Freshly ground coffee brings a whole new level of flavor and depth in your coffee. Grinding your own coffee also gives you another element of control apart from your brewing process.
If you are looking for a coffee grinder that is value for money, the Cuisinart Coffee Grinder has to be one of the considerations. It has a number of features that make it stand out amongst other similar priced coffee grinders.
Our overall rating of the Cuisinart Coffee Grinder: 4 stars
Here’s how the Cuisinart Coffee Grinder fare in The Value Triangle review criteria consisting of price, ease of use, and performance.
- Pricing – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease Of Use – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Performance – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Key Features Excellent Construction and Build The Cuisinart Coffee Grinder falls in line with Cuisinart’s focus on quality. You’ll like the elegant brushed stainless steel which leaves no fingerprints on the machine. The hopper and ground coffee container are both made of plastic. I’d prefer the ground container to be made of glass rather than plastic, so there wouldn’t be any static to create a mess when I remove the container. That is my only complaint with the build of this grinder. (Note: You can wait for a minute for the static to be gone before removing the container.) Good Size Size of the Cuisinart Coffee Grinder is adequate. The hopper can hold up to 8oz of coffee beans. The ground coffee container holds up to 32 cups of coffee, but I recommend you to max it at 18 cups (which is the maximum number of cups for a single grind). Great Performance The Cuisinart Coffee Grinder is able to grind 18 levels of grinds. The grounds are excellent when it comes to grinding fine to medium grounds. This means the grounds are suitable for drip, pour-over, and AeroPress coffee. When it comes to grinds at either end of the spectrum like extra-coarse and ultra-fine, some coffee lovers pointed out that conical burr coffee grinders perform better (Cuisinart Coffee Grinder uses a flat burr which I’ll explain in detail later). I beg to differ because I find my grounds good enough for espresso and French press coffee. Also, the grinder is consistent with its grind. Once you figure out your favorite setting, you can expect the grinder to produce the perfectly sized grounds every single time. Easy To Use The coffee grinder is easy to operate. There are two indicators – the size of the grounds at the upper portion and the number of cups at the lower portion. For the upper part, the entire hopper is a giant dial that can be twisted. So, just twist the hopper and align the mark to your desired size of grounds from 18 different settings. You will hear a click to ensure the correct size is selected. For the lower part, slide the lever left or right to choose the servings you want. That’s all you need to do before starting the grind. Excellent Safety Features You will be impressed with the safety features onboard. First, the grinder shuts down automatically when the grind cycle is completed. You can leave the grinder to do the grinding while you go for your morning shower or wake the kids up. Also, the timely shut down saves electricity. Second, the grinder only starts when the hopper is properly in place with the plastic ground container is fully inserted into the chamber. While it stops you from grinding directly into a cup, it is necessary to prevent any mishaps from happening. Also, there is a way to manually stop the machine. Simply slide the lever all the way left to the “OFF” position to stop the machine. What Are The Alternatives? First, a conical burr produces a bi-modal grind, meaning there two groups of grounds – a group of bigger grounds and a group of smaller ones. The smaller grounds act as a restriction to slow down the water flow and provides more time for the bigger grounds to saturate. This is perfect for espresso. Second, conical burr produces less waste compared to flat burrs as flat burrs trap more grounds and require frequent cleaning. On the other hand, a conical burr allows the grounds to pass straight through. Thus, it doesn’t have this issue. If you want good espresso, the OXO Brew OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is a superb upgrade. There are a few things you’ll love with this grinder. It comes with 40 grind settings, and on top of that, the commercial-grade conical burr ensures the grounds are suitable for all brew methods. The backlit ground bin is beautiful and a nice touch. Also, the digital timer gives you precise timing so that you can grind the exact amount of coffee you need. Did I mention it is quiet too? The Baratza Virtuoso+ is like a Tesla, quiet but powerful. This semi-pro coffee grinder is definitely a worthy upgrade over the Cuisinart Coffee grinder. It doesn’t have a timer or a grind setting. Grind the grounds for a longer period if you want fine grounds. For coarse grounds, just do a few short bursts of grinds. Since the motor is small, it is quieter than other coffee grinders. Also, you can remove the grinding chamber to wash everything. To aid its portability, you can hide the cord in the base, making it super easy for storage or bringing it overseas. Verdict The Cuisinart Coffee Grinder is perfect if you’re looking to grind fresh coffee. >> Also read: Best Coffee Maker with Grinder This coffee grinder ticks a number of boxes, such as value for money, grind consistency, safety, and ease of use. Although some coffee fanatics find the extreme spectrums of the grind like the ultra-fine for espresso and extra-coarse for French Press to be inadequate, I find them good enough for what you’re paying. You’ll still be able to make a good cup of espresso by pulling longer shots. The total score is 4 stars. A great score for a coffee grinder. The Cuisinart Coffee Grinder definitely deserves a place on your kitchen counter if you’re looking to grind your own coffee.Cuisinart Coffee Grinder Review
Features:
OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Electric Coffee Grinder
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