Should you get the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder?
Customer Review of Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder (DCG-12BC).
Should you get the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder?
I've had this grinder for over five years. It is perfectly simple. No fuss, nothing over-the-top, it does the job well. Grinding coffee beans reliably. Some people suggest burr grinders to achieve a finer grind with more consistent ground sizes. Comparing grind sizes I really can not tell the difference, you learn how much to add to the blade grinder and for how long to let it grind to achieve a near perfect grind for any drip coffee maker or pour over to produce an excellent cup of coffee. In terms of operation it is quiet enough given how powerful the motor is, there is only one button to press for grinding and a removable bowl for easy transport of coffee from grinder to coffee filter. In my honest opinion there is no reason to get any device more intense, expensive or sophisticated than this modest machine. The blades are metal, the bowl is metal and that is all that really touches the coffee. It's remarkably easy to use and clean and has never had an issue. Small, the grinder does not take up much counter space, making it great for any kitchen.
Buy Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder on Amazon
Why Freshly Ground Coffee Tastes Better?
Freshly ground coffee tastes better because the grinding process releases volatile aromatic compounds and oils that are essential to coffee's flavor. Once beans are ground, these compounds quickly begin to oxidize and degrade, resulting in a flat or stale taste. Grinding just before brewing preserves the coffee's natural complexity, body, and brightness, giving you a more flavorful and aromatic cup. What about grinding coffee the night before? While not as ideal as grinding immediately before brewing, grinding your coffee the night before is still significantly better than using pre-ground coffee or store-ground beans that sit for days or weeks. Even after several hours, home-ground coffee retains more freshness and essential flavor compounds than mass-produced pre-ground coffee, which often loses its character due to extended exposure to air and moisture. For best results, store overnight grounds in an airtight container to slow down oxidation.
Why the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder is Perfect for Daily Coffee Drinkers?
The Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder (model DCG-12BC) is a compact, blade-style grinder designed for everyday coffee drinkers seeking convenience and affordability. It features a brushed stainless steel finish and a removable stainless steel grinding bowl with a 90-gram capacity, enough to prepare grounds for up to 18 cups of coffee. The grinder operates with a simple on/off control and includes a built-in safety interlock that prevents operation unless the lid is securely closed. The removable bowl is dishwasher-safe, and the grinder offers cord storage and a BPA-free design.
Grind Quality from the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder
Many claim that blade grinders will simply never reach the level of consistency that burr grinders achieve, however I have found that the difference for this blade grinder is as slim as I think is possible. The grinds look excellent to me and even with a standard coffee maker will be plenty for anyone that simply wants a really good cup of coffee with exciting flavor profiles.
Cuisinart Grinder Bowl Levels for Easy Measurement of Coffee
The steel bowl that you fill with coffee beans to grind represent the amount of beans for different cup amounts. If you have a 12-cup coffee machine then it is recommended that you fill the bowl to the 12-cup level and then grind the coffee for an appropriate amount of coffee to make a good pot of coffee. The bowl also have a 10-cup level and 4-cup level for different users with different coffee makers.
What the Levels Mean:
- 12: Beans for ~12 cups of brewed coffee
- 10: Beans for ~10 cups
- 4: Beans for ~4 cups
Each "cup" is based on the standard coffee measurement of 5 ounces per cup (not a full mug).
How to Clean the Cuisinart Grind Central Grinder
Cleaning the grinder is extremely easy and there is no real need to do it very often. You can rinse out the bowl and wipe off the surfaces with a damp cloth. There are no exposed electronics that water will destroy. The mechanism that makes the grinder work is a simple physical button that presses a peg into a small hole on the base of the grinder. This starts and stops the grinding so it only grinds if you are holding the button down. The upside is that there are virtually no visible moving parts other than the bowl and the lid. The only time I find myself cleaning the machine is if I accidentally overflow the machine or spill grinds on to the base of the machine that get stuck in the little hole and make the grinder run regardless of if you are pressing the button on the lid or not. So long as the lid is on the machine it will press the grinds stuck in the hole and run, only way to stop is unplugging. The fix is simple you clean out the little hole.
Speed to Grind Coffee
Depending on how much coffee you add to the bowl, the speed to fine coffee grinds will range but usually I grind for around 10 seconds. And if I want a stronger cup of coffee I will grind for longer and towards the end of the cycle I will pulse the button to make sure I create a very consistent bowl of coffee grounds.
Where to Buy the Cuisinart Grind Central?
I purchased my grind machine on Amazon and you can find the machine directly on Amazon or on the Cuisinart official website. Affiliate links to both here.