Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker

Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker Review

Coffee Makers

Product Grade
Report Card Grade
0 Reviews
Best Feature:
Budget-friendly and programmable
Worst Feature:
Low rating in taste test; heats coffee after brewing
Best Uses:
Inexpensive, programmable brewer
Pricing:
$49.99
Manufacturer:

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
$34.99
$34.99
$34.99
$41.99
$54.82

Overview

The Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker is appealing for a number of reasons including the price and the level of programmability. However, it did not perform well in our blind coffee taste test. Additionally, it features a glass carafe and warming plate system, which we found heated our brewed coffee 6°F over the course of an hour. "Cooking" the coffee like this can negatively impact its taste and flavor. However, if you are on a budget and want to wake up to freshly brewed coffee, this could be a great option for you.

The Kenmore Aroma Control is a great budget buy and offers the programmability of more expensive machines.
The Kenmore Aroma Control is a great budget buy and offers the programmability of more expensive machines.
Credit: Mary Griffin
You can compare the Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker to other coffee makers in the Coffee Maker Review.

Photos

The Kenmore Aroma Control is a great budget buy and offers the programmability of more expensive machines.
This model utilizes a wide spray head to ensure total saturation.
This Kenmore is programmable.
The Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker uses classic glass carafe and warming plate technology.
The Aroma Control features a brew-through lid.
All set and ready to go!
The highest brew temperature we recorded during the Kenmore's brewing cycle was 188°F.
Getting ready to taste!

 
This Product
Overall Winner
Overall Score
60%
94%
93%
Our Awards
Date Reviewed
July 2016
July 2016
July 2016
Pros
Inexpensive; includes pre-infusion step; programmable; built-in water filter
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; excellent warranty; brew-through lid and internal mixing tube
Coffee brewed at optimal time/temperature; SCAA certified; programmable; includes pre-infusion step; brew-through lid has internal mixing tube
Cons
Doesn't brew at optimal temperature; warming plate heated coffee above brewed temperature; water tank hard to fill; no brew stop
Very expensive; not programmable; no auto-off
Expensive
Brewing Quality (30%)
Taste Test Results (35%)
Construction and Design Quality (20%)
Ease of Setup/Cleanup (15%)
Bonus Points - Extra Features (+10)
Type
Automatic Drip
Automatic Drip
Drip and Pour Over Technology
Brewing Capacity
60 oz
40 oz
45 oz
Price (MSRP)
$49.95
$340
$199.99
Warranty
2-year Limited
5-year Limited
2-year Limited
Product Width
6.5"
12.8"
14.2"
Product Depth
9.3"
6.8"
6.7"
Product Height
13.5"
15.3"
15.2"
SCAA Certified
No
Yes
Yes
Tested Brew Temperature
188°F
198°F
198°F
Tested Brew Time Until Empty Water Tank
9 minutes and 25 seconds
5 minutes 30 seconds
7 minutes and 45 seconds
Carafe Temperature After Brewing
170°F
177°F
177°F
Carafe Temperature After 1 Hour
176°F
163°F
167°F
Filter Design
Can accommodate a reusable Gold Tone cone filter or a #4 disposable filter
Recommends using a #4 disposable, cone-shaped filter
Recommends using a #4 disposable, cone-shaped filter
Carafe Style
Glass
Thermal
Thermal
Programmable
Yes
No
Yes
Automatic Brew Strength Settings
No
No
No
Automatic Off
Yes
No
Yes
Brew Stop
No
Yes
Yes
Built-In Water Filter
Yes
No
No
Dishwasher Safe
No
No
No

Product Background

The Kenmore Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker is an automatic drip brewer with a 12-cup glass carafe. It has an easy-to-read LED screen where you can set the machine's clock or program it to begin brewing at a certain time. It also features a built-in water filtration system. In addition to being inexpensive, the Kenmore comes with a Gold Tone filter that helps to eliminate the expense and waste of paper filters. Also, this coffee maker steeps the grounds prior to decanting the coffee into the carafe to help ensure a robust flavor. The auto-off simply adds to this already convenient machine.

The Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker uses classic glass carafe and warming plate technology.
The Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker uses classic glass carafe and warming plate technology.
Credit: Mary Griffin

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review


Specifications

Performance Comparison

Brewing Quality

This Kenmore model employs traditional automatic drip brewing technology. The key feature of this machine is that it saturates, or steeps, the coffee grounds before decanting the coffee into the carafe. During our test, we measured the brewing temperature at 188°F mid-cycle, slightly below the recommended temperature parameters. The machine beeped to indicate a completed cycle at 9 minutes and 25 seconds. Immediately after brewing, the temperature in the glass carafe was 170°F, but it actually warmed up to 176°F after sitting on the warming plate for an hour.

The highest brew temperature we recorded during the Kenmore's brewing cycle was 188°F.
The highest brew temperature we recorded during the Kenmore's brewing cycle was 188°F.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Taste Test Results

We conducted a blind taste test with 31 coffee drinkers to rank samples of black coffee on overall taste, flavor, body, acidity, and color. The Kenmore Aroma Control came in 9th out of 10 machines overall, beating out only the Cuisinart 14-Cup. The highest score it received was in the acidity category, and it actually ranked higher than any other machine. Alternately, it struggled with color, flavor, and body. To learn more about how we tested the Kenmore against other coffee makers, please read our How We Test section.

Getting ready to taste!
Getting ready to taste!
Credit: Mary Griffin
Design Quality

We found that the Kenmore 12-Cup model was average in terms of construction material and overall quality. It is what we expected at this price point. The glass carafe does pour easily, and frankly we think you get what you pay for with this machine.

All set and ready to go!
All set and ready to go!
Credit: Mary Griffin
Ease of Set Up and Clean Up

The Kenmore 12-Cup is straightforward to use and clean. The reusable coffee filter is removable and washable, and the glass carafe can be easily cleaned by hand. The only thing we didn't like was the water tank. It has a very small opening and is hard to refill.

This model utilizes a wide spray head to ensure total saturation.
This model utilizes a wide spray head to ensure total saturation.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Bonus Features

The Kenmore includes an impressive number of functions for the price. It can be programmed to begin brewing at a specific time and will automatically turn off. It also features a built-in water filter and an easy-to-read water gauge on the side of the machine. Lastly, it will beep to indicate when the cycle is complete.

This Kenmore is programmable.
This Kenmore is programmable.
Credit: Mary Griffin
Best Uses

The Aroma Control Coffee Maker is ideal for a budget-conscious household looking for a programmable brewer.

Value

The Kenmore 12-Cup is available from $49.99 and includes a 2-year limited warranty. At this price point, and considering the warranty, we think the Kenmore is a decent value.

Conclusion

The Kenmore 12-Cup Programmable Aroma Control Coffee Maker is the most inexpensive machine that we tested. We liked that it was a programmable, budget-friendly option, but we definitely found some drawbacks. It performed poorly during our coffee taste test, and the warming plate actually "cooked" our coffee after it was brewed, heating it up 6° over an hour. If you can afford to spend a little more, we would probably recommend the Mr. Coffee Optimal Brew, winner of our Best Buy Award. For more information about our Award Winners and the other machines we tested, please visit our Coffee Maker Overview.

Alternatives

Mr. Coffee® Optimal Brew™ 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker BVMC-PSTX91

  • $100
  • Best Buy Award Winner
  • Programmable

Cuisinart®14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker DCC-3200

  • $100
  • Large Capacity
  • Programmable

BUNN Velocity Brew NHS

  • $130
  • On Demand Brewing
We suggest that you check out our Buying Advice for Coffee Makers to get an idea for what machine will best suit your needs.

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