BLACK+DECKER CM1160B-1: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-08

Summary

The CM1160B-1 is a 975 W, 12-cup programmable drip machine built for the 24-hour timer and capacity, not for brewing precision. The complaints owners repeat are physical: water pools under the lid and spills when you open it, steam escapes the top, and the hotplate can rust over time. Running costs are just coffee, paper basket filters and vinegar or descaler; there is no permanent filter. It is a sensible buy at $30 or less and merely fair up to $40.

Common problems and fixes

Water pools under the lid and spills — owners report water collecting under the lid and spilling toward the back when the top is opened after brewing [7]. Fix: the manual attributes leaking to overfilling past the 12-cup line or a mis-seated carafe cover, so check the fill line and seat the cover before assuming a defect [3]. Warranty: 2-year limited [1].
Steam escapes from the top — reported alongside the lid mess [7]. No fix is documented in the research files.
Carafe handle feels weak when full — owners describe the handle as weak with a full carafe [7]. Fix: support the carafe from underneath when pouring.

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

Not enough data. The recurring costs are coffee, disposable basket filters and vinegar or descaler; there is no capsule or permanent-filter cost [6][9].

When it is a good buy

At about $30 or less it is a strong buy for a basic “timer plus 12 cups” machine, matching its feature set. Best Buy once listed it at $29.99 before it went out of stock in new condition [9].
Between $31 and $40 it is fair; you are paying for the brand, the timer and the warranty rather than measured brew performance. BLACK+DECKER lists it at $40.99 direct, and street pricing ran around $32 to $37 at other retailers in July 2026 [1][10][14].
Above $40 it is weak value. The CM1110B-1 Vortex sibling adds a brew-strength selector and lists lower at $37.99 direct, and other 12-cup programmable brewers occupy the same shelf [5][11].

Named alternative: the CM1110B-1 Vortex is the better choice when brew-strength control matters, since it adds a selector and lists at $37.99 direct [5][11]. The CM1160W-1 is the white version of the same machine, not an alternative [8].