Black+Decker Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker, CM1160B
Where It Has the Edge
- Speed and time-to-cup is 3.7 vs 2.9. Speed is context-dependent: some reviewers call it quick or efficient, while testing shows it is not among the...
Scorata scores summarize analyzed review evidence on a 1–5 scale; they are not laboratory measurements or a simple average of customer star ratings. Feature scores summarize the reviews covering that feature. The overall score averages feature scores within each review, then combines review averages. When both expert and customer evidence are available, those two groups receive equal weight. Products can have different review coverage, so small score gaps do not establish a winner.
Recommendations prioritize important features for the category, with a score of at least 3.5, a gap of at least 0.25 points and at least two supporting reviews per product. Features with widely varying scores or broad connectivity contexts are excluded from recommendations. These safeguards do not establish statistical significance.
Quick verdict
The review evidence points to a tradeoff: Speed and time-to-cup versus Brewing performance and consistency and Build quality and durability. Choose according to which strengths matter more to you; the overall score alone does not settle that choice.
Choose Black+Decker Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Maker, CM1160B for Speed and time-to-cup.
Choose Ninja Programmable 12-Cup Coffee Brewer for Brewing performance and consistency and Build quality and durability.
Scores are out of 5. Missing scores mean missing review evidence, not a missing feature.
Accessories are sparse: one reviewer found the missing scoop or starter filters odd, and another disliked having to buy a reusable metal filter separately.
Only one review evaluated the included accessories positively, noting that the supplied cone paper filters were a welcome extra during setup.
Recognition evidence is limited but positive, with one reviewer citing its Amazon’s Choice designation as a sign of market recognition.
Recognition evidence centered on one review where the Ninja won a Best Value Coffee Maker title after broader coffee maker testing.
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.
Pot brewing was praised for crowd-serving convenience and good full-pot coffee, with reviewers highlighting big-batch usefulness rather than single-serve specialization.
Speed is context-dependent: some reviewers call it quick or efficient, while testing shows it is not among the fastest full-pot brewers.
Speed was the main recurring weakness: many tests called the brewer slow or inconsistent, though a few owners considered 8 to 12 minutes acceptable or even fairly fast.
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.
Carafe handling was a consistent strength overall, with multiple reviewers praising smooth pours, no drips, and secure lids, though one found the glass-and-hot-plate setup only moderate.
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.
The removable reservoir and cleaning design were among the strongest positives, with reviewers praising easy filling, dishwasher-safe parts, wipe-down cleanup, and straightforward descaling.
Beverage quality ranges from average to enjoyable: some reviewers call the coffee decent or even great, while one lab panel found bitterness and astringency.
Coffee quality ranged from average to excellent: several reviewers praised smooth, hot, delicious coffee, while others found it satisfactory, overly hot, or less nuanced than pour-over.
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.
Temperature and heating performance were strong in several tests, including hot coffee and top-ranked water temperature, though one lab review said it fell short of ideal SCA temperatures and another found coffee too hot.
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.
Overall experience was strongly positive: most reviewers described the brewer as user-friendly, effective, affordable, easy to live with, and recommendable despite some speed and build caveats.
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.
Capacity was a clear strength, with reviewers praising the 12-cup output for families, crowds, and big-pot convenience; one test found it close to the advertised capacity.
Automation is a strength for the price, especially auto-brew and auto shutoff, though the evidence focuses on convenience rather than advanced sensors.
Programmable and convenience functions were generally praised, especially delay brew, separate buttons, safety behavior, and stay-warm controls, though small-batch behavior was not always clear.
Warranty evidence is positive but narrow, with one reviewer pleased by the two-year limited warranty and replacement support for defects.
Warranty and support evidence was limited and moderate: one review called the warranty standard, while another said customer service was improving.
Programming and initial setup are consistently praised as simple, with QuickTouch controls making scheduled brewing easy even on a cheap machine.
Setup was usually easy, with one reviewer calling it a breeze and another saying most users would not need the instructions, but one home test found the priming process excessive.
Value is the strongest consensus point, with multiple reviewers praising the low price, useful programmable features, and good-enough performance for everyday use.
Value was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling the Ninja affordable, fair-priced, cost-efficient, and strong for the number of features and coffee quality delivered.
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.
Reviewers generally found strong brewing performance, citing even saturation, hot water, smooth extraction, and consistent pots, with positive marks across lab tests and hands-on videos.
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.
The reusable filter was often viewed as convenient and environmentally helpful, but reviewers noted possible sediment and slight taste effects compared with paper filters.
Build quality is the clearest tradeoff: reviewers accept plastic at the low price, but several call out the lower-quality feel or durability limitations.
Build impressions were mixed: some reviewers found the machine sturdy or reliable, while others criticized the mostly plastic construction and worried about cheapness or long-term flavor effects.
Design flaws cluster around cleanup nooks, a non-flat filter basket, cabinet clearance, and minor warping, so the design is practical but not flawless.
Repeated design caveats included seepage, hot-plate drips, reservoir-leak reports, high water in the filter basket, non-disableable beeps, and a tall body that may not fit under cabinets.
Ergonomics and footprint are mostly positive: reviewers like the front water window, compact body, and light weight, though cabinet clearance can be an issue.
Reviewers liked the modern, functional look and removable-reservoir ergonomics, but footprint, height, plastic construction, and plain styling kept design scores from being uniformly excellent.
Marketing-linked features drew mixed reactions: reviewers found brew-strength differences minimal or unclear, even while some brewing-temperature claims were supported by testing elsewhere.
Cable management received limited but positive evidence from one review that liked the rear cord keeper and its ability to shorten visible cord length.
Used grounds disposal is easy when using the removable basket or paper filters, with reviewers highlighting simple dumping and easier disposal.
Popularity evidence was limited but positive, with reviewers noting bestseller status and high review placement while tying that appeal to features and performance.
Portability is limited to countertop movement, but the unit is light enough that one reviewer found it easy to move around the kitchen.
Scoop storage was one of the most consistently praised small conveniences, with reviewers repeatedly liking the integrated, easy-to-find measuring scoop.
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