Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker Review: Is It Worth It?
Welcome, friend, I'm Sam. Other shop owners want my view on the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker. Model 416.05 brews up to 12 cups (60 oz, or 1.8 L) into a glass carafe. It sells for about $51.
The multi-nozzle spray head wets the grounds evenly, and a full pot brews in under 10 minutes. Wayfair owners rate it 4.4 out of 5 stars across 82 reviews. The hot plate holds coffee for only 2 hours. The sibling SG220 missed a lab temperature guideline.
I compare the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker and the Capresso Touchscreen on programming. No sponsor is involved. The Touchscreen adds strength levels and an iced mode for about $40 to $50 more. This review also covers brew quality, cleaning and who should skip the Capresso 12-Cup.
What Is the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker is an automatic drip brewer that makes up to 12 cups (60 oz, or 1.8 L) in a glass carafe. Capresso builds it in stainless steel with black accents. A one-year limited warranty covers the machine.
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 12 cups (60 oz)
- Carafe: glass with brew-through lid
- Filter: permanent GoldTone
- Warranty: one-year limited
The box holds a glass carafe with an ergonomic handle, a brew-through lid and a drip-free pouring spout. A permanent GoldTone filter replaces paper filters. A coated non-stick warming plate sits under the carafe.
Capresso is a coffee brand launched in 1994 and owned by Jura of Switzerland. The brand also sells espresso machines, grinders, electric kettles and frothers.
Homegrounds names the 416.05 its Bargain Pick among eight Capresso brewers. The pick suits buyers who want a reliable programmable 12-cup machine on a budget.
The Zoro spec sheet gives the electrical details. The brewer runs on 120 V at 60 Hz and draws 900 W. It carries a UL listing, weighs 4 lb (1.8 kg) and uses a two-prong plug.
Which Model Number Is the Capresso 12-Cup?
The Capresso 12-Cup carries the model number 416.05. Capresso, Walmart and Zoro all list it under that number. Wayfair sells the same feature list as model 414.01.
A close sibling exists, and its name is easy to confuse with the first. The Capresso SG220, also sold as 427.05, is the Compact 12-Cup. Zola lists it at 13 x 7 x 9 in (33 x 18 x 23 cm) with an almost identical feature list.
Because the two look so alike on paper, size is the clearest way to tell them apart. Homegrounds treats them as separate machines. It lists the 416.05 at 10.5 x 7.5 x 14 in (27 x 19 x 36 cm) and the 427.05 at 8.75 x 12.25 x 6.75 in (22 x 31 x 17 cm).
This split matters when reading test results. Consumer Reports tests the SG220, not the 416.05. Any lab result in this review that comes from Consumer Reports belongs to the sibling and is labeled that way.
How Does the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker Brew?
The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker makes a brew by spraying hot water through multiple nozzles over the grounds. The spread wets every part of the coffee bed. A single stream would leave dry spots.
Brew Features:
- Multi-nozzle spray head
- 24-hour clock timer
- Adjustable strength setting
- Drip stop
- 2-hour auto shut-off
A 24-hour clock timer, a backlit display and illuminated controls handle the settings. An adjustable strength setting, a drip stop and a 2-hour auto shut-off complete the feature list.
The permanent GoldTone filter is a metal mesh. Homegrounds describes a #4 cone shape for the Capresso filter. Metal mesh lets coffee oils through, which gives a richer mouthfeel than paper.
An external water level indicator shows 4 to 12-cup markings. Capresso counts a cup as 5 oz (150 mL), so the full 12 cups equal 60 oz.
How Do You Program the Capresso 12-Cup?
The Capresso 12-Cup programs through a 24-hour clock timer. The owner sets the time of day, then sets the hour the brew should start. The machine can also brew right away.
The backlit LCD and the illuminated controls make the buttons easy to read. Wayfair owners find the machine easy to use and easy to program.
Safety is automatic. The warming plate and the machine shut off 2 hours after brewing ends.
Does the Capresso 12-Cup Strength Setting Work?
Yes. The Capresso 12-Cup strength setting does work, as one optional setting that extends the brew time for added aroma. Slower water flow gives the grounds longer contact. The change is modest.
Small batches are a separate question, and the sources disagree. Homegrounds says a quick brew mode makes 3 to 5 cups. The Consumer Reports listing for the SG220 sibling shows no small-batch setting.
The Capresso Touchscreen handles strength differently. It offers three strength levels. The 12-Cup has one on-off option.
How Well Does the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker Brew Coffee?
The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker can brew coffee well and fast for a budget machine, with one temperature caveat. Wayfair owners rate the machine 4.4 out of 5 stars across 82 reviews. Owners say it brews hot and fast.
The multi-nozzle spray wets the grounds evenly, which helps extraction. Homegrounds credits this pour-over style design for a more flavorful brew than a single-stream machine.
The temperature caveat comes from the lab. Consumer Reports found the SG220 sibling fell short of the 195°F (90°C) guideline held for five or six minutes. The 416.05 has no lab result of its own.
The glass carafe affects the pour after brewing. It has a brew-through lid and a drip-free spout. Pouring stays tidy.
A full 60 oz (1.8 L) pot needs about 100 g of coffee at the Specialty Coffee Association ratio of 55 g per liter. A medium grind suits the #4 cone-shaped GoldTone filter.
Is the Capresso 12-Cup Fast?
Yes. The Capresso 12-Cup is fast, and it brews a full glass carafe in under 10 minutes, as Homegrounds reports. Wayfair owners also describe the machine as fast.
The Capresso 485.05 MT600 Plus brews 10 cups in about 8 minutes. The 12-Cup moves a bigger pot in a similar span.
The strength setting adds time. Brewing on the standard setting keeps the cycle shortest.
Does the Capresso 12-Cup Brew Hot Enough?
Yes. The Capresso 12-Cup can brew hot enough by owner report, yet the sibling SG220 missed a lab temperature guideline. Consumer Reports wants 195°F (90°C) or more held for five or six minutes.
The Specialty Coffee Association sets the brewing range at 195-205°F (90-96°C). Water below the low end pulls less flavor from the grounds. The coffee can then taste sour.
Wayfair owners say the coffee comes out hot. That is a good sign, but it is not a measurement. The SG220 missed a lab temperature guideline, and the 416.05 itself has no published thermometer test.
A buyer who wants proof can run a water-only cycle. Measuring the water in the carafe with a thermometer shows whether the machine reaches the 195-205°F range.
What Do Owners Say About the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
Owners say the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker earns 4.4 out of 5 stars across 82 Wayfair reviews. The listing there carries model number 414.01. Praise centers on easy use, fast brewing and low price.
Capresso sells 12-cup glass models at the budget end of its range. Thermal and grinder-brewer models cost more.
The sample is small. The sibling Compact 12-Cup holds 3.5 out of 5 stars from just 2 Zola reviews. Two ratings prove nothing.
What Do Owners Like About the Capresso 12-Cup?
Owners like the Capresso 12-Cup for easy programming, quick brewing and a low price. Wayfair owners call it a great buy for the money.
The low price does not come with a flimsy body. The housing is mostly stainless steel. Homegrounds says steel is more durable and easier to clean than the plastic found on cheap brewers.
Two small touches make daily use easier as well. The timer is backlit. The water level indicator sits on the outside.
What Are the Capresso 12-Cup's Weak Points?
The Capresso 12-Cup's weak points are a 2-hour hot plate and no thermal carafe. Homegrounds lists the short warm window as its one con.
Weak Points:
- Hot plate holds coffee for only 2 hours
- No thermal carafe
- Sibling SG220 missed a lab temperature guideline
- Thin owner review counts
The SG220 sibling missed the lab temperature guideline. Consumer Reports also lists the SG220 with no removable reservoir and no small-batch setting.
Long-term data is thin. Only 82 Wayfair reviews and 2 Zola reviews exist, so reliability after several years stays unproven.
How Does the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker Compare With Rivals?
The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker can compare with rivals as a mid-priced brewer between budget models and Capresso's own feature models. Amazon Basics sells a 12-cup programmable at $34.99. Beautiful by Drew Barrymore lists its 12-cup programmable from $54.96.
Capresso Models Side by Side:
| Model | Capacity | Keep-warm |
|---|---|---|
| Capresso 12-Cup 416.05 | 12 cups | 2 hours on a hot plate |
| Capresso 485.05 MT600 Plus | 10 cups | Up to 4 hours in a thermal carafe |
| Capresso Touchscreen 496.01 | 2 to 12 cups | 2 hours, three temperatures |
The Capresso 485.05 MT600 Plus is the thermal step up. Its 10-cup thermal carafe keeps coffee hot up to 4 hours without a hot plate. A charcoal filter removes up to 82% of chlorine.
The Capresso 12-Cup sells for about $51 at Zoro. Zoro is a US online supplier of tools and business goods.
Capresso 12-Cup vs the Capresso Touchscreen?
The Capresso Touchscreen 496.01 adds a touch panel, three strength levels and an iced coffee mode to the same 12-cup glass carafe layout. The iced mode brews up to 7 cups over ice.
Capresso 12-Cup vs Touchscreen:
| Feature | 12-Cup 416.05 | Touchscreen 496.01 |
|---|---|---|
| Strength levels | One optional setting | Three |
| Iced coffee mode | None listed | Up to 7 cups |
| Self-clean function | None listed | Yes |
| Price | About $51 | $89.27 to $99.99 |
The Touchscreen also offers 2 to 12-cup size selection, three keep-warm temperatures and a self-clean function. It measures 8 x 10.5 x 14 in (20 x 27 x 36 cm).
The price gap is real. The Touchscreen lists at $99.99 and sells at Walmart for $89.27. Both machines share a 2-hour keep warm, a 2-hour safety shut-off, a drip stop and a one-year limited warranty.
How Do You Clean the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker?
The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker is easy to clean because the filter is permanent and the carafe is glass. The GoldTone filter is a permanent filter that is easy to clean.
The warming plate has a non-stick coating. Homegrounds says the mostly stainless steel housing is easier to clean than the plastic on cheap brewers.
Scale is the main long-term job. The manual for the Capresso 425, a sibling drip model, descales with a 1 to 2 mix of white vinegar and water. The mix runs through one brew cycle without coffee.
The vinegar must then leave the tank. Two cycles of fresh water flush it out. The Capresso 425 manual suggests descaling every 2 to 4 months, depending on water hardness. The 416.05 manual was not available to check.
Can the Capresso 12-Cup Go in the Dishwasher?
Yes. The GoldTone filter and the glass carafe of the Capresso 12-Cup can go in the dishwasher, lid and spout included.
The GoldTone filter is also permanent, so no paper filters are needed. Skipping paper removes that running cost.
The Capresso 12-Cup lists no self-clean function, unlike the Touchscreen. Descaling, which means removing mineral buildup, is a manual job.
How Much Does the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker Cost?
The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker has a cost of about $51 at Zoro. Prices move with sellers. A one-year limited warranty comes with the machine.
Price Check:
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Capresso 12-Cup 416.05 (Zoro) | $51.15 |
| Capresso SG220 (Consumer Reports) | From $44.98 |
| Capresso Compact 12-Cup (Zola) | $59.99 |
| Capresso Touchscreen 496.01 | $89.27 to $99.99 |
The SG220 sibling lists from $44.98 on Consumer Reports. Zola lists the Compact 12-Cup at $59.99.
The Capresso Touchscreen costs more. Its price runs from $89.27 at Walmart to $99.99 list.
Is the Capresso 12-Cup Worth the Price?
Yes. The Capresso 12-Cup is worth the price at about $51. Wayfair owners call it a great buy, and Homegrounds names it the Bargain Pick among Capresso models.
Cheaper rivals exist. The Amazon Basics 12-Cup Programmable costs $34.99. The Capresso costs more, but it adds a stainless steel housing, a GoldTone filter and a backlit timer.
The Touchscreen model costs about $40 to $50 more. Buyers who want strength levels or an iced mode can pay that extra amount.
Is the Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker Worth It?
Yes. The Capresso 12-Cup Coffee Maker is worth it as a programmable 12-cup drip brewer at about $50. The stainless housing, permanent filter and easy timer earn the price.
The hot plate holds coffee for 2 hours. The machine offers no thermal carafe. Coffee therefore sits on a heated plate instead of in an insulated pot.
Brew temperature is the other weak point. The sibling lab test missed the brew temperature guideline.
No hands-on test of the 416.05 itself turned up. The sibling result cannot be confirmed for this exact model. That gap lowers confidence in the temperature question.
Who Should Skip the Capresso 12-Cup?
Buyers who want hours of heat without a hot plate should skip the Capresso 12-Cup and look at the MT600 Plus thermal model. Small-batch and single-cup drinkers should also look elsewhere.
Buyers who want a lab-proven hot brew should check the water temperature or choose a certified brewer.
Buyers who want strength levels or an iced coffee mode should pick the Capresso Touchscreen.
Odradeks Coffee House is reader-supported. If you buy through a link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate fee at no extra cost to you.