Cuisinart DGB-500 Grind & Brew, White
by Cuisinart
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: CuisinartBrand: Cuisinart
Model: DGB-500
Color: White
Product features:
- Grinds coffee beans and brews coffee at preset time
- Charcoal filter eliminates chlorine and odors from tap water
- Glass carafe holds 12 5-ounce cups of brewed coffee
- Grinder removes for easy clean-up; brew-pause for mid-brew pour
- Measures 15 by 8 by 7-1/2 inches, 3-year warranty
- Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Cookie Sheets, 2-Pack
- Progressive International Silicone Oven Mitts 2-Pack, Red
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart DGB-500 Grind & Brew, White
Customer Review: *STILL* not a good product
Summary: 2 Stars
My wife and I purchased the stainless steel version of this unit a couple of years ago. We tossed it after about a year for all the reasons people have already posted:
-noisy
-pain to clean (and for those who say we're just lazy, remember that we're comparing this to other units)
-flimsy construction
We purchased a Melita Grind and Brew and loved it for all the reasons we hated the Cuisinart. Unfortunately, it started spewing coffee everywhere.For whatever reason, my wife purchased this unit, which as far as I can tell, is just a white plastic (and cheaper) version of the original stainless steel unit.
The result - all the same problems. The funny thing is that on the box, Cuisinart's marketing says, "Now, easier to clean 2-piece design."
I'm not sure what they consider two pieces, but here's the truth:
- Grinder
- Lid to the grinder that has weird nooks and crannies
- the entire top of the unit where the grinder sits and where coffee dust turns into coffee sludge when steam mixes ith it
- filter
- filter basket
- pot
So, even conservatively, there are still four pieces to clean.
On top of that, it's still loud, you're still likely to break the swing-out filter basket when it inevitably gets stuck (and it will), and the coffee is terribly weak.
Here's why the coffee is weak: To begin with, there's no way to adjust the grinding fineness. But the real problem is the way the grinder is designed. The grinder works fine, but as it slings the chopped grounds against the discharge grate (that leads to the filter) the holes in the grate are so large that the grounds are passed through before they are really chopped up enough.
True: you can always just add more grounds, but at $8.00 per bag of whole beans, why should I have to use 1/3 more beans than necessary just because the minds at Cuisinart designed the holes in the grate too big?
Cuisinart, if you can't figure out how to leave the beans in the grinder and allow the customer to adjust the grinding fineness, then provide slide in/out grates of varying mesh thickness.
This unit is going back to the retailer this weekend. I'm going to get out my old electric grinder and then buy a $40 coffee pot and go back to doing it the old way.
EDITED:
So, the next day I tried to brew coffee again. Since it's just my wife and I, we only brew about 8 cups a day. I did the usual routine, using my normal amount of coffee beans and selected the "1-4 cups" button so the brewing would be slower and hopefully provide stronger coffee.
When the brewing was finished, the coffee had the color of weak tea. When I looked in the grinds basket, I found that all the grounds were pushed to the side and there were almost no grounds in the middle where the water had apparently come out with such force that it pushed the grounds to the outside. Further inspection showed that the water comes out of the pump right in the middle of the basket, rather than being diffused all around the basket to take advantage of ALL the grounds.
WOW! Can the design of this coffee maker be any worse? I honstly don't see how all these problems made it through QC.
CS
Description of Cuisinart DGB-500 Grind & Brew, White
CusinArt DGB-500W Grind and Brew Coffee Maker - The fundamental concept behind Cuisinart's Grind and Brew system is preservation of flavor. When coffee beans are freshly ground, the natural oils that result contribute to the natural, complex flavor. As ground coffee sits, these oils dissipate and their unique properties fade. By integrating a grinder into the coffee maker, you're assured of getting the optimal flavor from the coffee bean. Re-useable Gold-tone filter Charcoal filter helps filter impurities from water Grind off (turns off the grinder in case you have coffee) Brew Pause Comfort-grip handle Taste Keeper lid keeps your coffee fresher, longer Self-clean setting with a time-to-clean monitor Power Cord Storage Color - WHITEWhen the aroma of freshly brewed coffee--from freshly ground beans--wafts into your bedroom in the morning, you won't need your alarm clock. Preset this coffeemaker for your desired wake-up time, add coffee beans to the grinder, and in the morning the beans are ground to a medium grind and hot coffee awaits in the glass 12-cup carafe. You can also program the machine to start brewing at the end of a dinner party to avoid having to get up from the table, or to have hot coffee waiting after a brisk winter walk. When making fewer than five cups of coffee, use the 1-to-4-cups setting to improve extraction and heat; coffeemakers without this setting often lack the time to heat up properly, and coffee comes out cooler. A disposable charcoal filter removes chlorine and odors from tap water, improving coffee flavor, and should be changed every few months. Other features include a gold-tone commercial-style filter (or use No. 4 basket-style paper filters); capacity to use preground coffee instead of beans; 30-second Brew Pause, which allows a cup be poured before brewing is complete; and an audible tone to indicate the pot is ready. The grinder removes for easy cleaning, and all removable parts can be washed safely in the upper rack of a dishwasher. The Cuisinart Grind and Brew measures 15 by 8 by 7-1/2 inches, and comes with a three-year warranty. --Ann Bieri
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