Cuisinart DGB-550BK Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup

A nice addition to any modern kitchen, this 12 cup auto coffeemaker automatically grinds whole beans right before brewing to produce a new and flavorful pot of coffee. The 24 hour completely programmable unit lets for “wake up” coffee, plus its brew pause function makes it simple to take pleasure in a cup of coffee before the end of the brewing cycle. The included 60 ounce glass carafe offers an ergonomic handle, knuckle guard, and dripless pour spout for graceful serving. Other highlights include adjustable auto shutoff for up to four hours, a grind off choice, a charcoal water filter to take off impurities, and a separate grinder chamber and filter area to ensure simple cleanup. Housed in elegant Italian style, the coffeemaker measures roughly twelve by ten by 17 inches and carries a three year restricted warranty.

204 of 217 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars I’ll never purchase another coffee maker, March 6, 2008
By Chelsea Russell “Coffee snob” See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Cuisinart DGB 550BK Grind and Brew 12 Cup auto Coffeemaker (Kitchen) I just bought this coffee maker to replace my Cuisinart Coffee on Demand. This is the second coffee maker like this that I owned and I’m happy that I have come home. When my coffee on demand went out, I bought another brand coffee maker and returned it inside three days.

My husband and I think about ourselves coffee snobs and about a year ago began buying our coffee whole bean Exclusively and thought it could be a great “ease” in our morning coffee routine to own this machine again.

I have read reviews about the difficulty of cleaning and sound of the grinder. It’s really really easy. After I grind and brew a pot of deliciously strong, rich, hot coffee; I open the cover and take out the grinder rinse it off with hot water and set it on a towel. I then take out the gold tone filter, empty the grounds, rinse it and set it on the towel. Then I remove the filter basket and cover and rinse them and set them on the towel. I leave the top cover open to dry out the inside and by the time I’m prepared to brew another pot of coffee all parts and inside of the machine are dry and prepared to go. All together it takes me less than minutes to clean it. , then when all the parts are prepared for a deep clean, I through all parts, as well as the carafe and cover, into the dishwasher. Part of cake.

All in all this is the most unbelievable coffee maker that I have ever owned and the easiet to use and I do not have to worry now about replacing my worn out bean grinder, my coffee maker doesn it for me.

And a note about the grinder basket. I have read reviews that have said that it does not hold enough beans for a full twelve cups , then it can not be adjusted for the 1 4 cup feature. The grinder holds just as many beans as what I used in my counter top grinder for twelve cups. And if you only want to brew 1 4 cups of coffee, only put in enough beans for 1 4 cups. The grinder will still run for the 30 seconds that it’s set for the twelve cups but it works well and you do not realize it is doing it.

I could greatly recommend anybody who loves to brew whole bean coffee, if sometimes or everyday, to purchase this machine. You do not have to generally brew whole beans it this machine, you may be able to turn off the grinder and place pre ground coffee right into the filter. Also a part of cake.

I could also recommend that you attempt the gold tone filter that comes with it. It combinations the oil from the whole bean in with the coffee and gives such a increase in the coffees smoothness and flavor.

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77 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of five stars Ummm Ummm new Ground and Brewed., July 16, 2008
By Cat (Beverly Hills,Ca) See all my reviews () This review is from: Cuisinart DGB 550BK Grind and Brew 12 Cup auto Coffeemaker (Kitchen) I did alot of research before buying this coffee machine. Read so many reviews and decided to do it. I’m so happy with this product. I realize many people feel it’s too noisy (when it grinds the coffee beans, JUST before brewing) and I can say it’s noisy. (My own individual grinder was pretty noisy too) So for me to be able to wake up to freshly ground and brewed coffee it worth it. My machine goes off at 5:50am and I don’t hear it.I get up around 6am and have great coffee.I decide to clean it when I’m done and head out to work at 6:50am. When I get home all the parts are dry and I simply set it all up for the next day. I do have a suggestion, don’t purchase the coffee maker paired with the goldtoned filter as advertised on Amazon. It’s the wrong filter for that machine. The machine comes with it is own goldtoned filter basket. All in all this is a great coffee maker.

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74 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of five stars remaining service support!, December 30, 2007
By rsb “rsb96405″ (Vienna, WV) See all my reviews This review is from: Cuisinart DGB 550BK Grind and Brew 12 Cup auto Coffeemaker (Kitchen) I bought this coffee maker in August of 2005 from a local merchant, and it performed flawlessly till today (Dec. 30, 2007). I clean the machine every weekend, since we have greatly calcified water where I live. Today, it could not heat the water enough to produce the dripping cycle to operate and many water leaked out of the bottom of the machine onto my countertop.

I called the buyer service people (keep those owner’s manuals and buy receipts) and was happy to learn that this coffee maker has a three year warranty. They’re sending a substitute coffee maker now free to me! All I have to do is send the faulty one back to them when the new one arrives(about a $10 cost to me).

I was happy with the treatment I received from the service rep on the phone. I have nothing but praise for Cusinart merchandise (I have a blender and a food processor too), and now I can vouch that they stand behind their merchandise, after 2+ years of use.

Incidentally, the coffe maker grinds coffee and brews it better than any machine I have ever owned. It’s a bit noisy when the grinder kicks on, but we have grown accustomed to its 30 second whine. The machine requires cautious, daily cleaning and may be too high maintenance for many folks; but if you like great coffee, fresh ground and steaming hot at wakeup every day, this machine won’t disappoint.

Highly suggested.

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