Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup Switch Review
Pros: Simplistic interface, easy to clean
Cons: Poor brew quality, no automatic shut off, short carafe handle
Manufacturer: Mr. Coffee
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup Switch | |||||
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| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $40 List $34.99 at Amazon | $75 List $74.99 at Amazon | $100 List $99.95 at Amazon | $130 List $129.99 at Amazon | $40 List $37.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Simplistic interface, easy to clean | Easy cleaning, simple design, can use pods | Large brew capacity range, good water distribution, coffee filter included | High brew quality, sleek design, mess-free pouring | Inexpensive, automatic brew feature |
| Cons | Poor brew quality, no automatic shut off, short carafe handle | Small water tank opening, fill to brew volume | Bulky, confusing interface | Tall, small carafe handle, water backsplash while filling | Hard to fill, bulky |
| Bottom Line | A decent budget option if you like the simplicity of a single-button brewer | The combination of features and affordability make this a great budget option | A great option for coffee drinkers looking to brew larger batches of coffee | This model offers great brew quality; however, its additional height may pose a challenge fitting it between your countertop and cabinets | The most affordable and straightforward coffee maker that consistently brews decent coffee |
| Rating Categories | Mr. Simple Brew 12-... | Hamilton Beach 2-Way | Cuisinart 14-Cup Pr... | BUNN Heat N' Brew P... | Black+Decker 12-Cup... |
| Brew Quality (30%) | |||||
| User Friendliness (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
| Consistency (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Mr. Simple Brew 12-... | Hamilton Beach 2-Way | Cuisinart 14-Cup Pr... | BUNN Heat N' Brew P... | Black+Decker 12-Cup... |
| Cup Capacity | 12 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 |
| Single Serve | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Automatic Brewing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brew Temp (°F) | 160.36 | 166.14 | 176.94 | 169.04 | 161.98 |
| Preinfusion | No | No | No | No | No |
| Filter Shape | Flat | Flat | Cone | Flat | Flat |
| Energy Usage | 975 watts | 950 watts | 1050 watts | 1300 watts | 975 watts |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.3" x 9.3" x 13.8" | 13.9" x 12.2" x 11.1" | 14" x 8" x 9" | 16" x 8.5" x 10" | 8.2" x 12.2" x 11" |
| Weight | 2.8 lbs | 5.0 lbs | 9.5 lbs | 5.9 lbs | 4.75 lbs |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Mr. Coffee Simple Brew is a solid and dependable budget coffee maker. However, it lacks programmable features. More than anything else, the low cost of the Simple Brew sets it apart from other brewers in this review.
Performance Comparison
Brew Quality
To determine final scores for brew quality, our team of coffee experts analyzes water temperature, water distribution, and brew features. The Simple Brew does not reach industry standards for proper brew temperatures. After brewing, we analyzed the grounds and discovered a deep oval shape significantly lighter than the rest of the grounds. This suggests an uneven water distribution from the spray head and poor extraction quality.
User Friendliness
Without programmable features, this coffee maker is as straightforward as it gets. However, the Simple Brew is not necessarily user-friendly due to the fact that you have to remember to turn it off, among other factors.
The Simple Brew has a very simple, one-button interface. This brew is not programmable. Unfortunately, there is no timer to schedule automatic brewing for your mornings. While the Simple Brew is clearly a budget option, this feature has become increasingly available on many inexpensive coffee makers. It is also noteworthy that this coffee maker does not have an automatic shut-off. It is very important to remember to turn the machine off after brewing to avoid the risk of hazards.
The lid of the brewer flips all the way open to access the water tank. The tank is at the back of the machine. Water level marks are on the side of the brewer near the back of the machine and are difficult to see without turning the entire brewer around.
Ease of Cleaning
The Simple Brew performed slightly above average for ease of cleaning. The components are dishwasher safe and there is a reusable filter. Paper filters will make disposing of spent grounds much quicker and easier though. The glass carafe is fairly easy to hand clean and the descaling process is fairly straightforward but took 70 minutes to complete, which was a bit long.
Consistency
We exhaustively tested five back-to-back pots of coffee in order to measure the consistency of this brewer. Our team studied the grounds in the brew basket to determine water distribution patterns. We also measured the brew temperature of each and every pot of coffee, studying uniformity in temperature. The Simple Brew had some of the best consistency among its peers, an impressive feat at this price point.
Value
The Simple Brew is one of the most inexpensive models we tested — but unfortunately was lacking in quality compared to the other models in our lineup. We found that there are much better models for just a little more money.
Conclusion
The Mr. Coffee Simple Brew 12-Cup is a great budget option if you don't care about programmable functions and want a more streamlined process. Overall, we do not recommend this model unless you're pinching pennies.
— Liz Nelson
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