Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Metal

Comment: Good looks, good coffee but poor design. The steam from brewing funnels right back into the grinder. All the fine leftover ground beans that don't make it into the brew basket are now wet and caked on all over the inside of the grinder. That means you have to clean the grinder and just about every small part everyday. It's a real hassle.

Second, I prefer a cone basket vs. flat bottom basket. I just think it makes better coffee.

On the positive side, the coffee was good, it was brewed at a great temperature and the thermal carafe is very good. Kept the coffee nice and hot without affecting taste.

Comment: I'm absolutely no coffee gourmet. As a matter of fact, I advise coffee gourmets to move on and skip this review. I don't want to be responsible for your nightmares.

Like many here, I had a previous version of a grind & brew Cuisinart. And, like many, the various parts eventually creaked into old age and refused to cooperate -- I could barely wrench the grinder portion out of the coffee maker, had regular battles to get the filter basket to release, and the formerly white coffee maker looked like something you'd see in a movie in a $5 a night dive somewhere. It was next to impossible to keep clean after awhile.

So I finally treated myself to this wonderful coffee maker. I'm not rich. As a matter of fact, I"m disabled and have a small income. But I save and will buy myself some wonderful treats now and then and this was this month's.

I can't agree more with those who say the parts are much easier to clean than older models, it's better designed than the Cuisinart I just gave last rites, and it works like a dream. I guess I sort of see what some people are saying about pouring out of the carafe being a little slow or different or something but really, scheme of things......taking a nanosecond longer to pour my coffee is no big deal and makes the anticipation just that much more enjoyable. It's certainly not something that should dissuade anyone from this coffee maker. I find the grinder quieter than my old one, not louder as some have commented.

The only negative I agree with is the lack of notification when the coffee maker turns off -- I miss my little red light telling me that the hot plate is still on and the little beep telling me it's turning off. No big deal but I hope they return that feature in future models.

And here comes the nightmare-inducing part for the gourmets -- you know who you are (or think you are) so just move on or read at your own risk: after rinsing the carafe with hot water before brewing, the coffee not only remained hot until the afternoon but was actually still tepid the following morning. There, I said it -- I'll drink yesterday's coffee if it's not finished the day before.. I don't throw much out and yesterday's coffee tastes just fine to me -- it's not as good as when fresh made, but then again this neither are my legs and I accept them too. It's fine and dandy.

This Cuisinart makes great coffee, is easy to use, looks snazzy on my counter and I highly recommend it.

Comment: I received this as a gift. We are currently using Blue Bottle coffee beans that aren't overroasted ( Starbucks or Peete's beans are roasted until burnt). When I use a separate grinder, I can grind these beans fine and make the best cup of coffee without the bitter coffee aftertaste. This model is supposed to be convenient and grind the beans and then make the coffee, but the only setting on the bean grinder is medium, so we either end up with weak coffee or need to put in more beans, which means a more expensive cup of coffee for no good reason. My other complaint is that I have no idea how much water I'm pouring into the pot to measure how much coffee I want to make. The side indicator has a bit of a lag, but inscribing a cup guide inside the carafe would be awesome. Lastly, when the coffee is finished, it pours out in a dribble.

I was impressed that the coffee will stay hot. When we ran plain water to clean out the maker the day before, the next morning, the water temp was surprisingly hot.

Overall, it looks really nice sitting on my counter, but I can make a MUCH better cup of coffee with my cheapie coffee maker and separate grinder.

Comment: I've never owned a grind and brew style coffee maker before, but I've recently started enjoying freshly ground coffee beans and wanted to be able to make my own. The Cuisinart DGB-650BC is perfect for me. It was easy to set-up and its very easy to use - just add coffee beans, add water, and push the "on" button. Another plus is that the coffee in the thermal carafe stays hot for hours. I can brew coffee in the morning and by mid-afternoon its still warm (but the machine turns off immediately after brewing). The machine is also easy to clean. It's got one extra part to clean - the grinder at the top - but its easy to take out and rinse off in the sink. t also has an option for brewing just 1-4 cups, which is great if you are just making coffee for one. I bought my parents the same coffee maker for father's day and they both love it. The frequently drink pre-ground coffee, but you can turn off the grinder feature with one button. Highly recommend this coffee maker.

Comment: This coffee maker is great to look at in my new kitchen as well as makes great ground coffee.

Well constructed and easy to use.