INSTRUCTION

BOOKLET

Cuisinart® 12-Cup

DCC-500 Series
Programmable Coffeemaker
For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using.
Important 15. The glass carafe is designed for use with this
coffeemaker only. It must never be used on the

Safeguards
range top.
16. Do not set a hot carafe on a wet or cold
When using electrical appliances, basic safety surface.
precautions should always be followed to reduce 17. Do not use a cracked carafe or a carafe
the risk of fire, electric shock and/or injury to with a loose or weakened handle.
persons, including the following:
1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS. 18. Do not clean carafe or heating plate with
cleansers, steel wool pads, or other abrasive
2. Always unplug from outlet when not in use materials.
and before cleaning. Allow to cool before
putting on or taking off parts and before 19. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
cleaning the appliance. OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
THE BASE PANEL. NO USER-SERVICEABLE
3. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles PARTS ARE INSIDE. REPAIR SHOULD BE
and knobs. DONE ONLY BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.
4. To protect against electric shock, do not 20. Do not place cloth beneath coffeemaker or
place cord, plug, or base unit in water or otherwise restrict airflow.
other liquids.
21. Use only the Cuisinart commercial style filter or
5. This appliance should not be used by standard basket paper filter with this unit.
or near children or individuals with certain OTHER PERMANENT FILTERS MAY CAUSE
disabilities. THE COFFEEMAKER TO OVERFLOW.
6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged 22. Do not operate your appliance in an appliance
cord or plug, or after the appliance garage or under a wall cabinet. When storing
malfunctions or has been dropped or damaged in an appliance garage, always unplug the
in any manner. Return appliance to the nearest unit from the electrical outlet. Not doing so
Cuisinart Repair Center for examination, repair, could create a risk of fire, especially if the
and electrical or mechanical adjustment. appliance touches the walls of the garage or
the door touches the unit as it closes.
7. The use of accessory attachments not
recommended by Cuisinart may cause injuries.
8. Do not use outdoors. SAVE THESE
9. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or
counter, or touch hot surfaces.
INSTRUCTIONS
10. Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric
burner, or in a heated oven. FOR HOUSEHOLD
11. Always fill water reservoir first, then plug cord
into the wall outlet. To disconnect, push the
USE ONLY
Brew/Off button, then remove plug from wall
outlet.
12. Do not use appliance for other than intended
use.
13. Snap lid securely onto carafe before serving
any beverages.
14. Scalding may occur if the lid is removed
during the brewing cycle.

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WARNING: RISK Of FIRE NOTICE
OR ELECTRIC SHOCK This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade
is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of
The lightning flash with arrowhead electric shock, this plug will fit into a polarized
symbol within an equilateral triangle is outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully
intended to alert the user to the into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does
presence of uninsulated dangerous not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not
voltage within the product’s enclosure modify the plug in any way.
that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of fire or electric shock
to persons. OPERATING NOTICE
Clogging and backing up of water and/or coffee
The exclamation point within an
in the filter basket can occur under any or a
equilateral triangle is intended to alert
combination of any of the following conditions:
the user to the presence of important
The use of too finely ground coffee, using two or
operating and maintenance (servicing)
more paper filters, using the nylon filter in
instructions in the literature
conjunction with a paper filter or not properly
accompanying the appliance.
cleaning coffee grounds from the nylon filter, or
allowing coffee grounds to spill over the filter.
SPECIAL CORD SET Caution: Never open the filter basket during the
INSTRUCTIONS brewing cycle, even if no water is draining from
A short power-supply cord is provided to reduce the filter basket, because extremely hot water/
the risks resulting from becoming entangled in coffee can spill out from the filter basket and
or tripping over a longer cord. cause injury. If water/coffee is not draining from
Extension cords may be used if care is the filter basket during the brewing cycle,
exercised in their use. unplug the unit and wait 10 minutes before
opening and checking the filter basket.
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.

WARNING
RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK)

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE

REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE BY AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL ONLY

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CONTENTS
Important Safeguards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3
THE QUEST
Important Unpacking Instructions . . . . . . . . . . 4 FOR THE PERFECT
The Quest for the Perfect Cup of Coffee . . . . 4 CUP OF COFFEE
Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Element 1: Water
Before Brewing your First Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Coffee is 98% water. The quality of that
Programming Your Coffeemaker . . . . . . . . . . . 7 water is as important as the quality of your
Charcoal Water Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 coffee. If water doesn’t taste good from the
tap, it won’t taste good in your coffee.
Brewing Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cuisinart includes a charcoal water filter to
Brew Pause Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 remove chlorine, bad tastes and odors, for
Cleaning and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 the purest coffee flavor, every time you brew.
Decalcification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Element 2: Coffee
While coffee is 98% water, all of the flavor
comes from the beans. To achieve the same
IMPORTANT UNPACKING great taste you enjoy at a coffee bar, you
INSTRUCTIONS need to use the same quality of coffee. If
you choose to grind your own beans, buy
1. Place the box on a large, sturdy, them fresh and whole. Buy only about a
flat surface. two-week supply at a time, because once
2. Remove the instruction book and any other the bean is broken, its flavor degrades
literature. quickly.
3. Turn the box so that the back side of
the coffeemaker is down and slide the Element 3: Grind
coffeemaker from the box. The grind is critical for proper flavor
4. After the coffeemaker has been removed, extraction. If the grind is too fine, over-
place the box out of the way and lift off the extraction and bitterness will result. Too fine
packing material. a grind may also clog the filter. If grind is too
coarse, the water will pass through too
5. Grasp the carafe by its handle, remove quickly and the maximum flavor will not be
it from the heating plate and remove extracted. When grinding your own beans,
the polybag. we recommend a medium-fine grind.
6. Remove the polybag covering from the
coffeemaker and lift the coffeemaker off the Element 4: Proportion
remaining inserts. Coffee that is too strong or too weak is
Save all packing materials in case you have to always a disappointment. Follow the
ship the machine in the future. recommended portions of ground coffee in
KEEP ALL PLASTIC BAGS AWAY the instructions under Brewing Coffee, and
FROM CHILDREN. later adjust the amount to suit your taste.

NOTE: The maximum capacity for ground

coffee is 15 scoops (15 tablespoons) for this
60-oz. (twelve 5-oz. cups) coffeemaker.
Exceeding this amount may cause overflow.

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FEATURES AND Benefits 10. 12-Cup Glass Carafe
The easy-pour, no-drip 12-cup carafe has
1. Reservoir Cover an ergonomic handle and brewed coffee
Flips back for easy filling. markings for two to twelve cups.
2. Water Reservoir 11. Heating Plate
With water level indicator window. Scratch resistant with black, nonstick
3. Showerhead (not shown) coating.
Distributes water evenly over coffee, 12. Ready Tone (not shown)
reducing temperature loss as water Signals the end of the brew cycle with
passes through grounds. five beeps.
4. Charcoal Water Filter Holder 13. Power Loss Back-up System (not shown)
Holds filter firmly in place. One-minute protection if a breaker trips,
5. Charcoal Water Filter (shown on page 8) unit is unplugged, or power fails. Holds all
Eliminates chlorine, calcium and bad tastes programmed information, including time of
and odors from tap water. day, auto on time and auto off time.
6. Filter Basket 14. Measuring Scoop
Holds a #4 paper filter or a permanent
filter.
7. Filter Basket Holder
8. Permanent Nylon
Commercial-Style Filter
1
Eliminates the need for paper filters.
NOTE: Some fine grounds may flow
through the filter and appear as sediment
in the carafe.
9. Brew Pause™
Stops flow of coffee from basket when 2
carafe is removed (20 seconds max) from
the heater plate, so a cup can be poured
mid-brew.

14 9

4
10

7 11
8
6

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CONTROL PANEL

3 4 5 6

1. Clock Display
Displays time of day and auto on time.
5. 1–4 Cup Setting
2. Hour and Minute Buttons For brewing smaller pots of coffee –
For use in setting hour and minute for time it provides double heating of the water,
of day and auto on time. so coffee is piping hot.

3. Brew/Off and Auto Off Button with 6. Program Button with Indicator
Indicator Used to set/select the time for the
Used to turn your coffeemaker on and off Auto On function.
and set the Auto Off time.
7. Audible Tone (not shown)
4. Clean Button with Indicator The Cuisinart® 12-Cup Programmable
Use to clean your coffeemaker to remove Coffeemaker is equipped with an audible
calcium buildup. tone that will sound 5 times when the
coffee has completed brewing (coffee will
continue to stream from the filter for a few
seconds after tone).

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 BEFORE BREWING YOUR 4. To activate Auto On mode press the PROG
button and release. The green indicator
FIRST POT OF COFFEE light will come on to remind you that the
We recommend flushing out the system before programming function is in use. At the
brewing your first pot of coffee. Simply fill the programmed time, the green indicator light
reservoir and power on the unit, following steps will trun off and the red indicating light will
#2, #4 and #6 in BREWING COFFEE turn on, indicating that the brew cycle is
instructions on the next page. starting. The red light will go off when keep
DO NOT ADD COFFEE! Warm cycle ends.
Once you’ve done that, brew a pot of real coffee NOTE: To reactivate the Auto On feature to
and get ready to enjoy Cuisinart at its best! start brew cycle at the same time another
day, simply press the PROG button and
release. The green Auto On light will
PROGRAMMING YOUR illuminate.
COFFEEmAKER
To Program the Variable
To Set the Time Auto Off TIME
Press and hold the Hour or Minute button. 1. Press and hold the Auto Off button until
The clock will begin flashing. clock begins to flash.
1. Set Hour: Press and hold the Hour button 2. Program the coffeemaker to shut off from
to scroll through numbers quickly. When zero to four hours after brew cycle is
desired number approaches, press and finished by using the Hour and Minute
release the button to advance one digit at buttons (see To Set the Time).
a time. 3. Once Auto Off time is set, Auto Off mode
NOTE: When the number count passes 12, will be exited automatically.
PM will be displayed on the LCD. Be sure 1–4 Cup Setting
the PM indicator is on if a PM time is
desired. The 1–4 cup setting button is used when you
make small amounts of coffee. The 1–4 cup
2. Set Minutes: Press and hold the Minute setting double-heats the water, making your
button to scroll through numbers quickly. smaller amount piping hot.
When desired number approaches, press 1. When making a smaller amount, press the
and release the button to advance one 1–4 button on the control panel after
digit at a time. To finish setting time, simply turning on the unit. The indicator will light
wait until the numbers stop flashing. when selected.
To Program the Auto On TIME Power Loss Back-up System
(brew start time)
One-minute protection in case a breaker trips,
1. Press and hold the PROG button until clock the unit is unplugged, or the power fails. It holds
begins to flash. all programmed information, including time of
2. Set the time you want coffee to begin day, auto on time and auto off time.
brewing by using the Minute and Hour
buttons. Follow the same instructions you
used to set the time of day, in the
To Set the Time section.
3. Once desired Auto On time is set, Auto On
setting mode will be exited automatically.

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CHARCOAL WATER FILTER
Your coffeemaker comes with a charcoal Brewing COFFEE
water filter that eliminates chlorine, bad Follow instructions in Before First Use
tastes and odors from tap water. on previous page.
1. Insert charcoal
Inserting the Water Filter
water filter
• Remove the filter from the polybag and Follow directions for
soak it, fully immersed, in cold tap water the preparation and
for 15 minutes. insertion of the filter
in previous section.
• Lift the water filter holder out of the water
reservoir (see diagram, page 5).
• Press down on the filter compartment 2. Fill the water
reservoir
and pull toward you to open.
Open the coffeemaker
• Place filter into the holder and snap it reservoir cover by
closed. Be careful – improper placement lifting it up. Pour in
can tear the filter skin. the desired amount of
water using the water level indicator located
• Flush filter by running cold tap water at the side of the coffeemaker.
through holes in bottom of compartment
for 10 seconds.
• Allow the filter to drain completely. 3. Insert filter and add
the ground coffee
• Slide the water filter holder back into the Remove the filter
channel in the water reservoir, pushing it basket by grasping
down to the base of the unit. the handle and lifting
straight up. Insert a
NOTE: We recommend changing the water #4 paper filter or
filter every 60 days or after 60 uses, and permanent nylon filter. Be sure that a paper
more often if you have hard water. filter is completely open and fully inserted in
Replacement filters can be purchased in the basket. It may help to fold and flatten the
stores, by calling Cuisinart Customer seams of a paper filter beforehand. Add 1
Service, or at www.cuisinart.com. level scoop (1 tablespoon) of ground coffee
per cup. Adjust the amount according to
taste.

NOTE: The maximum capacity for


ground coffee is 15 scoops (15 table-
spoons) for this coffeemaker. Exceeding
this amount may cause overflow if the
coffee is too finely ground.
Replace the filter basket in the filter basket
holder and press firmly on cover to be sure it
closes securely.

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 CLEANING AND
Brew Pause™ Feature
This feature interrupts the flow of coffee from the
MAINTENANCE
basket to let you pour that first cup mid-brew.
Because the flavor profile of coffee brewed at the Always turn coffeemaker off and remove
start of a cycle differs from that brewed toward the plug from the electrical outlet before cleaning.
the end, be aware that using this feature will
weaken the flavor strength of the finished pot. Remove and discard the paper filter and ground
NOTE: Removing carafe for more than 20 coffee. The filter basket can be washed in warm,
seconds may cause filter basket to overflow. soapy water and rinsed thoroughly, or cleaned in
the upper rack of the dishwasher. Dry all parts
4. Before brewing coffee after use.
Make sure the glass carafe is in position on
the heating plate and the top cover is closed. Do not put any water in the unit once the filter
Plug the cord into an electrical outlet. basket has been removed. Wipe the area under
the filter basket with a damp cloth.
5. Cup preference Remove the carafe from the heating plate. Discard
Push the 1–4 cup button if you are brewing any remaining coffee. The carafe and lid can be
fewer than 5 cups. washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed thoroughly,
or placed in a dishwasher. The carafe and carafe lid
6. Begin Brewing should be placed on the upper rack only.
Press the Brew/Off button, and the red
indicator light will turn on. Or, set the Auto On Never immerse base unit in water or other liquids.
function (see page 7) and the Auto On To clean base, simply wipe with a clean, damp
indicator will light. cloth and dry before storing. Fingerprints and other
blemishes on the housing can be washed off with
NOTE: Press and release the Brew/Off button
soap and water or a nonabrasive cleaning solution.
again to turn off at any time during
brewing. Wipe heating plate with a clean, damp cloth. Never
use rough, abrasive materials or cleansers to clean
7. A
 fter brewing is complete the heater plate or any part of the coffeemaker.
When the brewing cycle has been completed, Do not dry the inside of the water reservoir with a
five beeps will sound. Coffee will continue to cloth, as lint may remain.
stream from the filter for several seconds.
Maintenance

Note: Reservoir cover may be hot during
Any other servicing should be performed by an
and directly after brewing. Wait at least 10
authorized service representative.
minutes before opening.

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Decalcification
Decalcification refers to the removal of calcium
deposits that form over time on the metal parts
of the coffeemaker.

For best performance from your coffeemaker,

decalcify the base unit from time to time. The
frequency depends upon the hardness of your tap
water and how often you use the coffeemaker.

NOTE: Before decalcifying your coffeemaker,

remember to remove the charcoal water filter from
the water filter holder located in the water reservoir.
If the Clean LED indicator light begins to flash when
the coffeemaker is turned on, it is telling you that the
calcium buildup is interfering with the functioning of
your coffeemaker and the flavor of your coffee.

To clean, fill the water reservoir to capacity with a

mixture of ¹⁄³ white vinegar and ²⁄³ water. Press the
Clean button. When the Clean LED indicator glows,
turn the coffeemaker on by pressing the Brew/Off
button. The Clean LED will shine steadily. The
coffeemaker is now in Clean mode. One cycle
should be sufficient to adequately clean the
coffeemaker. When the cycle is completed and the
five beeps sound, the coffeemaker will shut off. Turn
the coffeemaker on to see if the Clean LED continue
to flash. If it does, turn coffeemaker off and then
repeat the cleaning procedure with a fresh solution
of vinegar and water.

If the Clean LED no longer flashes, turn the

coffeemaker off and then run one cycle of fresh,
cold water through the unit before using the unit
again to brew coffee.

Notes on the Clean Function

Pressing the Clean button cancels all other settings.
If it is pressed accidentally, press it again to return
the coffeemaker to all its previous settings. Pressing
Brew/Off button will also exit the Clean mode and
turn the coffeemaker off.

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