I had an earlier version of the 10-cup Cuisinart Grind and Brew that lasted more than 3 years.It made an awesome pot of coffee.I read online reviews of this and similar grind and brews from Cuisinart that made me nervous that I wouldn't get as good a product as I had last time.I looked closely at other brands and other versions of grind and brews and decided based on my own experience with the last one I bought, I'd give this model a shot.So far I have not had any problems that other people have mentioned.Yes, there are more parts to take apart, clean and put back together than a regular coffee maker.But the superior taste of the coffee you get from the grind and brew is absolutely worth the extra couple minutes of prep time it takes.Besides, I was used to it from the previous model I owned.So that is not an issue.I read other reviews about the hinge not closing or popping open during the brew cycle, or leaking.I have not had ANY of those issues.NOTE:One reviewer said to read ALL the instructions carefully and follow the directions and that's what I did.Most important thing to remember here is you have to be sure to keep the handle of the gold filter basket facing the front of the coffee maker. Last I saw some reviewers complain of the noise as it grinds the coffee beans.This version of the grind and brew is noticeably more quiet than the last one I had, so no issue there either.All in all, I am VERY glad I purchased this product.I love it!
A very nice, straightforward coffemaker, makes good coffee with pre-ground beans, can be programmed to start when you want. A nice feature is that it can also be programmed to shut down when you want -either right after brewing or up to 2 hours later. A bit on the noisy side, even without the grinder function on. Initial setup is easy. Please note that if you do not close *and latch* thereservoir cover, the machine will beep constantly and not brew until you do. Drove me crazy for about 15 minutes until I noticed that the cover wasn't fully latched. Although it does tell you that in the instruction manual, it's not immediately evident -it's a line in the middle of lengthy instruction under #6 "Close Reservoir Lid", on page 8.
Update on Feb. 1, 2010
It was a learning curve to figure out how many scoops of whole beans to add for a good cup of coffee. A small scoop is included, with instructions to use one scoop per cup. However, the grind on this machine is fairly coarse, so it comes out a bit weaker than I'm used to. Adding a bit more each time took me over the top to "bitter," so it's hard to find a balance. I'm afraid I enjoy pre-ground coffee in this coffeemaker more than whole-bean.
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Bought this unit for my wife for Christmas 2009. Liked the idea of a combo grinder and coffee maker. $100 at World Market, Houston. Get it cheaper now.
1. Also bought the gold filter basket (no brainer).
2. The unit makes great coffee.
3. The grinder is very loud. Loud enough to wake the household at 5am. I now purchase ground coffee and don't use the grinder in the coffee maker.
4. The filter basket sits in a swing out holder that is spring-loaded. There is a "release" button on the side of the unit. The door tends to pop open at very inopportune times, including while the coffee is brewing. This is an unacceptable glitch in the design. This gets the unit a 3-star rating from me.
I'm in the process of getting a replacement unit from Cuisinart. Even for $50, not worth the mess.
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I am very pleasantly surprised by this machine.It replaced a 3 year-old Cuisinart grind-and-brew that just stopped working one morning.I intended to buy one of the expensive burr-grinder models from Capresso when I found this one on clearance at a warehouse club for fifty dollars.I figured for a quarter of the price of the Capresso it was worth a shot if I didn't like it I could always take it back.I am so happy that I tried it!
Compared to my old Cuisinart this one is much, much quieter.Don't get me wrong, it's still loud, but it's more like the sound of a truck driving by while my old one sounded like a jet engine taking off.I attribute the quietness to the much thicker grinding chamber on this model.I think it holds in place better, reducing the vibration noise.Maybe a burr grinder model would be quieter; I don't know.The burr grinders I have used make noise at a lower frequency so they sound different, but not necessarily quieter.
The coffee tastes great!The warming plate / glass carafe keeps the coffee hot enough for my taste.Might not be hot enough for some I don't like my coffee scalding hot.The grounds in the basket get well saturated during the brewing process, so you don't have to use an excessive amount of coffee beans to get a strong pot.
The only drawback is the need to clean the machine after each use.I'm used to it, because my old Cuisinart was the same way, but I can see the attraction of a burr grinder model that you don't have to constantly wash.The cleaning process is easy.Everything pops out easily and cleans up quickly, but there are several parts that have to be washed.The instructions say you can run the parts through the dishwasher, but when I did that with my old Cuisinart the plastic eventually developed a white residue that took a while to scrub off so I'm not going to use the dishwasher with this model.
Overall I am very happy with this purchase.It is inexpensive, relatively quiet, has good programming features, and makes a good pot of coffee.Having a 12-cup capacity is great!
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This is my second Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffeemaker in the last six years.This model is easy to clean, easy to set timers and you can check the water level from the outside of the unit.Parts go back into unit with ease.I am very happy with my purchase.
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