Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

Last Updated on Thursday, 8 April 2010 05:12 Written by bjcoffee Thursday, 8 April 2010 05:12

We would be burr coffee grinder snobs to not point out the merits of the little grinder that could, the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. The DBM-8 is actually a pretty good grinder if you want to spend under $50. On the other hand, are you sure you want to spend under $50 for a grinder?

As you might expect, Cuisinart had to pull out all the stops to get an acceptable grinder for an entry level price. Parts that would normally be metal for longevity or glass for anti-static properties are plastic. The timer for grinding is adjustable in 2-cup increments–lacking some fine control, but this may meet your needs. No special engineering was done to reduce noise, but this is not the loudest grinder out there. And the motor RPM is a little higher than we would like to see, but it does not create an undue amount of heat.

The DBM-8 actually surprised us as a very capable little grinder. Grounds were evenly sized, flavor was very good, and day-to-day cleaning was not terribly burdensome. We did see a greater number of defective grinders than usual, but we ordered through Amazon and got our defective items replaced quickly–so this was not much more than an inconvenience.

The only downside of this grinder we can see is longevity. General reviews have found this grinder does not last as long as its more expensive siblings. Of course, the amount you use it factors greatly into this equation, so this may not be a big issue for you.

The bottom line–if your expectations are in line with what this unit can provide, and you are merely looking to enjoy some great coffee on a budget, this may be the best deal around. Be advised that you may want to spend a few more dollars to get some of the extras available in other grinders. But for an entry level grinder, the DBM-8 is a great deal.