Black & Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug

In this case, more is not better. Do not fill the coffee maker to the top with water, leave a little space, about 1/2 inch. This will solve the overflow problem. It is better to sacrifice that couple ounces of potential coffee than to clean up the overflow mess.

I really like the permanent filter. After using the paper filters for so long, and always running out of them, the permanent filter is great to work with and cleaning is a faucet away.

Overall, a great unit for that single coffee user.


my favorite appliance   May 17, 2003
 14 out of 14 found this review helpful

i have had the black and decker (i'm on my fourth one) for about 15 yrs. i have to cut filters down because the stores here don't carry #1 filters but you can get around that by using the reusable filter that comes with the machine. its fast makes one cup and its always hot and good. you can be out the door in a flash no waste, you make what you need.i have had one that came with a mug and one that had a travel mug i bought one for my office and when i retired the girls begged me to leave it.i have purchased them for gifts and when they are on sale i buy an extra so as not to be without it if the old one should quit. they last longer than most big machines and are so small you could put one on a vanity sink in a hotel room. can't recommend it highly enough. you won't go wrong with this baby coffee maker.


Black & Decker Brew 'n Go one cup coffeemaker   October 18, 2005
 14 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is an excellent one cup coffee maker. It takes a little experimenting to determine how much coffee to use for desired strength. I use one a 1/8 heaping coffee scoop.
Auto shut-off is a great feature. It prevents the unit from running all day in case you forget to turn it off when you leave for work.
There is a design flaw. I observed that the water tended to overflow the filter. I discovered the reason: the hole in the bottom of the filter holder is too small - the water enters the filter faster than it can drip into the cup. Simple solution: take a few drill bits and by hand increase the diameter of the hole to about 3/16 of an inch. No more overflow.


Does its job very well   July 28, 2003
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

I have used this personal coffeemaker for several years, and it works great with many handy features. No coffeemakers for less than six cups make decent coffee, so my rating is in comparison with other 4-cup or less models.

The little filter basket is a good size for the little single serving filter packs, and the included filter is good if you prefer to measure ground coffee. If fresh coffee is not available at your office, this model is very convenient and compact to use at the office.

The mug: I have a huge collection of useless travel mugs, but this mug is a great design - both for the car and for carrying around. It really keeps coffee hot a long time, and it is easy to drink from it with the lid on without dribbling coffee all over. The black rim does not have a weird taste like other mugs. Besides using it with the coffee maker, it gets a lot of use as a coffee mug, since the lid makes it easy to carry coffee without spilling at the office and the coffee stays hot.

In short, if you prefer a personal coffee maker, this model is a very good choice.


A lifesaver for those on the go...   February 26, 2005
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

As a grad student with a more-than-hectic schedule, I usually roll out of bed and run out the door. This Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker and Travel Mug have saved the day! Water heats extremely rapidly and it takes no more than 2 minutes from turning the unit on until my coffee/tea is ready.

I use it to heat water for tea more often than I use it for coffee, and I've found that I have to let the tea steep a little longer than if I'd boiled the water on the stove, but it's still extremely convenient and easy to use.

The 15-oz. travel mug retains heat well and has a rubber-coated handle and nonskid bottom, which is a nice feature. The coffeemaker can be used with a permanent filter or paper filters (I prefer using disposable unbleached paper filters to the wire basket filter, as it can be messy to clean from the coffee bean oil accumulations). The coffeemaker shuts off automatically after brewing, another nice feature for those on the go (and one less thing to worry about on the way to work).

My only complaint would be that the plastic-coated inside of the travel mug is scratched up from using spoons to stir in sugar.

Overall, a good value for a rapid, portable mug of joe. For those who are coffee junkies, this will save you hundreds of dollars over buying your morning coffee fix from Starbucks, Beaners or Second Cup.