- Better: capacity and controls The Cuisinart is suggested for shoppers who want more capacity and additional controls.
Black+Decker Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker, CM1160B Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for an inexpensive, programmable drip maker that is easy to use and good enough for everyday pots. Skip it if you want refined flavor, premium materials, brew-strength control, or spotless hot-plate cleanup.
Best for
Best for budget-focused households, offices, or busy morning routines that need a simple programmable full-pot brewer with auto shutoff and easy controls. It suits drinkers who value convenience and price more than fine-tuned flavor control.
Not for
Not for specialty-coffee drinkers, buyers who want premium materials, or anyone who needs brew-strength and temperature control. It is also less ideal if hot-plate cleanup, cabinet clearance, or included reusable accessories matter a lot.
Verdict
The Black+Decker CM1160B earns its strongest praise as a low-cost, low-fuss programmable drip coffee maker. Reviewers repeatedly like the easy controls, auto-brew convenience, removable filter basket, visible water window, and everyday value. The tradeoff is refinement: flavor ranges from smooth and satisfying to merely acceptable, with one test panel calling it bitter and over-extracted. Build quality is also budget-grade, with plastic construction, limited accessories, and some cleanup trouble around the hot plate or basket. It is best understood as a practical morning-workhorse brewer rather than a precision machine for chasing complex flavor.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Black+Decker 12-Cup Thermal
- Better: overall taste, speed, ease of use and maintenance The Thermal model is described as better overall than the current 12-Cup Programmable.
Drew Barrymore Coffee Maker
- Better: style and design flair The Drew Barrymore model is suggested for shoppers who prioritize kitchen style.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
21 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 14% 3 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 71% 15 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 14% 3 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 0% 0 features
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
-
Programming and initial setup are consistently praised as simple, with QuickTouch controls making scheduled brewing easy even on a cheap machine.
-
Capacity is supported mainly by the ability to make a large shared pot, with the 12-cup format seen as useful for families, offices, or heavier coffee drinkers.
-
Warranty evidence is positive but narrow, with one reviewer pleased by the two-year limited warranty and replacement support for defects.
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Value is the strongest consensus point, with multiple reviewers praising the low price, useful programmable features, and good-enough performance for everyday use.
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Automation is a strength for the price, especially auto-brew and auto shutoff, though the evidence focuses on convenience rather than advanced sensors.
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Ergonomics and footprint are mostly positive: reviewers like the front water window, compact body, and light weight, though cabinet clearance can be an issue.
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Portability is limited to countertop movement, but the unit is light enough that one reviewer found it easy to move around the kitchen.
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Overall experience is strongest for low-fuss daily use: most reviewers find it easy, practical, and satisfying, while lab testing rates user-friendliness as average.
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Maintenance is mostly easy thanks to removable parts, dishwasher-safe pieces, and visible water filling, but exterior hot-plate grime and pour-space limits remain caveats.
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Used grounds disposal is easy when using the removable basket or paper filters, with reviewers highlighting simple dumping and easier disposal.
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Recognition evidence is limited but positive, with one reviewer citing its Amazon’s Choice designation as a sign of market recognition.
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Carafe and cup handling is generally workable, with praise for pouring and Sneak-a-Cup convenience, but some reviewers note dribbles or uneven cup strength when interrupted.
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Beverage quality ranges from average to enjoyable: some reviewers call the coffee decent or even great, while one lab panel found bitterness and astringency.
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Speed is context-dependent: some reviewers call it quick or efficient, while testing shows it is not among the fastest full-pot brewers.
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Brewing evidence is mixed: lab-style testing found decent consistency and good-enough strength, while other reviewers reported reliable everyday results rather than refined extraction.
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Filter handling is mixed: standard filters are available and the basket is easy to clean, but there are complaints about no included reusable filter and grounds reaching the pot.
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Heating performance is strong for the class, with high wattage and hot cups, though one review warns the hot plate can push coffee too hot and worsen taste.
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Pot function is divided: reviewers appreciate a full pot and two-hour warming, but one review found the hot plate can overheat coffee and damage flavor over time.
Cons
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Build quality is the clearest tradeoff: reviewers accept plastic at the low price, but several call out the lower-quality feel or durability limitations.
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Design flaws cluster around cleanup nooks, a non-flat filter basket, cabinet clearance, and minor warping, so the design is practical but not flawless.
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Accessories are sparse: one reviewer found the missing scoop or starter filters odd, and another disliked having to buy a reusable metal filter separately.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Coffee Machines, this product is above average in Warranty and Customer support, Capacity, Value and Price, below average in Accessories, Build quality and durability, Espresso and beverage quality.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 38% 3 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 63% 5 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessories | 2.5 | 3.8 | -1.3 |
| Build quality and durability | 2.8 | 4.0 | -1.2 |
| Espresso and beverage quality | 3.7 | 4.4 | -0.7 |
| Warranty and Customer support | 4.5 | 3.7 | +0.8 |
| Brewing performance and consistency | 3.7 | 4.3 | -0.6 |
| Capacity | 4.5 | 3.8 | +0.7 |
| Speed and time-to-cup | 3.7 | 4.2 | -0.5 |
| Value and Price | 4.4 | 4.0 | +0.4 |
FAQ
Does the Black+Decker CM1160B make good coffee?
Reviewers disagree on flavor. Some call the coffee great, smooth, or balanced, while one test panel found it average, bitter, and over-extracted.
Is it easy to program?
Yes. Multiple reviewers praise the QuickTouch programming, large controls, and simple auto-brew setup for making morning coffee easier.
How fast does it brew?
Performance is decent but not class-leading. One comparative test measured about 7 minutes and 40 seconds, while another review said it was not setting speed records.
Does the Sneak-a-Cup feature work well?
It generally helps reduce mess when pulling a cup mid-brew, but one reviewer disliked the flavor tradeoff because the first interrupted cup can be stronger than later cups.
Is it easy to clean?
Mostly yes. Reviewers like the removable basket and dishwasher-safe pieces, but one review found the exterior and hot plate hard to keep pristine.
What are the biggest drawbacks?
The main drawbacks are plastic construction, limited accessories, no brew-strength or temperature control, and a few design annoyances such as basket handling, grounds in the pot, or cabinet clearance.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.3/5
Article Reviews
Consider This Instead
If you want better Accessories
Choose DeLonghi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine. It scores 4.8 vs 2.5 for Accessories, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Build quality and durability
Choose YETI Pour Over Coffee Maker. It scores 5.0 vs 2.8 for Build quality and durability, with a 4.5 overall score.
If you want better Espresso and beverage quality
Choose Braun PureFlavor 14-Cup Coffee Maker, KF5650. It scores 5.0 vs 3.7 for Espresso and beverage quality, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Speed and time-to-cup
Choose Espro P7 French Press. It scores 5.0 vs 3.7 for Speed and time-to-cup, with a 4.3 overall score.
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