Black & Decker ODC150 12-Cups Coffee Maker

When we were getting all the stuff for our new kitchen, we wanted a new coffee pot. We had one that was given to us and it worked okay but it didn't have all the features that we wanted. So, we went off to several stores to check out all the coffee pots out there.

We agreed that an under the counter coffee pot would be great. It's not that I don't have lots of counter space, it's just that it seems to fill up with all kinds of clutter. (I think that comes from having kids.) So, we found a couple that we agreed that we liked but with having to completely refurbish a house, I really couldn't see spending around $50 for a coffee pot when we had one that worked.

Enter my mother-in-law.....she had this coffee pot bought for her and then decided she didn't like it. Don't ask why because she couldn't tell you, she just said she decided that this isn't what she wanted. Instead of returning it like I would have, she gave it to my husband. And just in time, the coffee pot we were given died about the same time.

For a while, we used it just sitting on the counter and it worked fine. However, that didn't give me the counter space I wanted.

After a couple of months, my husband finally put it up. That's when he found a slight problem. When putting it under our cabinets, it slanted. This would have been tolerable if the coffee pot slanted into the machine but it slanted to fall out. Several shimmies later, and we had a fairly level coffee maker. (I'm thinking this is why my mother-in-law didn't want it.)

Now, that I've got the coffee pot up off the counter, I can tell you this machine is great.

First, the water container just slides out, you fill it up and slide it back in. No fuss or muss. It's so simple. Fill it up to the top and you should get 12 cups. After a couple of years of use, we find we have to fill it up and then add a little more water (a couple of cups). I haven't figured out where the water goes to but I'm working on it. Anyway, I like that the container is large and easy to use.

The part where you put the coffee and filter has it's own ridges to be put on. This means that it isn't resting on the coffee pot itself but is suspended above it.

The pot is a typical pot. It's glass with a removeable plastic cover the is on a hinge.

Extra features that work for us. We can grab a cup of coffee as it brews. This is especially important as I'm trying to wake up and get ready for work. I need that little push that caffine gives me. Also, the clock on the machine reminds me how fast I have to get moving to get to work on time. The pot turns itself off after a couple of hours which is great when I'm running late and forget to turn it off.

For cleaning....the whole machine slides easily from it's holders. This way, you can clean the whole outside of the machine without trying to get between the cabinet and the top. The pot is dishwasher safe but the water container isn't.

Overall, a great buy. We have ours next to the sink so I don't even have to move to get water in the container. You can program it to make coffee while you are sleeping but as I'm technology challenged, I haven't even tried that!