Cuisinart DCC-500 Series User manual

For your safety and continued enjoyment of this product, always read the instruction book carefully before using.
INSTRUCTION
BOOKLET
Cuisinart®12-Cup
Programmable Coffeemaker DCC-500 Series

2
Important
SafeguardS
When using electrical appliances, basic safety
precautions should always be followed to reduce
the risk of fire, electric shock and/or injury to
persons, including the following:
1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Always unplug from outlet when not in use
and before cleaning. Allow to cool before
putting on or taking off parts and before
cleaning the appliance.
3. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles
and knobs.
4. To protect against electric shock, do not
place cord, plug, or base unit in water or
other liquids.
5. This appliance should not be used by
or near children or individuals with certain
disabilities.
6. 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.
7. The use of accessory attachments not
recommended by Cuisinart may cause injuries.
8. Do not use outdoors.
9. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or
counter, or touch hot surfaces.
10. Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric
burner, or in a heated oven.
11. Always fill water reservoir first, then plug cord
into the wall outlet. To disconnect, push the
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.
15. The glass carafe is designed for use with this
coffeemaker only. It must never be used on the
range top.
16. Do not set a hot carafe on a wet or cold
surface.
17. Do not use a cracked carafe or a carafe
with a loose or weakened handle.
18. Do not clean carafe or heating plate with
cleansers, steel wool pads, or other abrasive
materials.
19. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE
OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
THE BASE PANEL. NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS ARE INSIDE. REPAIR SHOULD BE
DONE ONLY BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.
20. Do not place cloth beneath coffeemaker or
otherwise restrict airflow.
21. Use only the Cuisinart commercial style filter or
standard basket paper filter with this unit.
OTHER PERMANENT FILTERS MAY CAUSE
THE COFFEEMAKER TO OVERFLOW.
22. 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

3
WARNING: RISK OF FIRE
OR ELECTRIC SHOCK
The lightning flash with arrowhead
symbol within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated dangerous
voltage within the product’s enclosure
that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of fire or electric shock
to persons.
The exclamation point within an
equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
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 nylon filter in
conjunction with a paper filter or not properly
cleaning coffee grounds from the nylon 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.
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

4
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 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 Brewing Coffee, and
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.
CONTENTS
Important Safeguards..................2–3
Important Unpacking Instructions ..........4
The Quest for the Perfect Cup of Coffee.....4
Features and Benefits ...................5
Control Panel ..........................6
Before Brewing your First Pot .............7
Programming Your Coffeemaker ...........7
Charcoal Water Filter ....................8
Brewing Coffee.........................8
Brew Pause Feature.....................9
Cleaning and Maintenance ...............9
Decalcification ........................10
Warranty .............................10
IMPORTANT UNPACKING
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place the box on a large, sturdy,
flat surface.
2. Remove the instruction book and any other
literature.
3. Turn the box so that the back side of
the coffeemaker is down and slide the
coffeemaker from the box.
4. After the coffeemaker has been removed,
place the box out of the way and lift off the
packing material.
5. Grasp the carafe by its handle, remove
it from the heating plate and remove
the polybag.
6. Remove the polybag covering from the
coffeemaker and lift the coffeemaker off the
remaining inserts.
Save all packing materials in case you have to
ship the machine in the future.
KEEP ALL PLASTIC BAGS AWAY
FROM CHILDREN.

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

6
1. Clock Display
Displays time of day and auto on time.
2. Hour and Minute Buttons
For use in setting hour and minute for time
of day and auto on time.
3. Brew/Off and Auto Off Button with
Indicator
Used to turn your coffeemaker on and off
and set the Auto Off time.
4. Clean Button with Indicator
Use to clean your coffeemaker to remove
calcium buildup.
5. 1–4 Cup Setting
For brewing smaller pots of coffee –
it provides double heating of the water,
so coffee is piping hot.
6. Program Button with Indicator
Used to set/select the time for the
Auto On function.
7. Audible Tone (not shown)
The Cuisinart
®
12-Cup Programmable
Coffeemaker is equipped with an audible
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).
1
36 4 5
2
CONTROL PANEL

7
PROGRAMMING YOUR
COFFEEMAKER
TO SET THE TIME
Press and hold the Hour or Minute button.
The clock will begin flashing.
1. Set Hour: Press and hold the Hour button
to scroll through numbers quickly. When
desired number approaches, press and
release the button to advance one digit at
a time.
NOTE: When the number count passes 12,
PM will be displayed on the LCD. Be sure
the PM indicator is on if a PM time is
desired.
2. Set Minutes: Press and hold the Minute
button to scroll through numbers quickly.
When desired number approaches, press
and release the button to advance one
digit at a time. To finish setting time, simply
wait until the numbers stop flashing.
TO PROGRAM THE AUTO ON TIME
(brew start time)
1. Press and hold the PROG button until clock
begins to flash.
2. Set the time you want coffee to begin
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.
4. To activate Auto On mode press the PROG
button and release. The green indicator
light will come on to remind you that the
programming function is in use. At the
programmed time, the green indicator light
will trun off and the red indicating light will
turn on, indicating that the brew cycle is
starting. The red light will go off when keep
Warm cycle ends.
NOTE: To reactivate the Auto On feature to
start brew cycle at the same time another
day, simply press the PROG button and
release. The green Auto On light will
illuminate.
TO PROGRAM THE VARIABLE
AUTO OFF TIME
1. Press and hold the Auto Off button until
clock begins to flash.
2. Program the coffeemaker to shut off from
zero to four hours after brew cycle is
finished by using the Hour and Minute
buttons (see To Set the Time).
3. Once Auto Off time is set, Auto Off mode
will be exited automatically.
1–4 CUP SETTING
The 1–4 cup setting button is used when you
make small amounts of coffee. The 1–4 cup
setting double-heats the water, making your
smaller amount piping hot.
1. When making a smaller amount, press the
1–4 button on the control panel after
turning on the unit. The indicator will light
when selected.
POWER LOSS BACK-UP SYSTEM
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.
BEFORE BREWING YOUR
FIRST POT OF COFFEE
We recommend flushing out the system before
brewing your first pot of coffee. Simply fill the
reservoir and power on the unit, following steps
#2, #4 and #6 in BREWING COFFEE
instructions on the next page.
DO NOT ADD COFFEE!
Once you’ve done that, brew a pot of real coffee
and get ready to enjoy Cuisinart at its best!

8
BREWING COFFEE
Follow instructions in Before First Use
on previous page.
1. Insert charcoal
water filter
Follow directions for
the preparation and
insertion of the filter
in previous section.
2. Fill the water
reservoir
Open the coffeemaker
reservoir cover by
lifting it up. Pour in
the desired amount of
water using the water level indicator located
at the side of the coffeemaker.
3. Insert filter and add
the ground coffee
Remove the filter
basket by grasping
the handle and lifting
straight up. Insert a
#4 paper filter OR
permanent nylon filter. Be sure that a 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 (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.
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thepolybagand
soak it, fully immersed, in cold tap water
for 15 minutes.
•Liftthewaterfilterholderoutofthewater
reservoir (see diagram, page 5).
•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 Customer
Service, or at www.cuisinart.com.

9
4. Before brewing coffee
Make sure the glass carafe is in position on
the heating plate and the top cover is closed.
Plug the cord into an electrical outlet.
5. Cup preference
Push the 1–4 cup button if you are brewing
fewer than 5 cups.
6. Begin Brewing
Press the Brew/Off button, and the red
indicator light will turn on. Or, set the Auto On
function (see page 7) and the Auto On
indicator will light.
NOTE: Press and release the Brew/Off button
again to turn off at any time during
brewing.
7. After brewing is complete
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.
CLEANING AND
MAINTENANCE
Always turn coffeemaker off and remove
the plug from the electrical outlet before cleaning.
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.
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 heater plate or any part of the coffeemaker.
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.
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 may cause filter basket to overflow.

10
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 ¹⁄³white vinegar and ²⁄³water. 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.