Cuisinart DCG-20BKN Coffee grinder: Full Review

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN is an electric burr coffee grinder known for its versatile grind settings and consistent grinding performance. This mid-range grinder features a heavy-duty motor that can grind up to 16 cups of coffee at a time. With its stainless steel blades, it can grind beans into anything from an ultra-fine expresso powder to a coarse French press grind.

The DCG-20BKN has a sleek, modern design with a black housing and brushed stainless accents. Its compact size takes up minimal counter space but offers maximum functionality. This Cuisinart grinder is designed to be easy to use, clean and maintain. It comes with a number of useful accessories, including a grind brush and measuring scoop.

Overall, the DCG-20BKN provides excellent value for anyone looking for a powerful, versatile home burr grinder. It consistently produces uniform grinds to unlock the full flavor potential of your coffee beans. Keep reading to learn more about the features and performance of this popular Cuisinart model.

Design

The Cuisinart DCG-20N is an attractive, compact electric burr coffee grinder with a sleek brushed stainless steel housing. Despite its small size, it has a solid and sturdy build quality weighing in at just over 3 pounds.

Measuring only 7.75 x 5.38 x 10.75 inches, its footprint takes up minimal counter space but has a large 8 ounce bean hopper. The exterior is stainless steel with a curved shape and plastic accents. It looks modern and stylish with simple and intuitive controls.

The burr mechanism and interior components are made of high-quality materials for precise and consistent grinding. The exterior doesn't just look good, it also makes the unit easy to wipe down and keep clean. Overall the DCG-20N has a thoughtfully designed aesthetic and form factor that looks great on your kitchen counter.

Another excellent option for coffee enthusiasts is the OXO 8717000. This grinder features a stainless steel conical burr system to ensure even grounds and optimize flavor extraction. Its built-in scale lets you easily measure out your beans, making the grinding process simple and precise. The OXO 8717000 is designed with user-friendly features, such as a one-touch start timer and an easily adjustable grind setting. Its compact design ensures that it fits well on any counter, while the sleek finish adds a modern touch to your kitchen decor.

Grind Settings

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN burr grinder offers a wide range of grind settings, from ultra fine for espresso to coarse for French press. There are 12 different grind settings to choose from, clearly marked from 1 (fine) to 12 (coarse).

The grind settings are easily adjustable using a dial on the front of the grinder. Simply turn the dial to the desired setting, with lower numbers for finer grinds and higher numbers for coarser. The grind setting clicks into place, making it easy to select your preferred option.

A significant advantage of this grinder is the ability to fine-tune between the marked settings. So you can pick for example a grind that's halfway between a regular drip and a French press. This allows you to really customize the grind size to match your brew method.

Overall, the extensive grind settings available with precise adjustability are a major plus for this grinder. It can produce grinds ideal for espresso, drip coffee, French press, and other popular brewing methods.

If you are looking for a different option, you might consider the BLACK+DECKER CBG110S. This model features a stainless steel blade and a one-touch push-button control for easy operation. It may not have as many grind settings, but it is compact and efficient, making it a great choice for those who need a quick and straightforward grinding solution. Its sleek design also fits well in any modern kitchen.

Grinding Performance

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN delivers excellent grinding performance that produces consistent grinds for great tasting coffee.

• Grind Consistency: The grinder has a heavy duty motor and stainless steel blades that produce an even, uniform grind. The grind size stays consistent from the first cup to the last. You won't get a mix of fine and coarse grinds that can lead to over or under extraction.

• Low Noise: Despite its powerful motor, the Cuisinart grinder operates at a low noise level. You won't disturb the rest of the household when grinding your morning coffee. It produces less noise compared to many other electric grinders.

• Large Capacity: The hopper holds up to 8 ounces of whole beans so you can grind enough coffee for multiple servings at once. The grind chamber can hold enough ground coffee for up to 32 cups. This saves time when brewing for a crowd.

Ease of Use

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN coffee grinder has been designed for simplicity and ease of use. The controls are straightforward with a simple on/off switch and dial to adjust the grind size. The stainless steel grind chamber and blades are easy to remove for cleaning. The entire chamber and lid can be wiped clean with a damp cloth or rinsed under running water. There is no need for any special maintenance other than occasional cleaning.

The simple on/off button allows you to pulse the grinder to achieve the perfect grind texture. The grind size dial has 18 different settings clearly marked from extra fine to coarse, making it easy to adjust from espresso to french press as needed. The grinder runs smoothly and quietly thanks to the heavy duty DC motor.

Overall, the Cuisinart coffee grinder is designed to be very user friendly. The self-centering burr grinder, simple controls, and easy clean up make home coffee grinding a breeze for beginners and coffee enthusiasts alike.

Grind Container

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN comes with an 4-ounce stainless steel grind chamber that holds enough ground coffee to make 12 cups. The chamber is designed to be easy to insert and remove, with clear markings to indicate the maximum fill levels for different grind amounts.

The grind container has a tight sealing lid to help retain freshness and aroma of the ground coffee. It is made of heavy-duty stainless steel that feels sturdy and durable. The finish and brushed metal look help make it an attractive addition to any kitchen counter.

Overall, the size and design of the grind container make it very convenient to use. The stainless steel material also ensures it will withstand regular use and cleaning without any issues. It's a high quality container that matches the performance and build quality of the grinder itself.

Safety Features

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN offers some important safety features not found on all coffee grinders. One key feature is its overload protection circuit, which automatically shuts off the grinder if the motor overheats. This prevents damage to the grinder and avoids potential hazardous conditions.

Additionally, the grinder has a locking system to prevent the hopper from detaching during use. The hopper lid also locks into place to stop any hands or objects from accidentally contacting the burrs while the grinder is operating.

For stable placement, the base has non-slip rubber feet to hold it firmly on the counter. This is especially important for a high-speed appliance like a burr coffee grinder.

The brushed stainless steel exterior also stays cool to the touch even during extended grinding sessions. Overall, Cuisinart designed this model with safety in mind.

Accessories

The Cuisinart DCG-20BKN comes with a limited range of accessories. Inside the box you'll find the following:

• Brush - A cleaning brush is included to help keep the grinder clean. The short bristles can easily dislodge coffee grounds stuck in the chute or grinder chamber.

• Scoop - A handy plastic scoop is provided for portioning out whole beans before grinding. The scoop has a volume around 1 tablespoon.

• Chamber lid - There is a clear plastic lid for the grind chamber to help retain freshness between uses.

• User manual - A printed user guide has instructions for setup, care, and troubleshooting.

That's about it for included accessories. The grinder does not come with some handy extras like a grounds tray or spare grind container. But the basics are there to help keep the grinder operating smoothly.

Pros

• Large 180-watt motor provides fast, efficient grinding
• One-touch control allows you to choose from 18 precisely calibrated grind settings
• Timer can be set from 5 to 60 seconds, delivering precise amount of coffee
• Heavy-duty construction with sleek stainless steel accents for durability
• Portable design with handle for easy storage and transfer

Cons

• The grinder can be loud, especially on coarser grind settings. The grinding noise may be disruptive early in the morning if trying not to wake others.

• There have been some complaints that grounds can cling to the inside of the grind chamber, requiring occasional cleaning to remove leftover grounds.

• The grind container is not air tight, so grounds can lose freshness if left in the container for an extended period. Freshly ground coffee is ideal.

• While the stainless steel burrs are durable, they are not as sharp or efficient at grinding as ceramic burrs. So grind speed can be slower than some other models.