Guest Author - Cheryl Lewis

Just before Christmas my old reliable Black & Decker Spacemaker coffee maker that I've been using daily for the last seven years finally brewed its last pot. This coffee maker had gradually slowed it's brewing process in the last few months and I was hopeful it would hang on. No such luck. At least it happened while the kids were out of school and I didn't have to get up before the sun. Thankfully we've required two coffee makers for years but the other one wasn't programable.

I muddled through the Christmas break but with those 6 am alarm buzzers looming over my head, the idea of not having my coffee ready when my feet hit the floor just seemed to be too much. I am not a morning person. I used to be, but as I've aged I've found that I like being up before the sun less and less. I knew before my kids first day back at school I had to replace the programable coffee maker. It also had to be cheap. After all, it was the week after Christmas and this elf was too broke to even pay attention.

I headed off to the local large "mart" store in search of my replacement best morning friend. I had two requirements; 12 cups and programable. I was hopeful to find the Black & Decker Spacemaker version had drastically dropped in price, but I knew I was simply asking too much. I had also made the decision that I really didn't care what brand of coffee maker it turned out to be as long as it met my two requirements.

What I found turned out to be the basic Black & Decker coffee maker. This little appliance was very inexpensive but looks like it cost a fortune. The carafe has a new shape that's really a lot more attractive than the short squat look. The new pouring lip is also reshaped and only spills when I don't pay attention to what I'm doing. It brews 12 cups at just right the temperature and keeps it hot for two hours until it will automatically shut off. It also offers that sneak-a-cup feature so that when you just can't wait, you can grab a cup without making a big ol' mess.

I think one thing that I really like about this coffee maker is the gold tone filter. This is a reusable permanent filter. That means if I run out of paper filters, it's not a catrastrophe. I believe in the long run, I'll save myself the entire cost of the coffee maker just by not having to buy filters.

Of course the absolute positively best thing about this coffee maker is the programable feature. I set the clock using an easy to understand and read keypad and then set the time I want the coffee maker to begin brewing and viola`, my coffee is ready. Believe me, it's much easier getting up before the sun when the coffee's ready for you before you even get to the kitchen.


I have changed my mind and my recommendation regarding this coffemaker!! Please go to I've Changed My Mind BEFORE you buy this product. Based on my personal experience with this coffeemaker, I'm now rating this a 1 bean, out of a possible 5 beans!