Black+Decker CM2046S Thermal Coffeemaker vs Mainstays 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker

Buy the Black+Decker if you want coffee that stays hot without a hot plate and you brew on a schedule. Its thermal carafe holds heat for up to two hours, and the programmable timer and brew-strength setting give you more control. The Mainstays is the simpler, lighter machine with a glass carafe and a keep-warm plate, and it has far more owner ratings. Reviewers of both describe basic, reliable drip brewing; the Black+Decker feels sturdier in stainless steel, while the Mainstays is mostly plastic.

• Choose the Black+Decker if you set a brew time the night before and want the pot still hot at mid-morning without a scorched bottom.
• Choose the Mainstays if you want a light, no-frills 12-cup pot with a glass carafe you can see through and rinse in seconds.