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Table Of Contents
−- Cuisinart DGB-900BC Review
- Pros & Cons
- Perks of the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
- Possible faults of the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Coffee Maker
- Making the most out of your Cuisinart DGB-900BC
- Cleaning and maintenance of the DGB-900BC coffee maker
- Final verdict on the Cuisinart DGB-900BC
The demand for organically-sourced foods has been increasing lately. People are becoming more conscious of their health and the content of the food that they consume.
Mass-produced food with artificial preservatives is a source of carcinogenic substances that can be harmful to the body.
And with the prevalence of new disease variants and the well-being of the people affected by the changing environment, we can delay the decline of our health by eating natural food.
With coffee being a widely-consumed commodity for a lot of people, it is also one of the food products that are mass-produced and commercially distributed.
The demand has sparked a revolution in America, which led to the emergence of coffee bean shops and cafes all over the country that serve locally-sourced and organic coffee.
And because ready-to-brew coffee beans can be bought in stores, you can make coffee in your home with the aid of coffee grinding machines and coffee makers. One of the popular models is the Cuisinart DGB-900BC, a coffee maker.
Cuisinart DGB-900BC Review
The Cuisinart DGB-900BC coffee maker can be regarded as a mini version of those large coffee machines you see in a coffee shop like Starbucks. There is a hatch above the brewer that can hold up to eight ounces of coffee beans.
Unlike other models, the DGB-900BC is slimmer in build. The small LCD display and the control buttons are easy to use, and there is also a scoop for precise measurement of coffee beans.
Despite its simplicity, the options that you have for brewing are actually pretty impressive. You can adjust the brew strength of the coffee – giving you free rein whether you want a mild, regular, or strong brew.
This one also has the capacity to brew up to 12 cups. With the built-in grinder, it also reduces the beans to the optimal size to enrich the flavor and retain the consistency of the resulting brew, not to mention its power and speed of grinding as well. You can also program the machine to brew up to 24 hours prior.
The visuals of the machine are also not bad to look at, with the gold-toned coffee filter, the sleek black thermal carafe, and the stainless steel construction of the machine itself.
It is also equipped with activated charcoal water filters. If you do not like the coffee machines of Cuisinart that operate with a lot of noise, this one only beeps once when it is done and automatically shuts off.
Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew Designs and dimensions
The visual aesthetic of the Cuisinart DGB-900BC grind & brew can really add a splash of sophistication to an otherwise boring kitchen countertop. It gives a modern elegant touch to your kitchen with its classic color tones while not occupying too much space.
It is just the right size for your cabinets, making it quite easy to store if you do not want to use it for a while.
The compartment for the beans is transparent, so you can easily monitor the number of beans left in the hatch. The drip tray for the carafe is placed the typical way. The body of the machine is just the right blend of silver stainless steel color and black.
Because of the stainless steel construction, the machine is almost totally resistant to scratches and abrasions. It is also durably made to withstand minor bumps.
In terms of dimensions, the DGB-900BC is 16.3 inches tall, 8.3 inches wide, and 11.6 inches deep. It can really take up a considerable amount of counter space.
It may be slimmer than other models, but with the height, it is evidently taller than most.
It weighs 9.5 lbs – a tad bit heavier than others which are only around 8.5 to 9 pounds. However, those few added pounds are not really that much of a hassle.
The machine is still quite easy to carry and transport. The carafe contributes a lot to its total weight, which is 2 pounds and 12 ounces in weight.
Cuisinart DGB-900BC Parts
The components that make up the machine are easy to assemble as well as detach for cleaning and maintenance purposes. Each of these parts is sturdy and long-lasting to avoid the need for frequent repairs. Here are the different parts of the DGB-900BC.
Bean hopper
Because the machine is built in a somewhat vertical position, the container for the coffee beans is conveniently placed at the very top of the machine. It can hold a maximum of 8 ounces of coffee beans which is roughly equivalent to half a pound of whole beans.
The transparent design enables you to monitor the number of beans left inside that can be used for brewing.
A great feature of the bean hopper is that it is moisture-resistant. When it is properly sealed, it keeps moisture out to prevent the degradation of the beans. If you open it, you can observe a funnel that moves the beans down into the grinder.
After grinding, the ground coffee is transported to the coffee maker chute, ready for brewing. You can trust that the bean hopper is also made of durable material that is not easily damaged.
Water reservoir
You might experience some difficulties when filling up the water reservoir because of some obstructions like the burr grinder and the bean hopper that occupy a lot of space at the top of the machine.
On the side of the machine, you can find an indicator of the water level in the reservoir and a red mark telling you how much you still need to put in. When you fill the tank, make sure that the water level does not exceed the 12-cup line so the carafe won’t overflow.
Thermal carafe
The stainless steel thermal carafe of the DGB-900BC is a remarkable component. It has a double-wall insulation that maximizes the heat retention of the carafe.
The lid is hands-free, which means you do not have to hold it up in order to dispense the coffee. The handle is comfortable to hold as well.
The weight of the carafe is only 2 pounds, so you can easily carry it. It can maintain the temperature of the coffee brewed for eight hours maximum. It is also programmable, and washing it is not hassling.
Water Filter
Water is used to dissolve the coffee. It is one of the major constituents of the drink, which means that it also affects the resulting taste of your coffee. Any impurities in your water will manifest themselves in the taste of the brew.
The good thing is that this machine is equipped with a charcoal water filter that is efficient in filtering out the impurities and contaminants from the main water supply, so the water that is used in brewing is guaranteed safe and pure.
Aside from that, it also comes with a permanent cupcake-style gold-tone filter which can be substituted with a paper filter depending on your preference. You should know that you will need to replace the charcoal filter every once in a while.
Programmable features
The DGB-900BC has a great grind and brew mechanism for its price. Along with the state-of-the-art programmable control panel and the LCD screen, it also has a couple of great features that you can utilize for your coffee brewing needs and preferences.
You will also find the product manual to be very helpful in guiding you to operate the machine correctly. You need not worry too much because the menu buttons and the entire usability of the machine are not complicated at all.
Burr grinder
The built-in burr grinder of this machine operates almost the same as other great burr coffee grinders in the market do. It is placed above the machine just close to the bean hatch and brings efficiency, as you would expect a coffee maker of this caliber would.
The burr grinder of the DGB-900BC grinds the beans in a crushing manner instead of chopping them up, resulting in finer coffee grounds for brewing that releases great flavor.
We can safely say that it is at the top of the list of the best coffee makers with a grinder for home use. We also have another article on grinding coffee beans without a grinder.
Brew pause
There are only a select few models of coffee makers with a brew pause feature. This feature enables you to pause the brewing process for 20 seconds if you want to remove the carafe or cup. It temporarily stops dispensing coffee and automatically resumes after 20 seconds.
Strength selector
There are three basic strengths of coffee: mild, medium, and strong. With the DGB-900BC coffee maker, you can select from those three options as to how strong you want your coffee to be brewed, which is a real convenience for coffee drinkers who are also conscious about their caffeine intake. Find out how to brew strong coffee in this separate article.
For a richer flavor, we strongly suggest roasting your coffee beans with a great home coffee roaster for consistent roast quality.
Grind control knob
This coffee machine has a grind control knob, so you can choose the number of cups that you want to dispense, and the number of beans to grind will correspond to that as well. The range is from 2 to 12 standard coffee cups.
Grind off button
You can also opt to make coffee with pre-ground coffee instead of loading it with beans. You can simply put the coffee grounds directly into the filter chamber and press the grind-off button so the grinder won’t operate anymore and will just go straight to filtering and brewing.
Safety feature
There is a knob on the bean hopper of the machine that securely locks the container in place, so there is no risk of it accidentally detaching.
The good thing is that the machine does not start to grind the beans if the hopper is not positioned correctly in its place and will also produce a beeping sound that indicates mispositioning of the hopper if the machine is also switched on. The beeping will only stop if the hopper is secured in its place.
Brewing quality
The burr grind and brewer of Cuisinart coffee makers have automatic drip brewing technology. It grinds the coffee prior to brewing so you can be sure that the coffee grounds used in the brew are freshly ground. There is also a grind-off button that you can press if you prefer to use pre-ground coffee.
The grinding process to fill a 12-cup carafe takes 40 seconds and makes a lot of noise. It’s also quite difficult to monitor the brewing temperature, but upon testing of the resulting brew from the basket in the middle of the cycle, it was at 175°F.
The brewed coffee flows from the brew basket directly onto the thermal carafe. It took around 9 minutes for the entire process to complete. You will hear a low beep sound when it finishes.
After brewing, the coffee temperature in the carafe dropped to 168°F. After one hour of sitting, it only dropped to 163°F.
Cuisinart 900BC Performance
Now we are onto the most important part of the review, where we will be assessing the overall performance of the Cuisinart DGB-900BC coffee maker. Read on to know about our first-hand experience with the machine.
The grind and brew mechanism of this coffee machine is efficiently constructed for high-quality coffee brewing while maintaining the richness of the flavor. Consistency in grinding the beans is a vital factor in brewing great coffee. However in this particular model, it performs well, but it could be better.
It takes around 8 minutes for the usual burr grind and brews coffee machine to complete brewing, and that holds true for this Cuisinart product.
The heat produced does not reach 200 degrees but is still good enough, regardless. All in all, the features that the DGB-900BC has coincided with its price.
Cleaning and maintenance
There is already a built-in burr grinder in the Cuisinart DGB-900BC. You should that this component of the machine requires thorough cleaning in the traditional matter and using a vinegar solution.
It is highly recommended that the coffee chute, burr grinder, and bean hopper are also cleaned after 7 to 10 uses. You need not worry because there are basic cleaning tools included in the package, such as a brush, a scoop, and a special cleaning tool for the machine itself.
The coffee chute, burr grinder, and bean hopper should be cleaned by hand as they are not dishwasher-safe, so that may be a bit of a hassle for you, but all those three are easy to detach from the machine and easy to reattach as well.
Value
The Cuisinart DGB-900BC is definitely on the pricey side. It costs around $200 with a 3-year limited warranty. Though the features may very well justify the price, there are other models of almost the same caliber that cost less.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- It retains the natural coffee flavor of the fresh beans nicely
- The bean hatch has a large capacity of half a pound of beans to be stored
- Great for small counter spaces
- 24-hour programmable brew
- A thermal carafe maintains the temperature of the brewed coffee for several hours
- Fast grinding time and less noise
- User-friendly controls
- 4 brewing size options
- Less beeping noise
What we don’t like
- Thermal carafe only, no hot plate for temperature retention, the machine automatically switches off after the brewing process
- The visual aesthetic of the LCD and front menu panel isn’t as pleasing
- The carafe may be prone to drips and spills
Perks of the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
The following are the best things you get out of this top-notch coffee machine!
- With the built-in burr grinder and a storage hatch for fresh beans, you get fresh coffee every time you brew!
- The burr grinder mechanism crushes the beans instead of simply chopping them. As a result, the beans are extracted better, and a richer flavor is achieved. You won’t waste any beans as well because it only grinds the right amount appropriate for the brewing size that you selected. Some coffee makers that have this feature cost around a thousand dollars, so this is a bonus.
- It has a maximum of 12 cups of coffee that it can brew. You can opt for lesser serving sizes, but the 12-cup capacity is the maximum that can fully fill the carafe.
- It has an auto-brew program feature. With the pre-installed digital clock in the machine, you can set a time when you want the machine to start brewing automatically without you having to manually switch it on. It is convenient, especially if you get up really early in the morning and you’re in a rush.
- Auto-shut off feature. When the machine is done brewing, it will turn off automatically.
- Impressive temperature retention with the thermal carafe. Most machines use a hot plate for maintaining the temperature of the coffee, but for this model, the carafe itself already does the job. The walls of the stainless steel carafe are double-insulated, which keeps the beverage warm for up to eight hours. This eliminates the need for frequent reheating, especially if there are a lot of coffee drinkers all throughout the day.
- The brew pause feature allows you to temporarily stop the brewing process if you want to get a small cup of coffee before it is fully done brewing. Though it may not be that important, it is still an added feature that could prove to be convenient.
- Efficient filter to purify the water and remove unwanted particles and improve the taste. This coffee machine has a pre-installed charcoal water filter that adsorbs extraneous matter from the water source. You should know that you will need to replace these water filters every once in a while to maintain the quality of your brew.
- Additional filtration by the gold-tone coffee filter. This particular filter is directed more toward the coffee that is being brewed. It can also improve the taste of the beverage. You will also find a measuring cup included in the package.
- Brew strength adjustment. There are coffee drinkers who prefer milder or stronger coffee. That can be achieved with the aid of the brew strength adjustment feature of the coffee maker. You have three options for strength – mild, medium, and strong – and you can set the machine to brew it for you at that specific strength.
- You can still use pre-ground coffee. Some coffee drinkers do not purchase whole coffee beans. Instead, they get coffee grounds that are ready for brewing to save some time. The machine can also do that for you with the off button for the grinder. But we strongly recommend that if you do use this machine, you should switch to coffee beans to make use of its grinder mechanism, and it is also superior in a lot of ways in terms of flavor and brewing quality.
Possible faults of the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Coffee Maker
The lack of a single-serve option is the only thing that we were disappointed about in this coffee maker. The minimum serving size is 2 cups for every brewing cycle.
It does not seem too much of a big deal, though, because it is really intended for multiple servings, considering it comes with a stainless steel double-insulated carafe that can maintain the coffee’s temperature for a maximum of eight hours.
Making the most out of your Cuisinart DGB-900BC
A coffee maker is a huge investment. Especially a machine of this caliber, such as the Cuisinart DGB-900BC, you would really expect a whole lot of features to go with its price.
The internal components of this coffee maker are constructed meticulously to ensure efficient operation, so it will require careful setup and installation. Here are some tips on how to maximize your usage:
- Take care of the charcoal filter. This is a very vital part of the machine because it filters your water supply to ensure that you only use clean and pure water to brew coffee. An activated charcoal filter effectively removes the chlorine taste from the water, along with other contaminants that alter the taste and odor of the water. Remember to soak the filter in cold tap water for 15 minutes first before using it, and replace it every 2 months or six weeks if your water supply is hard water.
- The arrows on the filter basket cover should be lined up. Upon replacement of the paper filter or filter basket, always remember to put the lid back with the arrows lined properly so that the ground coffee can freely fall into place.
- Ensure that you only have fresh coffee beans in the hatch. If a long period of time passes by that the coffee beans are unused, it’s better that you replace them so you can still enjoy great quality coffee. You also prevent the possibility of the beans drying out and losing precious flavor. If you only consume a small amount at a time, you may want to fill the hopper only halfway through.
- Even if it has already been washed, rinse the carafe with hot water before you start brewing as a way to preheat it before the actual hot liquid is dispensed.
- Only put the indicated amount of pre-ground coffee. If you do not usually purchase beans and prefer to go straight to the brewing instead of waiting a long time for the grinder, you should add the appropriate amount of coffee grounds. Use the scoop to measure coffee grounds at a 1:1 ratio with each cup. If you put more grounds than needed, the filter basket will overflow.
Cleaning and maintenance of the DGB-900BC coffee maker
The product manual that comes in the package with the machine lays out the instructions on cleaning and maintenance pretty clearly. The instructions are specific that you really do have to conduct regular maintenance and cleaning for a heavy-duty coffee maker like the Cuisinart DGB-900BC.
Coffee beans have a slightly pungent odor and leave residue and stains in their containers. If you use it for your next brew without cleaning it beforehand, you will surely be able to sense these impurities in your coffee, and it will ruin your drinking experience.
There is a ‘clean’ button on the coffee maker, so make sure to use it from time to time. Also, remember to wash the bean hatch and the carafe thoroughly to maintain good results and ensure the maximum lifespan of your coffee machine.
Final verdict on the Cuisinart DGB-900BC
The Cuisinart DGB-900BC deserves a 4-star rating out of 5. In terms of size, construction, and brewing quality, it is really one of the most promising models in the market today.
The only downside about it is that it is not a practical choice for beginners or those who are only just starting to get into the caffeine experience.
If you are a habitual coffee drinker or an experienced home brewer, you will really like this model. It does well with grinding whole coffee beans to the filtering to the brewing itself, especially for multiple servings in a single day.
It is, without a doubt, one of the masterpieces of Cuisinart and a worthy investment for coffee lovers who want to brew in the comfort of their own homes.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
