Touchscreen 14-Cup Coffeemaker DCC-T20
For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
When using electrical appliances, especially when children are present, basic safety precautions should always be taken to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and/or injury to persons, including the following:
- READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
- Always unplug from outlet when either the appliance or display clock is not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts and before cleaning the appliance.
- Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles and knobs.
- To protect against electric shock, do not place cord, plug, or base unit in water or other liquids.
- This appliance should not be used by or near children or individuals with certain disabilities.
- Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance malfunctions or has been dropped or damaged in any manner. Return appliance to the nearest Cuisinart Repair Center for examination, repair, and electrical or mechanical adjustment.
- The use of accessory attachments not recommended by Cuisinart may cause injuries.
- Do not use outdoors.
- Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
- Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.
- Always fill water reservoir first, then plug cord into the wall outlet. To disconnect, push the brew/off button during brewing and Keep Warm or push the power i-con to shut down all the function i-con light, then remove plug from wall outlet.
- Do not use appliance for other than it’s intended use.
- Snap lid securely onto carafe before serving any beverages.
- Scalding may occur if the lid is removed during the brewing cycle.
- The glass carafe is designed for use with this coffeemaker only. It must never be used on the range top.
- Do not set a hot carafe on a wet or cold surface.
- Do not use a cracked carafe or a carafe having a loose or weakened handle.
- Do not clean carafe or heating plate with cleansers, steel wool pads, or other abrasive materials.
- WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE BASE PANEL. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS ARE INSIDE. REPAIRS SHOULD BE DONE ONLY BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.
- Do not place cloth beneath coffeemaker or otherwise restrict airflow.
- Use only the Cuisinart® Gold-Tone Commercial-Style Filter or standard cone-shaped paper filter with this unit. OTHER GOLD-TONE PERMANENT FILTERS MAY CAUSE THE COFFEEMAKER TO OVERFLOW.
- Do not operate your appliance in an appliance garage or under a wall cabinet. When storing in an appliance garage, always unplug the unit from the electrical outlet. Not doing so could create a risk of fire, especially if the appliance touches the walls of the garage or the door touches the unit as it closes.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY
WARNING: RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK
SPECIAL CORD SET INSTRUCTIONS
A short power-supply cord is provided to reduce the risks resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord.
Extension cords may be used if care is exercised in their use.
If an extension cord is used, the marked electrical rating of the extension cord must be at least as great as the electrical rating of the appliance, and the longer cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled on by children or tripped over.
NOTICE
This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug will fit into a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not modify the plug in any way.
OPERATING NOTICE
Clogging and backing up of water and/or coffee in the filter basket can occur under any or a combination of any of the following conditions: the use of too finely ground coffee, using two or more paper filters, using the gold-tone filter in conjunction with a paper filter or not properly cleaning coffee grounds from the gold-tone filter, or allowing coffee grounds to spill over the filter.
Caution: Never open the filter basket during the brewing cycle, even if no water is draining from the filter basket, because extremely hot water/ coffee can spill out from the filter basket and cause injury. If water/coffee is not draining from the filter basket during the brewing cycle, unplug the unit and wait 10 minutes before opening and checking the filter basket.
IMPORTANT UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the box on a large, sturdy, flat surface.
- Remove literature.
- Turn the box so that the back side of the coffeemaker is down and slide the coffeemaker from the box.
- After the coffeemaker has been removed, place the box out of the way and lift off the left and right inserts.
- Grasp the carafe by its handle, remove it from the heating plate, and remove the polybag.
- Remove the polybag covering the coffeemaker.
Save all packing materials in case you have to ship the machine in the future.
KEEP ALL PLASTIC BAGS AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT CUP OF COFFEE
ELEMENT 1: WATER
Coffee is 98% water. The quality of that water is as important as the quality of your coffee. If water doesn’t taste good from the tap, it won’t taste good in your coffee. Cuisinart includes a charcoal water filter to remove chlorine, bad tastes and odors for the purest coffee flavor, every time you brew.
ELEMENT 2: COFFEE
While coffee is 98% water, all of the flavor comes from the beans. To achieve the same great taste you enjoy at a coffee bar, you need to use the same quality of coffee. If you choose to grind your own beans, buy them fresh and whole. Buy only about a two-week supply at a time, because once the bean is broken, its flavor degrades quickly.
ELEMENT 3: GRIND
The grind is critical for proper flavor extraction. If the grind is too fine, over-extraction and bitterness will result. Too fine a grind may also clog the filter. If the grind is too coarse, the water will pass through too quickly and the maximum flavor will not be extracted. When grinding your own beans, we recommend a medium-fine grind.
ELEMENT 4: PROPORTION
Coffee that is too strong or too weak is always a disappointment. Follow the recommended portions of ground coffee in the instructions under MAKING COFFEE, and later adjust the amount to suit your taste.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
1. Coffeemaker Lid
Opens to access filter basket, water filter and water reservoir.
2. Water Reservoir with Water Level Indicator Window (not shown)
3. Showerhead (not shown)
Distributes water evenly over coffee, reducing temperature loss as water passes through grounds.
4. Charcoal Water Filter Holder
Holds water filter firmly in place.
5. Charcoal Water Filter
Eliminates chlorine, bad tastes and odors from tap water.
6. Filter Basket
Holds a #4 paper filter OR a gold-tone filter (included).
7. Cuisinart® Permanent Gold-Tone
Commercial-Style Filter Eliminates the need for paper filters. NOTE: Some fine grounds may flow through the filter and appear as sediment in the carafe.
8. Touchscreen Control Panel
See detailed illustration, page 6.
9. Brew Pause™
Stops flow of coffee from basket when carafe is removed (20 seconds max) from the heater plate, so a cup can be poured mid-brew.
10. 14-Cup Glass Carafe
The easy-pour carafe has an ergonomic handle and brewed coffee markings for 4 to 14 cups.
11. 60-Second Reset (not shown)
One-minute protection in case a breaker trips, the unit is unplugged, or the power fails. It holds all programmed information, including time of day, Auto On time and Auto Off time.
12. Measuring Scoop
13. BPA Free (not shown)
All parts that come in contact with coffee or liquids are BPA free.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR TOUCHSCREEN CONTROL PANEL
Detailed programming and use instructions are on pages 8 and 9.
1. Hour and Minute Icons
Use to set hours and minutes for time of day, Auto On and Auto Off times.
2. Auto On Icon
Lets you program coffeemaker to automatically begin brewing up to 24 hours in advance.
3. Bold Icon
Lets you choose bold or regular coffee strength; white indicator appears when bold is selected.
4. Carafe Temperature Icon
Adjusts warming plate temperature to Low, Medium or High to keep freshly brewed coffee at the temperature you prefer.
5. 1–4 Cup Icon
Adjusts brew process to maximize coffee flavor when brewing fewer than 5 cups. White indicator appears when function is selected.
6. Clean Icon
Indicator appears in red, when it is time to decalcify your coffeemaker.
7. Brew/Off & Auto Off Icon
Turns coffeemaker on and off. Use the Auto Off feature to program the time you want the coffeemaker to shut off – from 0 to 4 hours after brew cycle is finished.
8. Ready Tone Icon
Lets you turn an audible “Brew Cycle Finished” alert on or off.
9. LCD Clock Display
Displays time of day, Auto On and Auto Off times. A. Low, Medium and High (L, M, H) warming plate indicators. B. Ready Tone off icon appears when Ready Tone is off.
10. Power/Wake Icon
Tap to wake up LCD touchscreen or put to sleep.
REVEAL SCREEN TECHNOLOGY
The control panel becomes invisible when unit is in idle mode – making this a statement piece in your kitchen. To select your options, simply touch the 
BEFORE BREWING YOUR FIRST POT OF COFFEE
Rinsing your coffeemaker: During the manufacturing process, dust can get trapped in the unit. We recommend flushing out the system before brewing your first pot of coffee. Simply fill the water reservoir, power on the unit, and follow steps 1, 3 and 5 on page 8 under MAKING COFFEE. Do not add coffee!
Charcoal Water Filter
Your coffeemaker comes with a charcoal water filter that eliminates chlorine, bad tastes and odors from tap water.
Inserting the Water Filter
- Remove the filter from polybag and soak it, fully immersed, in cold tap water for 15 minutes.
- Lift the water filter holder out of the water reservoir.
- Press down on the filter compartment and pull toward you to open.
- Place filter into the holder and snap it closed. Be careful – improper placement can tear the filter skin.
- Flush filter by running cold tap water through holes in bottom of compartment for 10 seconds.
- Allow the filter to drain completely. • Slide the water filter holder back into the channel in the water reservoir, pushing it down to the base of the unit.
Note: We recommend changing the water filter every 60 days or after 60 uses, and more often if you have hard water.
Replacement filters can be purchased in stores, by calling Cuisinart Consumer Service, or at www.cuisinart.com
PROGRAMMING YOUR COFFEEMAKER
SETTING THE CLOCK
When the coffeemaker is plugged in, the power icon
Setting Hours and Minutes
Press and hold either HR or MIN icons for 2 seconds until clock starts to flash. Hold icon down to scroll through the digits quickly, or touch and release to advance one digit at a time until the desired time is reached. Be sure the PM indicator is on if setting a PM time.
Turning ON/OFF the Clock in Idle Mode
When the unit is idle, you have the option to have the clock display on or off. Press and hold the HR and MIN icons for 3 seconds – clock display will go off. To turn back on, press and hold the HR and MIN icons for 3 seconds. Clock display will turn on.
SETTING THE AUTO ON TIME
1. Press and hold the Auto On icon for 2 seconds.
The digital display will flash the default (12:00) or previously selected time. Follow directions under SETTING THE CLOCK (above) to program your brew-start time. Ten seconds after programming, the unit will automatically exit Auto On or you can touch the Auto On icon to exit setting mode immediately. The Auto On icon will illuminate, letting you know Auto On is activated.
2. To activate Auto On using previously selected time:
Press the Auto On icon for 2 seconds. The previously set time will appear and icon will light up.
3. To deactivate Auto On:
Press illuminated Auto On icon; light will go off, indicating mode is turned off.
SETTING THE AUTO OFF TIME
1. Press and hold the Brew/Auto Off icon for 5 seconds.
The digital display will flash the programmed Auto Off default (2:00) or previously selected time. Follow directions under SETTING THE CLOCK to program coffeemaker to shut off from 0 to 4 hours after brew cycle is finished.
2. To exit/confirm Auto Off time setting:
Do not touch any icons. Auto Off setup mode will be exited automatically after 5 seconds.
TURNING OFF READY TONE
Your coffeemaker features a Ready Tone that beeps 5 times when coffee is finished brewing. To turn this alert off, press the Ready Tone icon; an icon will appear next to the time with an “X”, indicating the tone is off. To turn tone back on, press Ready Tone icon again; the “X” will disappear.
MAKING COFFEE
Follow instructions in BEFORE BREWING YOUR FIRST POT OF COFFEE (page 7).
1. Fill the water reservoir
Lift the coffeemaker lid to open. Pour the desired amount of water into the water reservoir using the water level indicator located at the side of the coffeemaker.
2. Add the ground coffee
Insert a #4 paper filter OR the gold-tone filter. Be sure that the paper filter is completely open and fully inserted in the basket. It may help to fold and flatten the seams of a paper filter beforehand. Add 1 level scoop of ground coffee per cup. Adjust the amount according to taste.
NOTE: The maximum capacity for ground coffee is 15 tablespoons for this coffeemaker. Exceeding this amount may cause overflow if the coffee is too finely ground.
3. Position carafe and plug in unit
Place carafe on heating plate and be sure coffeemaker lid is closed. Plug coffeemaker into an electrical outlet.
4. Set preferences
a. Press the 1–4 cup icon if you are brewing fewer than 5 cups. The icon will illuminate.
b. Press the Bold icon to select stronger coffee flavor, if desired. The icon will illuminate. Press again to turn off icon and brew at regular strength.
c. Choose Low (L), Medium (M) or High (H) carafe temperature by pressing Carafe Temp icon. Selection will appear in display next to the time. Once you reach the desired temperature, simply leave it and the unit will automatically confirm the setting.
5. Start brewing
Press the Brew/Off icon to begin brewing. The icon will pulse on and off to indicate the unit is brewing.
6. After brewing
When the brewing cycle has been completed, five beeps will sound. Coffee will continue to stream from the filter for several seconds. NOTE: Reservoir cover may be hot during and directly after brewing. Wait at least 10 minutes before opening.
BREW PAUSE™ FEATURE
This feature interrupts the flow of coffee from the basket to let you pour that first cup mid-brew. Because the flavor profile of coffee brewed at the start of a cycle differs from that brewed toward the end, be aware that using this feature will weaken the flavor strength of the finished pot.
NOTE: Removing carafe for more than 20 seconds during brew cycle may cause filter basket to overflow.
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Always turn coffeemaker off and remove the plug from the electrical outlet before cleaning.
Lift up the coffeemaker lid. Remove and discard the paper filter and ground coffee. The filter basket can be washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed thoroughly, or cleaned in the upper rack of the dishwasher. Dry all parts after use.
Do not put any water in the unit once the filter basket has been removed. Wipe the area under the filter basket with a damp cloth.
Remove the carafe from the heating plate. Discard any remaining coffee. The carafe and lid can be washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed thoroughly, or placed in a dishwasher. The carafe and carafe lid should be placed on the upper rack only.
Do not use any scouring agents or harsh cleansers on any part of the coffeemaker.
Never immerse base unit in water or other liquids. To clean base, simply wipe with a clean, damp cloth and dry before storing. Fingerprints and other blemishes on the housing can be washed off with soap and water or a nonabrasive cleaning solution. Wipe heating plate with a clean, damp cloth. Never use rough, abrasive materials or cleansers to clean the heating plate. Do not dry the inside of the water reservoir with a cloth, as lint may remain.
Maintenance
Any other servicing should be performed by an authorized service representative.
DECALCIFICATION
Decalcification refers to the removal of calcium deposits that form over time on the metal parts of your coffeemaker. The mineral content of the tap water in your area and the frequency of use affects the rate of the calcium buildup, which can affect the functioning of your coffeemaker and the flavor of your coffee.
For best performance from your coffeemaker, we recommend cleaning it whenever the CLEAN icon lights up.
NOTE: Before decalcifying your unit, remove the charcoal water filter from the water reservoir.
To clean:
- Fill the water reservoir to capacity with a mixture of ¹⁄³ white vinegar and ²⁄³ water.
- Press and hold the CLEAN icon. When it starts to flash, the coffeemaker is in Clean mode. Release the icon.
- When the cycle is completed, 5 beeps will sound and the coffeemaker will shut off.
- If the CLEAN icon illuminates once more, repeat the cleaning procedure with a fresh solution of vinegar and water. NOTE: One cleaning cycle is usually sufficient.
- When the CLEAN icon remains off, run one cycle with a full reservoir of fresh, cold water to rinse the unit.
- Return the charcoal water filter to the holder inside the water reservoir and your coffeemaker is ready to brew!
