Cuisinart DGB500BK Grind and Brew, Black

If you've never owned a 'grind and brew' type of coffee maker, there are several things you should know before buying:

1. They require additional cleaning. There are more parts to clean than a typical coffee maker, and you must wash out the grounds from the grinding vessel and shoot. But at most, it will add five minutes to your cleaning.

2. They will eventually wear out. Lots of moving parts all working together and contained in a single unit make it inevitable. I brew one two two pots of coffee every day with the unit; both of my first units stopped working after two and a half years of use. But since it comes with a three-year warranty, I simply returned the first one to Cuisinart and they replaced it with a new unit. Which means each purchase has lasted five to six years, not bad given the constant use it gets.

3. No coffee maker produces better coffee. I couldn't imagine using a regular coffee maker after using this one. Many friends and family who have visited and tried my coffee consistently remark on how it's the best coffee they've had.

Cuisinart has made many improvements with this new design: (a) smaller footprint, so it takes up a lot less room on the counter; (b) easier to clean and easier to keep the kitchen clean, since the pieces are separated and drip less; (c) built-in water filter, eliminating the need for spring water to make great-tasting coffee; and, (d) buttons on top, resulting in fewer accidental starts when cleaning around the unit. To name a few.

And what's more, the price has actually gone down from when this first came to market. What's not to love?!


love this coffee maker!!!   June 4, 2003
 25 out of 28 found this review helpful

i've had a krups for 12 years and finally busted the carafe (very $$$ to replace.) i intended on purchasing a new krups but the newer model just didn't seem as sturdy.

so, i bought the cuisinart grind & brew with the glass carafe (i like making 12 cups at parties - thermal carafe only offers 10 cups.)

i love this coffee maker. i make 6 cups for myself every day. to make sure it's HOT, i press the 1-4 cup setting that pre-heats the water. it's HOT.

i love the smell of fresh brew in the a.m. what a difference!! i've been using it every day and do not have any of the problems suggested in other reviews. my beans grind up nicely. the coffee is hot.

cleaning is easy. but i'm very careful to make sure that the grinder is completely dry before refilling it. (i wipe it out with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.)

i don't understand the complaints. i think it's a wonderful machine.


GREAT COFFEE MAKER getting a bad rap!   May 12, 2005
 16 out of 17 found this review helpful

We've owned this machine for about 1 1/2yrs and bought them as gifts for two couples last fall. Having run this same coffeemaker over 400+ times, I would like to rebut some of the complaints often seen here.

[Electrical problems} None of us have ever had or heard of the hot plate problems I saw mentioned. It could have been damaged at any point of the shipping & handling process. As for the "friend" having the exact same problem, if the problem is so prevalent then why are they getting a new replacement from Quisinart?

[Cleaning] I hate to break the shocking news but..... you do have to clean your coffee maker. Yes this unit has a few extra parts. That's because it has more functions, which is the reason we bought them in the first place. Every part is removable or accessible and therefore, cleanable. One reviewer in particular complained vehemently about the cleaning and then mentioned switching to a vacuum pot which has even more parts than a grind & brew!?

[Components] One most often mentioned is the slide out filter basket. It is on a rail system that can get gunked up when moisture and bean dust combine. So here's a simple solution: vegetable oil and a Q-Tip. Apply it to the rails and voila! It slides out like a dream for 1 1/2yrs and counting.

The reasonable price, extra features & functions and its space saving design make for a sensible choice if a grind & brew machine is what you are in the market for. If a coffeehouse quality cup of coffee is what you want, you'll have it.
I just get the feeling alot of people are just too busy to be bothered by having to clean and maintain. If that's the case and you were smart enough to research first, don't but it.


Works for Me!   July 30, 2004
 15 out of 16 found this review helpful

I was a little apprehensive about purchasing this coffeemaker because the reviews seemed very mixed. However, I have had it for a couple of months now and my husband and I both love it. It is true that the grinding noise is rather loud, so that might be a problem if you sleep next to the kitchen. But otherwise it functions flawlessly. I love how easily it disassembles for cleaning. I think it is designed very well indeed and would recommend it highly.


Great Coffee   November 9, 2004
 18 out of 20 found this review helpful

Boy

I must be missing something from the bad reviews. I received mine as a Christmas gift last year and have used it one or more times per day ever since:

1. Makes great coffee
2. reasonably easy to clean with sponge
3. Steam rising not an issue for me
4. Clean soon after use

Hints---use paper filters instead of the included metal filter
Make sure the filter door clicks shut correctly. I've had a couple instances where the filter door popped open but I think it's because I didn't shut it properly