I was given a maxi-matic 1 cup coffeemaker but wont stay on long enough to brew a cup of coffee?

Because you put a whole pot of water into it.

The 1-4 cup selection does not shut off the water after 1-4 cups.
Its a strength control so you don't over or under brew a smaller amount of coffee - but you are in control of how much water you put in.
Heres the instruction manual http://spectrum-sitecore-spectrumbrands.netdna-ssl.com/~/media/SmallAppliancesUS/Black%20and%20Decker/Files/CM2036S%20Use%20and%20Care%20Manual.pdf

How to Repair a Cuisinart Coffee Maker - Java Jenius

www.javajenius.com > How-To

How can I flush it if it won't brew at all? ..... The filter basket is in the proper position for the coffee to enter the filter but the ... I have a regular cuisinart coffee maker for12 cups (no grinder). ... I have the Cuisinart automatic grind and brew, model DCC490SA. .... The pot brewed a good cup of coffee but as of now it is useless.

I'm sorry, but I think it's broken. Buy another one, or something else.

Pot needs cleaning. Fill reservoir with 4 cups of vinegar. Press the SELECT button until the red CLEAN indicator light turns on. Let it perk through. It will take 45-60 minutes. It brews a few cups, stops and then should brew the remainder of the vinegar. When the cycle is complete the light will burn off and the coffeemaker will turn off. Discard vinegar solution and run a couple of pots of clear water through. Hope this helps.

There is probably a disclaimer in the user guide, as there are in many coffeemaker owner's manuals, to the effect that the coffee dispensed to the cup or the carafe will always be slightly less in quantity than the amount of water added or desired due to absorption by the grounds. This is not a malfunction, however. The only real solution is to brew the next size up.

The CBC-1600 is designed differently than you might expect. The stainless steel, insulated carafe is designed to keep the coffee hot instead of a hot plate keeping a glass carafe hot. Some people like that style better (including me). Some people - like my dad - don't think it keeps the coffee hot enough.

Your coffee maker is working exactly as designed. The carafe itself is designed to keep the coffee at the same temperature as it was brewed.

It depends on the quality of our coffee. The stronger the brew the less you might need. My rule for good coffee is to put one big spoon of good coffee per cup, not too strong but not too watery.

I have the same coffee maker & mine carafe broke too, The Carafe is $10.95 incl. shipping & handling, you will need to call Maxi-Matic customer service @ 626-912-9877 & they will e-mail you a order form to fill out. Hope this help.

According to the manual for IS series Mr. Coffee for programmable models:
1. Prepare one batch of Mr. Coffee coffeemaker cleaner. Pour the mixture into the water reservoir. Remove the water filtration disk from the machine.
4 cups or 20 oz. of undiluted, white household vinegar may be used as a substitute for the cleaner.
2. Place an empty paper filter or permanent filter into the filter basket and close.
3. Place the empty decanter back in the unit, centered on the warmer plate.
4. Press SELECT button until the red CLEAN indicator light is illuminated. For your convenience the cleaning cycle is automatic. The entire cycle will take 45-60 min to complete. During the cleaning your coffeemaker will:

• Slow brew approx. 3 cups of cleaning solution.
• Pause for 30 min (the CLEAN light will remain on to alert you that the process is active). At the end of the pause period your coffeemaker will beep.
• After 30 mins your coffeemaker will brew the remainder of the cleaning solution.
• When complete, the CLEAN light will turn off and your coffeemaker will automatically beep and shut off.

5.Discard the cleaning solution and rinse the decanter thoroughly with clean water.
6. Fill the water reservoir with clean fresh water.
7. Place the empty decanter back on the coffeemaker, centered on the warmer plate.
8. Remove and discard the filter used during the cleaning cycle and replace it with a fresh paper filter. If a permanent filter was used during cleaning, remove it and rinse it thoroughly before replacing it in the filter basket.
9.Begin brewing and allow the full brew cycle to complete.
Repeat steps 6-9 one more time.