Beautiful Coffee Maker Review: Is It Worth It?
Welcome to my Beautiful Coffee Maker review, Sam here. The Beautiful Coffee Maker is a 14-cup programmable drip brewer from Beautiful by Drew Barrymore. It has a touch-activated display and a 24-hour delay brew. The model number is 19017, and the price runs from $59 to $75. I know coffee gear like the Cuisinart DCC-3200 from years of running a shop.
The machine brews smooth drip coffee and keeps the pot warm for up to 4 hours. Real Homes measured the top of the machine at 189°F (87°C). Owners praise the look and the programming. Complaints center on a carafe that drips and cracks.
The Cuisinart DCC-3200 lasts longer but costs $99.95. I answer questions about touch controls, brew strengths and cleaning so you can choose. No sponsor paid. The review ends with a clear verdict on who should buy and who should skip.
What Is the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker is a 14-cup programmable drip coffee maker with a touch-activated display, sold as model 19017. The brand rates it at 14 cups in under 14 minutes with a 1200 W heater.
The machine is a standard automatic drip brewer. It heats water and pours it over ground coffee, and the coffee drips into a carafe. The cup count follows the 5 oz coffee cup, so 14 cups equals about 70 fl oz (2.1 L) of brewed coffee. The reservoir holds 71 fl oz (2.1 L), which is just enough to fill all 14 cups.
The body is plastic with a soft matte finish. The carafe is borosilicate glass with a gold steel handle. The machine weighs 4.87 lb (2.2 kg) and measures 10.78 x 12.95 x 17.44 in (27.4 x 32.9 x 44.3 cm).
The box holds a reusable gold tone filter basket, a charcoal water filter, a measuring scoop and a user manual. The gold tone basket can be washed and used again, so paper filters are not required.
Key Specs:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model number | 19017 |
| Capacity | 14 cups |
| Power | 1200 W |
| Weight | 4.87 lb (2.2 kg) |
| Size | 10.78 x 12.95 x 17.44 in (27.4 x 32.9 x 44.3 cm) |
| Warranty | 2 years |
The same brand also sells a 12-cup drip model. It also sells the Perfect Grind, a single serve machine with a built-in grinder.
Who Makes the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore makes the Beautiful Coffee Maker as part of a Walmart kitchen line. Barrymore launched the brand in 2021 with kitchen pro Shae Hong.
The line aims to bring color and style to everyday kitchen gear. Barrymore told Architectural Digest she wanted a refined, Scandinavian feel with few knobs or dials.
That wish for a clean look shaped the design. She liked a touch pad that disappears when idle. She also asked for softer edges and fewer metal parts.
Sensio Inc., which trades as Made by Gather, stands behind the appliance warranty. Walmart sells the line.
The matching line covers a slow cooker, kettle, blender, toaster, popcorn maker, mixer, air fryer and cookware.
What Colors Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Come In?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker comes in at least nine colors, from Black Sesame to White Icing. The other shades are Cornflower Blue, Lavender, Oyster Grey, Porcini Taupe, Rose, Starry Night Blue and Sage Green.
The 12-cup sibling also comes in Hydrangea. Every color carries the same gold carafe handle, and the gold looks muted rather than yellow.
Sage Green looks less saturated in person than in online photos. First Coffee Then preferred the softer shade.
White Icing makes the light touch buttons hard to read. Country Living found the controls hard to see in that color.
How Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Work?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker does work as a standard drip brewer, with a touch control panel on the front. Hot water from the reservoir drips over ground coffee in a reusable basket.
A new machine needs cleaning before its first brew. The manual says to wash every removable part. It then asks for two full pots of plain water to run through the machine. Real Homes spent about 20 minutes on this step.
Water goes in through the carafe, which doubles as the measuring tool. The reservoir has no cup markings on its outside, so the carafe is the only guide. It shows one line for water. A lower line shows how much brewed coffee to expect. This is because grounds and filter soak up to 10% of the water.
The water then passes a charcoal filter that sits in the reservoir. The display shows Filter when the pad needs a swap. Real Homes found the filter floats up after water goes in. It needed a push down before the lid would close.
The machine runs on 120 V AC through a 3-prong plug.
How Do the Beautiful Coffee Maker Touch Controls Work?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker touch controls use LED sensor buttons under a soft glow panel instead of dials. The buttons fade out when the machine sits idle.
A digital clock stays visible even when the buttons fade. The clock resets to midnight whenever the plug is pulled.
One shared Brew/Off button starts and stops the brew. The same button must be pressed again after each programming step. The Select button cycles through the strength choices and the 1-4 cup light.
The glow is faint, and that makes the panel harder to read. Homegrounds called the display hard to see. Real Homes and Country Living both re-read the manual before the first brew. First Coffee Then found the display intuitive and praised the detailed manual.
What Features Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Have?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker has features that include a 24-hour delay brew, an adjustable keep warm mode and pause and serve. A 1-4 cup setting and a clean cycle round out the list.
Delay brew starts a pot up to 24 hours ahead. Keep warm runs up to 4 hours and adjusts in 15-minute steps. The display counts up the minutes after the brew ends.
Auto shut-off is adjustable from 30 minutes to 4 hours. Pause and Serve stops the drip when the carafe leaves the base, so a cup can be poured before the pot finishes.
The 1-4 cup setting changes how the machine brews but does not measure the water. Six cups of water on that setting still brew six cups.
Key Features:
- 24-hour delay brew
- Keep warm up to 4 hours
- Adjustable auto shut-off
- Pause and Serve
- Three brew strengths
- 1-4 cup setting
- Clean cycle with reminder
The reusable gold tone filter is a stainless mesh with a thin gold layer. Paper filters also fit. The charcoal filter in the reservoir removes impurities that make water taste or smell off.
The spec sheet lists no app control, no adjustable brew temperature and no pre-infusion stage. The Specialty Coffee Association Certified Home Brewer mark does not appear on it either.
What Brew Strengths Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Offer?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker offers three brew strengths: Regular, Gourmet and Bold. The differences are subtle, but Homegrounds tasted a gap between each setting.
First Coffee Then suggests a stronger setting for light roasts and a weaker setting for dark roasts. Bold suits light roasts because the brew temperature runs low.
Gourmet became the Homegrounds favorite with fresh ground, good quality beans. That setting pulled more complexity out of the cup.
Brew Strengths:
| Setting | Best for | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | Dark roasts | Moderate bitterness, medium body at 1:17 |
| Gourmet | Fresh ground, good quality beans | More complexity |
| Bold | Light roasts | Smooth with slight acidity at 1:16 |
Beautiful does not publish what each strength setting changes inside the machine.
Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Make Good Coffee?
Yes. The Beautiful Coffee Maker makes good drip coffee that reads as smooth and balanced in side by side roast tests. Two outlets rated the flavor above the build quality.
First Coffee Then brewed Trader Joe's Organic Mexico Chiapas, a light roast, on Bold at a 1:16 ratio. The cup was smooth with a slight acidity and a hint of bitterness. The outlet called it restaurant quality.
La Colombe Corsica, a dark roast, brewed at 1:17 on Regular. The cup had moderate bitterness and a medium body. Oat milk softened most of the bitterness.
The brew temperature runs relatively low, so very light roasts extract poorly, says Homegrounds. Country Living found the Regular setting hot and strong. Real Homes measured the top of the machine at 189°F (87°C).
The Specialty Coffee Association asks certified home brewers to hold water between 195°F and 205°F (90°C and 96°C). Its Golden Cup ratio is 55 g of coffee per 1 L of water, roughly 1:18. The 1:16 and 1:17 test ratios run slightly stronger.
The gold tone filter gives a full body with a little sediment. A paper filter in the basket gives a cleaner cup.
How Fast Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Brew?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker brews fast, at 14 cups in under 14 minutes by the brand's rating. The 1200 W heater drives that pace on a full pot.
Small pots do not get the same speed. Country Living measured about 5 minutes for 3 cups, which is slower than expected. Small pots lose time to the heating stage.
The 1-4 cup setting runs slower on purpose. The longer pass keeps small batches from coming out watery or sour.
Specialty Coffee Association certified brewers finish in about 4 to 8 minutes, depending on batch size. The 3 cup test sits inside that window, so the slower small-batch time is still normal for a certified brewer.
Pause and Serve helps on busy mornings. The drip stops when the carafe leaves the base, and it restarts when the carafe returns.
How Do You Clean the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
You clean the Beautiful Coffee Maker after every use by washing the basket and carafe and drying the parts. The manual asks for this after each pot.
Let the machine cool first. Then discard the grounds, wash the filter basket and glass carafe in hot soapy water, and dry both before the next brew.
Real Homes and First Coffee Then put the carafe and basket on the top rack of a dishwasher. The scoop goes in the cutlery basket. Homegrounds prefers hand washing the carafe.
A damp microfiber cloth wipes the outside. A nylon pad and a non-abrasive cleanser handle stubborn marks. The warming plate is nonstick and stain resistant.
The manual asks owners to let the unit cool before parts go on or come off. It bans steel wool, abrasive cleanser and other scratchy materials.
How Do You Descale the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
You descale the Beautiful Coffee Maker by running the Clean cycle with a mix of white vinegar and water. The display flashes Clean after 300 brews.
Remove the charcoal filter first and leave the reusable basket in place. No descaling solution is needed. Many coffee makers cannot take vinegar, but this one can.
The cycle runs 45 to 60 minutes. Two or three carafes of plain water then rinse out the vinegar, which brings the total to 80 to 95 minutes.
Homegrounds warns never to microwave the unit or run hot water through the reservoir. Heat from the wrong source damages the machine over time.
What Do Beautiful Coffee Maker Reviews Say?
Beautiful Coffee Maker reviews land at 4.2 out of 5 on the Walmart page for the 14-cup model. The score rests on 13.5K ratings.
Most of those ratings are strong. Five stars make up 70% of them, and one star makes up 10%. The 12-cup model scores 4.3 from 5,382 ratings, with 72% five stars and 8% one star.
Expert testers score lower. Real Homes gave the 14-cup model 3.5 out of 5, and Homegrounds gave it 3.9 out of 5. First Coffee Then and The Kitchn both recommend it.
Review Scores:
| Source | Model | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | 14-cup | 4.2 out of 5 |
| Walmart | 12-cup | 4.3 out of 5 |
| Real Homes | 14-cup | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Homegrounds | 14-cup | 3.9 out of 5 |
Praise centers on looks, programming and price. Complaints center on the carafe and on long term reliability.
What Do Owners Like About the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
Owners like the Beautiful Coffee Maker for its retro look, simple programming and low price. The matte finish and color range fit a matching kitchen line.
Programming a morning brew takes a few taps. Keep warm lasts up to 4 hours, which is longer than the 2 hours typical on drip makers, says The Kitchn.
At $59 the price includes a reusable filter, a charcoal filter and a scoop. Clean-up is easy because the removable parts go on the top dishwasher rack.
Owner Pros:
- Retro look in nine colors
- Simple 24-hour programming
- Keep warm up to 4 hours
- Reusable filter included
- Dishwasher safe parts
What Problems Do Owners Report With the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
Owners report problems with the Beautiful Coffee Maker, mainly a carafe that drips and spills when pouring. Some carafes also leak at the join of the glass and the plastic rim.
First Coffee Then notes that handle leaks were fixed in spring 2023. The glass carafe can still crack with light handling.
The brewing itself has faults too. Some units stop partway through a brew and restart after several minutes. The shared Brew/Off button also slows first time users, since one button both starts and stops the machine.
Owner Cons:
- Dripping carafe: The carafe drips and spills when pouring.
- Fragile glass: The glass carafe cracks with light handling.
- Mid-brew stops: Some units stop partway through a brew.
- Confusing button: The shared Brew/Off button confuses first time users.
- No replacement carafe: There is no official replacement carafe.
How Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Compare With Rivals?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker compares with rivals as a budget drip machine that wins on looks and price, not build. Real Homes rates its own picks at 4.5 out of 5.
Those picks show what the Beautiful is up against. They are the OXO 8-Cup Grind and Brew, the Technivorm Moccamaster and the Cuisinart Grind and Brew 12-Cup. The Moccamaster brews up to 12 cups with paper filters.
The Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select carries the Specialty Coffee Association Certified Home Brewer mark. That mark shows a machine met the group's brewing standards. The Beautiful does not list it.
The Perfect Grind sibling is a single serve machine with a built-in burr grinder. A burr grinder crushes beans between two rough surfaces. It is 5 inches (13 cm) wide and holds 64 oz (1.9 L) of water. Sizes run from 6 to 16 oz (180 to 475 ml), and it sells around $79.
For tight counters, Homegrounds points to the Keurig K-Mini Plus. The Haden Dorchester is just over 6 inches (15 cm) deep. Black+Decker and the Mr. Coffee 12-Cup cost less.
Is the Beautiful Coffee Maker Better Than the Cuisinart DCC-3200?
No. The Beautiful Coffee Maker is not better than the Cuisinart DCC-3200 on build, but it costs less and looks better.
The Cuisinart costs $99.95 against $75 for the Beautiful on Amazon. The higher price comes with a 3 year warranty, against 2 years for the Beautiful.
The Cuisinart weighs 8.7 lb (3.9 kg), while the Beautiful weighs 4.9 lb (2.2 kg). Coffeeness calls the Cuisinart a true workhorse that feels solid and well built.
Both machines hold 14 cups, use a glass carafe and a charcoal filter, and offer brew strength options. Power is 1200 W for the Beautiful and 1100 W for the Cuisinart.
Beautiful vs Cuisinart:
| Spec | Beautiful | Cuisinart DCC-3200 |
|---|---|---|
| Price on Amazon | $75 | $99.95 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years |
| Weight | 4.9 lb (2.2 kg) | 8.7 lb (3.9 kg) |
| Power | 1200 W | 1100 W |
| Controls | Touch panel | LCD with buttons |
How Much Does the Beautiful Coffee Maker Cost?
The Beautiful Coffee Maker costs between $59 and $75, depending on the seller. Real Homes and First Coffee Then list $59 at Walmart.
Country Living and The Kitchn show $69 for the same machine. Coffeeness shows $75 on Amazon. A buyer who compares sellers can save up to $16.
The machine price is not the only cost. Charcoal filters cost $0.65 to $1.00 each in packs of 12 or 24. Each filter lasts about 60 days. The reusable basket removes the cost of paper filters.
Sensio Inc. covers the machine for 2 years against mechanical defects in materials and workmanship. Non-mechanical parts carry 90 days. Only the original retail buyer is covered, and the original sales receipt is required.
Normal wear, misuse, wrong voltage and poor maintenance fall outside the warranty. Claims start with a call to 1-877-775-3564. Sensio supplies no replacement parts, so a broken carafe has no official replacement.
Where Can You Buy the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
You can buy the Beautiful Coffee Maker at Walmart, the main seller of the Beautiful line. Real Homes reports that the line began as a Walmart exclusive.
Coffeeness reports that Amazon now sells it too. Third party Amazon sellers charge more, and First Coffee Then advises against buying there.
Used units also appear on eBay.
Is the Beautiful Coffee Maker Worth It?
Yes. The Beautiful Coffee Maker is worth it at $59 to $69 for buyers who value looks and programming.
The machine brews good drip coffee and holds 14 cups. It also has a 24-hour delay brew, so the pot can start before the buyer wakes up. A reusable filter means no paper filters to buy. The price stays low for a machine with that feature list.
The body is plastic, and the top gets hot. The carafe drips and can crack. These flaws keep the machine from lasting as a long term workhorse.
Buyers who want a longer working life need a different machine. The Cuisinart DCC-3200 costs $99.95 and suits buyers who want a longer working life and a longer warranty.
Who Should Skip the Beautiful Coffee Maker?
Four kinds of buyers should skip the Beautiful Coffee Maker: small kitchen owners, thermal carafe fans, heavy daily users and single cup drinkers.
The machine is bulky. The lid stands 22 inches (56 cm) tall when open, and the body is about 17 inches (43 cm) long. The open lid cannot clear low hanging cabinets.
The glass carafe sits on a warming plate. Coffeeness prefers a thermal carafe, which keeps coffee hot without a plate but costs more than this machine.
The plastic body and the cracking carafe wear on heavy daily users. Single cup drinkers do better with the Perfect Grind or the Keurig K-Mini Plus.
Skip If You Are:
- Short on counter space
- A thermal carafe fan
- A heavy daily user
- A single cup drinker
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