Cuisinart DCC-T20 Review 2024: Our Beginners Report (Worth it to You?)

Last updated on December 11th, 2022 by Jules Winnfield

Cuisinart is no stranger to high quality coffee makers. If you’re looking for a new drip machine to not only satisfy your morning coffee needs but also please your eyes aesthetically, the Cuisinart DCC-T20 has to be a top contender. But is it the right machine for you?

In this quick gist straight to the point Cuisinart DCC-T20 review we answer the question and give our overall rating to help you decide.

Last update on 2024-09-11

---

What We Like and Don’t Like (Pros/Cons)

Build/Quality (8.5 out of 10)

What is it made of?	All plastic, with a sleek finish; also BPA free
How durable is it?	Most Cuisinart coffee machines tend to last for years (3-10 years); the DCC-T20 seems to be no different

Performance (9.4 out of 10)

What brew modes does it have?	Regular or bold drip coffee
Pressure?	n/a
Strength control	Yes
How many cups does it make?	14 cups max; Also has a small batch 1-4 cup setting
How quiet is it?	Can be a bit noisy
How is the taste and flavor?	Most users love the great tasting hot coffee; even better if you grind just before you brew too!
How fast does it brew one cup or batch? Heat up time?	Brews a full pot in 9-12 minutes depending on number of cups you brew
Temperature control?	Not really, but comes with PerfectTemp technology which makes hotter coffee.

Ease of use/ Maintenance (8.9 out of 10)

How big is it?	Takes up a somewhat small footprint at 8.5″ long, 7.5” wide, and 14.5″ high
How heavy? Portable?	8.8 lbs; not super heavy, but not easily portable either
LCD display or push buttons or both?	Full LCD touchscreen controls and light up panel; may take some time to get used to; buttons may not be as reactive as they should be
How easy is it to use?	Not much work required to get your coffee; once you figure out the button controls it’s pretty easy to use; You do have to remember to press down on the coffee filter before brewing to avoid a mess
Maintenance reminders?	Yes; a clean light indicator when its time to decalcify
How easy is it to clean?	Coffee drinkers love the simplicity of cleaning the reusable filter and the built in self-cleaning feature if you’re short on time.

Design/Features (9.1 out of 10)

Does it use pods or ground coffee or both?	Ground coffee only
Permanent coffee filter included?	Yes, gold tone with unique shaped design
Programmable?	Yes, up to 24 hours
Auto pause?	Yes, brew pause available to sneak a cup before brew is complete; But pulling and placing the carafe back onto heat plate can be a little tough
Auto shut off, energy saving mode?	Yes, within 4 hours of no activity
Any other notable tech features?	PerfecTemp for hotter coffee;
Removable water reservoir? How big?	No, plus the opening to water reservoir is small and lid doesn’t open all the way to let you fill it!  Also many complain that the lid holds condensation, and when you open it, water drips down the back of the machine.
Water filter?	Yes, charcoal filter included
Come with carafe? Thermal or glass? Size?	Yes, glass carafe – 14 cups; pours without dripping!  But lid isn’t hinged, and can’t be emptied all the way
Heat plate?	Yes, with 3 different temperature settings
Can it dispense hot water?	No
Drip tray removable to accommodate larger mugs?	n/a
Any other unique features/concerns?	Shower head dispenser for more even saturation of coffee grounds and better tasting coffee;  Shoots steam from the top – may not be the best under the cabinet design
Come in different colors?	Only black, but has a sleek looking design
Pricing	Pricier than other 14 cup coffee makers; but you do get a digital simplified design

User Satisfaction (9.3 out of 10)

Warranty?	3 year warranty
Specific customer feedback, good and bad	Most customers love the design and quality of the coffee the DCC-T20 makes: hot and delicious. The most common complaints however were the design of the water reservoir which makes it difficult to fill with the carafe and the lack of a hinged lid on the carafe.

Why do you care about the Cuisinart DCC-T20?

Cuisinart is well known for their line of quality coffee makers. If you’re going to purchase the DCC-T20 14 cup coffee maker, here would be the main reasons why:

1. Touchscreen technology
   • Makes use seamless and easy
   • Backlights can be turned off if you want too
2. PerfectTemp brewing
   • Cuisinart’s technology for precise temperatures to extract delicious coffee consistently.
   • Combine that with the shower head design and the coffee is as good as you would get from an automatic pour over
3. Small batch setting
   • Will make 1-4 cups at a time
   • Great if you are drinking coffee alone or with just one other person, so you save on coffee grounds and get stronger flavor

How does it compare?

Cuisinart DCC-T20 vs Calphalon 14 Cup Coffee Maker

Both machines:

• Can make up to 14 cups of delicious coffee into a glass carafe
• Use temperature regulating mechanisms to ensure optimal extractions and hot tasty coffee
• Have cool design features such as programmability, delay brew pause, heat plate settings, and small batch setting

The differences:

• The Calphalon doesn’t have an LCD touch display, uses buttons instead
• The Calphalon is slightly cheaper

The winner?

• Both machines are practically doppelgängers of each other, but if you want to spend less and get a quality coffee maker, go with the Calphalon
• If you dig the sleek designer look and nice looking LCD display, along with a more proven reliability rating then the Cuisinart is for you.

Final Verdict

We like the Cuisinart DCC-T20 coffee maker as the modern new age coffee maker. It’s easy to use, and hassle free to maintain. Not only does it look pro on your kitchen counter but it makes 14 cups or a small batch of hot delicious coffee, can be programed to brew before you wake in the morning, and durable enough to last you for a long time.

On the other hand, while the LCD control panel is a nice touch, it can be difficult to get used to. The water reservoir is not removable and not that easy to pour water into. And it’s a pricier machine than most 14 cups on the market.

You should buy if:

• You want a well-made stylish coffee maker
• You don’t mind the learning curve to get your hands on hot delicious coffee brewed for you.
• You dig techy features like brew pause and programmable brew times
• Want a combo large cup + small batch machine for large groups at times and solo drinking at other times

You should Not buy if:

• You’re on a budget
• You want a removable water reservoir
• You want the convenience and speed of using pods
• You prefer physical buttons

Last update on 2024-09-11

For more quality Cuisinart coffee machines to choose from, check out some of our favorites:

• Cuisinart DGB-550 Grind and Brew
• Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind and Brew

FAQs