Best Cuisinart Coffee Maker With Grinder: 7 Grind & Brew Models Compared

Here are all seven picks, ranked, before we get into the details. Every pick is a Cuisinart with a built-in grinder, and each one earns its place for a different kind of kitchen.

The table below lines up the seven models on the specs that matter most. Where a detail is blank, we could not verify it for that model, so we say so rather than guess. Strength control is the clearest gap: only some models list it.

Our How We Rate approach scores each machine on grinder type, brew temperature where lab data exists, carafe design, and how much cleaning the grinder path demands. We prioritize grind consistency, followed by brew temperature and the daily work of filling, pouring, and cleaning; a grind-and-brew is only practical if you are willing to clean it every few brews.

We do not quote a fixed test length or batch size, because the scores rest on the design of each machine and the strongest findings we could verify rather than a single scripted protocol.

Where a finding comes from brew-temperature lab data, we say so. Consumer Reports, for example, found the DGB-800 brewed close to the recommended temperature guideline, while the DGB-900BC fell short of the 195F guideline. Everything else here is judged on design, features, and the day-to-day handling findings we could confirm.

The grinder is where this machine earns the top slot. A DirectFlow assembly moves grounds into the brew basket, and the grinder only works as long as the cup count you set requires, so you are not wasting beans on a half pot. An Auto Rinse cycle helps with the leftover film that builds up, and the large display makes setting the timer for tomorrow morning a ten-second job.

In use, the carafe is fairly easy to pour, which sounds minor until you compare it with the thermal models below. Filling, controls, and cleaning still rate only somewhat convenient in lab testing, and we agree: this is a machine you wipe down every few brews, not one you ignore for a month.

The main caveat is supply. Cuisinart lists the DGB-800 as discontinued, but it is still sold through some retailers, and supply is shrinking. If you see it in stock and want a burr grinder with a glass carafe, buy it. If you do not, the DGB-950BCC below is the current-production alternative.

Who Should Buy It

Buy the DGB-800 if you drink a few cups each morning and want a burr grind in a glass-carafe machine. It suits a household that will rinse the chute and basket every few brews.

Who Should Skip It

Skip it if you want a new, in-production machine with a warranty you can count on, or if you need a thermal carafe to hold coffee for hours.

On paper, the feature list is full. A 2-4 cup function handles small pots, a gold-tone permanent filter and a charcoal water filter are both included, and the programmable timer runs 24 hours ahead. The grind-off switch means you can drop in pre-ground coffee on a morning when you run out of beans.

We could not verify a warranty term for this model, so check the listing before you buy. That gap is the one reason it sits just below the DGB-800.

Who Should Buy It

Buy it if you want a burr grinder and a thermal carafe in a machine that is still being sold new. It is the safest bet for most buyers who cannot find a DGB-800.

Who Should Skip It

Skip it if you brew full 12-cup pots for a crowd, or if you need to confirm a warranty before you spend money.

The daily annoyances are real, and they are all about grounds. The machine grinds a bit longer than the cup count suggests, so some grounds spill past the mesh cup and land in the tray. The hopper is also fiddly to fill, so we pour beans slowly and expect a few to fall out onto the counter.

Two habits fix most of it. A paper single-cup filter in the filter cup gives a cleaner cup with no sludge at the bottom and easier cleanup, and stopping the grind early avoids overfilling. The tray catches most of the mess, so waiting a few cups before wiping it out keeps cleanup to one pass.

The 48 oz reservoir covers about four 10 oz cups, enough for one person's day. Longevity is mixed. Some units fail within a year, with the brew light never coming on while the grinder still runs, and descaling is a chore that comes up roughly every six months.

Who It's For

The DGB-2 suits anyone who lives alone or shares a kitchen with one other coffee drinker and wants a fresh grind without brewing a full pot. If you brew for more than two people or want a machine you can set and forget, skip it, because the mess and the maintenance will wear on you.

Our temperature concern is worth stating. The DGB-900BC does not reach 200F at the brew basket, which is below the 195-205F ideal window, and Consumer Reports found it fell short of the 195F guideline. The coffee still tastes good, but a cooler brew is a real tradeoff for anyone who cares about extraction.

Handling is the other tradeoff. The carafe is hard to pour at first, and it takes a few pots before the motion feels natural. It also has no window, so you cannot see how much coffee is left. Filling the water tank is awkward, and setup takes a few minutes. The chute, grinder, and hopper are hand-wash only, while the filter basket, carafe, and lid go in the dishwasher.

Cuisinart lists this model as discontinued, though new-unit supply varies by retailer.

Who Should Buy It

Buy it if you fill big mugs for several people and want the coffee to stay hot for hours, and you are willing to clean the chute every few brews.

Who Should Skip It

Skip it if you want the hottest possible brew or you tend to put off maintenance. Neglected chutes are where this machine goes wrong.

The blade grinder is loud, and it sometimes grinds too coarse. That inconsistency is the core limit of a blade design: the spinning blade chops beans into uneven pieces, so some are dust and some are chunks. For drip coffee in a paper or gold-tone filter, that is workable, but you will not get the clean, even extraction a burr gives.

Cleanup is the other cost. Thorough cleaning means removing and washing the grinder after each use. The carafe can also overflow, so keep an eye on the cup count and the water level.

One detail worth knowing: Cuisinart's "cup" here is about 5 oz, so a 12-cup pot is closer to 60 oz than the 12 mugs it sounds like. A permanent gold-tone filter and a built-in charcoal water filter are included.

Who It's For

Buy it if price matters most, you are fine with a blade grinder, and you want the freedom to use pre-ground coffee on busy mornings. Skip it if you care about even extraction or hate cleanup, because the daily wash is the price of the lower cost.

That uncertainty is why the DGB-550 sits sixth. It brews fine, but we cannot give you the same specifics we can for the DGB-800 or DGB-950BCC.

Who It's For

Buy it if you want a simple, no-frills 12-cup machine and you are comfortable with the possibility that the grinder is the first thing to give out. Skip it if you need a machine you can count on for years, or if burr grinding is a must.

The grinder is loud, and cleaning is difficult, though brewing is consistent and the finish resists scratches. Water leakage and design quirks show up, and the thermal carafe has mixed results for keeping coffee hot and can spill when you pour. We could not verify a warranty term.

Because we could not find a new unit to link, the buy button above opens a search. If you find a new unit and the price is right, it is a workable burr machine, but the DGB-800 and DGB-950BCC are better bets.

Who Should Buy It

Buy it if you find a new unit in stock at a fair price and want a 10-cup thermal burr machine.

Who Should Skip It

Skip it if you want a hassle-free setup or a clear warranty. Almost every other model here is easier to recommend.

Most of the models we picked use a burr grinder, and the DGB-400 is the blade exception. A blade grinder chops beans with a spinning blade, so particle size varies with how long it runs. A burr grinder crushes beans between two surfaces set a fixed distance apart, which produces a more even grind. If you want the background, here is how burr grinders differ from blade grinders.

Why it matters in a coffee maker: uneven particles extract unevenly. Fine dust turns bitter while coarse chunks taste sour and thin. That is the blade model's limit, and it is why the DGB-400 sometimes grinds too coarse.

Be realistic about what a burr in a drip machine can do. These grinders cannot be adjusted for fine-tuned dialing the way a standalone grinder can, and we would not call any of them cafe-grade. They give you a fresher cup than pre-ground coffee, with far less effort. If you want real control, a separate grinder and brewer, or a combo that pairs an espresso and coffee maker, is a better route.

Five things separate the models here. Work through them in this order, and the right pick usually becomes clear.

Grinder Type

Choose burr if you can. It gives more even extraction and a better-tasting cup. Choose blade only if cost is the priority and you accept the loud grind and the daily washing. The DGB-2 uses a conical burr, which is a burr design shaped as a cone, and the others use a standard burr.

Capacity and Carafe (glass vs thermal)

Count your real cups. Cuisinart's "cup" is about 5 oz, so a 10-cup machine makes roughly 50 oz. A glass carafe sits on a hot plate and cools faster once it is off. A thermal carafe holds heat for longer, but you cannot see the level inside, and the pour can be awkward. If you only brew for one or two people, the DGB-2 avoids the question.

Programmability and Brew Strength

Almost every model has a 24-hour timer, which is the feature that lets you wake up to fresh coffee. Strength options differ. The DGB-800 gives regular, bold, and extra-bold; the DGB-950BCC offers strong, medium, and soft. Keep in mind that "bold" on a machine usually means slower brewing or more grounds, not a better coffee.

Cleaning the Grinder

This is the factor that decides whether you will love or hate the machine. Oily dark roasts leave residue that hardens in the chute, so check it weekly. Wipe the chute and hopper regularly, and wash dishwasher-safe parts after use. Our guide on how to clean a coffee maker covers descaling, which comes up roughly every six months on a machine like the DGB-2.

Price and Warranty

We do not list prices because they move week to week. What you can compare is the warranty: the DGB-800, DGB-900BC, DGB-400, and DGB-2 carry a 3-year limited warranty, and for the DGB-900BC you need to activate it on Cuisinart's site. For the DGB-850, DGB-950BCC, and DGB-550 we could not verify a term. Since the DGB-800, DGB-900BC, and DGB-850 are listed as discontinued, buy through a retailer with a good return policy.

Shoppers often assume a built-in grinder means café-quality coffee. It does not. These machines make a convenient, fresh-ground cup, and that is the honest pitch.

Another mistake is buying on cup count alone. A 12-cup machine of 5 oz cups makes less than most people expect, and the bigger the pot, the more a glass carafe cools while it sits.

The third is ignoring cleaning. Every model here asks for regular attention to the chute and hopper, and a dirty chute is where the most common complaints start. Treat it like a chore you do every few brews, and the machine is easier to live with.

The last mistake is overlooking that three of our picks are discontinued by Cuisinart. Check that the model you want is in stock, and confirm any spare parts you might need before you commit.

The DGB-800 review explains our top pick; here is how to choose among the remaining models. If the DGB-800 is out of stock, the DGB-950BCC is the model to buy: it is still sold new, adds a thermal carafe, and keeps the burr grinder. If you drink one or two cups a day, the DGB-2 gives you a fresh grind per mug, with a little mess to manage.

Budget is the last factor. The DGB-400 is the value pick if you accept a blade grinder and a daily wash, and the DGB-550 works if you want a simple glass-carafe machine and can live with a mixed durability record.