Gaggia MDF Grinder

Real espresso is a combination of freshly roasted beans properly ground and pressed at high pressure using 200 degree water. When you do that, you produce something so delicious it'll blow your mind if you love coffee. When purchasing equipment to do this at home, the most crucial of these three factors is in many ways the grinder. You need to be producing a very exact, very fine grind that doesn't include larger chunks (it'll mess up the pressure, because water will "channel" here) nor coffee dust (which will end up in your cup). And you kinda' want a grinder that won't break.

There are surprisingly few grinders sold that meet these requirements. Some espresso drinkers try to get by with one of the only two grinders under $150 which can sometimes manage this: the Solis Maestro and the Capresso Infinity. Whether you succeed will depend a lot on whether you got lucky, and you got one that happens to be put together well. Both make use of plastic parts which will fail over time. Some people buy the Solis Maestro Plus for $150 -it's heavier than the Maestro, but otherwise no better: you're really wasting your money. The next step up is the Gaggia MDF. It usually sells for around $200, and the Amazon price tends to fluctuate, actually coming in under $200 some of the time with promotions, which makes it a wonderful bargain, though that may be hard to fathom for folks used to a $20 whirly blade grinder. The MDF used semi-commercial grade steel burrs in a semi-commercial (and hence longer lasting) burr set. It will produce the even, fine grind necessary for espresso, and when paired with another Gaggia, or a Solis or Rancilio or FrancisFrancis machine, you're ready to be a home barista and blow the minds of your friends. If you've got a bit more money, I'd recommend the Rancilio Rocky, which typically sells for $280: it's quieter and more rugged, but uses the identical burrs to the MDF. Up from there would be the Mazzer Mini for around $360, which should last you 20 years if not a lifetime. Most people who get into home espresso eventually end up with a Mazzer someday, and you could save yourself some time and money by just starting out with one. But the MDF is probably the best bargain going for being a true home barista. If you're terribly on a budget, Vaneli's Maximo is inferior but useable, and sometimes sells here for low prices.

I've had this grinder for over two decades and it has performed well. When I first got my machine, I wondered which setting number would be good for cappuccino, or any particular grind. The manual said that since coffee can vary from variety to variety, or even from one roast to another, it's a matter of adjusting to each batch of beans. Perhaps with 34 settings, people have found that to be helpful, but I have found my beans to be consistent enough that adjustments are necessary for type of coffee, but can be left alone for a particular type of coffee and a particular variety of beans from a source. At the time I got the machine, I got my beans from Peet's back when they had five stores and no other distribution channels. Although they are a larger chain now, they are still small enough that roasting can be well controlled, and they can still buy beans from a single source for a variety to meet the needs of the chain. For beans from other sources, where roasting is done at a variety of locations, or from beans from differing sources, you might need to pay more attention to adjustments.

A much bigger issue that affects strength and everything else is the dosing. From reading the other reviews, it does not seem to have changed since I got my unit. The top of the unit can be filled with beans, and the part over the dispensing area will fill up with a remarkably consistent grind. That round area is divided into six sections, like a wheel with spokes. Five of the sections get filled with grounds. One section is empty, and is above the dispenser. Each time the lever is pulled, the wheel rotates one position clockwise, and one section gets dispensed through the empty section. In theory, if the unit were full, the amount of coffee in each section would be consistent. Chances are that in real life, you would not want to fill the unit up for home use, since the grounds would not be fresh by the time you use them. If you grind just enough for a few cups, then the coffee will not end up in the compartments evenly, and dosing by counting pulls will not work. If you lift the lower lid, you can see where the coffee is, and you will likely see a small mound in the back and partly filled areas toward the front if you grind smaller amounts. You could redistribute things with a brush, but even that way, some areas would end up more compacted than others. Or you could merely gain the experience to know how much was dispensed compared to how much you need, and pull the handle accordingly. Another option is to gring with the lower lid off. As you watch grinds fall into the compartment, you can rotate as each compartment gets filled, dispensing as you go along. Then you can become consistent once you develop a good eye for it.

Whether you want to consider the dispenser poorly designed is a matter of perspective. If you believe that this unit was designed to grind beans for two cups of coffee, then it would be a fair conclusion. If you believe that this unit was designed for people who prepare 6-12 cups an hour, you might think that it's just fine. If you believe that it was designed for a higher level of fairly constant use, you would probably not be disappointed. But since this unit is most likely for home users, it's hard to claim that the dispenser is ideally suited to the task.

Experience will let you know how high the grounds are supposed to be when you put them in the filter basket, and it's not going to take you long to learn. While this unit is not fool proof, chances are that you are not a fool, so things will work out.

For me, the bottom line is that once you know the correct grind setting for your beans, the unit is more "set it and forget it" than what the instructions said, at least with consistent beans, but the dispenser is a lot less "set it and forget it" than what the literature implies.

Personally, I prefer a unit that takes the guess work out of getting the grinds to be the right consistency, since it's easy to get the amount dispensed right by eyeballing it. This unit does very well in that respect.

I use this in conjunction with a Gaggia Coffee (now known as Gaggia Classic; the new Gaggia Coffee is a different machine) and the two make a good pair. Learning how much coffee to dispense is a minor part, compared to learning how long to hold the switch on the espresso machine, or how to froth milk perfectly, but ultimately, it boils down to knowing how to make a proper espresso. If you can tell when to stop the water based on the color of the coffee coming out, then a bit more or less from the grinder will affect how full the cup gets rather than the taste of your brew. You can't automate a perfect espresso, but you can use the correct tools to allow you to make one with experience.

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The Gaggia MDF fills a small, yet demanding space between the cheap and typically terrible $30-$100 burr grinders and the $500 Mazzer Mini. It's only real competition is the Rancilio Rocky and the Innova (if you can find one).

The main complaint about the MDF is that it is not continuously adjustable, which is true, however I have been able to position mine easily in the middle of two settings. This effectivly doubles the available settings and--with variations in tamp pressure--allows me to get really decent shots fairly consistantly.

I use this machine with my vintage swiss Elespresso machine (a Solis SL70 in disguise) and am consistantly pleased. It compares favorably with a Mazzer Mini on most days (I've got one of those too--as well as a La San Marco/Rossi) and for the price is a great buy. If you see a Rocky for the same price, that might be a better choice because of the larger number of settings, but only just.

For those not wanting to drop at least $300 on a grinder, this is a great choice. It fixes all the major faults of the Solis at only a few dollars more and is solidly made, reasonably consistant, and compact enough to sit next to most home machines on the market. Now if only it were a bit easier to clean...

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If you are reading this, you probably already know why a burr grinder is the only kind of grinder to get if you want to make good espresso (or coffee for that matter). And in the world of burr grinders, I think this is the best value out there.

The Good: The grind is excellent and very consistent. It's a work horse and will get the job done every day, all day, the same way.

The Bad: The doser is worse than useless. Not only does it not do what it is supposed to do, it makes it a pain to grind large amounts of beans for a pot of coffee (as opposed to a shot of espresso). Easy work around though: rather than hitting the doser lever twice (which if it worked perfectly would dispense 14 grams of coffee just the right amount for a double shot), I just pull it until my portafilter is overflowing, level the top into a small bowl, and get on with the tamping. Also, some people feel the gap in grinds is too great (i.e. the jump from setting 5 to setting 6 increases too much) I've only found that to be a slight problem, and only with very picky beans. Hasn't been enough of a problem for me to complain about at all.

The Rest: The price is right. $200 bucks (less with a coupon) and you are in the high-end coffee game. Sure you have the doser issues, but that doesn't effect the quality of the grind which when it comes right down to it is the only thing that matters. The cheapest quality grinder that comes in a doserless design is the Rancilio Rocky, which is a great unit it's just that a) it costs about $85 more and b) isn't sold by amazon.com so no free shipping.

All in all, in a non-commercial setting I don't feel it's worth the extra dosh for the Rocky. For value and grind quality, this bad boy is 5 stars take away 1 for the bad doser design.

I say buy it.

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Let me preface this review with the following statement: I consider myself a grinder novice. I've been making French Press coffee for the past 4 years, but this is my first grinder purchase. Up until now, I had let the coffee shop grind the beans (Oren's Daily Roast, mostly). Why the sudden urge to finally cough up the money for a quality home grinder? The answer is simple: a 5-pound bag of Jamaican Blue Mountain beans (picked up in Jamaica @ duty free). Ideally, you want to grind your beans just before brewing to have the best flavor, so I started shopping for my new grinder.

After spending at least a week sifting through reviews on this and other coffee sites (coffeegeek, coffeekid, ect.), I purchased this grinder with high hopes. I had considered the Solis Maestro Plus as a lower-priced alternative ($149), but opted to pay the minimal additional cost to take a step up to the Gaggia ($200). Also, there was a $25-off coupon on a Friday Home and Garden sale, and I figured it was worth the cost (purchase price: $175 after $25-off, plus free 2-day air shipping with a trial of Amazon Prime).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

The unit arrived in 3 business days, the delay a result of Memorial Day weekend. The most interesting thing I noticed when unpacking it was the presence of coffee grinds in the box. I then found the notice in the box that stated that this was not unusual, as all grinders are tested with actual coffee beans. I found this to be an excellent show of quality standards. The machine has a decent weight to it for its size, and takes up minimal counterspace (a big concern if you have a NYC apartment).

ON GRINDER SETTINGS:

There are 34 grinder settings: 1=fine (Espresso) and 34=coarse (French Press); the setting is adjusted by rotating the top. As I do not own an espresso machine (yet), I've only experimented with the coarse settings (32-34).

USING THE GRINDER:

Use is simple enough. Load the beans into the top, pick a grind setting, and turn on the power. There is no timer on this machine, so it will grind for as long as you keep it on.

The grinds are then deposited into the doser. You then pull the lever on the side of the doser to deposit the grounds into the FILTER HOLDER (read below). Each lever pull is supposed to deposit 7 grams of grounds (the amount recommended for a single shot of espresso). If your doser is not full, the first couple of pulls will not contain 7 grams of grounds.

Noise isn't a real issue. I wouldn't call it noisy, especially when compared to a blade grinder. But it IS a grinder, so a little noise has to be expected.

ON THE DOSER:

-First, there is no mechanism on the machine to catch the grounds deposited by the doser, only a FILTER HOLDER. This is essentially two "arms" below the doser meant to hold an espresso filter in place while you fill it (and most espresso filters should fit).

If you do not own an espresso machine, this may be a hassle. For making my French Press coffee, I have found that my half-cup measuring cup fits perfectly in the filter holder. This is fine for small amounts, but to grind enough to make larger amounts of coffee (like a pot), you would need to grind until you fill the doser, then dose over and over until you have enough grinds. It can get a little messy, but you're working with coffee grinds, so a little mess isn't unexpected.

NOTE: The doser is NOT removable.

-Another note about the doser is the possible effect on quality/taste.

Leaving ground coffee in the doser exposes it to air, which over time will reduce the quality of the flavor of your coffee.

This issue is not restricted to this brand/model, but it should be a consideration of anyone willing to spend $200 on a grinder.

To deal with this, you either have to: 1) grind just as much as you need, then dose until the doser is empty, or 2) leave some grinds in the doser. Option #1 will require some experimentation in grinding time, as there is no timer. Option #2 may not be a big deal, but if you spend this much on a grinder, then you should be getting your money's worth in fresh cups of coffee. (This hasn't been a concern for me, as I grind several days' worth of beans at a time, then vacuum-seal and refrigerate. If this is available to you, I highly recommend it.)

ON THE GRIND:

I've had my model for about 2 weeks, and I've had excellent results. I've taken the time to research the acutal burrs used in various grinders, and have found nothing but good things about the ones used in this machine. The ground is uniform each time, and works very well for my French Press (setting #32, a little more than one rounded tablespoon per 4 ounces of 200 degree filtered water, brewed for 4 minutes. I've noticed an immediate difference in taste with grinding my beans immediately before brewing, and static in the grounds has been negligible.

If you're reading this, then chances are you haven't convinced yourself to shell out $250 for a Rancilio Rocky (or even more for a Mazzer Mini), but you don't want to deal with the issues of the Solis Maestro and the like. As someone who values a balance between cost and value, I figured that the quality was worth the extra money. Thusfar, I've been having some great coffee, and I'm sure it will only get better with more experimenting. Aside from the workarounds required by the doser (dropping the rating to 4), I've found this to be an excellent product.

Update 8/2/2006: Regarding grinding time, I've found that grinding roughly one second per ounce of water of coffee for my French Press has given me great results.

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Dip-It Automatic Drip Coffeemaker Cleaner Liquid-7 oz

Our family has used this product for years and it works GREAT on automatic drip coffee pots. We use to buy this item at local grocery or pharmacy's but can't find it any more. I was delighted to find it available via Amazon. Our coffee maker was cleaned as soon as the box arrived.

Dip-It is my favorite cleaning product for both coffee and tea pots. Unfortunately, none of the stores in my area choose to carry it anymore--even Walmart! So, I turned to trusty Amazon and ordered as much as I could. Great product, great service!

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I love these for being tasting very fresh and crunchy! I can put my favorite cheese and jams on them, and they still taste the same!!!

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This product is totally different than the Product of the same name by a Company apparently called Dip-it! If you notice closely enough, this product is by a company named "Reckitt". (Perfectly named, I might add.) I ordered several bottles of this product and it was nothing but colored water. It was totally useless. What you are probably looking for (as am I) is the powered form by the company called "Dip-it" NOT this stuff. Don't buy this item unless you want to just throw your money away.

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Bistro Universal Coffeemaker Cleaners

This is the best cleaner that I have used. It is wonderful not to smell all the chemical odors of many other cleaners.

Its hard to find a good coffee cleaner and this is a good product....It also smells really good too...Cleans the coffee pot really well

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I had bought this at K-Mart before and loved the way it smelled and worked. When I could no longer find it in the store, I was so glad to find it here. I stocked up so I wouldn't run out. I hope you will continue to carry this coffee cleaner for years to come!

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This cleaner definately got the job done, it was just very difficult to get out! We have a Bunn Freshomatic (which has a heated reserve) and the bubbles just kept on coming! Also, DO NOT buy this for an espresso machine! The product description cleary says "universal" but it says right on. the bottle "not for use in espresso machines".

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Mr. Coffee Coffee Grinders

This amazing little blade grinder has been crushing up our beans now for seven years and counting! They should have called it the Energizer ... it just keeps grinding, and grinding, and grinding ....

No bells and whistles, just plug it in, fill it with beans, put on the lid, push down on the button, count to ten, turn upside down filling lid with grounds, dump grounds from lid to coffee maker basket, replace lid, put back in cupboard 'til tomorrow morning.

If you need more from your grinder, don't look here, because that's all there is to it. But if you just need to make great coffee every morning, and need a reliable grinder at a great price, this is the one you are looking for.

Put me down as one fully satisfied customer.

It has been about six months since I started grinding my own coffee beans with this Mr. Coffee grinder. I usually use it three times a week. And my Mr. Coffee grinder is still going strong.

Of course, I read all of the instructions before attempting to use. (Like everyone one does right?) The instructions state in big bold letters to use only for grinding coffee beans. This grinder should not be used as a nut grinder or any other food items. There could be some cross contamination of flavors. "Good idea!" I said. But. What if I wanted some nut flavor with my coffee? Hint: If you did grind another food source, put in some bread pieces and grind. The food particles should be picked up with the bread. It is now back to its original state.

The grinders size is perfect for up to a 12-cup coffee maker. I always fill my 12-cup coffee pot, so I wanted to know how much whole beans to use. So once again I found this from the instructions. Six tablespoons. This is the maximum holding capacity for this grinder. Perfect.

Consistency ground size comes next. Yes after nine seconds the size should be perfect for my automatic drip coffee maker. And it was. Any longer than that the grounds would become powder, which is good for espresso and coffee in your cup. Some people like that so that would work for them.

A safety switch will automatically shut off when not in use. That is a nice feature for the safety conscience. When done grinding your beans, turn the unit over, tap a couple times, and "Walla" a pouring device. Pour right into your coffee filter. Turn on coffee machine and now you have time to clean out the grinder.

The grinder needs to be cleaned after each use to keep it in tiptop shape. And have a longer shelf life. One drawback is that some powder sticks to the bottom of the grinder. I just get a paper towel and wipe it out. Presto, cleaned until next time.

Grinding coffee beans at home gives the freshest coffee I can get at home!

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an easy way to clean your coffee/spice grinder: put a small peice of bread in it (about a 1/4 slice) and pulse a few times then dump it out...and you're done:)

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I purchased this as a replacement for a friend's (which I dropped and broke). It's an adequate grinder, but not top of the line. The ground coffee particles range in size from powder to fairly big chunks. It gets the job done, but I'd consider spending the money for a better one with plate grinders rather than the food-processor-type blades. It's also difficult to clean.

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I went through my first one in four months. The second one burnt out a motor the very first time I used it. With much better models going for just a couple of dollars more, there's no reason to miss a single morning's cup of coffee because of this product. To it's credit, it worked well during its short life.

Proctor-Silex 48571 Automatic Drip Coffeemaker

First, it is very difficult to see the water in the little gauge that shows the amount poured in. So, it is quite easy to over-pour the water into the machine. Also, as it brews, it seems to get coffee and/or remnants of grounds everywhere on the machine--even in the cavity for the water. It is a very messy and not very sturdy machine.

I do not recommend it.

Works fine but seems a little bulky compared to the one that died on me. No measurements on-line and difficult to tell what size any of the pots were.

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The plastic is cheap but 2 things I really like: it has a longer cord (3 feet) than my old coffeemaker, and it makes good coffee. I don't expect it to last long but I didn't spend much so I can live with that trade-off. I had a supply of cone shaped filters and this takes cupcake style... As I said, I don't expect it to last long.

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I am enjoying my coffeemaker. It is easy to use and clean and I love that it came with a permenant filter, no paper things to buy or deal with. The product arrived in great shape and on time. Thank You

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KRUPS XP2280 Espresso Machine and Coffee Maker Combination with KRUPS Precise Tamp Technology and S

I was searching for a budget minded machine in the $350 price range that would be a combination espresso/coffee maker and stumbled upon the XP2280. mind you, I am a novice machine purchaser but avid coffee lover. I liked the overall appearance of the XP2280 and simplicity of the design and controls. I searched the internet for a review and alas there were none. I took a chance and bought it and am very satisfied thus far. It makes a very good cup of coffee with #4 cone filters, although a gold tone should be and was not included in the purchase. I also programmed it to start brewing before I wake up, VERY NICE. I would have been more satisfied with an extra two cups of coffee, my previous coffee maker being a 12 cup, but the coffee it does make is great tasting. The espresso side is literally idiot proof with the built in tamper system and makes a fine one or two serving with either scoops or the option of ESE pods (44mm Dia. 7g size). I used the Illy dark roast and it made two espresso servings with the right amount of foam, coloration, aroma, and taste that you would find in many popular "indie" coffee shops. I used the steam function for foaming milk for a cappuccino and was very satisfied with the outcome. It was quieter than other machines for the sole purpose of making espresso/ cappuccino while still making a full 15 bars of pressure. The unit is easy to clean and care for and will be a fine addition to your counter-top.

The reason for 4 stars and not 5

1. lack of gold tone filter, it should be included for the price I paid

2. 10 cup maker not 12, I drink alot of coffee

3. coffee making process can be heard from a few rooms away, not loud, but louder than my previous machine

4. no pressure indicator for espresso maker

I received this item as a Christmas gift. It looks beautiful on my counter top and for the first month it worked flawlessly. Other reviews are accurate concerning confusing instructions but once you figure out how it works, it works well.

The biggest issue is the frothing nozzle, MS-622874, broke within the first month. The internal assembly is plastic with a metal sheath. After my machine wouldn't froth milk the way it used to, I opened it up to clean it to notice that the threaded plastic assembly broke. This must be due to the high heat temperatures that can occur in the steaming process. When I try to purchase a replacement (ranges from $11 to 20 online) I cannot find one in stock ANYWHERE! This is a key part that works on several of Krups' cappuccino machines and its lack of availability (including from he Krups store itself) leads me to believe this is a very widespread problem!

The unit did come with an alternative device that attaches and still 'works' but it operates differently than the primary nozzle (it draws milk through a nozzle from a tube). This method produces lattes and cappuccinos that are nowhere near hot enough and not as good as the original part. It also tends to spit milk all over the place which is annoying. That said, I am glad it came with this back-up piece because otherwise I would be totally out of luck in the froth department. It would have also lead to a 1 star rating.

This was a great gift and I love it but I am bummed that this key part was so poorly engineered. It is even more frustrating that I cannot find a replacement. Perhaps they are working on a re-engineered version and no longer making the crappy original?

I have only brewed drip coffee a couple of times and the results are fine.

UPDATE 4-27-12: This is my third update to this review. I had filed a warranty claim with Krups concerning the frothing part which broke within the first month. They contacted me and informed me that it was being re-designed and they would send me a new one. I noted this in a comment in March. Well today I received the new part from UPS. It installed easily (although there were no installation instructions only cleaning instructions) but after I figured out that the plastic fitting attached to the metal tube could be unscrewed with care and replaced with the new fitting and gasket I was good to go. Anyhow, the new design actually looks better. The inner structure, which caused the problem on the original part, is made from a much more solid piece that does not require you to unscrew anything along it in order to take it apart. That was the primary design flaw of the original part. You had a piece of plastic that was subject to heat and then would be subject to the twisting force of the screw assembly. The new design eliminates this completely and relies on a silicone seal to keep the metal housing in place.

The performance of the new steam nozzle is even improved over the old one! I made my first cappuccino and it was awesome. Clean up was a snap. Obviously I will have to see how it performs over a longer period of time but it appears that the primary issue with this machine has been addressed. Krups replaced the part for free and while it took some time, and they didn't include instructions on how to replace and install it, it was intuitive enough to figure out. Raised the rating from 3 stars to 5 stars. Back in business!

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It is so rare that I take the time to write a review but I feel I must to prevent others from buying this machine and with the hope that the former excellent manufacturer sees how disappointed I am with this product. I am not a novice espresso maker and in fact had an older model Krups combo coffee / espresso machine for more than 10-years previous to this. That machine was so good, brewed perfect coffee, espresso and froth milk without a problem or touchy process.

Let me start by saying what I love about this machine THE LOOKS (lipstick on a pig???), the little compartment for the coffee spoon and the release button for used espresso grounds. These items do not have a thing to do with brewing or making a good coffee drink.

The machine I have does not make very hot coffee, it's very warm but not super hot. As for the espresso and frothing capability they just don't work according to the VERY fragmented instructions. There are so many references to figures 1.... and you have to keep going back and forth. The espresso does not brew after waiting for the light to turn solid and simply pushing 1 or two cup selection. I often have to push 3 or more times and it still doesn't work. Then I start the "warming" process, etc. all over again.

As for the "froth" it simply doesn't work everytime or well and worse of all it pushes water into the milk. Instead of froth it makes barely luke warm water filled milk. This machine generally sucks (a word I dislike and rarely use).

I am so disappointed with this machine and for the money it's really bad. I want to know when we started to think that spending $300.00 on a coffee maker was cheap. Why on earth is it necessary to spend $700.00 on a coffee maker? This product is not worth $40.00, let alone $300.00.

Don't buy it. I promise it's not worth any amount of money. Too bad because it looks great!

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Bought a Krups XP2070 because it is a company with a good reputation in the past. Shortly out of warranty, the clock/timer stopped working. OK, it still made offee and espresso. After another two months, it stopped altogether.

I sent it to the repair station, but they say parts are no longer available. Now I have a $300 paperweight.

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While it worked it made coffee just fine. My husband had A LOT of difficulty making any quality espresso with this machine. Overall the machine was very hard to work (as newbie espresso makers). Big reason for the 2 stars? Espresso side of the machine broke after 3 years and the machine stopped working all together (no power/no nothing), just shy of 4 years. For $400? I don't think so.

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Cuisinart DGB-700BC Grind-and-Brew 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker, Brushed Chrome/Black

I purchased this coffee maker around Christmas and was a little concerned over the prior reviews that stated it uses too much coffee. The chemist in me had to do the experiment.

A standard issue coffee from Starbucks was ground to a standard medium grind for coffee makers of this type. The coffee was measured on a 1 gram precision scale according to the specification on the Starbucks coffee bag (2Tbs per 6oz cup) to make 6 cups of coffee. The coffee grinds weighed to be 54 grams. The same coffee beans from the same bag were ground in the coffee maker set to 6 cups and strong. The coffee grinds were then measured on the same scale and wouldn't you know...it was exactly 54 grams.

For my coffee beans this machine on the 6 cup setting produced the following:

Strong = 9 grams (2Tbs) of coffee per cup of water

Medium = 8 grams (about 1 3/4Tbs) of coffee per cup of water

Mild = 7 grams (about 1 1/2Tbs) of coffee per cup of water

I can't imagine that one couldn't find a setting to their liking when you consider you have increments of 2 cups with 3 settings (strong, medium and mild) each.

After considerable research for the absolute best coffee maker in the world, I decided to purchase the Cuisinart Grind and Brew DGB-700BC. It has a burr grinder. This one has the 12-cup glass carafe and it has a warming plate. Reviews on the stainless steel carafe have stated there is no warming plate. It seems the glass one does and the thermal one does not. It works perfectly and is very easy to program and use. It comes with a DVD which simplifies the process even more.

It can also brew ground coffee. Just turn off the grinder before pressing the on/off button and it's ready to go.

As for noise, I don't consider it too noisy. After all, it IS a coffee grinder and I expect to hear it when it grinds the coffee.

The hopper holds a half-pound of beans which is enough to make coffee several times (if you're using the mild setting).

The retail price is $199, but many places have it routinely for $169. I purchased mine at Kohls for $159 and they had a "scratch off" sale going on and I got an additional 15% off at the checkout.

I highly recommend this coffeemaker.

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I have owned a couple of grind and brews in the past with mixed results. Our first was a Mr Coffee back in the 1990's. It made great coffee, but was messy, and broke frequently. We also had the first Jura Capresso model about 6 years ago. I liked it, but my wife felt that no matter what the settings were, the coffee was bitter. Recenly we had been using a Krups stand alone machine, that makes good coffee, and a stand alone Krups burr grinder. Since our Krups burr grinder was getting finicky, and the coffee post was getting old, we decided to give the DGB700 Grind and Brew a try.

My initial take, is that it makes an excellent cup of coffee, better than my last Krups machine. I am still experimenting with the settings, but so far I am very pleased.

You do need to follow the directions. The key points I have found, is to make sure that the basket parts are dry. This means a quick rinse and dry between pots if you are making more than one.

I also have cleaned out the chute where the ground coffee goes into the basket. It's very easy, and although mine was not clogged after about 6 pots, I did see where the grounds were building up in there a bit. My stand alone burr grinder had the same issue, but the new Cuisinart pot is actually very easy to clean in this area. Just remove the bean hopper, open the chute, push the lever over, and push they grounds into the basket area. (put a filter in first). Actually now, I just clean the chute each time. It takes less than a minute, and I think that this is the one main issues that some people are having.

Also, I have lined up the arrows on the top of the basket. Easy to do, and it avoids some of the negative comments on other reviews. Finally, if you use paper filters, make sure that the top of the plastic basket is going INSIDE the top of the filter.

My wife likes her coffee mild and smooth, but flavorful. My settings to make 12 cups, are 6 Cups on the grind selector knob with Mild or MED on the brew strength selector. The brew has good smooth flavor, and is not bitter. I also drink a lot of iced coffee. I will simply up the strength when I make coffee for that.

Again, so far, so good. I think that following the guide and keeping the machine clean and dry should produce good results.

One last thought... other Grind and Brew brands (Jura Capresso) make a major point about NOT storing beans in the freezer. Actually, I have done this for years, but after doing a bit of Google research, I find that it's better to just keep the beans in an airtight container, and only open what you will use in a couple of weeks. We are doing that now. I do notice that this sees to make the beans less oily, so that may also be a key to why some people get clogs.

I will post a follow-up after I have had the machine for a few months.

OK.. update as of 3/12 the unit is still working well. I do clean the chute after most every pot, but this is easy, and only takes a minute. Again... I strongly suggest NOT storing your beans in the freezer. The research shows that freezing the beans can force oil to the surface of the bean, which can contribute to clogs. I will say that this pot makes excellent tasting coffee.

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We have had to return two of these units because the grinder stops working. The problem is that the chute beneath the grinder is horizontal so the coffee grinds have to be pushed into the filter rather than falling in. Even after cleaning, the coffee grounds get packed into the grinding mechanism causing it to break.

I do understand why people say this is a great coffee maker though. When it works, it is very convenient and grinding the beans right before the brewing makes great coffee. I want to like this product but the poor design of the grinding chute makes it unusable.

Cuisinart is a decidedly unhelpful company. If you have a defective product, you can expect long hold times and rude customer service agents. The warranty on this item is that if you pay shipping & handling both ways, they will send you a replacement. After three defective units, they will issue a credit for other cuisinart products.

Update: California law requires them to replace the product without charging for shipping & handling. So, after telling me that they wouldn't waive those charges, they had to waive them anyway due to California law.

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About once every two weeks I have a "bad coffee day" in which my machine just gets persnickity. I am usually guaranteed that I will have to make at least two pots before it gets it right. OK, so I've had this machine at my vacation home for about a year now and here's what I've learned:

1. The paper filters are much more convenient than the metal basket. I just throw the paper filter (preferably the unbleached kindbetter for the environment) into my garden and then all I have to do is rinse the basket and wipe with a sponge. Saves time and my septic system from the coffee grounds.

2. Don't forget to use a filter of some sort in the basket or your counters, cabinets, floors, walls, etc. will get coffee makeover. I am talking from experience.

3. Make sure you clean most of the removable parts before each use. You only need to clean the coffee bean holder every so often (I do it when the beans start to run out). You don't need to do a soap and water cleaning on the other parts but you should wipe them down with a rag or sponge under running water. It only takes a few seconds. Once a week or so toss everything into the dishwasher.

4. Make sure you have enough beans in the holder to brew the amount of coffee you want. As I said above, when it gets low is when you want to do your thorough cleaning.

5. Make sure that you put the carafe in fully and correctly. If there is one BIG criticism I have about this machine is that it's very easy to misplace the pot and give your kitchen a nice coffee tattoo. This most often happens when I am in a hurry and really don't have time to be cleaning up a big mess.

6. Clean the chute. You have to clean the chute regularly. Here are a few tips I've learned to make it easier. First, put a filter in the basket when you do this (I like to do it after I've done the "dishwasher cleaning" of my parts, but before I brew the next pot) but don't put the lid on the basket. That way the grounds will fall directly into the lined basket and if you do this often, there's no reason why you can't just leave them in there while you brew the next pot (your coffee will be a little stronger). Cleaning the chute only take a few seconds.

This is the 3rd incarnation of a Cuisinart grind 'n brew coffee maker I've had. The first was the one with the glass carafe where you had to put the beans in each time you brewed. There were 5 different parts that needed to be soap and water cleaned after each use, and quite frankly, I didn't notice a great improvement in quality of coffee for all the extra work. The second was just like the first except it had the thermal carafe. There was a vast improvement in quality, but again, so many parts to clean made me reluctant to use it. Also, unless you know exactly how to measure unground beans, you pretty much are stuck making a full pot of coffee. This last one has been a great improvement over the other two. I can make just a cup of coffee for myself in the morning or I can make a whole pot and everything in between. Yes there is a bit of labor to it, but considering where they've come from this machine is a vast improvement over the others and I can't stress enough how good the coffee is.

I've read the other reviews and the main things I hear people complaining about are that the pot doesn't pour fast enough and that the coffee isn't hot enough. I don't have a problem with how fast the coffee comes out of the carafe. It is a little slower but the difference is from a 3 second pour to about a 12 second pour. However, if that is unbearable I don't see why you can't just take the lid off of the carafe while you pour? It will come out just as fast as the glass carafe that way.

As for the temperature of the coffee, I am not sure how to address that as I've never found that to be a problem. When I do use the timer feature, I preheat the carafe at night before I set up the coffeemaker and the residual heat still assures that you are starting with a carafe that is not cold in the morning. Generally I don't use the timer and get my coffee immediately after it's done brewing. I also don't preheat my carafe. When I get my second cup in the morning it's still plenty hot so I'm just not sure what all the fuss is about. Of course I don't really like my coffee scalding hot either so maybe it's just a matter of preference.

I would also like to point out that I have recently remodeled my winter home and put in an $1,800 Miele coffeemaker that is built in and plumbed. It can make espresso, cappucino and cofffee with the push of a button. However, that has more parts to fuss with than this Cuisinart and talk about frequent cleaning! It does make the best cup of coffee I've ever had, but it's not all that much better than this unit at a fraction of the cost.

The bottom line is this-if you want a really, really good cup of coffee you either have to go to a coffee shop and pay for it (and often I find their beans much inferior to the ones I use) or put up with the inconvenience of the home machines. As far as I know, no one has come up with the perfect machine yet, but this one does make a most excellent cup of coffee.

So when deciding whether or not you want to buy this machine I would say you would need to ask yourself what's more importantquality or convenience. If you are a coffee fanatic as I am, it will be quality and this machine does come through. If you love coffee but are time challenged and can't be bothered with all the extra steps then I would say that this machine isn't for you.

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