Cuisinart’s coffee makers are known for reliability, but the CHW-16 adds a genuinely useful second function. It’s a fully programmable 12-cup drip machine with a dedicated hot water spout. This means you can brew a carafe of coffee while simultaneously having instant hot water for tea, oatmeal, or pour-over. It solves the morning bottleneck of waiting for the kettle.

Performance is straightforward and consistent. The 24-hour programmability and brew-pause feature work as expected. The gold-tone permanent filter and included charcoal water filter produce a clean, balanced cup. The 1-to-4-cup setting ensures a stronger brew for smaller batches. The hot water system dispenses directly from the reservoir, so you don’t sacrifice coffee for a cup of tea.

The carafe’s keep-warm plate has adjustable temperature, a nice touch for those who nurse their coffee. The trade-off for the dual system is a larger footprint on your counter. The hot water function is not a true boiling kettle, but it’s plenty hot for most instant needs. For a household with varied morning routines, this machine eliminates the need for a separate appliance.