Cuisinart Grind and Brew - Thermal Coffee Maker Review

I've had my Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal coffee maker for over 5 years. There's a lot to like about this coffee maker, and a few nit-picky things that rank about 6 on the headache meter.

I really like the ability to grind and brew all in one countertop unit. It saves taking up counter space or having to dig in the cupboard for a separate grinder.

I also really like the thermal carafe. It does a fantastic job of keeping the coffee hot until it's gone. I've had hot coffee from the carafe HOURS after it was brewed, with no burnt odor or flavor that you'd have with a glass carafe left on a heat element. I like that I can move the carafe from the unit to my patio, so I can serve hot coffee on the spot.

I use the timer feature on the Grind & Brew every day - setting up coffee and water the night before and programming it to be ready when I get out of bed the next morning.

On the down side: I wish it came in something other than stainless steel. It's hard to keep it finger print free and does not match my white kitchen. The grinder is difficult to keep clean as well, and collects condensed water that needs to be wiped out every day, whether it's been used or not. There's a charcoal water filter that's supposed to make tap water taste better, but I've never been able to tell the difference with or without it. I haven't used the water filter for a years since I've not been able to find a replacement for it anyway.  Also,  you can't control the grind, so if you want finely ground espresso or turkish coffee, you still have to use a separate grinder with those options.

And the grinder makes my dog go berserk.

It's a little on the spendy side, and the price really hasn't come down since it hit the market, which surprises me. It could use a few improvements though I'd still recommend it to people for its long life and thermal carafe.