Cuisinart DGB-800 Coffee grinder: Full Review

Cuisinart is one of the most well-known and respected brands when it comes to kitchen appliances and cookware. Founded in 1971, Cuisinart pioneered food processors and has continued to innovate ever since. Today, the company offers a wide range of products from toasters and coffeemakers to cutlery and cookware.

The DGB-800 is one of Cuisinart's automatic burr grind & brew coffee machines. This model features a fully programmable 12-cup capacity and a commercial-style burr grinder with automatic bean hopper. With the DGB-800 you can customize grind size, brew strength and amount. The machine has a number of useful features like an adjustable heating plate to keep coffee at an optimal temperature, a grind off option for pre-ground coffee, charcoal water filtration to purify water, and an automatic shutoff after brewing. Overall, the DGB-800 combines Cuisinart's quality and innovation to provide fresh, gourmet coffee with convenience.

Design & Build Quality

The Cuisinart DGB-800 coffee grinder has a solid and robust design built from brushed stainless steel and hard plastic. It feels sturdy and should stand up well to daily use.

The stainless steel exterior not only looks sleek and modern but also makes the grinder easy to keep clean. Fingerprint smudges can simply be wiped away. The plastic lid and hopper also feel durable and are tinted black to match the overall aesthetic.

While the grinder isn't the most compact, it has a nice squat shape providing stability. The materials seem thicker and more premium than lower cost plastic grinders. Little details like the recessed baseplate add to the upscale look.

Overall, the DGB-800's materials and construction quality align with its price point as a mid-range automatic grinder suitable for frequent daily use. It strikes a good balance between performance and attractive yet functional industrial design.

Grind Settings & Performance

The Cuisinart DGB-800 offers impressive grind settings and performance. It has 18 different grind settings to choose from, allowing you to grind coffee beans into ultra-fine powder for espresso or coarse chunks for French press.

The extensive range of grind sizes makes this grinder incredibly versatile. You can brew any coffee drink you want, from espresso to cold brew. The grind size dial on the front of the grinder makes it easy to quickly adjust between settings.

In terms of grind consistency, the DGB-800 performs very well. The stainless steel burr grinder produces uniform grinds, without too many fine or coarse particles. This helps extract the best flavor from your beans, since water will flow through the grinds evenly during brewing. The grind is consistent enough for espresso, which demands an extremely fine and uniform grind.

The DGB-800 has a powerful motor that grinds beans quickly. You can grind enough beans for 12 cups of coffee in around 10 seconds. The hopper holds up to 8 ounces of beans, so you likely won't need to refill it mid-grinding. The quick grind speed makes this grinder convenient for grinding beans right before brewing.

Ease of Use

The Cuisinart DGB-800 has a streamlined control panel that is very intuitive to use. There is an on/off switch, a grind control knob, and buttons to choose number of cups and start/pause the grinding process. The buttons have indicator lights so you can easily see the selected settings.

The hopper on top holds up to 8 ounces of beans, which is enough for most needs. It has a sealed lid to keep beans fresh. The hopper can be removed for easy transfer and storage of beans.

Cleaning the grinder is quick and simple. The grind chamber and hopper lift out easily, allowing you to brush out any residual grounds. The parts are removable and dishwasher safe for thorough cleaning. There is also a cleaning brush included to make the process fast and efficient after each use.

Overall, the simple interface, removable hopper, and easy cleaning make the Cuisinart DGB-800 very convenient to use on a daily basis. The intuitive controls and dishwasher safe parts allow anyone to use this grinder with minimal effort.

Noise Level

The Cuisinart DGB-800 is moderately noisy, especially when grinding coffee beans. The stainless steel grinding burrs produce a distinct whirring sound that can be quite loud. The noise level ranges from about 85-90 decibels during grinding, which is similar to the sound of a garbage disposal or blender. Some users find the noise too distracting for early morning coffee preparation.

Once the beans are ground, the noise level drops significantly. However, the grinder does emit a low hum during brewing cycles that some users find annoying on their countertops. The noise is comparable to an electric can opener or fan on a low setting. While not deafening, it could potentially wake light sleepers if used in close proximity to bedrooms.

Overall, the DGB-800 is reasonably quiet after the initial grinding phase but does produce noticeable noise. Those sensitive to appliance sounds, especially in the morning, may want to consider a quieter grinder. But for most users, the noise falls within acceptable levels for a home coffee grinder and brewer.

Safety Features

The Cuisinart DGB-800 has some useful safety features to prevent accidents and damage.

Overload Protection

One key safety feature is overload protection. If the motor is strained from grinding too many beans at once, it will automatically shut off to prevent overheating or burning out. This helps prevent motor damage if too many beans are added.

Other Safety Features

The DGB-800 also has a locking hopper to keep the bean hopper securely in place during grinding. There is also a safety interlock system that prevents the grinder from operating unless the bean hopper and filter basket are properly in place. The grinder will shut off automatically if either container is removed during grinding.

Lastly, the DGB-800 has rubber feet to prevent sliding on the counter while in use. Overall, Cuisinart designed this grinder with several useful safety features to protect the user and the grinder itself.

Capacity

The Cuisinart DGB-800 has a generous 8-ounce bean hopper which can hold enough beans to grind several pots of coffee at a time. This saves you from having to refill the hopper as frequently compared to models with smaller capacities.

For the ground coffee container, it can hold up to 32 cups worth of grounds. This is convenient for brewing large batches or if you want to pre-grind coffee to use over the next couple of days. The large ground coffee container means you don't have to empty it out as often.

Overall, the sizeable hopper and ground coffee container capacities make the Cuisinart DGB-800 well-suited for households that go through a lot of coffee. You can grind and store a plentiful amount of grounds at once.

Price: An Excellent Value

The Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew Coffeemaker has an MSRP of $189.99 USD. However, it can often be found for $10-20 less from various retailers.

At this price point, the DGB-800 offers tremendous value for the money. It combines a reliable, versatile burr coffee grinder with a fully-featured 12-cup drip coffeemaker in one machine. This 2-in-1 functionality allows you to go straight from whole coffee beans to freshly brewed coffee at the touch of a button.

Considering most quality standalone burr coffee grinders cost $100-200 on their own, getting the burr grinder plus an excellent coffeemaker for around $170-180 is an outstanding deal. The DGB-800 eliminates the need to buy separate appliances and saves precious counter space in the process.

For anyone seeking fresh, flavorful coffee with minimal effort, the Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew represents one of the best value propositions on the market. It delivers commercial-grade grinding and brewing at an accessible price point for the home.

Pros & Cons

Summary of pros:

• High-quality stainless steel burrs produce consistent grinds
• Powerful motor handles large volumes of coffee beans quickly
• User-friendly front-mounted controls with 15 grind settings
• Holds up to 1/2 pound of beans at a time
• Built-in safety features like the hopper lock
• Stylish design complements modern kitchen décor
• Backed by Cuisinart's 3-year warranty

Summary of cons:

• Higher price point compared to other coffee grinders
• Louder than some models when grinding
• Beans can get stuck if not dropped in gradually
• No portafilter holder for espresso grind
• Grounds container could be larger
• Not as precise for espresso or Turkish grind

Conclusion

The Cuisinart DGB-800 is a recommended choice for most home coffee drinkers looking for an automatic burr grinder. It produces consistent grinds for drip coffee makers and French presses, has a generous 12 cup capacity, and includes useful features like a grind control dial and built-in timer. The stainless steel housing feels very durable, though the plastic hopper lid could be higher quality.

For the price, the DGB-800 delivers reliable performance and longevity. Those wanting more grind settings for espresso and cold brew may prefer the Cuisinart DBM-8 or Breville Smart Grinder Pro. Or if seeking a basic, budget grinder, the KRUPS GX5000 is a comparable alternative. But overall, the DGB-800 hits a sweet spot of quality, customization, and value for daily at-home use.