CUISINART SUPREME GRIND AUTOMATIC BURR MILL GRINDER REVIEW
I tested the Cuisinart Supreme Grind to see what, if anything, it brings to the coffee-grinding game beyond its affordable price tag.
Did you know that Cuisinart makes an electric burr grinder that sells for less than a quarter the price of its competitors? Usually, a low price means inferior quality, but I’ve heard some surprisingly great things about the Cuisinart DBM-8. So of course I had to pick one up to see for myself!
Things we liked:
- Ceramic burrs are much better than blades
- 18 grind settings for a wide range of brew methods
- Easy-to-use grind timer
- Affordable price
Things we didn’t like:
- Inconsisent grinds
- Mostly plastic build
- Louder than most
cuisinart dbm-8 review
The DBM-8 is a budget-friendly, entry-level burr grinder. I love that it makes freshly ground coffee approachable for anyone, both with its low price and ease-to-use design. With this on the market, there’s really no excuse to settle for a blade grinder to make coffee in the morning.
But is there a case to be made for buying an alternative burr coffee grinder? Keep reading this Cuisinart Burr Grinder review find out.
How We Rated It
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Design
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Durability
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Ease Of Use
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Grinding Capability
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Value For Money
Does a burr grinder really make a difference?
Absolutely! Buying your first burr grinder is the best way to instantly improve your coffee experience (1).
A blade grinder grinds coffee beans by chopping them into pieces, with an average particle size determined by the grind time. A burr grinder grinds the coffee by crushing the beans to a uniform particle size dictated by the space between the two burrs.
A consistent grind size means an even extraction, which translates to more flavor and a better cup of coffee.
So don’t be tempted to save money with a blade grinder, especially since the Cuisinart Supreme Grind is just a few dollars more!
Cuisinart DBM-8 Grind Quality
Cuisinart uses ceramic block burrs in the DBM-8, a fairly common choice at this price point (2). Block burrs are designed to work with low-power motors, as they’re equipped with additional ridges to precut the beans before grinding.
The downside to block burrs is you typically end up with more fines, which you’ll notice if you brew coffee with a metal filter. I definitely found my French press coffee was a little on the muddy side. Ceramic burrs aren’t as sharp as the steel burrs found in many of the best coffee grinders, but they’re more durable and don’t dull as fast as steel.
The Cuisinart coffee grinder has a grind selector with 18 stepped settings, ranging from fine enough for espresso to coarse enough for French press. The size of the grind range and precision is impressive at this price, but the consistency lags at the tail ends of the spectrum. In my experience, it performs best in the medium range, perfect for a drip coffee machine or similar filter brew.
Can the Cuisinart burr grinder grind espresso?
Cuisinart claims this grinder can grind for espresso, but I’d beg to differ. You could get away with making espresso with its finest setting, but only if you’re using a pressurized portafilter. You can’t dial in the perfect grind, so don’t expect anything approaching cafe-quality.
How do you use the Cuisinart Coffee Grinder?
Cuisinart DBM-8 is a beginner’s grinder and is relatively simple to use. Plug it in, load the beans into the hopper, and make sure the grounds bin is in the correct position. Adjust the grind size by twisting the hopper, select the number of cups you want to grind for (from 4 to 18), and hit the start button. It stops automatically, which I find handy for multitasking.
Grind Speed
The cup-selector is just a timed grinding switch that has been labeled with an approximate number of cups to aid coffee novices. This is a common design feature in many beginner grinders, but in this case, I didn’t find it to be particularly accurate, unless you like your coffee very weak.
The 18-cup option corresponds to 55 seconds of coffee grinding, from which I get about 110 grams of coffee – give or take a bit depending on the bean type and grind size. With that, I can grind enough to brew a 10-cup carafe to my taste.
So take the labeled number of cups of coffee with a grain of salt and trust your instincts. How much ground coffee you need depends on your personal preferences and the kind of coffee you’re making. After a few days of experimentation, you’ll quickly find your preferred settings. To stop grinding midway, just push the cup selector switch to “off.”
This bean grinder is reasonably fast compared to others, which is a good thing because it is also reasonably loud! I measured it at 85 to 87 decibels – a few notches above the average.
Safety First
The DBM-8 has an in-built safety feature that makes sure it won’t run until the bean hopper and the grounds bin are properly in place. It’s a little annoying not to be able to grind directly into a filter, but the safety feature is probably justified in an entry-level grinder.
What setting do you grind coffee on a Cuisinart?
The precise right grind setting will vary by bean type and roast, but here is rough guide based on what has worked for me for various coffee brewing methods:
- Espresso: 1 (pressurized portafilter only)
- Moka pot: 2-3
- Aeropress: 4-8
- Pour over: 5-13
- Drip coffee maker: 6-10
- French press: 16-17
I wouldn’t recommend this grinder for Turkish coffee or cold brew, as it lacks consistency at the very fine and very coarse settings.
How to clean the Cuisinart Supreme automatic burr mill?
All burr grinders need to be cleaned periodically to keep them in working order. I clean mine every few months, but you may need to do it more often if you grind a lot of oily, dark roast beans (3).
“If not cleaned out, fine particles can overwork a motor and cause it to fail, and oils can go rancid and ruin future brews.”
The DBM-8 has a removable hopper. The top burr is attached to the base of the hopper and comes out with it to give you access to grinding chamber. Use a soft brush or air blower to get any coffee residue out of the chamber. Don’t use water!
The hopper and grounds bin aren’t dishwasher safe but can be washed with warm soapy water. Just make sure they are completely dry before you reassemble the grinder.
I have encountered some static issues with the DBM-8 – not a huge surprise given its largely plastic construction. Fine coffee dust tends to stick to the coffee dispensing chute and the top of the grounds bin. Take the bin out carefully to avoid a messy countertop, and keep a cloth handy to wipe up stray coffee grounds.
Design Details and Features
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is an attractive appliance up to the standards you expect from the brand. I was honestly shocked to find a brushed stainless casing at this price!
It’s nicely compact, measuring 6 x 7.13 x 10.75 inches with the hopper attached, and weighs just under 5 pounds. I appreciate any grinder short enough to sit under my upper cupboards and not need to be pulled out every time I refill the hopper. Because I don’t like to store my fresh coffee beans in a transparent hopper, I refill frequently.
The DBM-8 hopper holds up to 8 ounces of beans, but I prefer to keep it about half full. You don’t want it too empty, or the beans don’t feed smoothly; this is not a single-dosing grinder. The grounds bin is large enough to hold all the coffee you’ll grind at the maximum 18-cup setting – and then some.
Should You Buy the Cuisinart Supreme Grind?
There is no denying that the Cuisinart Supreme is a good grinder for the novice coffee enthusiast on a budget. While it can’t match the grind consistency of the best burr grinders, it is a huge upgrade from a blade grinder or buying pre-ground coffee.
The build quality is surprisingly good, given that this is one of the cheapest coffee grinders on the market.
Even more surprising is that Cuisinart backs it with a long 3-year warranty, compared to the standard one year on inexpensive burr grinders from other brands. With that in mind, I’d say it’s virtually impossible not to get your money’s worth out of the DBM-8 burr mill grinder.
Do Not Buy The Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind If…
- You want a more even grind: The Capresso Infinity conical burr grinder offers a superior grind quality, greater versatility, and quieter operation. It is more expensive than the Cuisinart but also more capable. Read more in my full review of the Capresso Infinity.
- You want the best entry-level burr grinder: If only the best will do, the Baratza Encore is on a completely different level than the Cuisinart burr coffee grinder. With 40 grind settings, stainless steel conical burrs, and a powerful motor, it’s an ideal choice for the emerging specialty coffee lover. I recently reviewed it and concluded that it offers tremendous value for money.
- You want grind consistency on a budget: With a hand grinder, you can get a high-quality burr set at a fraction the cost of an electric grinder. The trade-off is that you’ll have to rely on your muscles to do the work, which may not be practical if you drink a lot of coffee every morning.
The Timemore Chestnut C2 grinder is a great option that’s still quite affordable. Another grinder to consider is the Hario Skerton, an even more budget-friendly manual grinder.
The Verdict
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill Coffee Grinder is the perfect coffee grinder for the up-and-coming coffee fan finally realizing that freshly ground beans just taste better. If you’ve been buying pre-ground beans or using a blade grinder, the DBM-8 burr grinder is the easiest way to take your home coffee game to the next level – without breaking the bank. Just beware that if you want a great shot of espresso, a clean cup of pour-over, or sludge-free French Press brew, this is not the grinder for you.
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FAQs
No, the DBM-8 is not a conical burr grinder. It has block burrs, which are inferior to conical burrs. Thus, the Cuosinart DBM-8’s quality and consistency of grind are not comparable to that of an entry-level conical burr grinder like the Capresso Infinity.
This grinder is made in China. As with most mass-produced appliances, China is the manufacturing hub. That doesn’t mean that it is of low-quality. Cuisinart ensures strict manufacturing standards are maintained while making all its products.
Yes, this grinder can be used to grind grains, nuts, spices, etc. However, we wouldn’t recommend doing so. One reason is, obviously, flavor contamination. You wouldn’t want to drink coffee that tastes like cumin, would you? The other reason is that some spices like cinnamon may be too hard for this machine to grind, leading to motor or burr damage. Please, use a standard blade grinder for grinding everything other than coffee.
References
- Lemos, C. (2018, January 09). Grinder Basics. Retrieved from https://coffeetechniciansguild.org/blog/2018/1/9/grinder-basics
- Does Burr Shape Matter? | Flat vs Conical vs Block. (2017, June 16). Retrieved from https://youtu.be/iEU4YOvd3as
- Driftaway Coffee. (2016, February 14). How To Maintain Your Burr Grinder? Retrieved from https://driftaway.coffee/maintain-your-grinder/
