When it comes to coffee lovers, the pursuit of the perfect cup is often a never-ending journey. From selecting the best beans to the ideal brewing method, the process can be both an art and a science. One of the key elements in this journey is finding a coffee maker that meets all your needs and delivers a consistently great brew. The Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker (model DGB-900BC) aims to be that all-in-one solution by combining a burr grinder and drip coffee maker into a single device. However, does it live up to the expectations? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
- Ensures consistent grind size for optimal extraction.
- Allows for customized brewing times and strength control.
- Keeps coffee warm for extended periods.
- Removes impurities, enhancing coffee taste.
- Easy to navigate and operate.
- Takes up significant counter space.
- Consistently produces underwhelming brews.
- Fails to reach the ideal brewing temperature.
- Grinding process is loud and disruptive.
- Requires frequent and involved maintenance.
Design and Build Quality
The Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew is a robust machine, towering at a height of 16.3 inches and taking up significant counter space with dimensions of 8.3 inches wide by 11.6 inches deep. It features a blend of brushed steel and black plastic accents, which give it a modern and sleek appearance. However, its bulky size may be a challenge for smaller kitchens. The machine is designed with a built-in burr grinder that sits prominently on top, adding to its height and overall footprint.
The thermal carafe is designed to keep coffee warm for extended periods, a handy feature for those who like to sip their coffee over several hours. The control panel is user-friendly with a clear LCD display, grind control knob, strength control button, and an on/off switch, making it easy to navigate through the various settings.
Usability and Features
One of the standout features of the DGB-900BC is its integrated burr grinder. Burr grinders are known for their ability to produce consistent grind sizes, which is crucial for optimal coffee extraction. The machine allows you to grind coffee beans just before brewing, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor. Additionally, it offers the option to use pre-ground coffee by selecting the “Grind-Off” feature.
The Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew is highly programmable, allowing you to set the machine to start brewing at a specific time. This is perfect for those who like to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. The grind control knob lets you adjust the amount of coffee to be ground, while the strength control button allows you to select from mild, medium, or strong brew settings.
The machine also includes a charcoal water filter to remove impurities from the water, enhancing the overall taste of the coffee. The water reservoir has a clear window for accurate measurements, and the thermal carafe features a brew-through lid, which helps to maintain the coffee’s temperature.
Performance and Coffee Quality
In terms of performance, the Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew falls short of expectations. While it excels in grinding coffee beans to the desired consistency, the brewing process itself leaves much to be desired. During testing, the machine consistently produced coffee that was weak and lacked depth in flavor. This was confirmed by blind taste tests conducted with 31 coffee drinkers, where the DGB-900BC ranked 8th out of 10 machines.
The machine takes about 9 minutes to brew a full 12-cup carafe, which is within the acceptable range recommended by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). However, the brew temperature was another area of concern. The hottest temperature measured mid-cycle was 175°F, which is below the ideal brewing temperature of 200°F. This lower temperature likely contributes to the underwhelming flavor of the coffee.
The coffee decanting from the brew basket mid-cycle was measured at 175°F, while the temperature of the coffee in the carafe immediately after brewing was 168°F, dropping to 163°F after an hour. Despite the thermal carafe’s ability to keep coffee warm, the initial brew temperature is a crucial factor in achieving the best extraction and flavor profile, and in this regard, the DGB-900BC falls short.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Maintaining the Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew can be a bit of a hassle. The machine has many parts that require regular cleaning, including the burr grinder mechanism, coffee chute, and hopper. Cuisinart recommends cleaning these components every seven to ten uses, which can be time-consuming. The brew basket is dishwasher safe, which is a plus, but the overall cleaning process is more involved compared to simpler drip coffee makers.
The machine comes with a special brush and scoop tool to aid in cleaning the grinder and chute. However, the process involves removing bits of broken beans by hand and brushing fine coffee powder from the chute, which can be messy and cumbersome. Additionally, the water reservoir’s narrow channel around the burr grinder makes it tricky to fill without spilling.
Detailed User Experience
From the moment you set up the Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew, it becomes clear that this machine is designed with the coffee enthusiast in mind. The setup involves filling the hopper with beans, activating the charcoal water filter, and programming the machine to your desired settings. The hopper holds up to half a pound of beans, and the grind control allows you to select the quantity of coffee to be ground, from 2 to 12 cups.
The user interface is intuitive, with a digital clock and easy-to-use buttons for grind control, strength control, and on/off. Once programmed, the machine grinds the beans and starts the brewing process automatically. The noise level during grinding is quite high, which can be disruptive, especially in the early morning.
One of the advantages of this machine is its programmability. You can set it to brew at a specific time, ensuring that you wake up to freshly ground and brewed coffee. The thermal carafe’s design is effective in keeping the coffee warm, but the brewing process itself, particularly the lower brew temperature, affects the final taste.
Despite its features, the machine’s performance in delivering a strong, flavorful cup of coffee is lacking. The grind and brew process is efficient, but the resulting coffee is often weak and lacks the richness that coffee lovers seek. This issue, coupled with the maintenance challenges, makes the Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew a less than ideal choice for those who prioritize coffee quality over convenience.
Conclusion
The Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker is an ambitious attempt to combine a burr grinder and drip coffee maker into one convenient machine. While it succeeds in offering a range of programmable features and a user-friendly interface, it ultimately falls short in the most crucial aspect—brewing a great cup of coffee. The weak flavor and lower than ideal brew temperature are significant drawbacks, especially considering the $200 price tag.
For those who prioritize convenience and like the idea of freshly ground beans, this machine might still be worth considering. However, coffee aficionados who are particular about the quality of their brew may want to look elsewhere. Investing in a separate high-quality burr grinder and a reliable drip coffee maker could provide better results and more value for your money.
In the end, the Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew offers a glimpse into what could be a perfect all-in-one coffee solution, but it falls short in execution. While the idea of combining grinding and brewing in one machine is appealing, the trade-offs in coffee quality and maintenance complexity make it a less compelling option for serious coffee enthusiasts. For those who value convenience and programmability, it might still be a worthwhile investment, but for the best coffee experience, separate devices might be the way to go.
Specifications of the Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker (DGB-900BC)
General Information
- Brand: Cuisinart
- Model: DGB-900BC
- Type: Burr Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker
- Price: Approximately $200
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
Dimensions and Weight
- Height: 16.3 inches
- Width: 8.3 inches
- Depth: 11.6 inches
- Weight: 9.5 pounds
Design and Materials
- Body Material: Brushed stainless steel and black plastic accents
- Carafe Material: Stainless steel thermal carafe
- Color: Silver and black
Capacity
- Water Reservoir Capacity: 12 cups (60 ounces)
- Bean Hopper Capacity: Up to 8 ounces (half a pound) of coffee beans
- Carafe Capacity: 12 cups
Brewing Features
- Grind Control: Adjustable grind size for 2 to 12 cups
- Strength Control: Selectable brew strength (mild, medium, strong)
- Grind-Off Feature: Option to use pre-ground coffee
- Programmable Settings: 24-hour programmability for automatic brewing
- Brew Pause Feature: Allows you to pour a cup before brewing is finished
- Charcoal Water Filter: Removes chlorine and impurities for better taste
- Gold-Tone Filter: Permanent filter included, also compatible with #4 paper filters
- Water Level Indicator: Clear window with measurement markings
Grinder
- Type: Built-in burr grinder
- Grind Time: Approximately 40 seconds for a full 12-cup carafe
- Grind Noise Level: High, loud operation during grinding
Performance
- Brew Time: Approximately 9 minutes for a full 12-cup carafe
- Brew Temperature: Mid-cycle temperature measured at 175°F, with carafe temperature immediately after brewing at 168°F, dropping to 163°F after an hour
- Taste Test Ranking: 8th out of 10 machines in blind taste tests
- Brewing Technology: Automatic drip brewing
Maintenance and Cleaning
- Cleaning Frequency: Recommended every 7 to 10 uses for grinder and coffee chute
- Cleaning Tools: Special brush and scoop tool provided for cleaning
- Dishwasher Safe: Upper rack dishwasher-safe brew basket
- Ease of Cleaning: Involved and time-consuming due to multiple components
User Interface
- Control Panel: LCD display with digital clock, grind control knob, strength control button, on/off switch
- Ease of Use: User-friendly, but complex due to many settings and maintenance requirements
Additional Features
- Automatic Shut-Off: Programmable automatic shut-off
- Thermal Carafe: Keeps coffee warm for extended periods
- Brew-Through Lid: Maintains temperature and allows for easy pouring
Box Contents
- Included Accessories: Stainless steel thermal carafe, gold-tone permanent filter, charcoal water filter, measuring scoop/brush tool
