Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-12 - User Manual

For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using.
Cuisinart
®
Coffee Center
™
Brew Basics
SS-12
INSTRUCTION BOOKLET

Summary

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

Safe Handling and Usage Precautions

Covers safe touching of surfaces, electrical safety, usage by children, unplugging, outdoor use, cord hanging, and placement.

Operational Safety Measures

Safety measures during operation, like filling water first, carafe handling, hot surfaces, and water reservoir limits.

Cleaning and Maintenance Safety

Warnings about cleaning agents, removing panels, airflow restrictions, filter types, and brew chamber safety.

WARNINGS AND NOTICES

Risk of Fire and Electric Shock

Alerts about uninsulated dangerous voltage and potential fire or shock risks.

Special Cord Set Instructions

Polarized Plug and Operating Cautions

Information on polarized plugs, preventing clogging, and cautions during brewing.

12-CUP COFFEEMAKER FEATURES AND BENEFITS

SINGLE-SERVE COFFEEMAKER FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Key Features Overview

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CONTROL PANEL

12-Cup Coffeemaker Controls

Explanation of the ON/OFF button, clock display, clean indicator, hour/minute buttons, carafe brew, and function knob.

Single-Serve Coffeemaker Controls

Details on the Pod Size and Pod Brew buttons for controlling single-serve brewing.

12-CUP COFFEEMAKER OPERATIONS

Initial Cleaning Process

PROGRAMMING YOUR 12-CUP COFFEEMAKER

Setting Auto-On and Auto-Off Times

BREWING COFFEE

Brewing Steps and Brew Pause

Detailed steps for brewing coffee, including filter placement, adding grounds, starting, and the Brew Pause feature.

12-CUP COFFEEMAKER CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

General Cleaning and Descaling

Instructions for cleaning parts, descaling with vinegar, and rinsing.

USING THE SINGLE-SERVE COFFEEMAKER

Brewing with Capsules or Reusable Cup

SINGLE-SERVE COFFEEMAKER CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

Cleaning External Parts and Accessories

Water Reservoir and Descaling

DESCALING THE SINGLE-SERVE BREWER

Vinegar and Water Rinse

Fresh Water Rinse

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

This document describes the Cuisinart® Coffee Center™ Brew Basics (model SS-12), a versatile coffee maker designed for both 12-cup carafe brewing and single-serve convenience. It aims to provide a comprehensive guide for safe operation, programming, brewing, and maintenance.

Function Description

The Cuisinart Coffee Center Brew Basics is a dual-purpose coffee maker that allows users to brew a full 12-cup carafe or a single-serve cup. The 12-cup coffeemaker side features a reservoir cover for easy filling, a water reservoir with a level indicator, and a showerhead that evenly distributes water over coffee grounds to minimize temperature loss. It uses either a #4 paper filter or a permanent gold-tone filter (note: using other gold-tone filters or combining paper and gold-tone filters may cause overflow). A heater plate keeps the brewed coffee warm, and a "Brew Pause™" feature allows for pouring a cup mid-brew, though this may weaken the final pot's flavor. The carafe itself is designed for easy pouring with a no-drip spout and an ergonomic handle. A "Ready Tone" signals the end of the brew cycle with five beeps. The unit also includes a "Power Loss Backup System" that retains programmed information for one minute in case of power interruption.

The single-serve coffeemaker side is designed for brewing individual cups using capsules or a reusable filter cup (sold separately). It features a brew handle, brew head, and a brewing chamber that holds either a removable capsule holder or a reusable filter cup. A removable drip tray and drip tray plate are included to catch spills and can be removed to accommodate travel mugs. The single-serve side also has an "Energy-Saving Mode" that dims the unit's lights after 30 minutes of idle time and can be reactivated by pressing any button.

Both sides of the coffeemaker utilize a charcoal water filter system to eliminate chlorine, bad tastes, and odors from tap water, ensuring a better coffee flavor. The filter holder firmly holds the filter in place within the water reservoir.

Usage Features

The control panel is central to operating both brewing functions. For the 12-cup coffeemaker, an ON/OFF button controls power. The clock display shows the time of day, as well as programmed AUTO ON and AUTO OFF times. Hour and Minute buttons are used for setting these times. A "Clean Indicator" illuminates when it's time to descale the coffeemaker due to calcium buildup. The "Carafe Brew" button starts the brew cycle and activates the AUTO ON feature when the function knob is set to PROG; it can also cancel brewing mid-cycle. The "Function Knob" has several settings:

• PROG: For programming the Auto On time, allowing the coffeemaker to start brewing up to 24 hours in advance.
• AUTO ON: To automatically start brewing at the programmed time.
• AUTO OFF: To program the coffeemaker to automatically shut off the Keep Warm mode up to 4 hours after brewing.
• CLEAN: To initiate the cleaning/descaling mode.
• CLOCK: To set the current time of day.

For the single-serve coffeemaker, "Pod Size" buttons allow users to select desired brew sizes (8, 10, or 12 oz.). The "Pod Brew" button initiates the single-serve brew cycle.

Initial cleaning is recommended for both sides before first use. For the 12-cup side, this involves filling the reservoir and running a brew cycle without coffee. For the single-serve side, it involves filling the reservoir, opening and closing the brew head without a capsule, placing a mug on the drip tray, and pressing "Pod Brew" to dispense hot water.

Brewing with the 12-cup coffeemaker involves inserting the charcoal water filter, filling the water reservoir, ensuring the carafe is in place, and adding ground coffee to the filter basket (up to 15 tablespoons maximum). The function knob must be set to PROG, CLOCK, or AUTO OFF to start instant brewing, or to AUTO ON to use the programmed start time.

Brewing a single-serve cup involves adding water to the 40-ounce reservoir, placing a mug on the drip tray, selecting a capsule (without removing the foil lid), placing it in the brewing chamber, closing the brew head, selecting the desired pod size, and pressing "Pod Brew." The unit will indicate when insufficient water is present with a water drop icon. The reusable HomeBarista™ Filter Cup (sold separately) can be used by filling it with ground coffee (max 2.5 scoops or 15 grams), removing the capsule holder, inserting the reusable cup, and following the standard single-serve brewing steps.

Maintenance Features

Regular cleaning and maintenance are crucial for the longevity and performance of the Cuisinart Coffee Center Brew Basics.

For the 12-cup coffeemaker:

• General Cleaning: The reservoir cover, filter basket, carafe, and carafe lid can be washed in warm, soapy water or in the upper rack of a dishwasher. The base unit should never be immersed in water but can be wiped with a damp cloth. The heater plate should be cleaned with a clean, damp cloth, avoiding abrasive materials.
• Charcoal Water Filter: The charcoal water filter should be soaked in cold tap water for 15 minutes before insertion. It is recommended to change the filter every 60 days or after 60 uses, or more frequently with hard water.
• Descaling: Calcium deposits can build up over time. The "Clean Indicator" light signals when descaling is needed (recommended every 3 to 6 months). Descaling involves filling the reservoir with a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar and 2/3 water, rotating the function knob to CLEAN, and pressing "Carafe Brew." After the cycle, if the CLEAN indicator remains on, the process should be repeated with a fresh solution. A final rinse cycle with fresh water is necessary. The cleaning/descaling process can be stopped by rotating the function knob to a different position. The CLEAN indicator can be turned off temporarily by holding the ON/OFF button for two seconds while the function knob is on CLEAN, but it will reactivate during subsequent brewing cycles until descaling is complete.

For the single-serve coffeemaker:

• External Parts: The housing and other external components can be cleaned with a soapy, damp, nonabrasive cloth. The drip tray and drip tray plate are dishwasher safe and should not be cleaned with harsh cleansers.
• Capsule Holder: The capsule holder is top-shelf dishwasher safe. It can be removed by lifting the handle and pulling it up.
• Funnel: The funnel, located within the capsule holder, is also top-rack dishwasher safe. It can be removed by twisting its bottom slightly and pulling it away from the capsule holder.
• Exit Needle: Located on the inside bottom of the capsule holder assembly, the exit needle can become clogged. It can be cleaned by removing the capsule holder and funnel, then inserting a paper clip or similar tool into the exit needle to loosen the clog.
• Piercing Needle: The piercing needle, located inside the brewing chamber, can also become clogged. It can be cleaned by inserting a paper clip or similar tool to loosen the clog. Users are cautioned about the sharp needles in the brewing chamber and advised not to put fingers inside. If the POD SIZE and POD BREW buttons flash, it indicates overheating, and cleaning the piercing needle is recommended.
• Water Reservoir: Discoloration or staining in the water reservoir is normal and depends on mineral content. It should be cleaned regularly with a damp, lint-free cloth to minimize buildup.
• Descaling: While the SS-12 is designed to limit calcium buildup on the single-serve side's internal heating element, descaling can be performed. This involves removing the charcoal water filter, filling the reservoir with 13 oz. of distilled white vinegar and 26 oz. of water, placing a 16 oz. ceramic mug on the drip tray, selecting 12 oz. pod size, and pressing "Pod Brew." This process is repeated until the "Add Water" light comes on. A fresh water rinse is then performed three times to remove any residual vinegar taste.

Any other servicing should be performed by an authorized service representative.

Cuisinart Coffee Center SS-12 Specifications