Cuisinart SS-10 Review: A Keurig Alternative?
It’s rare to find a coffee maker these days with a multi-purpose design that can brew coffee in more ways than one. Typically, you have to settle for one type of coffee maker while missing out on the brewing capabilities. But that’s not the case with the coffee maker we’re featuring today. Here’s our Cuisinart SS-10 Review.
The Cuisinart single-serve coffee maker combines the functionality of a Keurig machine with the ability to brew ground coffee. It allows you to brew K-Cup pods while also enabling freshly ground coffee brewing, giving you the best of both worlds.
We will explore the features, pros, cons, and user ratings of the Cuisinart SS-10 single-serve brewer. This should give you insight into the multi-purpose potential made possible by this new form of coffee brewing excellence.
Things to Know About the Cuisinart SS-10
What’s in the Box
- Cuisinart SS-10 P1 Premium Single-Serve Coffee Maker, Silver
- Removable 72 oz Water Reservoir
- 4-12 oz Brew Sizes
- Adjustable Temperature Control
- Programmable Brewing and Auto On/Off Feature
Specs
- Product Dimensions: 11.03 x 9.33 x 12.13-inches
- Item Weight: 9.9 lbs
- Material: Plastic
- Water Reservoir: 72 oz
- Color: Silver
- Cord Length: 32-inches
Features of the Cuisinart SS-10 review
Design
Cuisinart makes its SS-10 coffee machine with a compact design and professional appearance. Its silver aesthetic makes it suitable for an office environment and the home. In addition, it has an appearance that can suit any interior home design and decor. It is also built to be portable and storage-friendly with its lightweight nature of just 9.9 pounds.
Taste (strength of coffee)
The taste of the coffee is one of the best features of the Cuisinart coffee maker. You have far more options of flavors of coffee you can brew up than with other machines. In addition, it’s fully compatible with K-Cups and coffee grounds, so you have a wide selection of coffee tastes available to you.
You can do everything from convenient K-Cup pod brewing to delicious freshly ground coffee brewing. The machine is also built in a way that eliminates any plastic taste. Instead, the coffee makes its way through stainless steel parts in its structure.
On the downside, the Cuisinart SS-10 does not have adjustable brew strength. So this aspect of your coffee experience will be largely dependent on your choice of K-Cup or coffee beans you decide to brew.
While this may be a deal-breaker for some, the choice between pod brewing or ground coffee brewing should provide ample options for finding the right strength for yourself. For those longing for a more robust coffee, we recommend selecting more intense or bolder blends of coffee.
Water Dispenser and Tray
In addition to brewing delicious ground coffee and K-Cups, you also have the option of brewing your favorite instant coffee using the hot water button available. This button gives even more possibilities for hot beverages beyond just hot coffee.
Prepare nice hot cocoa, tea, instant soups, or oatmeal with this bonus functionality that brings your machine to life and makes it the star of the show every morning for breakfast.
The Cuisinart SS-10 coffee maker is built with a removable drip tray that captures residual coffee, hot water, or other liquid that happens to spill. One of the great things about this drip tray is being able to remove it to make cleaning easier.
With the option of washing via dishwasher or simply handwashing under a sink, cleaning out your tray is convenient and effortless. This aspect of the drip tray also means you can accommodate travel mugs that are taller in size. This makes it easy to brew yourself a cup of coffee on the go.
Ease of Use
When it comes to the product’s use, this Cuisinart model is fairly straightforward in its functionality. The control panel features an LCD screen that makes navigating your brew size and temperature simple. It also allows you to toggle your auto-on and off preferences. In addition, you can set the time using the digital clock provided as a bonus.
In terms of brewing your coffee, the process is easy to learn and effortless to execute. Simply fill up the water reservoir to your desired level and ensure it is correctly attached to the machine and the lid closed.
For ground coffee brewing, fill up the coffee basket located in the brew chamber with your ground coffee and select your brew size and temperature using the digital controls.
To brew a K-Cup pod, insert your choice of a single cup pod or reusable pod as preferred into the K-Cup compartment. Then, as with the ground coffee route, select your brew size and temperature preferences using the digital display and watch your delicious coffee brew to perfection.
Brewing Features
You can’t adjust your brew strength with the SS-10 single-serve machine, but you can use its many programmable features. For example, you can change your cup size and temperature and more with the LCD control panel.
Additionally, with the options of brewing K-Cups or grounded coffee, you are given a more comprehensive selection of blends and intensities to formulate your perfect coffee flavor.
Cup Sizes
The SS-10 single-serve coffee maker caters to all types of coffee lovers with its huge range of brew sizes available. Choose anywhere between a 4-ounce shot of espresso to a 12-ounce pot of coffee for you and your family and friends. Also, cater for a tall travel mug by removing the drip tray and selecting your preferred brew size.
Other Features
Another prominent feature of the SS-10 coffee maker is the rinse function which allows you to clean the interior of the brew chamber in between cycles. In addition, the size of the water tank is perfect for reducing the amount of maintenance required in-between brews.
This eliminates the need to refill water after every cycle. In addition, this allows you to brew many cups or even a pot of coffee without tending to maintenance.
Also, this machine features a 72-ounce water reservoir with a charcoal water filter. As a result, it provides clean, purified filtered water that optimizes the taste of your coffee and related hot beverages.
A reusable filter cup also allows you to save your wallet and yourself the hassle of constantly purchasing a replacement paper filter after a few uses. This also makes the machine a touch more environmentally friendly than most other single-serve coffee makers.
Benefits of the Cuisinart SS-10
Using the Cuisinart SS-10 coffee machine provides many benefits for you to reap. First, the value it holds in raising your brewing standards can prove to give you plenty of money’s worth. Not many single-serve brewers out there can give you the capacity to brew K-Cup pods and ground coffee beans.
Of course, there is even more to this machine than brewing any coffee blend you desire. Built to be as simple to use as possible, morning commuters will find much joy in brewing up their travel mugs using the intuitive controls and removable drip tray to cater for their portable cups on the way to work.
One of the best features of the Cuisinart SS-10 coffee maker is the large water reservoir that includes an in-built charcoal filter for better-tasting coffee. There is also a reusable filter for your coffee grounds, eliminating the need to constantly purchase paper filters that waste time, money, and energy. These do more harm than good for the environment.
Additionally, the Cuisinart single-serve machine comes with a rinse feature that descales your machine by rinsing out the interior after every brew cycle at the push of a button.
Lastly, the design and construction of the Cuisinart machine provide a hybrid build of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic that provides toxic-free brewing. This means you can brew delicious coffee free of harmful chemicals while also enjoying the machine’s architecture’s durability, strength, and long-lasting properties.
Cuisinart also provides a 3-year limited warranty for any factory or material defects experienced with your product. This gives it even greater longevity through quality customer support and product replacement policies.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Cleaning
One of the best things about the Cuisinart SS-10 coffee maker is the ease of use when it comes to brewing and the ease of cleaning and maintaining the machine for the long run. Follow these simple steps to clean the exterior of your machine (not to be taken as a detailed guide):
- Remove the water reservoir, drip tray, and filter from the machine.
- Clean using a dishwasher or a damp cloth as preferred.
- Use a paper clip or equivalent tool to run penetrate the coffee filter hole and ensure there is no clogging going on.
- Reattach all components and use a damp cloth to wipe down the machine’s exterior, including the digital display control panel, brew head, and all around the sides and back of the machine. If desired, you may opt to apply soap or detergent of your choice.
- Leave to dry for a few minutes before commencing your next brew.
Descaling
As mentioned, the rinse function of the Cuisinart SS-10 eliminates the need to descale your coffee machine regularly, and you’ll find the alert to descale your machine will rarely pop up on the digital display. Regardless, it is essential to know how to descale your Cuisinart single-serve machine for when the time comes. Below is a step-by-step guide to descaling your machine (not to be taken as a detailed guide):
- Fill the water reservoir with 40 ounces of water and top up with 20 ounces of white vinegar.
- Remove the
- Place a container under the brew head and water dispenser.
- Press the rinse button and hot water button at the same time to activate the descaling process.
- Wait for about 2 minutes as the machine brews the water and hot vinegar and comes out into the container.
- Repeat step 4 over and over until the “add water” notification shows up, signaling that the machine is now rinsed out and empty. This process will take about 15 minutes.
- Finally, refill the reservoir with regular water free of vinegar and repeat the process as laid out in steps 4-6. This process will take an additional 15 minutes.
- That’s it! In about 30 minutes, your machine will be descaled entirely and ready for the next brew.
Pros and Cons of Cuisinart SS-10
Pros
- The compact and professional design makes it suitable for use among your household kitchen appliances as well as in an office or workplace environment.
- The hot water button enables the preparation of instant coffee, hot chocolate, soups, instant noodles, and more.
- The auto-off feature means your machine will turn off after 30 minutes of inactivity, saving you on power and doing a solid for the environment while you’re at it.
- The rinse feature eliminates the frequency of descaling requirements.
- Compatible with K-Cup brewing as well as freshly ground coffee brewing.
- Removable components are dishwasher safe and easy to clean under the sink as preferred.
- Cuisinart provides a 3-year limited warranty for any factory or material defects experienced with the product.
Cons
- No brew-strength control feature.
- No milk frother or bean grinder included.
Who is Cuisinart SS-10 made for?
Cuisinart SS-10 coffee makers are made for coffee drinkers who like a fresh cup of ground coffee, a K-Cup coffee, or both! Built with the functionality of Keurig machines and the ability to brew pre-ground coffee beans, the SS-10 gives you the best of both worlds. Thus, this product would suit anyone who likes either of these forms of brewing.
The SS-10 is designed to be simple to use and easy to clean. If you are a busy person or don’t have the time or the energy to tend to the needs of your machine constantly, then the SS-10 might be a life-saver. This is because of functions such as the rinse feature, auto-off function, and charcoal water filter. All of which reduces the time spent on maintenance by enabling the machine to tend to itself most of the time.
Who should not buy the Cuisinart SS-10?
You may opt-out of purchasing the Cuisinart SS-10 if you prefer to have more control over your brew strength, as many other single-serve coffee makers provide this feature. However, you also should not buy this product if you are after a milk frother bundle or a bean hopper/grinder to accompany the brewer.
Cuisinart Ss-10 Vs Keurig Elite
The Keurig K-Elite Coffee Maker is available at a somewhat higher price range than the Cuisinart SS-10. The first thing you may think to yourself is, “why would I go for a Keurig machine when the SS-10 is compatible with K-Cups anyway?” The answer may well lie in strengthening specific features that are considered weaknesses of the SS-10.
For example, the Keurig K-Elite provides a strong brew button which is absent in the SS-10. Additionally, it comes with an iced coffee setting specially designed to enhance the brewing of cold beverages for a better quality iced drink.
Many of the features remain the same for functionality, and both machines work well as a K-Cup coffee maker. To name a few, both the K-Elite and the SS-10 are built with an on-demand hot water dispenser, an auto-off feature, and a large water reservoir that holds more than 70 ounces of water.
Thus, I would recommend the K Elite if you want more options with K-Cup pod brews, such as higher brew strength and iced coffee settings. However, I would go for the Cuisinart SS-10 for additional coffee options such as brewing pre-ground beans for a more fresh and rich coffee experience. Read our full K-Elite review here.
Cuisinart SS-10 FAQ
Is Cuisinart and Keurig the same company?
No, while they are both American brands, Cuisinart manufactures home appliances, including coffee machines, while Keurig strictly manufactures coffee machines and other brew systems and appliances. Interesting to note, however, is that Cuisinart is a licensed partner of Keurig, and that’s why machines such as the Cuisinart SS-10 can also feature K-Cup compatibility.
Can you use Keurig pods in a Cuisinart?
Yes, you can use Keurig pods or “K-Cups” in a Cuisinart machine depending on the mode. For example, the Cuisinart SS-10 coffee maker is compatible with both pre-ground bean brewing as well as K-Cup brewing.
Why does my Cuisinart K-cup coffee maker drip so slowly?
The most common cause of slow dripping for your Cuisinart K-Cup coffee maker is a clogged water line in your coffee filter basket. The best solution is to use a paper clip or equivalent and unclog the hole in which the coffee passes through. It is also important that you regularly clean your machine and descale when necessary to minimize such incidents from occurring.
Should you buy the Cuisinart SS-10?
The Cuisinart SS-10 coffee maker is the perfect choice of a brewer that will appeal to individuals and, even better, families and friends. Everyone has their coffee preferences. Some like it fresh, others want convenience, and few couldn’t care less.
That’s why the Cuisinart SS-10 is the best option to cater for all of these people, from the coffee experts to the coffee amateurs (and yes, even those who don’t give a damn), because you essentially get two machines in one.
Yes, the Cuisinart SS-10 really is like a Keurig coffee maker combined with a cafe-quality drip coffee maker. Both these features are cleverly woven together into a compact, professional-looking machine. It suits any interior design, be that your workplace, office, or your home!
Of course, some may need more reassurance, so how does the approval of over 10,000 global customers sound? Real users from across the world have come together to praise this product in unison, and it has thus received a 4.4-star rating on Amazon reviews as a machine that delivers awesome results.
Final Thoughts on Cuisinart SS-10 Review
The people have put in their votes, giving the Cuisinart SS-10 notable regards for its ease of cleaning, using, and maintaining and the amazing coffee flavor that this machine provides. So, what are you waiting for? Take a trip down to Amazon’s review page for this incredibly well-priced product that’s got people talking, and purchase one for yourself!