Black & Decker ODC150 12-Cups Coffee Maker

I really like our Black & Decker Spacemaker coffeemaker. We bought this coffeemaker (I should say my husband bought this without me along, and he did a good job!) after we got our motorhome. We had been talking about getting one and hadn't really decided on which brand to get. Motorhomes do not have lots of counter space in them and we knew we needed something that didn't take up a lot of space or fit mounted under the cabinets. If we had decided to buy one that was to sit on the counter then we would be sticking it in the cabinet when not in use or leaving it out and having less room for food preparation.

My husband was in Wal-Mart one day soon after the purchase of the motorhome and went looking to see what they had in the way of coffeemakers. He decides that the Black & Decker Spacemaker was the one he wanted and had all the features we wanted in a coffeemaker. He purchased it, brought it home and installed it under the cabinet right above the dining table. He says it was very easy to install following the directions that comes with the coffeemaker. It is in the perfect spot so that we have fresh coffee at our fingertips when we are eating or when we are playing cards or games at the table.

The Black & Decker Spacemaker has the capacity to brew up to 12 cups of coffee. The feature we really like is that the reservoir is so that you can pull it out, fill with desired amount of water and slip it back into the coffeemaker without having to pour the water into anything, such as you have when you have to fill the carafe with water and then poured into the maker. This makes, for us anyway, a lot nicer way of making the coffee since you are not transferring the water, therefore no messes with spilled water. The reservoir fits in a nice cavity made for that purpose just above the controls. We also like the fact that the reservoir and controls are hidden behind a door and this door also gives a nice clean look to the coffeemaker. This door has at the bottom a window thru which you see the digital display, auto on indicator light, and the on light. The control switch and the time/program buttons are located behind the door just below the view window.

Another feature that we like about the Black & Decker Spacemaker is the Sneak-a-cup interrupt feature with automatic drip stop. To use this feature you just, after a couple of cups of coffee has been brewed, pull out the carafe and pour a cup of coffee. When you remove the carafe the automatic drip stop activates and the brewing is interrupted while you have the carafe from under the drip basket. Replace the carafe and the coffeemaker continues brewing.

My very favorite feature of the Black & Decker Spacemaker is the fact that it can be preset the night before to start brewing coffee whenever you desire the following morning, so that you have a nice aroma of coffee in the house/motorhome and a hot cup of coffee waiting for you.

The brew basket is located just above the carafe and is very easy to remove and replace once you have your filter and coffee grounds in it. It pulls completely out and is easy to clean.

The cord on this coffee maker is shorter than on countertop models. There is at the back of the coffeemaker, a storage box in which to coil the excess cord once you have it mounted under the cabinet. The maker of this coffeemaker says that a shorter cord also reduces the safety hazards that may occur with a longer cord. If you need more cord than what comes with the coffeemaker, an extension with a polarized plug may be used.

To clean the coffeemaker you can put the filter basket, carafe and carafe lid on the top rack of your dishwasher or hand wash it with a mild soap and water. Never use harsh abrasives on your coffeemaker. The reservoir, reservoir lid and the hot plate can be cleaned with a soft damp cloth. Never immerse the coffeemaker. The door that hides the reservoir can be removed for cleaning by simply opening and positioning at a 90 degree angle, and pull straight up. To replace, you align the spindles on the door with the hinges on the unit and slip the door into the hinges and close.

About 18 years ago we purchased a Black & Decker under counter mount coffeemaker but found that the steam from the coffeemaker caused the finish on our kitchen cabinets to peel. This is not so with this coffeemaker. Either they have greatly improved the coffeemaker or we got a bad coffeemaker the first time. My husband, when purchasing this coffeemaker, said he was kind of leary about it but since it had all the features he knew we would like, he decided to give it another try and I am certainly glad he did.

The Black & Decker Spacemaker seems to stay on longer before automatically shutting off, thus keeping the coffee hot for a longer period of time than most coffee pots I am familiar with. I like this feature since a lot of time I am the only one who wants the coffee so it of course, takes me a little longer to use it all up than it would if both of us were drinking it.

The Black & Decker Spacemaker has a full one year warranty against any defects that are due to faulty material or workmanship. This goes into effect with the original date of purchase or receipt as a gift. You pay to ship it to any Black & Decker Company-Owned or Authorized-Household Appliance Service Center. They suggest that if you must ship it that you use the original packaging with enough packing materials to prevent damage. Include a note describing the problem and be sure and include your return address. They suggest that you insure the package for your protection. They pay to ship it back to you. Any questions regarding warranty or service locations can be directed to Consumer Assistance and Information 1-800-231-9786