Entry-level burr grinders are hard to come by.
But Cuisinart has an answer for us.
In this Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill review, I’ll go over everything about this entry-level grinder.
I’ll explain each feature and what I like and don’t like about it.
But the short answer is that it’s a great grinder for beginners.
Let’s get to it!
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill: Overview
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Cuisinart has been in the home appliance market for more than 50 years. And it started making coffee makers and grinders rather early on.
The burr grinders, however, are a relatively new addition to Cuisinart’s lineup. But with so many decades of experience, you can be sure they make a quality and affordable product.
The DBM 8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill is Cuisinart’s entry-level burr coffee grinder. It’s a capable little machine that is incredibly budget-friendly for the casual coffee drinker.
It’s capable of grinding beans for up to 18 cups of coffee, so it has plenty of capacity for even the heaviest coffee-drinking households.
The bottom line is that this isn’t a grinder for a coffee aficionado. It’s a grinder for a casual home brewer looking for their very first burr grinder.
Pros
- Burr grinders are better than blade grinders because of the uniform grind
- It grinds for 4-18 cups of coffee, which is plenty for any coffee machine
- Automatic stop function means you won’t waste energy grinding beans
- 18 grind settings from ultra-fine to coarse grind, so you can grind for any type of brew
Cons
- It doesn’t have a powerful motor, so grinding can take a while and will be loud
- It’s cheap, and while it does the job, you get what you pay for
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind: A Closer Look
Let’s dive into the specific aspects of the DBM-8 Supreme Grind.
In each section, I’ll explain the feature and tell you what I like and what I don’t like about it.
How good is the design?
The design is simple. But that’s kind of the point. This grinder is meant to be a step up from Cuisinart’s simplest blade grinder.
And they successfully do that. After all, the Cuisinart DBM-8 is a burr grinder.
Why is that important? Think of it like cooking with garlic. If you use a blade, you’ll get chopped garlic. But if you use a garlic press, you’ll get a uniform and consistent garlic that cooks evenly.
A burr grinder is like using a garlic press, while a blade grinder is like chopping by hand.
The outside is also sleek and classic. The brushed stainless steel is a timeless design choice, and at only a few inches wide, it fits almost any kitchen regardless of space.
The hopper and the grind chamber are both intuitive, and the lack of a digital interface actually makes this grinder really easy to use.
The one problem is that it’s somewhat represented as a stainless steel grinder. It’s not. It simply has stainless steel styling. That means it’s made from plastic and a little bit of stainless steel.
What I like: It’s an affordable burr grinder, that alone is a huge plus. But it also has a classic look in a size that fits anywhere. And it’s intuitive.
What I don’t like: There’s a lot of plastic. Cuisinart advertises brushed stainless steel, but most of the machine is made from plastic. It feels cheap, but then again, it is cheap.
What capacity does it have?
Capacity in a coffee grinder is a little tricky. There are two capacities to consider: the coffee bean hopper and the grind chamber.
The bean hopper is where the whole coffee beans are stored before they are ground. The grind chamber is where the ground coffee ends up after running through the burrs.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind has a bean hopper capacity of 8 oz, or ½ lb.
The grind chamber holds coffee for up to 32 cups of coffee. Basically, you can fill up the hopper twice and still have a little room left over in the grind chamber.
My thought, though, is that the capacity on both is more than enough for what this grinder is really capable of. That means you can store fresh coffee beans in the hopper without having to get a separate storage solution.
If you plan on using all 8 oz of bean hopper at a time, I would highly suggest getting a sturdier and higher-quality grinder.
While the Cuisinart DBM-8 has the capacity, the performance just isn’t there to use the capacity.
It’s best suited for grinding 1-2 cups worth of coffee at a time.
What I like: There’s enough capacity to store whole beans even if you don’t grind all of them at one time. There’s almost double the capacity in the grind chamber, which is always a good idea.
What I don’t like: The grinder doesn’t have the performance to actually use all the capacity. It really only has the motor capacity for grinding 1-2 cups worth of coffee at a time.
How does it perform?
Okay, here’s the deal: you get what you pay for.
Are you looking for a heavy-use burr grinder that can handle coffee for an entire family every day? Then this isn’t the grinder for you.
Are you a home barista looking for a precise and super-duper grind consistency for your science project style brew? Again, not the grinder for you.
However, if you’re looking for a simple, budget-friendly grinder that’s a step above a simple spice grinder, then this is maybe the most perfect choice.
The problem with the performance is that it’s a weaker motor than other entry-level burr grinders.
That makes it relatively slow and loud.
It is a flat burr grinder. Which is a nice touch. Flat burrs are a great and slightly cheaper way of producing burr grinders without losing much performance.
It does have some features that I really do appreciate. For one, I love the automatic shutoff. You choose the number of grinds you need and press the button. The machine stops when the grinding is finished.
That means you never have to worry about over-grinding.
Also, 18 coffee grind size settings are plenty for most casual brewers. That covers everything from pour-over coffee to French press or even cold brew.
And having plenty of time settings for the number of cups you’re going to brew is a nice feature too.
What I like: It’s a great entry-level grinder for a casual coffee drinker who wants a burr grinder but doesn’t need anything too fancy. The automatic shutoff is a feature usually reserved for higher-end machines, so having it on this one is a nice bonus.
What I don’t like: It’s slow and loud. It’s definitely a cheaper grinder. It’s not for anyone who wants to brew precisely and consistently at home.
How easy is it to clean?
When I think about cleaning grinders, I think about two things: how many removable parts are there, and how easy is it to access the burrs.
Both of those things on this grinder are great.
Both the hopper and the grind chamber are removable and washable in the sink. That makes for easy deep cleaning.
The burrs themselves are not removable without some serious wrenching, which is a bummer. I prefer grinders that have easier access to the burrs. Or grinders that have replaceable burrs.
In the box, though, you get a cleaning brush, which makes cleaning the burrs a little easier.
As always, I recommend giving your grinder a deep clean every month or so, depending on how much you use it.
With an entry-level grinder like this, deep cleaning is a great way to increase the lifespan and performance of your grinder. Cleaning prevents clogs and inconsistencies from forming.
What I like: Both the hopper and the chamber are removable, making cleaning them easy. And you get a cleaning brush in the box for cleaning the actual burrs.
What I don’t like: The burrs are hard to get to for deep cleaning. And they aren’t easily replaceable.
How easy is it to use?
For such an entry-level grinder, I would expect this Cuisinart grinder to be intuitive and really easy to use. And good news: it really is.
The lack of digital display on the Cuisinart DBM-8 is actually a really nice omission. I find digital displays or control panels to be confusing and a higher barrier to entry.
The Supreme Grind has two functions: a grind setting selection and a power setting selection.
When you only have two things to worry about, it becomes really easy to understand and operate.
There’s nothing excessive about this grinder. It’s simple.
If there’s a downside to the simplicity, it’s that there aren’t enough settings. Only having 18 grind sizes is pretty limited. And not having a pulse grinding option can make precision a little tough.
But the reality is that this grinder is for beginners or casual coffee drinkers and not for someone looking for too many options.
What I like: This is one of the simplest grinders on the market. It only has two buttons and a super intuitive design.
What I don’t like: The settings are almost too simple. Having only 18 grind size options is pretty limited, but if you’re not looking for fancy, it’s still plenty. No pulse grinding option can make precision tough.
Is it durable?
The Cuisinart DBM-8 has stainless steel styling. What does that mean? It means that it isn’t actually made from stainless steel, but has stainless steel accents.
Most of the machine is made from plastic. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean that it’s slightly less durable than it might first appear.
The motor inside the machine is a simple one. Especially when compared to other entry-level burr grinders.
That means that with heavy use, this grinder will wear out faster than other ones. Then again, it’s also cheaper, so it might be a wash in the end.
That said, it does come with a limited warranty. So if anything does go wrong in the first year or so, you’re covered.
Like I said in earlier sections, this isn’t the grinder for someone who takes their home coffee super seriously.
It’s a much better choice for someone who likes to make coffee at home every now and then. Or for someone who doesn’t care as much about performance or consistency and just wants a decent burr grinder.
What I like: The durability matches the price. I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again here: you get what you pay for. It might wear out faster than a slightly more expensive burr grinder, but it’s also much cheaper.
What I don’t like: The misleading stainless steel claims. It’s made from plastic, not stainless steel. And the motor isn’t very strong, so it will be loud and slow and wear out faster than more expensive motors.
FAQ
You might still have some questions about Cuisinart grinders.
I’ll answer a few of those questions in this section.
Can you use a Cuisinart coffee grinder for espresso?
Not really. While it does have a fine grind setting, it doesn’t go all the way to espresso.
You can get by using the finest grind, but if you’re a serious espresso drinker, you’ll be disappointed.
How do you remove a bowl from a Cuisinart coffee grinder?
To remove the bowl, simply rotate the bowl clockwise until it releases from the machine.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to take the top of the machine off to get the bowl.
Why is my Cuisinart coffee maker not grinding beans?
The most likely answer is that there is a clog in the grinder.
The best solution is to give your grinder a deep clean. You can start by running a half cup of rice through the grinder before taking it apart for a deeper clean.
Conclusion
The Cuisinart DBM-8 fills a niche market: someone who wants a burr grinder but doesn’t want to shell out for a high-end one.
It’s maybe the most entry-level burr grinder I have ever come across. It’s simple, intuitive, and budget-friendly.
This grinder is best for someone who makes coffee at home but doesn’t need the most precise machine on the market.
It’s not for someone who is very serious about their home brewing.
But I would recommend this to casual brewers who want to step up from a blade grinder.
Check out the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill!
