Customer Reviews

Cuisinart DGB-300 Automatic Grind & Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker, White

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

So, the good news is that the Cuisinart Automatic Grind and Brew makes GREAT coffee. It grinds the beans in an instant before brewing, and there are numerous settings on the machine, so that you can adjust the strength and temperature of the coffee, ensuring that it will be exactly to your liking. You can also pre-program the machine to make coffee for you in the morning (a miracle of modern technology). I have found the coffee produced by this machine to be smooth, not at all acidic ... about the best coffee I've ever had outside of Starbucks.

The BAD news is that this coffeemaker is a distinct pain to clean. There are lots of parts, each of which has to be removed and cleaned each and every time you want to brew a pot (you can't simply add a new filter and go). There is a lot of rinsing, and you have to make sure that the grinding basket is DRY before brewing another pot.

All of this, however, is worth it if you want great coffee, as the cost isn't that bad. There's something beautiful about being awakened in the morning by the sound of coffee beans grinding. Overall, I've been very happy with this product and would certainly buy it again if I had to do it all over.

The Cuisinart DGB-300 Automatic Grind and Brew 10-Cup Coffee Maker truly is a gourmet coffee shop in your kitchen. It is easy to use, cleans quickly and you never need another paper filter again. Programming functions such as when to brew that first pot, or how hot you like your coffee is a snap. There are a few tricks to get things just right, like:(1) If you put in pre ground coffee you need to disable the grinding feature. (2) Buy some fresh beans from your favorite gourmet coffee shop. Try just 1/2 pound. (3) Experiment with the flavor strength knob inside the unit until you get it the way you like your coffee. (4) Remember for different brands of coffee (i.e.. not from the same supplier you may have to adjust the number of measures for each cup. For example, I get a hazelnut coffee from a local shop and use eight level measures for an 8-cup pot. Another hazelnut coffee from Green Mountain roasters, I have to add, an additional measure for an 8-cup pot. After experimenting and getting it just right, you will have that gourmet coffee shop right in your kitchen.

I love coffee--so much that when Toshiba came out with a grind/brew machine about 12 years ago I plunked down approx. $250 for it. I grew to dread this machine. The only reason I'm taking time to write this story is to point out that this is not new technology. So, Cuisinart comes along and markets basically the same product with the same MAJOR problems. It is loud, really loud. It is difficult to clean, and it looks like a 5-year Toyota--the egg carton design era. One big, ugly, loud, very hard-to-clean, bulky machine. My best friend bought it and can't stand it. I was still stinging from the Toshiba 12 years earlier. BUT GOOD NEWS! MELITTA HAS COME OUT W/A GREAT GRIND AND BREW MACHINE. It's much quieter, easier to clean, it doesn't use filters, has a timer, and it makes an incredible cup of coffee. It's approx. $20 cheaper, too. I love it.

I have owned THREE Grind and Brew coffee machines from Cuisinart because I love good coffee. For so long, it was the only product I could find that ground the beans and dumped them automatically. So nice to wake up to in the mornings. However, here are features I disliked: cleaning up and drying parts after every pot brewed was essential for good coffee; brew regulator did not seem to work at all; and, lack of reliability. The first Grind and Brew I owned failed after 10 months; the second failed after 8 months; my third just failed at 11 months. In two cases, the mechanism which moved the water from the resevoir through the ground coffee failed; the second coffee maker caught on fire (no damage to surroundings!). This last time the warmer also failed. Both times the manufacturer replaced at no cost except for shipping. But what a hassle - and they always seemed to fail during the holidays when you have guests. NOW there is an alternative that is less expensive and does the same thing: the Melitta Mill and Brew. Just got mine and I love it so far. It's much easier to clean up. Time will tell about the reliability. One of the bonuses I didn't expect with the Melitta: it's smaller than the Grind and Brew and takes up less space. AND, Amazon got it to me intime... Try the Melitta instead!

Bought one three years ago, the coffee tastes great but the grinder failed after 18 months. The company swapped it for a new one under the guarantee (although we were without for 3 weeks!). Now, again after 18 months use, the hotplate system has failed and no longer keeps the coffee warm. We'll probably buy another brand this time.

It is necessary to wash various parts every day, which is a pain.

After using it for two weeks, we returned it. The outer design is excellent,very stylish, and it has a small footprint for the counter. No need to have a separate grinder and canister on the counter. That's the good news. However, having the coffee grinder inside the machine, causes condensation to buildup in the grinder after each use which results in a very high maintenence clean-up effort every time. The grinder assemply, and the connecting flue to the filter, has to be cleaned and throughly dry before the next use, so the ground coffee will end up in the filter and not stuck to the wet surfaces. It was really a hassle to clean and given the high quality of most Cuisuinart products, and the cost, it was a disappointment. In any event, the vendor took it back without a hassle.

i have had my grind and brew for 14 months. it produces great coffee, as long as you take the time to work with programming the heat and the quantity dial under the lid. yes, it is a pain to clean, but i feel well worth it. yes, you do have to wash the parts and make sure they are thoroughly dry before re-using the machine, but you get used to that after a few times. it becomes routine. besides having fresh ground coffee, the coffee can be ready the moment your feet hit the floor in the morning! i also like the automatic "clean" feature (lites up when it is time to run the vinegar through the machine). the only problem i experienced was the plastic lid snapped off....you can't keep removing that lid to clean the pot or it becomes weak, as mine did.

Generally have enjoyed the Grind'n'Brew over the past 5 months. Coffee is good (but not as good as a French press) but it is a pain to clean, you have to clean the grinder lid, grinder/filter base, filter insert, and filter top each time you use the machine. A pain, but not that big a deal once you get used to it.

This is an engineering monstrosity. You must spend 5-10 minutes cleaning it after every use. Otherwise, moisure inside the unit causes the grounds to start sticking everywhere, clogging the unit and making it inoperable. In cleaning, you may throw away 25% of the coffee you put in. When yo do clean it, grounds stick and smear on everything you touch, including wash cloths. If you forget to clean it (because you have to go to work) cleaning it the next morning is hopeless, since it goes back together damp, unless you thoroughly dry each component. Way more time, way more money and average coffee. Get a grinder and a press.

This machine makes a great cup of coffee... definitely superior to standard drip-style makers. Not quite up to Starbuck's quality, but noticeably better than other mid-range coffee machines. The secret is the very fresh grind.

However, this machine is not the easiest to maintain. There are at least three parts to clean everytime you want to brew a cup (as opposed to just replacing/cleaning the filter). Some may get the impression that the "grind & brew" is meant to save you time... and it may a little, but not by much. The main reason you should buy this cup is because of the quality of the brew.

With that said, there is a design flaw with this machine. I too am on my second machine (had it replaced), because the grinding motor died on the first one. The first lasted about a year, this second one is doing better (2 years).

Yet I still recommend this machine because of the quality of the brews. Heck, the way I figure it, I save money everytime I don't go to Starbucks... If you are discerning coffee drinker, this machine will give you the taste you are looking for. What's the point of getting a coffee machine that last you along time, but you don't like to drink from?