If you want better Build quality and durability
Choose OXO Brew 9 Cup Coffee Maker. It scores 4.7 vs 2.8 for Build quality and durability, with a 4.2 overall score.
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.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
21 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.03 (14%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.415 (71%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.43 (14%)
Pros highlights
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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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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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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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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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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.
Cons highlights
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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.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Coffee Machines, this product is above average in Warranty and Customer support, Capacity, Value and Price, near average in Overall user experience, Automation and sensors, below average in Accessories, Build quality and durability, Espresso and beverage quality.
Comparison summary
21 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher5 (24%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts9 (43%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower7 (33%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessories | 2.5 | 3.7 | -1.2 |
| Build quality and durability | 2.8 | 3.9 | -1.1 |
| Warranty and Customer support | 4.5 | 3.6 | +0.9 |
| Espresso and beverage quality | 3.7 | 4.4 | -0.7 |
| Brewing performance and consistency | 3.7 | 4.2 | -0.5 |
| Capacity | 4.5 | 3.9 | +0.6 |
| Value and Price | 4.4 | 3.9 | +0.5 |
| Assembly and Setup | 4.8 | 4.2 | +0.6 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Speed and time-to-cup
Choose Technivorm Moccamaster KBGT Coffee Brewer. It scores 4.7 vs 3.7 for Speed and time-to-cup, with a 3.8 overall score.
If you want better Espresso and beverage quality
Choose Zojirushi Zutto 5-Cup Drip Coffeemaker. It scores 4.7 vs 3.7 for Espresso and beverage quality, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Accessories
Choose OXO Brew 8 Cup Coffee Maker. It scores 4.6 vs 2.5 for Accessories, with a 4.4 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: overall taste, speed, ease of use and maintenance The Thermal model is described as better overall than the current 12-Cup Programmable.
- Better: capacity and controls The Cuisinart is suggested for shoppers who want more capacity and additional controls.
- Better: features, flavor and interface The Ninja 12-Cup is presented as a higher-performing alternative if the buyer can spend more.
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
Article Reviews
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