Cuisinart DGB-700BC Coffee grinder: Full Review

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind and Brew Coffeemaker is an automatic drip coffee machine with a built-in burr coffee grinder. This 2-in-1 machine allows you to grind whole coffee beans right before brewing for the freshest cup of coffee possible.

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC is designed to be compact and streamlined, with a 12-cup glass carafe and a simple control panel. It features 24-hour fully programmable brewing so you can set it up the night before to have coffee ready in the morning. The grinder has settings for regular or fine grind.

With the DGB-700BC, Cuisinart aims to provide home brewing convenience combined with commercial-grade grinding performance. This review will cover the design, features, grind quality, ease of use, and other aspects of this popular grinder-brewer combo unit. We'll look at the pros and cons to help you determine if it's the right choice for your kitchen.

Design & Build Quality

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC grinder features a heavy-duty housing made of brushed metal that gives it a sleek, modern look that fits well on most kitchen countertops. The metal construction makes it feel very sturdy and durable.

The hopper on top is made of clear plastic, allowing you to see the beans as they funnel down into the grinder. It's not as heavy duty as the metal parts, but the plastic still feels solid enough to withstand daily use.

The buttons have a soft rubberized coating, and the handle to lift the bean hopper is also coated for comfort during use. Overall, the materials seem built to last through years of regular coffee grinding each morning.

The styling is simple yet elegant, with the Cuisinart logo engraved subtly on the front. The chrome color gives it a nice shine that will complement other stainless steel appliances. While not flashy, the grinder has an understated attractiveness that looks great displayed on the counter.

Grind Settings

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC burr grinder allows you to choose from 18 different grind settings to get the right consistency for your brewing method. The grind size ranges from ultra fine for espresso up to coarse for French press.

There is a clearly marked dial on the front of the grinder that makes it easy to adjust between the different settings. Each number on the dial corresponds to a different grind size, so you can precisely dial in the size you need. The grinder allows for small adjustments between each major setting as well, giving you even more control.

The grind settings are easy to adjust, even mid-grinding if needed. You simply turn the dial to the desired setting. The grind setting will stay locked in place securely during grinding. Overall, the broad range of grind sizes and the ease of adjustability are two of the standout features of this grinder.

Grinding Performance

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC burr grinder delivers excellent grinding performance. The grinder uses stainless steel conical burrs to produce consistent grinds. It has an powerful motor that can grind beans quickly.

The grind speed is fast, taking around 10-15 seconds to grind enough beans for a full pot of coffee. Despite the fast grind speed, the grinder remains relatively quiet. It produces less noise compared to many blade grinders during operation.

The grinder is capable of producing very consistent grinds. The steel burrs combined with the grind settings allow you to select the ideal grind size for your brew method, from ultra-fine espresso grinds up to coarse grinds for French press. The grind consistency means you can expect flavorful extraction and balanced taste from your coffee.

Overall, the grinding performance of the Cuisinart burr grinder makes it a great choice for anyone looking to maximize the flavor of their freshly ground coffee. The combination of fast grind speeds, quiet operation, and consistent grinds produces excellent results.

Grounds Bin & Cleaning

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC has an 8-ounce grounds bin capacity, which is sufficient for most home use. The bin is easy to access and remove for cleaning.

• The grounds bin can hold enough ground coffee for up to 32 cups, so you won't need to empty it too frequently. This is ideal for households that go through multiple pots of coffee daily.

• Cleaning the bin is very straightforward thanks to the removable design. You can simply lift out the bin, dispose of the grounds, and rinse or wipe it clean.

• The grounds bin, hopper, and burrs can be cleaned with a brush to remove any stray grounds. Warm water and mild dish soap can be used as needed to sanitize the parts.

• There is no need to dig out hard-to-reach areas or dismantle components for cleaning. The open design allows full access.

• Grounds don't get lodged in the chute or other hidden crevices. The removable bin catches all the grounds for quick and easy cleanup.

Overall, the 8-ounce capacity bin offers hassle-free cleanup and maintenance for the Cuisinart burr grinder. Just empty, rinse, and reinsert to keep your grinder fresh and running smoothly.

Ease of Use

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC grinder is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. The controls are straightforward with an on/off button and dial to adjust the grind size.

Setting up the grinder is simple - just lock the bean hopper into place, plug it in, add beans, and press the power button. The hopper holds up to 8 ounces of beans, enough to make multiple batches of coffee.

Maintenance is also easy. The grounds container, hopper, and burr assembly are all removable and dishwasher safe. The burrs can be cleaned with a brush to remove any residual grounds.

The brushed stainless steel exterior makes the grinder easy to keep clean by just wiping down with a damp cloth if needed. There is a safety interlock system that prevents the grinder from operating without the bean hopper or ground coffee bin properly in place.

Overall, the Cuisinart coffee grinder has been designed for straightforward operation with easy to access controls, simple setup, and hassle-free cleaning and maintenance. This makes it a user-friendly option for anyone looking for a convenient home coffee grinder.

Coffee Grinder Capacity

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC has a sizable capacity, able to grind enough coffee beans for up to 32 cups per grind. This is thanks to its large 8 ounce bean hopper that can hold about half a pound of whole coffee beans.

This substantial grinding capacity makes the Cuisinart DGB-700BC well-suited for large households where multiple people drink coffee daily or for preparing large batches of coffee for events and gatherings. You can grind enough beans in one session for a full carafe or pot of coffee.

The hopper has clear lid that allows you to monitor the remaining bean level, so you know when you'll need to refill it. The large capacity also means less frequent refilling compared to smaller home grinders.

Overall, if you regularly make high volumes of coffee, the ability to grind 32 cups worth of beans in one shot is a useful capability that can save you time. This grinder is able to keep up with the needs of coffee lovers who drink several cups per day.

Accessories

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC grinder comes with a limited number of accessories. Inside the box, you'll find the grinder unit, a 8-ounce bean hopper, a grounds bin, a cleaning brush, and an instruction booklet.

The bean hopper is large enough to hold several days' worth of beans at a time. The grounds bin can hold enough ground coffee to brew up to 12 cups.

The included cleaning brush is useful for brushing out coffee grounds from the chute and chamber to keep the grinder running smoothly. It fits into a hole on the back of the unit for storage when not in use.

No other extra tools, replacement parts, or attachments come with this model. The basics are there, but Cuisinart doesn't provide a lot of accessories compared to some other brands.

If you want to buy add-ons, you'd need to look at third party options. For example, you could purchase a different sized bean hopper if you wanted more capacity. Or you may want to buy an extra grounds bin for convenience. But there aren't specific accessory kits made for this grinder.

Overall, the accessory offering is minimal. But the grinder comes with the key tools you need to operate it out of the box.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Large hopper capacity holds up to 1 lb of beans for fewer refills
• Grinds directly into included gold-tone filter basket for French press
• Powerful, high-torque DC motor provides fast grinding
• One-touch control for continuous grinding or pulse action
• Can grind enough for 12 cups in under a minute
• Sturdy and stable stainless steel housing
• Easy to use rotary dial with multiple precision grind settings
• 3-year limited warranty

Cons:

• More expensive than comparable electric grinders
• Beans can get stuck between burrs occasionally
• No portafilter cradle for espresso grinding
• Grounds bin could be larger - only holds enough grounds for 4-5 cups
• Some grounds cling to chute and need to be cleaned out
• No on/off switch - grinder starts grinding when hopper is locked in
• Louder than some other grinders during operation

Conclusion

The Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind & Brew Coffeemaker is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-in-one coffee making machine. It combines a 12-cup glass carafe coffeemaker with a built-in burr grinder, allowing you to freshly grind whole beans right before brewing.

The grinder itself performs very well, with 12 different grind settings to choose from for various brew types. It provides a consistent grind thanks to the commercial grade burr grinder. The grounds bin is easy to access, remove and clean. And the unit is simple to operate with user-friendly buttons.

In terms of downsides, the grinder is loud and some users report grounds getting stuck in certain spots. The plastic exterior also feels a bit flimsy. However, given the convenience of having freshly ground coffee paired with a solid brewer, the Cuisinart DGB-700BC is an excellent choice for most home coffee drinkers. It produces deliciously rich coffee that highlights the complex flavors of whole beans.

If you don't mind some noise and don't need a heavy-duty commercial device, the Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind & Brew offers tremendous value. For fresh, great-tasting coffee with minimal effort, it's highly recommended.