Does brewing temperature really matter in a drip coffee maker?

Yes. High-trust testers and specialist communities repeatedly tie better-tasting coffee to water held in the roughly 195–205°F range during brewing. Consumer Reports noted the Cuisinart Brew Central brewed close to the recommended 195°F guideline, while it flagged the budget SHARDOR for falling short, and testers note the fast-brewing BUNN runs at the lower end of the optimal range.