Cuisinart DGB-600BC Grind & Brew, Brushed Chrome
by Cuisinart
List Price:
Our Price: $34.00
You Save: $201.00 (86%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Kitchen
See more product details
Product Summary
Manufacturer: CuisinartBrand: Cuisinart
Model: DGB-600BC
Product features:
- Grinds coffee beans and brews coffee at preset time
- Charcoal filter eliminates chlorine and odors from tap water
- Brushed stainless steel, double-wall insulated thermal carafe keeps up to 10 5-ounce cups of brewed coffee
- Grinder removes for easy clean-up; brew-pause for mid-brew pour
- Measures 15 by 8 by 7-1/2 inches, 3-year warranty
- P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
- Hamilton Beach 04251P TrueAir Plug-Mount Odor Eliminator
- OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug, Stainless Steel
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisinart DGB-600BC Grind & Brew, Brushed Chrome
Customer Review: I'm picky about coffee. This machine makes great coffee & keeps it fresh & very hot for hours. Great performing thermal carafe .
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me tell you why you should try this unit. First off, don't be discouraged by the negative reviews. It needs some attention but it delivers great coffee and keeps it piping hot for a long time. If you drink a lot of coffee or you appreciate having fresh hot coffee stay that way all day, you probably will love this machine.
If you only drink a cup or two a day the cleanup for using the grinder may become a chore. For me and many others its perfect. Certainly value for its price. Expect years of great coffee with an occasional mess. But its worth it if you like good freshly brewed freshly ground coffee.
Some early issues have been solved by internal production design tweaks and from what I have been told its been one of Cuisinart's most successful designs in retail units sold.
At the MSRP price a few years ago it was a good deal. At the price you can now get it on Amazon.com its an absolute steal. The thermos qualities or the carafe alone is worth it if you like your coffee hot all day. Its been a winner for Cuisinart as it or similar models now have been available for years now with little modifications. Its not for everyone, but if you like it, you will absolutely love it. It requires a little attention, but it delivers where it counts. Great freshly ground and brewed coffee thats perfectly hot for hours.
I also consider it a step above the carafe free storage tank models grind and brews. The well designed and great performing thermal carafe is the best thing for keeping the coffee fresh and great tasting for hours and hours.
This machine is the real deal if you like good coffee ground to order and stored in a piping hot thermal carafe to preserve freshness. If you preheat the carafe with hot water, it will keep coffee steaming hot for hours, almost the whole day if its mostly filled. Push the 1-4 cup button and it will make even hotter coffee even if you brew a full 10 cup load.
The thermal carafe is basically the best on the market and it has a fixed locked position mechanism on the lid that does not need to be adjusted for for pouring. Once the coffee is brewed you just take it out and pour. It has an automatic gravity hinge in the lid that only opens when its pouring and automatically seals shut when the carafe is level so no heat escapes and the rest of the coffee stays hot inside. Additionally the carafe can be carried around the house as the outside of it quickly cools with the steaming hot coffee sealed inside. Pretty much spill proof as well as its very stable even when full. It takes a little practice to pour in the most effective way but once you get the hang of it it works quite well.
The basket where the coffee grounds end up has a cover on it that has both a slot for the grinder to deposit the grounds through but also has a water channel that acts as a shower head to evenly apply the hot brewing water over the #4 basket evenly so a cone funnel is not required. This cover should just get a quick rinse after use to remove any stray grounds that could block the water channel. No big deal a few seconds to rinse it out is all thats required.
Complaints about the noise are valid, but overstated. A few seconds of grinder noise not quite jet engine noise for coffee bliss. I suppose if your bed is next to the kitchen and its on a timer it may be a bother, but it works just fine. The grinder "blades" are actually flat blunt paddles with a twist that are safe to touch.
Complaints about the cleanup are a bit overstated. If you rinse out the basket filter and lid with running water, they are easy. The carafe lid can get some grounds so it should be rinsed and the grinder basket and lid is the only messy part as both sides of the grinder screen can collect moist sludgy coffee dust paste. But warm water and a paper towel makes cleanup not too tough a chore. It does not matter if the carafe and basket assemblies are wet but the bottom part of the grinder basket and both sides of its chute screen should be dried off with a paper towel before use. Occasionally wipe around the main assembly with a damp cloth. No big deal. Using paper filters saves a step for the filter basket rinse. Dishwasher safe but thats not required at all. Even soap is not needed just warm or hot water and a paper towel or cloth.
If you don't clean the grinder bottom after each use and dry it with a paper towel the buildup can clog the screen. Leaving the bottom of the grinder wet can also make the grind uneven and leave a few beans not completely ground. Its better if its dry.
Only tricky part is to make sure the handle on the basket faces out (instructions say to do so , but the why is not obvious) as the folded handle can if placed toward the back to where the coffee grounds come out can block the grounds and water flow causing grounds to overflow the filter and block the top of the carafe. Only other real way for a mess (besides not latching the basket in place) is to dramatically overfill the coffee container in the grinder or to not fully push the carafe in underneath the basket so that the water can overflow the basket if the bottom spring of the basket is not engaged with the top of the carafe too allow the water to go to the basket. Do it once and you'll remember to make sure the carafe is all the way in. :) I only use cold filtered water in it, I don't know what would happen if you placed hot water in the tank, but the one time we tried it seemed the water brewed so fast it might overflow the basket as well. Recommend that you fill it with cold water.
EDIT: Now recommend hot water and pushing the 4 cup button (it seems to preheat the water) Cold water seems to work well, but by using hot water it works a bit faster and combined with the extra heating using the 4 cup button it extracts a bit more flavor out of the coffee grounds for my taste.
If you use a specialty fine grind in the basket be sure and measure it as a completely full basket of finely ground coffee can overflow.
Using ground coffee instead of coffee beans is even easier and is one button push away and that makes cleanup really simple. If you use paper baskets as well, there almost is no cleanup required. Just a quick rinse and reload. If you use a paper filter spread the grounds evenly or if using whole beans spread it open so it does not fold over and expose the floor of the basket directly to the deposited ground beans and water floor. If those bypass the filter or you fail to put a paper or permanent filter in the basket you could get an overflow mess.
The in tank filter is easy to forget about, but should be replaced every so often. Its a little filter that fits in a case that goes on a little stick to the bottom of the water tank. It lasts for a few months.
Any mess though is easy enough to clean up. Where the coffee flows is accessible for a quick wipe.
One thing that made life a little easier is that we found a pouring water container that we marked with a line to indicate the amount of water to pour into the water holding tank. That way you can just quickly blindly pour the water into the tank without looking at the inside gauge marks.
Only other comment is to not forget about the charcoal filter in the holding tank.
This can make great coffee and keep it hot for hours. Great piece of kit with only a bit of cleanup required for hot coffee for hours. Did I say it can keep great coffee hot for hours? One other thing is that the coffee is sealed right from brewing into the carafe. Even after pouring many cups and letting the carafe cool, the remaining coffee has been sealed in the carafe since brewing and can be just poured into a mug and reheated in a microwave to temperature as its not like its been in an open glass container exposed to the air or boiling on a warmer all day.
One final note. We got another one as a gift. Actually set up both side by side and cleaning up and loading both machines takes about the same time as cleaning up the one. Had a set of magnetic refrigerator magnets in green blue and yellow. We have had great success in loading up the two and when making coffee in one and having it with brewed coffee, put a green magnet on the front. The other one loaded with water and coffee we place a blue (water) and yellow (coffee) magnet on the front to indicate its loaded status. That way we actually get 20 cups worth of coffee with one cleaning session. Seems to be awfully decadent to have two $100 coffee makers but it does make the cleanup less of an issue. Nice luxury. If you like it but the cleanup bothers you buy another for the price you can buy it for at Amazon.com and any issues with cleanup or the capacity of the carafe are eliminated. You can buy two or three now for the price I paid for my original unit.
One other thing to remember is that you must place grinder back before pouring the water back into the tank as you could splash water on the internal wiring if its not in place.
EDIT: That really does not seem to be an issue.
Clean filtered water and good whole bean coffee makes this a keeper. To my taste the flat basket does just fine with my style of medium roast brew from good beans. The occasional switch to flavored ground coffee is simple as pushing a button.
EDIT: Only additional tricks I've found is to watch and clean the inside of the coffee maker with a paper towel on occasion around where the grinder assembly fits on its spindle and on the guide tracks where the coffee basket assembly fits. Sometimes the loose grounds can build up there and stop the grinder assembly from fully seating or the guide tracks can get clogged with coffee grounds so the basket holder may not fully latch shut or it has the potential of unlatching while the coffee is brewing. If that happens and the basket assembly pops out during the brew cycle, the coffee does not go in the carafe and you have a mess.
Best coffee maker for constant use that I've used. I drink a lot of good coffee and it keeps me happy and is the best bit of kitchen gadgetry I've owned and certainly the one that I use the most. If it ever stopped working, I would stop what I was doing and immediately drive and buy another one to take home as a replacement. No need to even compare alternatives if I could buy another one for immediate use. Some of the review complaints here are from a long time ago where there may have been some early production or roll out issues, but most recent complaints focus on the cleanup tasks, which are not so bad. Its possible others got electrical issues if they poured water in without having the grinder assembly in place which would expose the guts of the unit to water as the grinder unit acts as a splash guard. Read the manual the first time you use it and you will be fine.
The thermal carafe itself is in a league of its own.
Try it even if some of the other reviewers may have had issues with it.
You can always take it back if you don't like it. But take it from a guy who drinks a lot of good coffee, this one has great potential and for me its perfect. It may just be for you as well. Its one kitchen appliance that gets multiple daily uses and does what it is supposed to very well. Thats a keeper in my book. At the current price, there is little reason not to try it. If you understand its quirks, it will make you life easier and consistently and quickly deliver fresh coffee for you all day long.
Description of Cuisinart DGB-600BC Grind & Brew, Brushed Chrome
Cuisinart Grind %26 Brew Thermal Coffeemaker grinds your favorite beans just before brewing%2E A double%2Dwall%2C insulated%2C brushed metal%2C thermal carafe keeps up to 10 cups of coffee hot for hours%2E The elegant European design creates the perfect look for today%27s gourmet kitchen%2EWhen the aroma of freshly brewed coffee--from freshly ground beans--wafts into your bedroom in the morning, you won't need your alarm clock. Preset this coffeemaker for your desired wake-up time, add coffee beans to the grinder, and in the morning the beans are ground to a medium grind and hot coffee awaits in the 10-cup stainless steel, double-wall insulated thermal carafe. You can also program the machine to start brewing at the end of a dinner party to avoid having to get up from the table, or to have hot coffee waiting after a brisk winter walk. When making fewer than five cups of coffee, use the 1-to-4-cups setting to improve extraction and heat; coffeemakers without this setting often lack the time to heat up properly, and coffee comes out cooler. A disposable charcoal filter removes chlorine and odors from tap water, improving coffee flavor, and should be changed every few months. Other features include a gold-tone commercial-style filter (or use No. 4 basket-style paper filters); capacity to use preground coffee instead of beans; 30-second Brew Pause, which allows a cup be poured before brewing is complete; and an audible tone to indicate the pot is ready. The grinder removes for easy cleaning, and all removable parts can be washed safely in the upper rack of a dishwasher. The Cuisinart Grind and Brew measures 15 by 8 by 7-1/2 inches, and comes with a three-year warranty. --Ann Bieri
Drip Coffee Machines
Kitchen and Housewares
Most talked about in Cuisinart
Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart ICE-20FR Automatic Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker, WhiteCuisinart; Cuisinart; Release date: 2008-03-03; Kitchen
Best price: $39.99
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart HTM-5 SmartPower 5-Speed Electronic Hand Mixer, WhiteCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart TOB-165 Convection Toaster Oven and Broiler, WhiteCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric KnifeCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $34.00
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DLC-2 Mini Prep Plus Food Processor, WhiteCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart SF19-18 Nonstick Stainless 2-3/ 4-Quart Saucepan with LidCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart SF22-26 Nonstick Stainless 10-1/ 4-Inch SkilletCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DLC-036TXAMZ 6-by-6mm Fruit, Vegetable and French Fry Disc, Fits 14-Cup ProcessorCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DLC-093 3-Piece Specialty Disc Set, Fits 14-Cup ProcessorCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $61.69
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart SPB-7 SmartPower 40-Ounce 7-Speed Electronic Bar Blender, WhiteCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $54.70
Price in other shops:
Similar Kitchen and Housewares Products
Coffee Bean Direct Eyes Wide Open Blend, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound BagCoffee Bean Direct; Coffee Bean Direct; Coffee Bean Direct; Grocery; Grocery
Best price: $31.50
Price in other shops:
Hawaii Roasters 100% Kona Coffee, Medium Roast, Whole Bean, 7-Ounce BagHawaii Roasters; Hawaii Roasters; Hawaii Roasters; Published: 2010-05-28; Grocery; Grocery
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DGB-500LID Brew Basket LidCuisinart; Cuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen; Home
Best price: $7.89
Cuisinart DGB-600RC 10-Cup Stainless Thermal CarafeCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $35.99
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DGB-500GRD GrinderCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $12.09
Cuisinart DGB-500GLID Grinder Assembly Lid, ClearCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $8.13
Cuisinart DCC-RWF-6PK Charcoal Water Filters, 2 Year Supply, Includes 6 DCC-RWF packages. 2 FiltersCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $21.54
Cuisinart GTF-B Gold Tone Coffee FilterCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DCC-RWF1 Replacement Coffeemaker Water Filters, Set of 2Cuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $3.75
Price in other shops:
Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed MetalCuisinart; Cuisinart; Kitchen
Best price: $104.50
Price in other shops: