Cuisinart Coffee Grinder Review: Is the Supreme Grind Worth It?
Hi, I'm Sam, writing from a busy New York coffee shop. I opened in Midwood, near Ocean Parkway, where a slow machine means lost customers.
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is an automatic electric burr mill with a stainless steel and plastic body, sold as the DBM-8P1. It has 18 grind levels, a 4 to 18 cup dose slider and an 8 oz (227 g) hopper. The list price is $74.95, and street prices run from about $54 to $70.
The mill suits drip, pour over and French press. A timer sets the dose, and a safety interlock stops the motor unless the parts sit in place. The grounds are not even, because fine dust shows up at every setting. The mill is also loud and builds static in its plastic chamber.
Cleaning takes a wet cloth, a brush and a top rack wash. The warranty runs 18 months. Espresso is out of range, and the Baratza Encore grinds more evenly for about twice the price.
I explain how the Supreme Grind and the Baratza Encore differ on grind consistency. No sponsor paid.
What Is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is an automatic electric burr mill with 18 grind levels and a 4 to 18 cup dose slider. The body mixes brushed stainless steel with plastic. Cuisinart sells it as the DBM-8P1.
The full name is the Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. Conair owns the Cuisinart brand. The box holds the grinder, the scoop with a cleaning brush and an instruction booklet.
The target buyer brews drip coffee, pour over or French press at home. Most owners are upgrading from a blade grinder. The mill asks for little setup and few decisions, which suits that first step up.
The list price is $74.95 at Cuisinart. Street prices run lower, from about $54 to $70. That puts the mill in the budget tier for burr grinders.
Cuisinart does not publish the motor power or the burr size. Buyers get a feature list and a warranty, not a spec sheet.
Which Models Carry the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Name?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind carries the model codes DBM-8, DBM-8P1 and DBM-8WM, and all three name the same mill. The codes differ by finish and retailer, not by design.
Cuisinart sells the Black Stainless finish on its own site. Other finishes appear on other stores. The Walmart code DBM-8WM adds a 32 cup label to the name.
Cuisinart makes other grinders under different codes, so a buyer should not mistake them for the Supreme Grind. The CBM-22 is a conical burr grinder. The DCG-20N and the DCG-12BC are blade grinders. None of them is a Supreme Grind.
How Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Work?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind works by crushing beans between two burrs, then dropping the grounds into a removable chamber. A timer stops the motor when the cycle ends.
The upper burr rides on the bean hopper. A twist of the hopper moves that burr closer to the lower burr or farther from it. The gap between the two burrs sets how fine or coarse the grounds are. So the twist picks the grind size.
The cup slider controls a different setting. It sets how long the motor runs, and the timer ends the cycle when that time is up.
A safety interlock blocks the motor until the hopper and the grind chamber sit in place. The mill will not run half assembled.
Sources disagree on the burr type. Some call the burrs block, flat or ceramic, and one calls them conical. The manual does not name the burr shape.
How Do the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Dials Set the Dose?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind dials set grind size with a hopper twist and set the dose with a cup slider. The slider changes run time, not bean weight.
Because the slider controls time, the amount of coffee depends on how long the motor runs. The manual says the mill ships on medium settings. At medium, 12 cups take about 40 seconds. Eighteen cups take about 55 seconds.
The slider has a floor. The lowest position is 4 cups. A smaller dose needs a hand stop. Slide the dial to zero when enough coffee has dropped.
Grind size also affects how much coffee a setting yields, since the slider only measures time. Fine grounds pack tightly. A fine setting may need a higher cup number to reach the same amount of coffee. Coarse grounds are loose and may need a lower number.
What Features Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Have?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind has features that include 18 grind levels, a 4 to 18 cup slider and an 8 oz (227 g) hopper. A one-touch power bar starts the cycle.
The removable hopper holds 8 oz (227 g) of beans, which is half a pound. Because the hopper holds that much, a full load feeds many pots of drip coffee without a refill.
The removable grind chamber holds enough grounds for 32 cups. Spare grounds stay in the chamber until the next brew.
The grinder also comes with a few small features that make daily use easier. The following are the four extras:
- Scoop with brush: A cleaning brush sits at the other end of the scoop.
- Cord storage: The cord tucks away under the base.
- BPA free parts: The parts are BPA free.
- Electric timer: The grinder has an electric timer with automatic shutoff.
How Big Is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is not big and measures 6 by 7.13 by 10.75 inches (15 by 18 by 27 cm). That height fits under most wall cabinets, so the mill can stay stored out of the way.
Weight figures differ by source. Listings give 3.57 lb (1.6 kg), 4.7 lb (2.1 kg) and just over 5 lb (2.3 kg). The mill is light enough to move between a cabinet and the counter.
A mill pulled out for each use also has a cord to manage. The cord wraps around tabs under the base. Extra cord stays out of sight when the mill is put away.
Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Grind Evenly?
No. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind does not grind evenly, because it leaves fine dust at every setting. The grounds are good enough for drip, but not uniform.
A timed test ground 15 g (0.5 oz) at the fine setting in about 7 seconds. The grounds looked consistent but came out coarser than expected. Medium at 15 g and coarse at 19 g (0.7 oz) also took about 7 seconds, with a consistent grind.
Timed Grind Test:
| Setting | Dose | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fine | 15 g (0.5 oz) | About 7 seconds |
| Medium | 15 g (0.5 oz) | About 7 seconds |
| Coarse | 19 g (0.7 oz) | About 7 seconds |
Fines show up from the finest setting to the coarsest. At the fine end, the dust level is close to a blade grinder.
Uneven grounds mix two flaws in one cup. Fines over-extract and taste bitter. Larger pieces under-extract and taste sour.
The dust matters most in French press. Powder slips through the filter and adds sediment to the cup. Drip and pour over hide more of it.
Can the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Make Espresso?
No. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind cannot make espresso, because the finest setting is too coarse for a real shot. Tests point the same way.
A pressurized basket is the only partial workaround. That basket forgives a coarse grind but gives a weaker shot than a true espresso grind.
A grinder built for the job is the better fix. The Cuisinart CBM-22 is a conical burr grinder from the same brand and suits espresso better. It has 35 grind settings and a 3-year warranty.
How Loud and Messy Is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is loud and a little messy. The noise sits close to a blender. A light sleeper near the kitchen will wake.
The noise is short, which limits how long it disturbs anyone. A 15 g (0.5 oz) dose runs about 7 seconds. A full run of 12 to 18 cups lasts 40 to 55 seconds.
The mess comes from the grounds. They cling to the chamber and to the base where the chamber rests. A quick wipe after each use keeps the counter clean.
The lidded hopper keeps beans from jumping out while the mill runs. One tester found no mess from the hopper.
The hopper tube has no lock, so beans can still spill when the hopper is removed. Lifting out a hopper that still holds beans lets them fall out. Emptying the hopper first prevents this.
Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Make Static?
Yes. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind makes static, so grounds cling to the plastic chamber.
Three fixes help loosen the grounds from the chamber wall:
- Tapping: Tap the chamber on the counter before lifting the lid. Most grounds fall to the bottom.
- The Ross Droplet Technique: Spray a drop or two of water on the beans before grinding.
- Waiting: Static fades after about 5 minutes, and the grounds let go of the wall.
How Do You Clean the Cuisinart Supreme Grind?
You clean the Cuisinart Supreme Grind by unplugging it, washing the removable parts and brushing the grind release area. The base gets a wet cloth only.
The manual lists these steps in order. Unplug the grinder first. Wash the removable parts. Wipe the base with a wet cloth. Brush the grind release area with the brush that comes in the box.
Never immerse the base in water or any other liquid. The base holds the motor and the electric parts.
Cleaning Steps:
- Unplug the grinder from the outlet.
- Wash the removable parts on the top rack or by hand.
- Wipe the base with a wet cloth.
- Brush the grind release area with the cleaning brush.
The cleaning schedule runs from weekly to monthly. Weekly suits daily use, because oily fines build up fast. Monthly is the floor.
The burr unscrews with the hopper. The brush reaches into the grooves there. A soft toothbrush with mild dish soap and water cleans the fixed part.
Are Cuisinart Supreme Grind Parts Dishwasher Safe?
Yes. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind has dishwasher safe parts, but only on the top rack. The manual warns against the bottom rack.
The removable hopper, the grind chamber and the lids qualify for the dishwasher.
The base does not qualify. It only takes a wet cloth.
Each part should be dried fully before it goes back in.
How Long Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Last?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind lasts about 18 months to a couple of years with regular care. That span matches the warranty.
Failures happen. One owner's unit stopped working after one year.
The build mixes a steel base with plastic parts and a low-power motor. Heavy daily grinding shortens the life.
Regular cleaning helps the mill last.
What Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Warranty Cover?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind warranty covers repair or replacement for 18 months. Cuisinart picks which one.
The warranty is for consumers only. The buyer must own a grinder bought at retail for personal, family or household use. Retailers and commercial buyers do not qualify.
Claims go through Cuisinart Consumer Service. Conair owns the Cuisinart brand.
The booklet asks the owner to send the grinder to Cuisinart Consumer Service with $4.00 for shipping and handling.
How Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Compare to the Baratza Encore?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind costs about half as much as the Baratza Encore and gives less control. The Encore wins on grind quality.
| Feature | Cuisinart Supreme Grind | Baratza Encore |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Under $75 | About $150 |
| Grind settings | 18 | 40 |
| Burr design | Not published | Conical burrs |
| Timer dosing | Yes | No |
The Encore uses 40 mm hardened steel conical burrs. Its warranty runs one year, six months shorter than the Cuisinart's.
The Encore has 40 settings and a conical burr. Its grounds stay more consistent from coarse French press to finer pour over.
The Cuisinart has a built-in timer and a cup slider. The Encore has neither, so the user stops it by hand.
Is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Better Than a Blade Grinder?
Yes. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is better than a blade grinder, because burrs crush beans to a more uniform size. Blades chop them into mixed boulders and dust.
Uniform grounds extract more evenly. The cup tastes less bitter and less sour.
The Supreme Grind still makes fines, which are the tiny dust-like grounds. The gap to a blade grinder is real, but small at the fine end.
The price sits a little above blade grinders. The extra money buys steady grind sizes for drip and French press.
How Much Does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Cost?
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind costs $74.95 at Cuisinart and less at other stores. Street prices range from about $54 to $70.
The price moves with sales. A 28% discount put one Amazon listing at $53.99, which is the low end of the range.
Buying directly from Cuisinart costs more, but the site adds free shipping, 30-day returns and an 18-month warranty. It also offers three payments of $24.98 for buyers who prefer to split the cost.
The step up costs more. The Cuisinart CBM-22 conical grinder runs from $99.95 to $129.95. The Baratza Encore lists at $149.95.
What Do Cuisinart Supreme Grind Parts Cost?
Cuisinart Supreme Grind parts cost from $8.95 to $31.95 each. Cuisinart sells them on the product page.
| Part | Price |
|---|---|
| Bean hopper | $31.95 |
| Hopper lid | $8.95 |
| Scoop with brush | $8.95 |
| Grind chamber lid | $10.95 |
The hopper lid and the scoop showed out of stock on the page.
The bean hopper is the most expensive part, at $31.95. That price alone is more than half the sale price of a new grinder.
Is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Worth It?
Yes. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind is worth it as a cheap step above a blade grinder for drip, French press and pour over. It is not worth it for espresso.
The weak spots are plain. The mill is loud, leaves fines, makes static and gives no control below 4 cups. Cuisinart does not publish the motor power or burr size.
Rivals at this price include the Capresso Infinity and the Hario Skerton. The Capresso is an electric burr grinder. The Skerton is a manual grinder.
Pros:
- Low price for a burr grinder
- Timer dosing from 4 to 18 cups
- Large hopper and chamber
- Removable parts that are dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Loud grinding
- Fines at every setting
- Static in the plastic chamber
- Too coarse for espresso
The Baratza Encore is the step up. It costs about twice as much and grinds more evenly.
Who Should Buy the Cuisinart Supreme Grind?
Households that brew 4 or more cups of drip or French press should buy the Cuisinart Supreme Grind. The timer and slider save steps at that size.
Espresso fans, single-cup brewers and light sleepers should skip it. Those buyers hit the three weak spots daily.
Manual grinders such as the Hario Skerton cost about the same and run silent. They take more effort per cup.
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