forkids's Full Review: Cuisinart DGB-300 10-Cup Coffee Maker
Over a year ago, my husband and I decided to look into these grind and brew machines. At the time they were running about $250 and we were told that the price would come down eventually, all things new in the electronics world usually do. I hungered for one but was not very optimistic about the price decrease until I started reading about them at Epinions.com. Sweeper’s review on the Cuisinart Grind and Brew was the review that sold me. His passion for the coffeemaker was evident and I urge you to take a look for yourself.
So, did I need one? I had to convince myself. (Sweeper's story tipped the scales)
• What kind of capacity was I looking for? 4 cups is fine, ten cups is more. The Grind and Brew has 10 cups of capacity.
• What did Consumer Reports say? They tested the Capresso Coffee Team Plus 452 and the Cuisinart Grind and Brew in the grind and brew category. The nod went to the Capresso over the Cuisinart because of ease of use and the burr grinder vs. Cuisinart’s Chopper.
• Did I need the ability to program the coffeemaker? Yes, I wanted to have this option for my husband’s schedule. Cuisinart has this.
• Is automatic shutoff important? Absolutely, as it is with an iron, this is an important safety feature and one I definitely wanted to have.
• Does it have an automatic brew pause? Yes, I love grabbing a cup halfway into the brew cycle. If my cereal is ready, I need something to go with it besides the milk.
• Do I need a carafe? Nah, I consume my coffee within twenty minutes of brew time and if I can’t, I pour the pot into a separate carafe that keeps it warm from sunup until sundown.
• Do I like the coffee pot itself? Do I like the handle? Does the lid open easily? Yes, to all of these questions. The pot is the best design I’ve seen on any of my previous models. It has a comfort grip handle and the water markings are close to the handle vs. around the other side. Plus, the water markings are available on the reservoir, too.
• Will it be more convenient than my Krups grinder and a Tupperware? Yes, Yes, and YES!
Well, I bought it and here is what I found. It was now $99 vs. $250,a most important feature.
It comes with these extra accessories:
• Gold-Tone permanent filter – I love this feature, more mess to clean but I don’t have to mess with aligning a paper filter correctly to keep the grinds from falling into the water. It’s nice to have this for those who run out of paper filters and still want to use the coffeemaker.
• Measuring scoop with brush – I like my Mr. Coffee scooper better because it’s flatter, this one is conical with a stiff brush on one end. I understand the need for the brush as there are some interior hiding places for stray coffee grinds that are best cleaned out before they float in your water.
• Four cone paper filters – a teaser amount. I got more product with my Hoover Windtunnel vacuum, a year’s supply of bags. Four paper filters are not too generous.
I pulled it out of the box with my fresh bags of Starbuck’s beans nearby. I learned to scoop in the right amount of beans for 4 cups, though it was strangely full. They recommend 1 1/2 scoops of beans per 1-2 cups. I did my initial run through without beans to clean the unit so I was ready to add everything and savor my first cup.
Whoa! Nellie, outta the way, take cover! This thing scared the heck out of me during the first week or two. The grinding process is loud and will catch you off guard. It does seem to grind longer than there are beans in the grinder. When I first got it I feared that I was going to burn the motor out. My husband won’t use it during the workweek for fear of waking up my daughter whose room is above the kitchen. I had to remember that my Krups grinder is the same kind of grinder and just as loud. We are working through his “fear”.
Features that I like and appreciate:
The unit beeps when the coffee is done brewing which is a feature I adore. It is not an annoying beep but a friendly one saying in so many words, “Hey, somebody? Anyone, I’m done”. It will, also, beep before it turns off.
The coffee is perfect and steaming hot, just the way I like it. You can set the temperature with a touch of a button if you want your coffee cooler or hotter. I went with the middle of the road number.
The unit accepts pre-ground coffee, take note of their instructions. I bought the unit for the grind feature and don’t plan on using pre-ground coffee, though it’s nice to know the feature exists if I’m in a bind.
The reservoir cover is so much better than a basket that swings open and falls off its hinges. Press to open and then again to close. The system beeped at me when I tried to start the machine without the grinder basket lid on, very smart! It will not let you start the machine if the reservoir cover is open even slightly.
Carafe Temperature display this lets you set the temp for the carafe after the coffee has been brewed and is sitting in the pot.
I love all of the button features as this is the most button pushing I’ve ever done on a coffeemaker. On/off, self clean, set temp, 1-4 cups of coffee, program mode, grind off, all useful and intelligent options.
Coffee taste and quality replaces the need for me to stop at Starbuck’s for a straight cup of coffee, which is all I ever get there anyway. Either a straight decaf – black or Café Verona – black. I haven’t stopped for this indulgence since I can now make my own at home with less cost and time wasted in a line.
The instructions were simple to follow with a very detailed 15-page booklet, one page dedicated to the quest for the perfect cup of coffee. These tidbits are interesting, usable, and appreciated.
Product Gripes
• Product takes up more space than my previous units. Check the height of your cabinets before shopping for this coffeemaker.
• Lifestyle change – pre-grind and brew process for making my coffee:
1. Grind coffee in Krups grinder, enough for a few days. Store in a Tupperware in the freezer.
2. Clean Krups grinder by tapping and wiping and still getting flakes everywhere.
3. Putting filter in filter basket. Measuring coffee.
4. Pour in water.
5. Start.
6. Rinse carafe and dump used coffee filter. Filter basket rinsed and air dried.
Post-Grind and Brew:
1. Insure all parts are dry, especially the grinder. If water gets into the grinder it will damage the motor. (same for any grinder) If I forget to rinse the parts the night before I have to rinse and hand dry 3 pieces before use. (the filter basket is ok not dried)
2. Measure beans, no need to fiddle with paper filters. Gold filter will leave more sediment in the bottom of the pot vs. a paper filter. This annoyance I can live with as I feel like my coffee tastes better without the paper filter.
3. Assemble all three pieces, pour in beans, and shut top.
4. Pour in water and press start button.
5. Rinse all parts to air dry for next use, dump grinds in trash can.
If my husband wants coffee and I want decaf, I need to be motivated to dry all the parts to make a second pot of coffee. It is much easier to dump a full filter and begin again then to dry all of the parts before starting the grind all over again. I have to keep reminding myself what a mess the coffee grinder can be and I was never motivated to use it every day, though it is a cinch.
I look at it this way, yes, there are more parts to clean but to have the opportunity to have fresh, fresh coffee again and on tap was wonderful, wonderful. I am more in tune to emptying the coffee filter and rinsing the pot and parts the night before so it is ready to go in the morning.
For $99 this is well worth the effort. If the unit conks out within three years, it is replaceable at no charge. To obtain warranty service call: 1-800-726-0190.
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