Grinding coffee immediately before brewing is one of the easiest ways to bring more aroma and freshness into your morning cup. The downside is that using a separate grinder adds another appliance, another step, and another thing to clean.
Cuisinart’s Grind & Brew coffee makers are designed to solve that problem by putting the grinder and brewer into a single machine.
But not all Cuisinart coffee makers with grinders work the same way.
Some use simple blade grinders and brew full carafes. Others use conical burr grinders and focus on single cups. You can choose between glass and thermal carafes, basic automatic brewing and combination machines that also accept coffee pods.
For most households wanting a traditional pot of freshly ground coffee, the Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew DGB-400 is the easiest place to start. It combines a built-in grinder with a 12-cup glass carafe, programmable brewing, a 1–4 cup setting, and the ability to switch the grinder off when you’re using pre-ground coffee.
If you prefer a thermal carafe, the DGB-450 provides a similar system with a 10-cup insulated carafe.
Single-cup drinkers should look at Cuisinart’s newer DGB-30 Grind & Brew Single Serve Coffee Maker, which uses a stainless steel conical burr grinder rather than the blade grinder found in the carafe models.
Here’s how Cuisinart’s grinder-equipped coffee makers compare.
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🏆 Best Cuisinart Coffee Makers with Grinders at a Glance
| Model | Best For | Grinder | Brewing Style | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart DGB-400 | Best overall carafe model | Blade | Drip | 12 cups |
| Cuisinart DGB-450 | Best thermal carafe | Blade | Drip | 10 cups |
| Cuisinart DGB-30 | Best single-serve | Conical burr | Single cup | 8–24 oz |
| Cuisinart DGB-2 | Best pod-compatible value | Conical burr | Single cup | 8, 10 or 12 oz |
| Cuisinart SS-GB1 | Best grinder + pods combo | Blade | Carafe + single serve | 12 cups + pods |
| Cuisinart DGB-800 | Best older burr carafe model | Burr | Drip | 12 cups — discontinued |
Availability and pricing can change, particularly with older Grind & Brew models.
⭐ Best Overall: Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew DGB-400
The Cuisinart DGB-400 Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker is one of the simplest ways to combine whole-bean grinding with traditional automatic drip coffee.
A built-in blade grinder processes the beans immediately before the brewing cycle.
Once programmed, the machine can handle both steps automatically.
That means your morning routine can be as simple as preparing the machine the night before and allowing it to grind and brew at the scheduled time.
Key Features
The DGB-400 includes:
- Built-in blade grinder
- 12-cup glass carafe
- 24-hour programmable brew start
- Adjustable automatic shutoff
- 1–4 cup setting
- Self-clean function
- Brew Pause
- Grind-off setting
- Permanent gold-tone filter
- Charcoal water filter
The Grind-Off function is particularly useful.
Owning a coffee maker with a grinder doesn’t mean you always have to use whole beans. If someone gives you a bag of pre-ground coffee—or you’re in a hurry—you can disable the grinder and use the machine like a conventional drip brewer.
Why We Like It
The DGB-400 doesn’t overcomplicate the basic Grind & Brew concept.
It gives you freshly ground coffee and a full carafe without the cost or complexity of a premium burr-grinder system.
The 12-cup capacity also works well for families and households where several people drink coffee each morning.
What to Consider
The integrated grinder is a blade grinder, not a burr grinder.
Blade grinders chop beans rather than crushing them between precisely spaced burrs. That generally means the particle sizes won’t be as uniform as those produced by a quality burr grinder.
For casual everyday coffee, that may not matter much.
Coffee enthusiasts who want greater grind consistency may prefer one of Cuisinart’s burr-equipped models or a separate burr grinder.
Best for: Households that want an affordable, programmable, full-carafe grind-and-brew machine.
Check the Cuisinart DGB-400 on Amazon
🔥 Best Thermal Carafe: Cuisinart DGB-450
The Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew DGB-450 is closely related to the DGB-400, but there is one major difference:
It uses a 10-cup double-wall thermal carafe instead of a 12-cup glass carafe.
The grinder is still a blade system, and many of the convenience features are similar.
You get:
- Automatic whole-bean grinding
- 10-cup thermal carafe
- 24-hour programming
- 1–4 cup setting
- Brew Pause
- Self-clean function
- Grind-Off mode
- Permanent gold-tone filter
- Charcoal water filtration
Why Choose a Thermal Carafe?
Glass carafes typically sit on a warming plate to remain hot.
A thermal carafe uses insulation instead.
This can be appealing if you brew a pot in the morning and drink it over several hours.
Coffee that remains on a hot plate for an extended period can gradually develop a cooked or stale flavor. A thermal carafe keeps coffee warm without continuously applying heat from below.
The Trade-Off
The DGB-450 holds 10 cups rather than the DGB-400’s 12.
Thermal carafes can also be a little more difficult to see into when you’re checking how much coffee remains.
Still, for people who care more about heat retention than maximum capacity, the DGB-450 may be the better machine.
Best for: Anyone who brews a pot and drinks it gradually throughout the morning.
Check the Cuisinart DGB-450 on Amazon
☕ Best Single-Serve: Cuisinart DGB-30 Grind & Brew
Cuisinart’s DGB-30 Grind & Brew Single Serve Coffee Maker takes a significantly different approach.
Instead of grinding beans for an entire carafe, it grinds fresh beans for one serving at a time.
More importantly, it uses a stainless steel conical burr grinder.
That’s a meaningful upgrade for coffee drinkers who care about grind consistency.
Brewing Options
The DGB-30 allows you to customize cup volume from approximately:
8 to 24 ounces
It also includes:
- Adjustable brew strength
- Whole-bean brewing
- Pre-ground coffee option
- Over Ice setting
- ½-pound bean hopper
- 58-ounce removable water reservoir
- Removable conical burr assembly
- Removable brewing chamber
- Permanent gold-tone filter
- Compatibility with 4-cup basket paper filters
- Adjustable drip tray for mugs and travel cups
Why the Burr Grinder Matters
A burr grinder crushes beans between two grinding surfaces.
Because the distance between those surfaces is controlled, a burr mill generally produces a more consistent grind than a blade grinder.
Greater grind consistency can contribute to more even extraction.
That doesn’t automatically mean every cup from a burr machine will taste dramatically better, but it’s an important feature for people who care about getting more control and repeatability from their beans.
Who Should Buy It?
The DGB-30 makes the most sense if you:
- Usually brew for one person
- Want whole beans ground for every serving
- Prefer a burr grinder
- Use large travel mugs
- Drink iced coffee
- Don’t need a carafe
If you regularly make coffee for three or four people at once, however, repeatedly brewing individual cups isn’t very efficient.
Best for: Single-cup drinkers who want the benefits of a burr grinder.
Check Cuisinart Grind & Brew single-serve models on Amazon
🫘 Best Compact Alternative: Cuisinart DGB-2 Grind & Brew Single Serve
The Cuisinart DGB-2 is another single-serve Grind & Brew machine built around a conical burr grinder.
It offers three ways to make coffee:
- Whole beans
- Pre-ground coffee
- Compatible single-use coffee pods
Whole beans are ground directly into Cuisinart’s HomeBarista reusable filter cup.
The DGB-2 has three serving sizes:
- 8 ounces
- 10 ounces
- 12 ounces
It also includes a 48-ounce removable reservoir and a bean hopper capable of holding approximately 100 grams of coffee beans.
DGB-2 vs. DGB-30
The newer DGB-30 is more flexible in several important respects.
It supports cup volumes up to 24 ounces, has a larger 58-ounce reservoir, includes an Over Ice option, and provides more customization.
The DGB-2 remains interesting when it’s available at a substantially lower price, especially if you value pod compatibility.
Best for: One-person households wanting whole beans, grounds, and pods in a compact machine.
Check the Cuisinart DGB-2 on Amazon
🥇 Best All-in-One: Cuisinart Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus SS-GB1
Some households need more than one brewing method.
One person wants freshly ground coffee.
Someone else grabs a pod on the way out the door.
On the weekend, everyone wants a full carafe.
The Cuisinart Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus SS-GB1 combines those routines in one appliance.
Carafe Side
The main brewer offers:
- Built-in blade grinder
- 12-cup glass carafe
- 64-ounce water reservoir
- 24-hour programmability
- Brew-strength control
- Adjustable automatic shutoff
- Self-clean function
- Permanent gold-tone filter
Single-Serve Side
A separate single-serve brewer offers:
- 8-ounce serving
- 10-ounce serving
- 12-ounce serving
- Compatible single-cup pods
- Keurig K-Cup compatibility
- Separate 40-ounce water reservoir
- Removable drip tray
The Biggest Advantage
Flexibility.
Instead of owning a Grind & Brew machine and a separate pod brewer, you can consolidate the two appliances.
The Biggest Disadvantage
Complexity.
The SS-GB1 has two brewing systems, two reservoirs, more components, and a larger footprint than a conventional coffee maker.
If you never use pods, there’s little reason to buy it.
But in a household where coffee preferences vary dramatically, it may be one of Cuisinart’s most practical machines.
Best for: Families that want freshly ground carafe coffee and individual pod brewing.
Check the Cuisinart Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus on Amazon
🕰️ What About the Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew?
You’ll still encounter the Cuisinart DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew when researching grinder-equipped Cuisinart machines.
It was an impressive 12-cup model with:
- Professional-style burr grinder
- 12-cup glass carafe
- Half-pound bean hopper
- Regular, Bold, and Extra-Bold strength settings
- Grind control for 4–12 cups
- DirectFlow grinder assembly
- AutoRinse
- 24-hour programming
- Grind-off mode
- Brew Pause
There’s an important catch:
Cuisinart now identifies the DGB-800 as discontinued.
That doesn’t mean every DGB-800 listing has disappeared. New-old-stock, refurbished, open-box, and used examples may still be available.
But shoppers should be careful about paying premium prices for a discontinued machine.
Parts availability, warranty coverage, seller reputation, and return policies become particularly important.
For most shoppers today, I would choose one of Cuisinart’s currently supported Grind & Brew models instead.
🆚 Cuisinart DGB-400 vs. DGB-450
These are the two easiest models to compare.
| Feature | DGB-400 | DGB-450 |
|---|---|---|
| Grinder | Blade | Blade |
| Carafe | Glass | Thermal |
| Capacity | 12 cups | 10 cups |
| 24-Hour Programming | Yes | Yes |
| 1–4 Cup Setting | Yes | Yes |
| Grind-Off | Yes | Yes |
| Brew Pause | Yes | Yes |
| Self Clean | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Larger batches | Keeping coffee hot |
If you want the larger capacity and prefer seeing the coffee inside the carafe, choose the DGB-400.
If you routinely leave coffee sitting for several hours, choose the DGB-450.
🆚 Cuisinart DGB-30 vs. DGB-400
These machines are much more different than their names suggest.
Choose the DGB-30 If You:
- Brew one cup at a time
- Want a burr grinder
- Drink from travel mugs
- Make iced coffee
- Want adjustable single-serving volume
- Don’t need a carafe
Choose the DGB-400 If You:
- Brew for several people
- Want a full 12-cup carafe
- Prefer programmable morning brewing
- Want a simpler and less expensive machine
- Don’t mind a blade grinder
The DGB-30 is the more sophisticated grinder.
The DGB-400 is the more practical family coffee maker.
🆚 Blade Grinder vs. Burr Grinder
This is one of the most important distinctions when buying a Cuisinart Grind & Brew.
Blade Grinder
A blade grinder uses rapidly spinning blades to chop coffee beans.
Advantages include:
- Simple design
- Lower cost
- Compact construction
- Easy automatic integration
The downside is grind consistency.
Some particles may become quite fine while others remain comparatively coarse.
Burr Grinder
A burr grinder crushes beans between two surfaces.
Advantages include:
- More uniform grind
- Better consistency
- Greater control
- More predictable extraction
Burr grinders are generally preferred by coffee enthusiasts.
That doesn’t make Cuisinart’s blade Grind & Brew machines bad coffee makers.
It simply means they’re optimized more toward convenience than precision.
☕ Does Fresh Grinding Really Matter?
Coffee begins losing volatile aromatic compounds after roasting, and grinding dramatically increases the surface area exposed to air.
That’s one reason coffee often smells so intense immediately after being ground.
Grinding right before brewing can help preserve more of those aromas compared with leaving ground coffee exposed for extended periods.
That doesn’t mean you need a built-in grinder.
A separate grinder can accomplish exactly the same thing.
The advantage of Grind & Brew is automation.
Rather than:
measure beans → grind → transfer grounds → prepare brewer → brew
the machine can combine much of the process.
For busy mornings, that’s genuinely useful.
⚙️ Built-In Grinder vs. Separate Grinder
A built-in grinder is not always the best choice.
Advantages of an Integrated Grinder
You get:
- One appliance instead of two
- Less manual preparation
- Programmable grinding and brewing
- Fewer grounds spilled during transfer
- Freshly ground coffee with less effort
Advantages of a Separate Grinder
A standalone grinder gives you:
- More control over grind size
- More grinder choices
- Easier upgrades
- Easier replacement
- Ability to grind for French press, pour-over, AeroPress, espresso, and other methods
- Easier independent cleaning
If you’re deeply interested in coffee as a hobby, a separate quality burr grinder can be the better long-term investment.
If your priority is waking up to freshly ground automatic coffee, a Grind & Brew machine is hard to beat for convenience.
For a broader look at this category, see our Best Grind and Brew Coffee Makers: Features, Types & Buying Guide.
🫘 What Beans Work Best in a Cuisinart Grind & Brew?
Most standard coffee beans can work well, but certain beans can create more maintenance.
Extremely oily dark-roast beans may leave more residue inside grinder components.
Look at a very dark roasted coffee bean and you may see a shiny surface. Those oils can accumulate in:
- Bean hoppers
- Grinder assemblies
- Grinder chutes
- Brew baskets
That doesn’t mean dark roasts are forbidden.
It simply means regular cleaning becomes even more important.
Medium-roast beans are often an easy everyday choice for an automatic grind-and-brew machine.
🧼 Are Grind & Brew Coffee Makers Harder to Clean?
Yes—at least compared with a simple drip machine.
Adding a grinder means adding another area where:
- Coffee oils accumulate
- Fine grounds collect
- Moisture can cause grounds to stick
- Old coffee can affect flavor
This is one of the major trade-offs of integrated machines.
You’ll need to clean the:
- Grinder
- Grinder basket or chute
- Filter basket
- Permanent filter
- Carafe
- Water system
- Hopper on applicable models
Always follow the cleaning instructions for your exact model.
Different Cuisinart Grind & Brew machines have different removable components.
For the rest of the brewer, see How to Effectively Clean Your Cuisinart Coffee Maker.
💧 Don’t Forget Descaling
Cleaning coffee grounds from the grinder is only part of maintenance.
Mineral deposits can also accumulate inside the water system.
That’s called scale.
The rate of buildup depends heavily on:
- Water hardness
- Brewing frequency
- Mineral content
- Filtration
- Maintenance routine
Some Cuisinart models include a Self Clean feature to help with periodic descaling.
A clean grinder and a scaled-up brewer still isn’t a properly maintained coffee machine, so both parts of the system deserve attention.
⏰ Is Programmable Grind & Brew Worth It?
For many people, this is the biggest reason to own one.
With models such as the DGB-400 and DGB-450, you can prepare the machine and program it to start automatically.
Instead of grinding coffee while half awake, the machine does the work for you.
The trade-off is that beans may sit inside the grinder assembly or hopper overnight rather than remaining sealed in their original storage container.
For most everyday drinkers, the convenience will outweigh that relatively small consideration.
🫗 Glass vs. Thermal Carafe
Cuisinart offers both approaches.
Choose Glass If:
- You like seeing how much coffee remains
- You usually drink the pot quickly
- You want maximum capacity
- You don’t mind a warming plate
The DGB-400 is the obvious choice.
Choose Thermal If:
- Coffee sits for several hours
- You dislike the flavor of coffee kept on a hot plate
- You don’t need 12 cups
- Heat retention matters more than visibility
Choose the DGB-450.
📏 Check Counter Space Before Buying
Integrated grinder machines tend to be taller and more complicated than ordinary drip brewers.
The DGB-400 and DGB-450 are both approximately:
- 15.5 inches high
- 9.98 inches wide
- 8.13 inches deep
The DGB-30 is roughly:
- 15.71 inches high
- 7.99 inches wide
- 11.47 inches deep
Measure the space beneath your cabinets.
And don’t measure height alone.
You may need additional room above the coffee maker to:
- Add beans
- Remove the hopper
- Access the grinder
- Add water
- Remove components for cleaning
A machine that technically fits beneath a cabinet may still be irritating to use if you have to drag it forward every morning.
🚩 Who Shouldn’t Buy a Coffee Maker With a Grinder?
A Grind & Brew isn’t automatically better.
You may be happier with a regular coffee maker if:
You Already Own a Good Grinder
There’s little reason to duplicate equipment unless you specifically want automation.
You Frequently Switch Brewing Methods
A separate grinder can serve your drip machine, French press, pour-over brewer, AeroPress, and other equipment.
You Hate Cleaning
Integrated grinders create more maintenance than ordinary drip brewers.
You Mostly Use Pre-Ground Coffee
You’re paying for a grinder you won’t use.
You Want Precise Grind Control
Many automatic Grind & Brew machines prioritize convenience rather than extensive grinder adjustment.
✅ How to Choose the Best Cuisinart Coffee Maker With Grinder
Start with these questions.
How Much Coffee Do You Make?
For multiple drinkers, choose a carafe machine.
For one person, single-serve may be considerably more convenient.
Blade or Burr Grinder?
Choose blade for affordability and simplicity.
Choose burr when grind consistency is more important.
Glass or Thermal?
Choose glass when you drink coffee quickly.
Choose thermal when the pot sits around for hours.
Do You Need Pods?
If yes, consider the Coffee Center SS-GB1 or a compatible single-serve model.
Do You Need a Programmable Start?
Carafe machines such as the DGB-400 and DGB-450 are especially appealing if you want coffee waiting when you wake up.
Will You Use Pre-Ground Coffee?
Check for a Grind-Off or pre-ground setting.
Fortunately, Cuisinart includes this option on several Grind & Brew machines.
How Much Cleaning Are You Willing to Do?
This may be the most overlooked question.
An integrated grinder is convenient during brewing but creates more cleanup afterward.
👍 Pros and Cons of Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffee Makers
Pros
- Freshly grinds beans before brewing
- Combines two appliances
- Reduces manual coffee preparation
- Several programmable models
- Glass and thermal carafe choices
- Single-serve options available
- Burr-grinder options available
- Many models accept pre-ground coffee
- Some models offer pod compatibility
- Strong range of capacities and brewing styles
Cons
- More components to clean
- Grinder mechanisms add complexity
- Blade models don’t offer burr-level grind consistency
- Integrated grinders are harder to upgrade
- Some older popular burr models are discontinued
- Machines can be taller than standard drip brewers
- Combination models occupy significant counter space
❓ Cuisinart Coffee Maker With Grinder FAQ
Which Cuisinart coffee maker with grinder is best?
For most people wanting a full pot, the Cuisinart DGB-400 Automatic Grind & Brew offers one of the best combinations of capacity, simplicity, programmability, and price.
For single-serve brewing, the newer DGB-30 is particularly attractive because it uses a conical burr grinder.
Does Cuisinart make a burr Grind & Brew coffee maker?
Yes.
Cuisinart’s current single-serve Grind & Brew models include conical burr grinding. The company has also sold full-carafe burr machines such as the DGB-800, although that model is now listed as discontinued.
Is the Cuisinart DGB-400 a burr grinder?
No.
The DGB-400 uses a blade grinder.
Is the Cuisinart DGB-450 a burr grinder?
No.
Like the DGB-400, it uses a blade grinding system.
Its main advantage over the DGB-400 is the insulated 10-cup thermal carafe.
Which Cuisinart Grind & Brew has a thermal carafe?
The DGB-450 Automatic Grind & Brew has a 10-cup double-wall insulated thermal carafe.
Can you use pre-ground coffee in a Cuisinart Grind & Brew?
Yes, in many models.
The DGB-400 and DGB-450 have a Grind-Off function, while machines such as the DGB-30 also provide a pre-ground coffee option.
Can a Cuisinart Grind & Brew use K-Cups?
Some can, but not all.
The Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus SS-GB1 includes a separate single-serve system compatible with single-cup pods, including K-Cup pods.
The DGB-400 and DGB-450 are conventional carafe brewers and aren’t designed as K-Cup machines.
Is a burr grinder better than a blade grinder?
A burr grinder generally produces more consistent particle sizes and offers better control over grinding.
A blade grinder is simpler and less expensive.
For coffee enthusiasts, burr grinding is generally preferable. For people primarily interested in automatic morning convenience, a blade Grind & Brew can still be perfectly practical.
Is the Cuisinart DGB-800 discontinued?
Yes.
Cuisinart currently identifies the DGB-800 Burr Grind & Brew as a discontinued model.
Can you turn off the grinder?
On models such as the DGB-400 and DGB-450, yes.
The Grind-Off function lets you bypass the grinder and brew pre-ground coffee.
Are Cuisinart Grind & Brew coffee makers difficult to clean?
They’re more involved than conventional drip brewers because the grinder introduces additional components and coffee residue.
Regularly cleaning the grinder area, brew basket, filter, carafe, and water system is important.
🏆 Which Cuisinart Coffee Maker With Grinder Should You Buy?
For a traditional household coffee machine, the Cuisinart DGB-400 Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker is our best overall choice.
It gives you a full-size glass carafe, automatic bean grinding, programmable brewing, small-batch functionality, Brew Pause, and the ability to switch the grinder off when using pre-ground coffee.
Choose the DGB-450 instead if you want a thermal carafe that can keep coffee warm without relying on a warming plate.
For one-person households, the DGB-30 is arguably the more interesting machine. Its conical burr grinder, adjustable 8-to-24-ounce serving range, Over Ice setting, and removable components make it much better suited to modern single-serve coffee routines.
Choose the SS-GB1 Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus if your household needs both freshly ground carafe coffee and pod brewing.
And be cautious about paying a premium for older machines such as the DGB-800 simply because they have a burr grinder. It’s an interesting model, but Cuisinart now lists it as discontinued.
Ultimately, the appeal of a Grind & Brew machine is convenience.
If you want maximum control over your coffee, buy a good standalone burr grinder and pair it with the brewer of your choice.
But if you’d rather press a button—or program the machine the night before—and have whole beans automatically turned into a fresh pot of coffee, Cuisinart’s Grind & Brew lineup offers several compelling options.
🔗 Related Articles
- Best Cuisinart Coffee Makers: Models, Features & Buying Guide
- Best Grind and Brew Coffee Makers: Features, Types & Buying Guide
- How to Effectively Clean Your Cuisinart Coffee Maker
📚 Sources
- Cuisinart — Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker DGB-400
- Cuisinart — Automatic Grind & Brew 10-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker DGB-450
- Cuisinart — Grind & Brew Single Serve Coffee Maker DGB-30
- Cuisinart — Grind & Brew Single-Serve Coffee Maker DGB-2
- Cuisinart — Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus SS-GB1
- Cuisinart — Discontinued Burr Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker DGB-800
- Cuisinart — Current Coffee Maker Lineup
- Cuisinart — Coffee Maker Manuals & Product Help
