other, you’d notice that they’re not very different in size. Put another way, if you could fit one coffee maker on your countertop, you could probably fit the other one.
They are both fairly compact models. Those who are most concerned about whether they have the room for a coffee maker in their kitchen will need to look at another factor to determine which of these models they should choose. They’re quite similar.
Differences
Carafe Capacity
These coffee makers may look similar, but there is still a difference between the capacity of their carafes.
The Mr. Coffee model is capable of brewing up to 12 cups in its carafe. This is generally more than enough to serve the average family or gathering of people.
However, if that doesn’t quite cut it for you, you may prefer the Cuisinart. The Cuisinart’s carafe can hold up to 14 cups of coffee in it, giving you a little bit more to sip on or serve. This could make a difference if you either like larger cups of coffee than average or if you have more people to share it with.
Read Also: Mr. Coffee vs Black and Decker
Color Options
Do you dislike the plain look of the average coffee maker? The good news is that both of these coffee makers are available in more than one color.
It’s important to note, though, the greatest color variety belongs to the Cuisinart. Depending on what type of carafe you choose, it will have several different color options to select.
If you’re looking for a coffee maker that will stand out of the crowd, it could be the one for you. It’s also an excellent pick if you’re just looking to find a coffee maker that matches with your kitchen.
The Mr. Coffee, on the flipside, is only available in black and white. Both these colors can still match with virtually any color scheme, but it just doesn’t have as many options as with the Cuisinart.
Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker Programmable Brewing
If you’re not a morning person, you probably struggle to get through your morning routine. Making a pot of coffee in this state can feel borderline impossible.
With the Cuinart coffee maker, your morning routine can get just a little bit easier. This is because it has programmable brewing that allows you to set it up to brew up to 24 hours ahead of time.
One of the best uses for this feature is making your morning coffee. The night before, put your grounds inside and make sure it has enough water. Then, program it to brew a pot for you right before you wake up.
You’ll be greeted by the smell of freshly brewed coffee when your alarm goes off the next morning.
Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker Cord Storage
Maybe you’re not planning to leave your coffee maker out on your counter all the time. If you’re short on counter space, you may not have the room to leave it out constantly.
In that case, the Mr. Coffee could be what you need. Because it has cord storage built into the base, storing it is a cinch. You won’t need to fight to keep the cord out of the way whenever you move it.
Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker Small Batch Brewing
You don’t always need a whole pot of coffee. If it’s just you who’s going to be drinking, you may only want enough to make a cup or two.
The Cuisinart coffee maker has just the solution. Unlike the Mr. Coffee machine in this comparison, it’s capable of brewing small 1-4 cup batches.
That’s just another thing that makes the Cuisinart flexible. Whether you need to serve a gathering or just quench your own craving, you can use it without needing to worry about waste.
Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker Auto Shut-Off
It’s too easy to forget to shut off a kitchen appliance when you’re in a hurry or when you’re tired. In that regard, the Cuisinart coffee maker has your back.
With its programmable automatic shut-off, the coffee maker will power itself down after a certain period of time. You have the option of setting that timeframe, and it can be anywhere from 0-4 hours.
This feature is perfect for anyone who’s forgetful. It’s impossible to forget to turn off your coffee maker with the Cuisinart.
Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker Brew Strength Controls
Our preferences can change on any given day. You likely don’t eat the exact same foods every single day, so there’s no reason why your coffee has to be the same, either.
The Cuisinart gives you some power to customize what your daily cup tastes like. It has a bold button on the front. Press it to brew a particularly strong-tasting coffee that will undoubtedly wake up your tastebuds.
Not in the mood for an extra-strong cup of coffee? Then you can just leave the bold button off. Either way, it’s nice to be able to adjust your drinks accordingly.
Read Also: Cuisinart SS-15 vs CHW-12
Cuisinart Perfectemp Coffee Maker Adjustable Warming Plate
As we mentioned above, our preferences aren’t always the same every day. In addition to the flavor of your coffee, this could refer to the temperature of your coffee.
Some people like their coffee extra hot. Others prefer their coffee cool. No matter your preference, the Cuisinart’s adjustable warming plate gives you the power to ensure each batch is kept at the ideal temperature.
Which One Should You Buy?
Now for the big question: which one should you buy? In order to ensure you end up with the best coffee maker for you, there’s a few different areas of concern to look at.
One is customization. Not everyone wants their coffee the exact same way when it comes to flavor, temperature, and even the amount.
When it comes to adjustability, the Cuisinart is the clear winner. It has controls that make it possible for you to tweak the temperature, strength, and size of the batch you brew.
If you’re on the lookout for a coffee maker with a particular aesthetic, you may prefer the Cuisinart, too. It’s sold in a variety of colors so it can fit in to just about any kitchen style.
What if you’ll need to transport or store your coffee maker often? In that case, the Mr. Coffee is the better choice. Its built-in cord storage means you can carry it and store it without having to worry about the cord getting in the way.
This is our advice:
Choose the Cuisinart if you want more control over the taste and temperature of your coffee. Likewise, pick the Cuisinart if you want choice over the material of the carafe and overall look of the machine.
The Mr. Coffee is the better pick for anyone who either just wants a basic cup of coffee or wants to be able to store their coffee maker in between uses.
You can dig deeper into each coffee maker by clicking the links below.