Cuisinart DGB-500 Grind & Brew Auto 12 Cup

Features

Essential Info:
When you consider machines that promise to perform two coffee making functions, you always have to ask: will the trade off in convenience come at the cost of performance? Like many machines now appearing, the Cuisinart Grind & Brew combines the two key steps in preparing a great cup of coffee: grinding and brewing. It also offers a sophisticated looking design in the process. The Cuisinart Grind & Brew epitomizes efficiency and ease of use. This 12-cup drip coffee maker features an independent grinding unit that can be quickly and simply removed for easy cleaning. This is a nice touch given that many grind and brew units have hard to reach chutes or channels that are difficult to keep free of excess grounds. The Cuisinart Grind & Brew provides all the control features coffee drinkers expect. There is a 30 second “Brew Pause” that lets you pour a cup while a pot is brewing and settings that allow you to adjust water flow to brew as few as 1 – 4 cups without sacrificing flavor. The machine has an easy to use clock/timer to program brewing up to 24 hours in advance. It is available in black or white.

Controls:
How much control is too much or too little? That’s a personal preference, of course. Many machines now attempting to accommodate a desire for a multitude of control functions are forced to miniaturize the buttons or dials. Not so for the Cuisinart Grind & Brew. This versatile machine offers a healthy menu of easy to use push button control settings to let program brewing time, adjust the volume of coffee produced, and bypass the grinding unit if you desire. Best of all, Cuisinart understands that even simple controls take a little time to master. So, the Cuisinart Grind & Brew’s buttons are set apart with enough space that they’re easily identified at a glance. There’s little danger of accidentally pressing two buttons or inadvertently hitting the wrong button. But the real breakthrough in the grind-and-brew process comes with the grinder on this machine. In some grind-and-brew coffeemakers, you have to load the grinder with excess coffee to prime a chute for the first brewing. Inevitably, the chute becomes clogged with old and dried grounds that can be difficult to reach and clean away. This grinder, on the other hand, deposits its grounds directly into the filter basket. The grinder pops out with a snap and can be easily cleaned. The grinder, which will automatically begin grinding when the on/off button is pushed, is set for an automatic medium drip grind and there are no further grind settings. If you press the 1-4 cup button for a smaller pot, the machine will adjust the water flow over the grounds to get the maximum flavor extraction. It also has a simple to use LED clock/timer to program grinding and brewing up to 24 hours in advance and features a 30 second “Brew Pause” allowing you to interrupt brewing to pour a cup of coffee. The Cuisinart Grind & Brew incorporates two other features that highly enhance the brewing experience. It uses an audible tone that sounds 5 times to tell when the coffee is ready. Distinct but unobtrusive, the tones can be heard across a room. It also has a programmable shut-off function that lets you set the machine to turn off a maximum of 4 hours after brewing. If you don’t program a time, there is a default shut off at 2 hours.

Performance:
The great allure of a combination machine is convenience. For most people this is a machine that will deliver convenience along with an added bonus. As any coffee aficionado knows, smell contributes significantly to taste. The aroma of ground beans is particularly rich and appealing with this machine and considerably enhances the experience of using this machine. Although the coffee maker brews the coffee quietly, it is unusually loud when grinding the beans, possibly the one tradeoff for having a compact and independent grinder. There’s also no escaping the clean up when using a coffee grinder, whether it’s incorporated into the machine, or if you use an independent unit. If you usually use ground coffee, you may have to experiment to get the proper ratio of whole beans to water. It takes a little time to master, especially if you’re accustomed to measuring already ground coffee by the scoop. Further, with a default setting for medium grind, you don’t have the option to grind beans coarse or fine if desired. With a detachable unit for a grinder, keeping the grinding mechanism and chute clean and clog free is considerably simplified. Overall, the Cuisinart Grind & Brew is an excellent performer.

Construction:
The Cuisinart Grind & Brew is made of polished plastic, with an attractive slightly rounded euro style design. The grinder unit is completely detachable, so it is easy to clean. For all of its functions, the coffeemaker is compact. This is no iron giant. It’s trim and sleek and suits almost any décor. All sections of the Cuisinart Grind & Brew are easily reached. They either slide open or open with a push button. The grinder is small – it can fit in the palm of your hand -- but the hopper holds enough beans to brew a full 12-cup pot. It has a clear plastic cap that fits securely when grinding. Cuisinart designed it well, allowing the grinds to be deposited directly into the coffee filter.

Carafe:
The glass carafe of the Cuisinart Grind & Brew has a very pronounced spout to reduce dripping. Some handles seem designed for a child’s grip, but Cuisinart has avoided this common problem and made the Grind & Brew with an ergonomically designed plastic handle that is very large and easy to grip. Cuisinart added a knuckle guard, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally touching the side of a hot glass carafe. Water level indicators are clearly marked on the side, near the handle.

Hot Plate:
A scratch resistant hot plate with non-stick coating is used on the Cuisinart Grind & Brew. It is controlled using the on/off switch located on the front of the machine.

Reservoir:
The cover of the Cuisinart Grind & Brew reservoir flips straight back making it easy to pour in water. If you’ve ever felt uncertain about measuring water, the interior wall of the Cuisinart Grind & Brew will erase those fears. The reservoir features a raised, stepped water level indicator with distinctly marked numerals for accuracy in measuring. It is impossible not to see how much you have poured. For added safety, an “interlock” system prevents the coffee maker from operating if the reservoir cover is left in the up position.

Water Filtration:
Like many of the new generation coffee makers, the Cuisinart Grind & Brew uses a charcoal polybag filter. This polybag is plumper, but slightly smaller than a teabag. It fits snugly in a compartment that is set into the water reservoir. The compartment snaps apart easily, and the polybag only fits in one way so there’s no confusion about inserting it properly. The filter has a lifespan of 60 pots, approximately 2 months. The machine will brew without the filter, but unless you’re using bottled or filtered water, you’re going to taste the chemicals.

Coffee Filter:
A permanent goldtone filter comes with the Cuisinart Grind & Brew, but you can also use fluted paper filters. In an innovative touch, the filter basket opens on the side with the push of a button. It’s simple and foolproof, but it may throw you the first time if you’re used to clawing around the top of a coffee maker for the more typical swing out or flip up filter basket. The filter holder can be removed for cleaning.

Accessories/Re-order:
The Cuisinart Grind & Brew comes with a plastic coffee scoop, which has a brush attachment on one end for use in cleaning the grinder unit. It also has 5 fluted paper filters, a permanent goldtone filter, and one charcoal polybag.