Cuisinart · Conical burrSupreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill (DBM-8)
An entry-level automatic burr grinder that dumps the guesswork of a blade grinder for cheap: pick a grind size, pick a cup count, hit go. It is not built for espresso and it will not impress anyone who has used a real single-dose grinder, but for drip and French press at this price it does the one job it promises.
The short version
This is a step-up-from-blade-grinder appliance, not a coffee tool for anyone chasing espresso or filter precision.
Buy it if you want consistent-enough grounds for drip, pour-over, or French press without spending real money, and accept that fines, static, and a plastic-feeling grind chamber come with the territory.
Why people buy it
- Genuinely better and more consistent than any blade grinder at a similar price
- Simple two-dial interface (grind size + cup count) with auto shut-off, no learning curve
Why they don’t
- Cannot grind fine or consistent enough for espresso, and produces noticeable fines at every setting
The full tally
- Genuinely better and more consistent than any blade grinder at a similar price
- Simple two-dial interface (grind size + cup count) with auto shut-off, no learning curve
- Removable hopper and grind chamber make loading and cleanup easy
- Large 32-cup grind chamber means you are not grinding every single session
- Cannot grind fine or consistent enough for espresso, and produces noticeable fines at every setting
- Loud in operation, reviewers repeatedly flag this as the biggest daily annoyance
- Burrs are stainless block/disc burrs, not premium conical or flat, and are not user-replaceable or easily accessible for deep cleaning
What the community knows
Years of owner threads, distilled — the community advises against it.
Community actively steers beginners away—inconsistent output teaches bad grinding habits, early-stage gear/switch failures stranded users, sealed construction makes repairs impossible and parts unsourced; the $83 price tag looks cheap until you're stuck with an unrepairable…
Design pull
Convenience
speed and simplicity, day to day
Value
price-to-performance the community respects
All 9 community measures
price-to-performance the community respects
shows up every morning, year after year
parts and repairs — you are never stranded
mods, guides, and community know-how around it
kind to first-timers
years before you outgrow or replace it
how far the cup can go, per dollar
speed and simplicity, day to day
Worth knowing before you buy — Most owners who persist wish they'd spent the extra $40-50 on a Baratza Encore or saved toward a Wilfa—money wasted on a grinder you'll abandon, not upgrade.
Known weak points — gear train failures year 1-2, switch failures, conical burr inconsistency at coarse settings forcing users toward pressurized baskets (learning crutch), sealed gearbox prevents repair or part replacement
The measurements
Scored 0–5 on the same rubric as everything on file — the words matter more than the numbers.
The measurements
0–5, one rubric- Espresso
- brew-only1
- Versatility
- narrow2.5
- Built to last
- light-duty2
Position in the market
Every dot is a rival, measured the same way. The gold one is this.
- Lower half for espresso suitability
- a higher ceiling than 2 of the 154 grinders we’ve measured
- A value pick at this level
- 93% of grinders this capable cost more
- Lower half for build
- sturdier than 0% of the field, by the community’s own record
Every dot is a grinder measured on the same rubric. See the whole market
Living with it
The part spec sheets skip: counter space, upkeep, and what owners learn later.
The honest note — Owners who get serious about coffee typically outgrow this within a year or two, moving up to a proper single-dose or flat/conical espresso-capable grinder (e.g., Baratza Encore/Sette-class or DF64-class) once they notice fines, inconsistency, or want espresso.
The full spec sheet
- Class
- Entry espresso-capable
- Burrs
- 38mm conical
- Drive
- Electric
- Adjustment
- Stepped (coarse)
- Clarity lean
- Syrup & body
- Espresso suitability
- 1/5
- Brew versatility
- 2.5/5
- Single dosing
- No
- Hopper
- 227 g
- Maintenance
- 2.5/5
- Noise
- 4/5
- Build longevity
- 2/5
- Dimensions
- 18.1 × 15.2 × 27.3 cm
Before it arrives
What completes this grinder — the faded pieces can wait.
Hover any piece for its why.
- Grinder cleaning kit — Brushes and grinder tablets keep retention and stale grounds in check.
Feed it right
Week one is dial-in — and stale beans will lose it.
Coffee more than a few weeks past roast won’t extract predictably, and a new grinder gets blamed for it. These burrs pull syrup — naturals and classic medium roasts play straight into their character.
Pick your coffee — any of these dials in beautifully here:
Highland Elixir - Papua New Guinean Sigri PlantationSCA 86Medium-dark · Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands · WashedBright Citrus · Caramel SweetnessSyrup and body, matched to these burrs.CA$22.43 · roasted to order
Lavabloom - Indonesian Sumatra MandhelingMedium-dark · Mount Leuser, Sumatra · Wet Hulled (Giling Basah)Dark Earth · Bittersweet ChocolateSyrup and body, matched to these burrs.CA$19.02 · roasted to order
Wild Ember - Ethiopian Buno Dambi UddoSCA 92Medium roast · Odo Shakiso, Guji Zone, Oromia · NaturalBlueberry · MarmaladeSyrup and body, matched to these burrs.CA$26.83 · roasted to orderWhole bean, dated, ready for your burrs the week it lands.
Roasted to order, daily, in Ajax, Ontario · ships Canada-wide. We’re the roastery behind this database — measuring the machines is how we make sure the coffee gets a fair shot.
On film
How it runs on camera, from around the community.
Common questions
Can the Cuisinart DBM-8 grind fine enough for espresso?
No. Reviewers consistently note it cannot grind fine or consistently enough for espresso, and it produces noticeable fines even at its finest setting. It suits drip, pour-over, and French press.
How many grind settings does the DBM-8 have?
It has an 18-position grind selector ranging from ultra-fine to extra-coarse, paired with a 4-to-18-cup slide dial that times the grind cycle.
Is the DBM-8 loud?
Yes, multiple owner reviews and independent write-ups flag it as one of the louder grinders in its class.
Worth comparing
Hario
Mini-Slim Plus
A pocket-sized ceramic conical hand grinder built for travel and single-cup brewing, not for serious espresso or big batches.
CA$45–60 · US$35–45
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