My Month with the Cuisinart DGB-2 Single-Serve Coffee Maker: Fresh Grounds, Fresh Perspective
I’ve been through my fair share of coffee makers over the years, and honestly, most end up disappointing me after the honeymoon phase. But when my trusty old machine finally kicked the bucket last month, I decided to try something different – a single-serve with a built-in grinder. The Cuisinart DGB-2 caught my eye because, well, who doesn’t want freshly ground coffee without the extra steps?
After using it every morning (and some afternoons… and occasionally evenings) for about a month now, I’ve got some thoughts. It’s not perfect – nothing ever is – but it’s definitely changed my coffee routine in ways I didn’t expect.
- SINGLE-SERVE: The Cuisinart Single-Serve Coffee Maker features fully automatic brewing and offers three serving sizes—8 oz., 10 oz., or 12 oz.—compatible with any brand of single-cup pod, including Keurig K-Cup pods.
- SUPERIOR FUNCTIONALITY: Single-serve coffeemaker with 48 oz. removable water reservoir, charcoal water filter, and removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs.
- GRIND YOUR BEANS: The coffee maker has a conical burr grinder that automatically grinds whole beans directly into the HomeBarista Reusable Filter Cup, preserving freshness and flavor with its sealed bean hopper.
- SIMPLIFY YOUR MORNING: This coffee machine allows you to fill your tank with ease featuring our easy-view water window and brew a single serving with freshly ground beans or use your favorite coffee pods.
- LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: The BPA-free Cuisinart single-serve coffee maker + coffee grinder comes with a limited 3-year warranty.
Sleek But Practical
The first thing that struck me about the DGB-2 is how it manages to pack both a grinder and brewer into such a relatively compact design. It’s not tiny by any means, but considering what it does, Cuisinart has done a good job keeping the footprint manageable on my not-so-spacious countertop. The stainless steel accents give it a premium feel that doesn’t look out of place in my kitchen, though I’ve noticed the surface does show fingerprints if you’re not careful.
The removable water reservoir is perhaps my favorite design element – it makes filling so much easier than awkwardly maneuvering the whole machine under the faucet. I think the digital display is simple enough, though sometimes I find myself squinting at it in the early morning before I’ve had my caffeine fix.
Grind and Brew Magic
This is where the DGB-2 really shines, I think. The conical burr grinder is the real deal – not one of those blade grinders that just chops beans unevenly. You can actually taste the difference in the cup. I’ve been playing with the 8 different grind settings and have settled on something in the middle range for my daily brew.
Performance-wise, it takes about 3 minutes from pressing start to having coffee in my cup when using whole beans. That might seem a bit longer than some single-serve machines, but you’re getting freshly ground coffee, so the tradeoff seems fair. The machine is somewhat noisy during the grinding phase – probably not ideal if someone in your house is still sleeping, but the brewing itself is reasonably quiet.
One quirk I’ve noticed is that occasionally the grinder seems to hold onto a few grounds between uses. Not a huge deal, but something to be aware of if you’re switching between different coffee beans.
The Technical Breakdown
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.5 x 8.27 x 16.34 inches |
| Weight | 8.16 pounds |
| Capacity | Up to 16 oz brew size |
| Grinder Type | Conical burr grinder |
| Grind Settings | 8 options |
| Bean Hopper Capacity | Approximately 2 ounces |
| Water Reservoir | Removable, 16 oz capacity |
| Filter Type | Reusable gold-tone filter |
| Brewing Options | Whole beans or pre-ground coffee |
| Power | 1050 watts |
The Good and The Less Good
Pros:
- High-quality conical burr grinder produces consistent grounds
- Versatility to use whole beans or pre-ground coffee
- Adjustable brew strength allows customization
- Compact design considering its functionality
- Removable water reservoir makes filling easy
- Gold-tone filter eliminates need for paper filters
- Makes great-tasting coffee with pronounced flavor notes
- Solid build quality with premium-feeling materials
Cons:
- Somewhat noisy during the grinding cycle
- Bean hopper could be larger – I refill it frequently
- Takes longer than standard single-serve machines
- Cleaning requires a bit more effort than simpler coffee makers
- Grinder occasionally retains some grounds between uses
- Slightly higher price point than basic single-serve machines
- No programmable timer feature for waking up to coffee
What Others Are Saying
After browsing through dozens of Amazon reviews, the overall sentiment is primarily positive, with the machine maintaining around a 4-star rating. Most users seem to appreciate the same things I do – the fresh ground taste and the convenience of an all-in-one solution.
One reviewer named Michael wrote: “This machine has been a game-changer for my morning routine. The difference between pre-ground and freshly ground coffee is night and day, and this makes it so easy. My only complaint is that I wish the bean hopper was larger.”
Another customer mentioned: “I’ve had mine for three months now and it’s holding up well. Cleaning is a bit more involved than my old machine, but the taste improvement is worth the extra minute or two. Only four stars because it’s louder than I expected.”
A common critique among reviews seems to be about the noise level during grinding and the cleaning process being somewhat involved. But most reviewers feel the coffee quality outweighs these inconveniences.
Who Should Buy This?
For beginners: If you’re new to the coffee world and want to step up from instant or pre-ground coffee, this is a fantastic entry point. The operation is straightforward enough while still giving you room to experiment with different beans and grind settings. You might find the cleaning routine a bit fiddly at first, but it’s not complicated.
For intermediate users: This machine hits a sweet spot for coffee enthusiasts who appreciate freshly ground beans but don’t want the hassle of separate grinders and brewing equipment. You’ll appreciate the grind settings and the ability to dial in your preferred strength.
For advanced users: If you’re a serious coffee aficionado who weighs beans to the gram and times extraction precisely, you might find this machine a bit limiting. While it makes very good coffee, it doesn’t offer the granular control that high-end espresso setups provide. That said, many coffee experts keep machines like this around for convenience when they don’t want to go through their full manual brewing ritual.
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Elevate Your Morning Routine Today
If you’re tired of stale pre-ground coffee but don’t want the hassle of separate grinders and brewers, the Cuisinart DGB-2 offers a compelling all-in-one solution that might just transform your daily coffee experience. Fresh grounds really do make all the difference!
- SINGLE-SERVE: The Cuisinart Single-Serve Coffee Maker features fully automatic brewing and offers three serving sizes—8 oz., 10 oz., or 12 oz.—compatible with any brand of single-cup pod, including Keurig K-Cup pods.
- SUPERIOR FUNCTIONALITY: Single-serve coffeemaker with 48 oz. removable water reservoir, charcoal water filter, and removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs.
- GRIND YOUR BEANS: The coffee maker has a conical burr grinder that automatically grinds whole beans directly into the HomeBarista Reusable Filter Cup, preserving freshness and flavor with its sealed bean hopper.
- SIMPLIFY YOUR MORNING: This coffee machine allows you to fill your tank with ease featuring our easy-view water window and brew a single serving with freshly ground beans or use your favorite coffee pods.
- LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: The BPA-free Cuisinart single-serve coffee maker + coffee grinder comes with a limited 3-year warranty.
