Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill Reviews

• Almost as good as I expected

  
  By A15N5D547HXVXL on 2004-09-19
  First off, the grind you get from a burr grinder is superior to a blade, hands down. This grinder makes a superbly uniform grind, and the fineness/coarseness is easily adjustable. For the price, this is an excellent burr grinder. Highly recommend it for your average coffee drinker. If you are grinding things finely, grinding spices or flavored coffees, or grinding lots of coffee, read on for important details.
  
  I was a little disappointed with the plastic grind hopper. Burr grinders I have used in the past were glass, and while I didn't think plastic would be a big deal, extremely fine grinds tend to 'stick' due to static electricity.
  
  When doing longer grinds (for larger pots of coffee, etc) the motor really starts to sound strained. I'm worried that with heavy use over a few months I might have issues with it. If I do, I'll update this review.
  
  *most* of the grinder is very easy to clean... however, inside the base there are a couple of pieces out of reach, and really fine grinds tend to collect just inside the chute that dumps the grinds into the hopper. If you grind flavored coffees (or, in my case, fresh seed spices) and need to clean it, you might be a little frustrated.
  
  

• An attractive, efficient, and competent grinder

  
  By A2BHX2HZGR5XHN on 2004-03-14
  This is the second automatic hopper-type burr grinder that I've owned. The first was the similarly-priced Capresso 551.01, which died after a couple years of use. I don't know what the lifespan of this Cuisinart grinder will be yet, but so far I'm extremely impressed with the comparison between the two. Start with the weight, at nearly 4 pounds--it simply feels more substantial. (The Capresso is a comparatively diminutive 2 lb. 9 oz.) The casing is an attractive stainless steel (which may just be a veneer over plastic, but it certainly looks nicer than the Capresso's black plastic) and the hopper and grind chamber are of thick, good-quality acrylic.

  The Capresso had to be emptied before changing the grind coarseness, and had a small, finger-bruising wheel with which to adjust it, but the Cuisinart's entire hopper turns freely to adjust the grind, filled or not. I'm also very pleased to find that the Cuisinart doesn't dust the countertop with a sprinkling of coffee after use, as the Capresso did. The motor isn't whisper-quiet by any stretch, but it's not as noisy as many home grinders.

  There are only two disadvantages of this grinder, in my opinion. First, the timer can only be adjusted in two-cup increments (minimum of 4 cups). It does this with a satisfying click, but still, I'd like to nudge the slider a bit for a weaker morning brew or a stronger nighttime one. Second, the hopper contains almost four cups' worth of coffee below the visible area, inside the machine. That, combined with the grinder's heftier weight, makes it a chore to empty it if you want to change coffees (say, if a guest requests decaf). Not only do you have to turn this brute upside-down, but you also have to turn it every which way so that all the coffee inside the machine works its way out.

  But these are minor quibbles. Overall, this is an excellent machine.
  
  

• Still working 3 1/2 years later

  
  By A376OJHLE6SU9Q on 2005-04-26
  I have had this grinder now for over 3 years. With almost daily use it is still working great.
  
  Pros:
  
  * For the most part it grinds a uniform grind (Toward the top of the box there is some extra fine grind that tends to spill out when opening. A tap or two on the counter settles most of it preventing it from spilling out.) Still cleaner than my old blade grinder.
  
  * Stores a 1/2-pound of beans.
  
  * Consistently grinds the same amount of beans. Makes reproducing that perfect brew every morning just that much easier.
  
  Cons:
  
  * Louder (not by very much) than my old grinder but the cats quickly adjusted to the noise
  
  

• Good Value for the Price

  
  By A1FAOKICSVBU1T on 2004-08-29
  This review pertains only to using the Cuisinart grinder for press pots. We have no experience using it to grind coffee for espresso. We have found that if we use the coarsest or next-to-coarsest setting, among the 18 settings, the coffee will be coarse enough to use our Bodum press pot. The grind is about 95% even-grind, with the remaining 5% "coffee dust." We don't find this to be a problem (it makes the coffee richer in flavor), but if you insist on a clear cup of coffee this grinder is probably not for you. The grind in a burr grinder like this one is nonetheless much more even than one can get using a blade grinder. We grind for six cups, which takes just several seconds. The Cuisinart is not really a loud machine---about the same as a standard blade-grinder. There is some static cling on the walls of the grind receptacle, but from what I have read that seems to be an unavoidable feature of such grinders. With a fine brush and some care, even a relative klutz like me can get the coffee out and into the press pot with only a quarter of a teaspoon or so of coffee on the counter. At Bed, Bath, and Beyond, with its ubiquitous 20% off coupon, the grinder is $40. We're well-satisfied. 4 1/2 stars.
  
  

• High Volume, Low Value

  
  By A1FEDRP4F58AQW on 2004-05-25
  This grinder was given to me as a gift to accompany an espresso machine, but unfortunately I will be returning it. I've found that even on the finest grind setting, the results are much too coarse and uneven to brew proper espresso. Furthermore, this grinder is LOUD; the first time I ran it I thought the steel burrs were grinding themselves together.

  Other problems: The minimum setting is for 4 cups of coffee, which is far too much for a shot (or even a double shot) of espresso. And a good deal of grounds (about 2 cups worth) ends up stuck inside the machine, so to get freshly ground coffee you really first have to grind 2 cups and empty the bin, then grind what you need. This is a waste of coffee. And if you forget to put the plastic lid on the hopper when you slide it into place, grinds will fly everywhere, and there's no way to stop the grinding or put the lid into place short of unplugging the machine from the wall!! This is a serious design flaw.

  Anyhow, for making large amounts of drip coffee this grinder might decently serve the purpose, but otherwise I'd look elsewhere.
  
  

• Good buy for the Price
  By AEER4WQE9ZU93 on 2005-12-27
  Don't believe that ANY grinder in this price range will be the ultimate grinder for all your grinding needs. I read with amusement as some reviewers slammed this grinder for not grinding well enough to use with their espresso machines. I own this machine for use with my drip coffee maker only. I own a $500+ Mazzer Grinder for my espresso machine. The point being, that for the absolute consistent grind needed for use with espresso, you better be willing to step up significantly in price. That said, on to this grinder review.
  
  Considering there are no decent blade grinders on the market - including those in the $25 price range, the best grinder to have is a burr grinder. Burr grinders do not create the heat that destroys the flavor of your beans and creates a more uniformed grind. Burr grinders do not produce the large "chunks" of beans in varying size that a blade grinder does. I have yet to see any missed "untouched" beans find their way past the burrs (as one reviewer claimed) and find that hard to believe, considering beans can only pass through the small space between the burrs and would thus be ground on their way through. You may get some bean smaller than your setting, but will not get anything larger than your setting.
  
  As with any burr grinder under $200 this grinder does create some powder. It creates a lot of powder if you attempt to grind at its' finest setting (called Turkish Coffee). For drip coffee makers though, a mid-range toward coarse setting doesn't produce enough powder to be a concern when using paper filters in your coffee maker and a GOOD bean to start with. I sometimes wonder if the complaints of "bitterness" from some reviewers isn't a problem with their bean choice or their water temperature. As a drinker of 100% Kona in my drip maker, I have yet to taste a bitter cup of coffee, even with the less than a tsp. of powder that is present in my freshly ground coffee.
  
  Noisy? Yes, but no more noisy than some and less noisy than most in this price range. A grinder of this size will create noise, but unless you plan on grinding 24/7 that is to be expected. My guests are actually enthralled by the noise and the ability to watch fresh beans meet their demise (I hang with a morbid crowd) as the beans slowly disappear down the hopper. The timer is a nice touch if noise is a concern. The fact that you can turn it on, leave the room and return in a minute or two (avoiding the noise) to find the unit automatically shut off should make those with sensitive hearing happy.
  
  This grinder has a decent weight to it, making it feel sturdy on your countertop. The S/S body also gives the appearance of a well built machine and makes it more stylish than your standard black plastic neoprene models being produced by other manufacturers. This is a solid, sturdy, and well built machine for this price.
  
  If there are complaints that you should be warned about, it is the age old problem of static cling caused by the use of plastic for the grounds receiver. Cuisinart should have used glass to receive the grounds. I would have gladly paid an extra $3 on the final price in order to avoid dealing with the static cling found in every machine that uses plastic for this purpose. The other is the clean-up, if you are as anal as I am about coffee equipment. Again, the static cling is annoying, but I keep a slim painters brush nearby for the purpose of brushing out the chute and receiver which makes the task quick and easy. It loses a star for the static cling issues, but I guess every grinder in this price range has the same problem because they use plastic.
  
  Overall, for under $50 this is a very good machine for the price.
  
  
• Nice, functional, minimal problems
  By A2O43WEDW4KKYZ on 2004-07-07
  Got this burr grinder and really couldn't be happier with its looks, performance, and durability.
  Pros:
  1. Big hopper
  2. Completely customizable -- grind settings coarse to fine and cups to make
  3. The fine ground setting really does produce fine grounds...or at least as fine as needed for espresso. I know some people would like coffee dust, but not me
  4. Relatively quick grinding time
  5. Automatic stop...press the button and do something else, then come back

  Cons: (minor ones)

  1. The scoop/brush accessory that was included, broke within a week. Actually, just the scoop. Snapped right off. But I don't need a scoop, I need the brush to clean the machine. So no biggie
  2. Kinda loud (but most burr grinders are so just keep that in mind)
  3. Slides around a bit when handling it. Maybe heavy rubber stoppers needed?
  4. Lid doesn't latch closed to the hopper. Just don't turn it over with coffee beans inside like I did. Ha
  
  

• Works Great
  By A2WV1BVPR5YKFZ on 2006-07-03
  I've had mine for about 6 months now. I use it to grind for a drip machine, and it grinds for about 16 cups every day. The motor seems to take it all in stride, and it's never sounded like it was under undue stress, so I'm puzzled by all the reviews reporting bad motors. I suspect, at least some of them, are really interlock problems. There are at least two of them: one is under the cup that collects the ground coffee. The other is under the hopper. If the cup or the hopper aren't properly seated, the motor is prevented from operating. This is a safety feature.
  
  The flavor of coffee ground in a burr mill barely resembles that of beans chopped up in a grinder with spinning blades. The spinning blades keep hitting the coffee over and over, heating it up. If you watch, you will see the coffee turn a lighter shade of brown as it dries out. A burr mill spits the ground beans into a cup as soon as it's finished with them, and the grounds are the same shade as the beans were. The difference in flavor is tremendous, so recommending a burr mill, such as the cuisinart, is a no-brainer.
  
  Update Jan 09, 2007: We've been grinding for about 16 cups per day for about a year now. Still going.
  
  Update July 03, 2008: Still Grinding
  
  
  
  
• can't clean it for beans
  By A1H1XQPWRWZPXH on 2004-11-02
  I bought this machine as a newly released product and was very excited to try it. At first it worked great, and I loved the fact that it was so easy to use...just put the beans in, set the desired grind, slide the cup amount selector, and press start. There was no measuring like you have to do with the coffee grinders as well as no messy counter. However, it was not too long before our coffee started to taste really weak, and I knew something was wrong. When I took the machine apart, the entire burr grinder was jammed with ground coffee and the spot where the ground coffee exits into the holder was so clogged that only a small amount of coffee was actually able to make it out of the machine. The supplied cleaning brush was next to useless so I used a thin wooden skewer to scape the jammed coffee away from the sides of the interior. Doing this every couple of times gets tired real fast, and I am at the point of taking it back to the store. If only they could have designed it so the coffee does not get jammed! We use French Roast, or Blue Mountain which tends to be greasier than other types, so perhaps the problem does not occur so quickly with other roasts. But! I am absolutely certain that no matter what beans you use, your machine will get clogged.If there was no clogging, this machine would get 5 stars!
  
  
• Died after ~ 6mos
  By A3S9O2UHA5922V on 2007-03-27
  Similar to other's experiences- it simply stopped working.
  
  When it was working:
  
  We make french press coffee: this unit didn't produce a consistent coarse grind. Lots of fine powder mixed in.
  
  Very noisy while grinding, overspeeds when hopper empties.
  
  Like all plastic coffee grinder containers- static causes the coffee grinds to stick to the sides & top.
  
  I replaced this with a KitchenAid Pro Line Pearl Metallic grinder- best one I've ever had by far, and worth every penny.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By A4RY3A6C6UYD2 on 2005-02-26
  For almost $50, I thought I would be getting a good quality grinder... I was wrong. No matter what grind setting I used, it would create lots and lots of 'dust' or 'powder' that would mix in the grounds and cling in clumps to the top of the grounds holder. This was unacceptable to me for french press, or even drip brewing- it made the coffee too strong.
  
  Cough up the extra $50 and get a Capresso Infinity, like I eventually did- you won't regret it.
  
  
• Decent grinder for the price
  By AD6Z6U1GQW3OI on 2006-11-24
  We upgraded from our old Krups blade whirly grinder for this burr mill unit. So far it's been working without issues after 6 months of use and 8+ pounds of beans. This unit does suffer from the static issues, in that the collection bin is made of plastic and causes the ground coffee to stick to the walls and will make a mess when you open the lid to pour out the coffee. We're ready to try a better burr mill grinder now.
  
  GOOD:
  - Affordable
  - Nice looks
  - Adjustable grind settings
  - Auto shut off
  - Grinds designated amount of beans, so it's hands free
  
  BAD:
  - Very LOUD!
  - Plastic bin produces static grounds, making a mess
  - Inconsistent grind
  - Produces clumpy grind
  - Clogs
  - Hard to clean due to design
  
  
• Great Machine! - changed review!!
  By on 2004-04-12
  I wanted a coffee grinder to go with my new Cuisinart coffee maker. It was between this burr grider and the normal blade grinder that Cuisinart offers. I decided to go with this grinder after my mother had rave reviews about her own grinder. This grinder looks great on my countertop. It is beautiful and makes wonderful ground coffee. I love how you can put an entire bag of beans into the holder and it just grinds the amount of beans that you want. That feature is one of the reasons I decided to buy this grinder also. My only con to it, and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is the volume of this little gadget. But don't get me wrong, I KNOW grinders will GRIND. But, I am a college student and live with a sleep-loving college roommate. And the noise that the grinder makes is a little bothersome to sleeping roommates or family members. All I can do is say "Sorry" and enjoy my wonderful, freshly ground coffee! Great machine! Great purchase!

  Update: With no warning what-so-ever, my grinder stopped working!!! AFTER LESS THAN 3 MONTHS OF HAVING IT!!!! No murmur of the motor, no loud crashing noise, nothing! Just stopped working leave me stranded with coffee beans and no way of grinding them....I'm not a happy customer!!
  
  ONE MORE UPDATE: I called Cuisinart to tell them what happened, they are sending me a brand new machine in less than FIVE days! Woo! All I am responsible for is sending my old machine back, yeah I do have to pay for shipping of course, but it is a much better deal than buying a new one! Cuisinart is faithful to their faithful customers!
  
  

• Lasted 3 months
  By A2XU3UMEIDMP59 on 2004-11-01
  I thought this was going to be a good grinder, but
  it failed to work after only three months. I replaced
  it with a cheap blade grinder; one with no circuitry...
  you put in the amount you want, and hold a hard-wired
  button until it is done. Sometimes cheap and simple is
  just the way to go. This grinder is a waste of good money.
  
  
• Durability
  By A37W8ZZWFKEK4T on 2005-10-02
  Bought this unit on 12/21/2004.
  The unit looks very good.
  The warranty is excellent.
  Within these past months,Cuisinart we are on our third unit.
  On the prvious 2 units, the switch stopped working.
  
  
• Still on the honeymoon, but seems to be an excellent product
  By A2QP7SVW2JUN2D on 2004-09-04
  I've used a blade grinder for years and put up with the low volume and mess entailed with those kinds of mills. When the blade started to break at the hub, I decided to go for a better design using a burr.
  
  The LA Times had a recent review of various burr type mills ranging from thousands of dollars to my preferred price point, $50. The one they recommended was the Capresso but Amazon reviewers were not wildly enthusiastic.
  
  I took a flyer on the Cuisinart based on the reviews. In the few days we've had it, it seems to do a good job grinding my preference, medium-fine for brewing using a #2 Melitta to produce an individual cup (16 oz).
  
  The uniformity of the grind is noticeably superior to the blade grinder. I use French roast, an oily bean, and yet the grounds are even and consistent.
  
  The brew is great - to my tastes as good as anything from one of the coffee joints.
  
  It is fairly noisy, but since it grinds quickly, not a problem. It does not seem to have the static problem of the blade grinder but that may also be dependent on the humidity in the air at the time. I like that it is relatively easy to clean the burrs and the receiver does not leak stray ground during the grinding process.
  
  Overall, I like it a lot and if it maintains the consistency of grind and holds together, I can really recommend it.
  
  UPDATE on May 1, 2006: After some episodes where the grinder either revved-up as if there were no beans being fed to the burrs, or stalling under load, I removed the hopper/upper burr assembly to inspect and clean the base.
  
  After many months of daily use with only superficial cleaning, a substantial amount of caked on fine grind residue builds up due to the oily character of these grinds. I used dark roast which is a particularly oily bean.
  
  The inner chamber of the grinder (surrounding the burr) had to be scraped with a small screwdriver blade to dislodge the build-up. Also, the exit chute builds up residue as well and it was also cleared.
  
  Now the grinder runs as well as before. This type of cleaning should be done monthly to keep the grinder running. Otherwise, you risk overloading and burning out the motor.
  
  
• Shame on Cuisinart!!
  By A1M6NEGPLC25MO on 2006-05-10
  I originally purchased one of these mills because I had been impressed with the Cuisinart food processor I had. I should have done my homework! This burr grinder is messy, loud, and slow. Horribly innacurate grinds. I'm a typical guy, so I figured I'd just live with it. Right. I had it less than 8 months when it began to slow during grinding, then stop before finishing a cycle. Motor fried.
  
  I called Cuisinart "Customer Care" number from their web page. I was treated with suspicion by their representative, told my serial # was way out of warranty, and that there was nothing they could do for me. I asked for a supervisor to continue my complaints, and the rep's tune immediately changed. She put me on punitive hold for 6 minutes, then came back and said that they would get me one in a week or two, (no warranty on the replacement one, good luck) and I had to pay return postage on my old one, plus $4 for handling.
  
  Here's the best part-- I got my new burr mill a few days later, sent the old one back. Started using my "new one" a week ago, now it's already slowing down and stopping! What a piece of junk! Shame on you, Cuisinart, and all you buyers beware! Avoid their stuff at all costs. I only wish I could give them a lower score than one star.....
  
  By the way...this burr grinder is made for Cuisinart by Conair, a company best known for their hair dryers, if that tells you anything. Let's see---hair dryers, coffee, hmmmm... Oh, the things you find out when you start looking!
  
  Back shopping for a better grinder not made by a hair dryer company (and maybe a new food processor, too...) The only thing worse than a bad product is bad customer service. You'll get 'em both in one stop here.
  
  
• Looks great and is better than a blade grinder but........
  By A1U3A431N29R7M on 2004-04-12
  I bought one of these Cuisinart burr grinders and I must admit it is very nice looking on the counter and it does do a better job than a blade grinder but..... it doesn't make a really even grind. What I mean is it makes a lot of finely powdered grounds along with the rest. It's also very loud.If you live in an apartment, have close neighbors or your any light sleepers in the house you might want to consider another burr grinder. But as I said it is a really nice looking appliance and it IS better than a blade grinder.
  
  
• Fine functionality, terrible quality.
  By A1QZ4R7NL73N8H on 2006-10-01
  I am on my second Cusinart DBM-8. The first one lasted a little over a year, then just stopped working. The cost of fixing it was more than the cost of a new one, so I purchased another. This morning, when I got up to make some coffee, I find that this new one is now not working. I have had it for about 9 months. So, two DBM-8's, average life, 11 months.
  
  It used to be that appliances lasted forever, that is no longer the case. Cuisinart also used to be a name associated with high quality products, that is also no longer true. I would recommend NOT purchasing this product.
  
  
  
  
  
• Short and Sweet
  By AY5PS2AJ1JS8F on 2008-02-27
  (Helpful? Not? Please vote, so I know someone's reading these ;-) :: This grinder has a good name, seems sturdy enough, and gets the job done down to espresso grind, but no further.
  1: Finest grind setting sufficient for pressurized portafilter espresso machines.
  2: Turkish coffee is not going to be possible w/o modifying the machine.
  3: Plastic hopper prone to static cling. Let grounds sit a couple minutes.
  4: Noise level is tolerable, even low compared to other grinders
  5: "Dosing" feature OK, but it's in "cups", so not like the fancy ones.
  6: Finesse adjustments to grind are easy, sturdy, and work as advertised.
  7: Model is compact, attractive, and reasonably priced.
  8: No good for commercial-style espresso machines. Option up if that's you.
  9: Does not supply the quality or consistency of grind like $300 models.
  10: Beats trying to make espresso grinds with a blade grinder, hands down.
  
  Remember, this is a $50 grinder, not a $350 Rocky conical-burr. If you want the best, you must buy the best. For my money, this was a good compromise. For others, with very sophisticated palates, it is unlikely to satisfy. That is the low-down on the equipment. Next ... know thyself. ;-)
  
  
• Great little grinder, if they have fixed the switch problems.
  By A88W7ZRYDWWUD on 2005-10-17
  This grinder replaced my 20 year old Braun blade grinder. The grind is extremely even and produces a better tasting coffee.
  
  The quantity is calibrated for medium grind, but it was easy to find the right setting for the grind I preferred. The plastic container does build up static; sometimes the grounds even jump out of the container. I wouldn't say it's messier than my old one, but with the auto feature I now grind daily, so it's messy every day. I can live with that.
  
  The finest grind setting is still a little more coarse than what I'm used to with espresso, and it is a bit of trouble to clean out and switch to decaf.
  
  The biggest negative is that I had the same switch problems others mentioned; mine died after 8 months. In Cuisinart's favor, they actually shipped me out a new one before they got my bad one. It's possible they had a bad batch of switches and now realize it.
  
  If you decide to get this grinder, be sure to register it! That made it easy to get a replacement, and they didn't require additional documentation. If they've fixed the switch problem, it would be a five star purchase.
  
  
• Very Nice!
  By A2MF0WQL24YX76 on 2004-07-22
  The Burr Mill grinder is a perfect match for the Cuisinart Coffeemaker. It's another very attractive piece of equipment from a company known for their high quality workmanship and visually pleasing designs. I put this unit to the test right out of the box, starting with two pounds of fresh amaretto flavored beans. The maximum setting gives you a grind that produces enough coffee for 18 cups, but the bean container on top will hold much more. It took about three cycles on the 18 cup setting to fill up an old Maxwell House can. Ordinarily, you'll want to grind just enough to fill your coffeemaker so that you are getting a fresh pot each time, but I wanted to see how this thing worked under pressure, so I went kinda berserk! Cleaning the containers is relatively simple, but getting into the grinding mechanism itself is probably more easily accomplished with an old toothbrush than the combination brush/spoon that comes with the unit. A little noiser than I'd like, but overall this is a very nice appliance that produces a grind that rivals the big commercial grinders used in supermarkets and coffee shops.
  
  
• Great!!!!! get the best for less with DBM-8 Cuisinart
  By A30K1XJPJ3ITFA on 2004-06-13
  I was a bit leary for I have gone thru two Capresso burr grinders in the last 3 years and was contemplating spending over $100+ for a good grinder that would last or so I thought until I gave the Cuisinart a chance. It is hands down the best, its excellent grinding options are true and coffee grinds going everywhere is non existant and clean up is a breeze and it is actually quieter than my old Capresso. The sturdy constuction can rival any higher priced model. Save your money and get the best for less with the Cuisinart DBM-8
  
  
• Good machine
  By on 2004-07-14
  This is a fine machine. It does a good job of grinding beans, it does so with a minimum of fuss, it's clean, and it's not too loud. There are only two drawbacks: First, it tends to produce some powdered coffee with every grind. This is inevitable with any grinder; but when you grind in small batches it's more noticeable. (Grinding a half pound of beans at a time will minimize the difficulty, but it sort of obviates the purpose of having a home grinder.) Second, as mentioned in another review, there are four or five tablespoons' worth of beans inside the grinding mechanism when the hopper appears empty: it does make it difficult to change quickly from one group of beans to another. In all, it's much better than a blade grinder, at a very reasonable price.
  
  
• Another one bites the dust...
  By A8CLKTBWM9QDV on 2005-03-02
  We too are sorry to say that after 3 months of use our grinder also stopped working. It worked just o.k. while it lasted. The complaints posted by others are 100% accurate. I only wish that I had read the reviews before purchasing! Please, don't waste your money.
  
  
• Another customer suckered into buying this for espresso
  By AT9HMLM6L93HY on 2005-09-05
  I wanted to buy a burr grinder just for making espresso, but didn't want to pay the $200+ I saw machines selling for from Gaggia and other high-end espresso machine makers. Since I like my Cuisinart food processor so much I thought I'd give this machine a try. What a waste of money! It doesn't come anywhere close to grinding coffee beans fine enough for a good high-pressure espresso machine. DON'T BUY THIS MACHINE FOR MAKING ESPRESSO! Trying to save $200, I wasted $50.
  
  
• Piece of Junk
  By AF0QD2FT1ZFVH on 2005-11-19
  First let me say that Costco has this grinder for $24.99 and it is not worth it. The grind is very inconsistant. Do not buy this grinder for use with an espresso machine or french press. No matter what setting I try to use, there is a layer of very fine coffee dust on top of the grinds. Also, several full beans have managed to make it past the burrs and into the hopper without a scratch. My old blade grinder works better than this Cuisinart piece of junk.
  
  
• Great value and yes it is good enough for espresso
  By A1EXGL6L0QQ0M5 on 2007-04-06
  Trolling the various online coffee blogs and review sites (especially those focusing on espresso) I found mostly negative reviews of this decent little grinder, and were it not for the $30 price I paid at a wholesale club, I likely would have taken those reviews for their face value and looked elsewhere. I'm glad I didn't.
  
  Even at $50, this is a solid deal for a burr (not a conical burr) grinder, which can run up to $100 (conical burr grinders run from $100-600+), and were it to not be good enough for espresso, it certainly would be good enough for coffee, but it is good enough. It produces a more or less consistently fine enough grind for espresso at the second finest setting (the finest produced too much dust and would likely be more appropriate for Turkish coffee). The settings for the amount to grind are geared toward medium grind and drip coffee drinkers, but there is enough flexibility to allow for users of French presses and espresso machines to find a happy medium. The number of settings for the fineness of the grind also would suit the whole gamut of coffee grinds.
  
  Now I'm not saying this grinder is the bees knees, merely a very good value. I'd love to spend $130 for the KitchenAid KPCG100ER Pro Line Burr Coffee Grinder, Empire Red, but that combined with the money I already spent on my espresso machine would likely be a bit much for my sig other. There are machines that make a more consistent grind, and there are others more suited for espresso, but not for the price. Also the plastic bin does induce far more static cling than one would like, but after running the bin through the dishwasher, it's negligible (I knock the bin on the counter, and all the grounds that stick to the side obediently fall to the bottom.
  
  
• Better than expected.
  By A2AEGYDX7WSA2M on 2005-01-12
  The reviews I read almost made me not want to give this grinder a try. I'm glad I went ahead.
  
  I have been using a La Pavoni burr grinder for the past two years and have just about worn it out. I was pretty happy with it except the hopper was relatively small and it would start on its own.
  
  The Cuisinart grinder is exactly what I wanted. The hopper is a good size. The beans flow into the griding mechanism very easily. Anyone who has trouble with their beans clogging up in this area must be using beans the size of marbles.
  
  The Cuisinart has much better control over the size of the grind than my La Pavoni as well. Since using the Cuisinart to grind espresso, I have been able to increase the amount of crema on my shots. For that, I am very happy. I typically make espresso one or two shots at a time and I have had no trouble adjusting the grind time to get the proper amount for just one shot.
  
  The only complaint I have has to do with the plastic grind reservoir. The static energy charge on it does create a mess when removing the grinds. However, this was true with the La Pavoni and I suspect will improve with time.
  
  
• JUNK
  By A3V31L676SEBB on 2005-02-08
  Would have given this piece of junk minus 5 stars if that would have been an option. Had the grinder for about 3 months when it, without any warning, totaly and completely quit. Had to try, "try" being the key word, to contact Cuisinart's customer service, kept getting the automated run around and then it would eventualy just hang up. After about a week of this, I threw the stupid thing in the trash and vowed to never buy another Cuisinart product again as long as I live.
  
  

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