Grind Brew Coffeemaker
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US $30.00
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The Cuisinart DGB-550BK Grind-and-Brew Coffeemaker - What Do Owners Say About It?
This is a nice looking machine that will fit in well with most modern kitchens. It offers some nice features: 24 hour programmable; water filter; thermal carafe with ergonomic handle; and of course, the main feature, which is its ability to grind and brew whole coffee beans.
The programmable feature means you can have coffee first thing when you wake up. It also has a brew pause function which means you can pour a cup of coffee before it has finished brewing all the coffee.
So, how well does it work? The pros and cons described below are based on what people who have owned and used the coffeemaker have to say.
Pros:
Most people say that this machine does indeed make really nice coffee (even consumers who rated the machine poorly usually didn’t criticize the coffee). Of course the quality of your coffee will also depend on the quality of bean that you use. One person reckoned that it made coffee better than any of their previous machines, while some said that the coffee was approved by those who are really selective about their coffee.
It was pointed out that you do not need to use whole beans. You can simply use ground coffee directly. Users have said that they found it easy to set up and to use. It is not as simple to clean as other machines, nonetheless owners have said that it only takes a couple of minutes to clean and dry the relevant parts (apparently it is ideal to clean and dry the parts immediately after the coffee has brewed).
As regards the longevity of the product, it seems to be good. One buyer said that the machine had already worked tirelessly for them for 3 years and was showing no sign of letting up.
Another individual mentiuoned this useful point: While other coffee makers rely on hot plate "warmers" to keep coffee warm for a few hours (which can make coffee bitter) the Cuisinart DGB-550BK has a carafe that keeps coffee warm through the use of insulation. So if you tend to brew a pot then drink it throughout the morning the carafe is a real plus.
A feature that was also appreciated (though not by all) is that it has a re-usable coffee basket so you don't have to keep buying filters.
The coffeemaker looks gorgeous and is said to be good value too.
Now, what about the bad points?
Cons:
The biggest disadvantage centers on the cleaning of the machine.
Because condensation accumulates in the grinder during the brewing cycle, the residual coffee grounds in the grinder become wet, and thus sticky. So it has to be cleaned before each new batch of beans is ground and brewed. Even though it doesn’t take very long to clean it out, many people find that it’s a nuisance. A user highlighted that you also must use the grinder part even if you are using ground coffee; so, it gets wet and needs to be cleaned.
There could be an issue with the basket door too. One user mentioned that it pops open now and again, which meant that it could not be left unattended. Cuisinart say this is as a result of improper cleaning. The user was adamant that it had been cleaned very thoroughly, yet it still occurred.
A lot of people comment on how noisy the grinding operation is. It is very loud, (and a couple of people mentioned that they no longer need an alarm clock!) What’s more, the grinder runs for 30 seconds regardless of how little beans are in it.
Other information picked up from people who used the DGB-550BK includes the following: At first, the maker may seem very complicated to use and to program (but once you get used to it, it's easier); it drips every time you pour coffee; and there is no adjustment for grind.
If you like strong coffee there could be a problem; some say that the grinder won't hold enough beans to do 12 strong cups. They say that if you follow the guides for what Cuisinart thinks is the right amount, your coffee will be watery.
The machine requires careful, daily cleaning and might be too high-maintenance for some.
So that’s it. The Cuisinart DGB-550BK Grind-and-Brew Coffeemaker gets a lot of good reviews, but of course it’s not perfect. It makes great coffee, fresh from your choice of whole beans. However, it looks as though you will need to spend a bit more time on clean-up than you would on other machines. For more information please take a look at the
Cuisinart DGB-550BK Coffee Maker
page.
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