Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal Review

The Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal is a well-rounded drip brewer that's a step above others around its inexpensive price point. For one, it actually brews a decent pot of coffee, which, sadly, is not something that can be said of all brewers — never mind budget-friendly brewers. Plus, it has convenient features like auto-brew programming and a freshness timer, which shows the user how much time has passed since they brewed their coffee, which I found useful.

Performance Comparison

Taste

Coffee drinkers are of many different ilks. Some value depth of flavor and nuance above all else, while others prize drinkability most in their morning brew. The Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal may not extract all of the subtleties of a delicate Central American coffee, nor the full depth of an earthy Sumatra bean, but it does brew a smooth and balanced cup. At least, that's how our team of taste testers described what they had to drink.

I brewed and tasted dark roast coffee alongside a panel of taste testers, comparing the drip brewer against a classic pour-over. The Black+Decker Thermal pulled “roasty, nutty, and woody” flavor notes from the beans. Overall, the taste panel described the flavor strength from the brewer as being on the lighter side. Similarly, the mouthfeel was also light but “pleasantly so,” as one of our testers put it. Both the aftertaste and acidity levels were described as neutral (aka no harshness).

All told, the Thermal produces smooth, drinkable coffee that I liked, even if it wasn't the very best coffee I tried. It's good for making an easy-to-drink morning brew (or two) before starting the day.

Brew Quality

To measure brew quality, we examined the differences between multiple brews, looking for variations in areas like the maximum temperature reached and the consistency of brew water and carafe temperatures across multiple pots of coffee. Ultimately, we measured the quality of the brewed coffee and how consistent the machine was at producing a similar quality over multiple batches.

While the ideal temperature range for extraction is 195°F to 205°F as determined by the Specialty Coffee Association, the average brew temperature fell well short of that at 177.4°F. We noticed that it took a while for the water to heat up as it brewed — it didn't reach the maximum temperature until close to the end of the brew cycle. This affected its brew temperature consistency quite a bit.

On the plus side, the insulated carafe kept the coffee consistently hot. So, once the brewing process was complete, the coffee stayed consistently around 165°F for quite some time, which is on the lower side compared to most other brewers, but I found it perfectly warm enough to drink.

The spray head soaked the grounds more evenly, which we like to see and indicates a more-even extraction of coffee grounds (with the caveat that the water must be hot enough to properly extract flavors). That leads to a balanced brew where all of the grounds contribute uniformly to the final brew. If the grounds weren't even soaked, the resulting coffee could be too weak while making the coffee taste more stringent or bitter.

Brew Time

When I need my coffee, I need my coffee. That's why brew time is an important part of our scoring process. I brewed five 6-cup pots of coffee through the Black+Decker Thermal and timed each one to determine how fast it could brew and its consistency. I timed how long it took to brew from the press of the button up to the last drip.

On average, the Black+Decker Thermal took 7 minutes and 6 seconds to brew a pot. Not the quickest, but not too slow, either — but still impressive for its price point. The first brew we recorded, which essentially represents the first pot you'll make in the morning, was the quickest for this model at 6 minutes 42 seconds. The following four pots brewed about 25 to 35 seconds slower.

The nice thing about the Black+Decker Thermal is that it includes a sneak-a-cup feature, which momentarily blocks the flow of coffee so that you can remove the pot while it's still brewing without making a mess. So, if you really need that first cup to get you going in the morning, you can snag it quickly.

Ease of Use

A little more advanced than a bare-bones basic brewing machine, the Black+Decker Thermal does require a little bit of getting used to, but the design is fairly intuitive, and I became accustomed to its quirks after the first few pots.

If you've used a programmable brewer before, you won't see anything out of the ordinary on the Thermal. It has a small LCD screen with seven buttons that enable you to adjust the clock, program the auto-brew function, choose strong brew and small batch (1-4 cup) options, and power it on and off. There's a window with level markings on the right side of the water tank, and you can pour water into it from either the right or left side.

We really like the thermal carafe. As mentioned, it provides superb insulation. The handle is thick and nice to hold, but this is a press-to-pour carafe, and it's a reach for your thumb to press the lever. Coffee lovers with smaller hands will have difficulty pouring from this carafe with just one hand, though it does have a nice flow with minimal splashing once you get it pouring.

Additionally, the lid can be fully removed from the carafe. The opening is wide, which makes handwashing much easier. Black+Decker also states that the carafe, lid, and filter basket are all dishwasher-safe, which is a plus. Most of the exterior of the brewer is plastic, which is easy to wipe clean, though the stainless steel parts hold on to fingerprints and spills. Descaling takes a little under an hour to complete with a simple vinegar and water solution — an indicator lights up on the LCD screen after 60 brew cycles to let you know when it's time for a deep clean.

Should You Buy the Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal?

If your budget is tight, but you want convenient features like programmable auto-brew, the Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal is a solid option. It's not going to impress coffee connoisseurs with its brew quality, but it does make a decent pot that many will find perfectly acceptable. Think of it as the “average Joe” at making cups of joe. If you're in the market for a coffee brewer that's a little more refined, you'll need to consider higher price tags.

What Other Drip Coffee Brewers Should You Consider?

If the Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal is stretching your budget, there are less expensive options to consider, but you'll have to forego the auto-brew and other extra features. In that realm, the Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Mini Brew brews similar-quality coffee to the B+D Thermal. But if you have a bit more room in your budget, we recommend upgrading to the Ninja 12-Cup — it's better at extracting flavors, has a wonderfully user-friendly interface, and will look more handsome on your countertop. That said, if you really want some of the best at-home coffee flavor money can buy and willing to make the investment, we love the the Technivorm Moccamaster KBT.