Coffee tastes bitter or burnt.

Safety first: Avoid touching the hot plate; it can cause burns.

• Adjust hot plate setting: If your Cuisinart model has adjustable keep-warm temperature, set it to a lower setting or reduce the keep-warm time.
• Use proper grind and dose: Use a medium grind and follow the manufacturer’s recommended coffee-to-water ratio.
• Do not leave coffee for hours: Transfer brewed coffee to a thermal carafe if you need to keep it hot for extended periods.
• Descale: Run a descale cycle to ensure the heater and thermostat operate correctly.
• Thermostat issues: If coffee tastes burnt even when fresh and the hot plate seems excessively hot, the thermostat or control board may be faulty and should be checked by a technician.