Beans go in one end and a 12-cup pot of coffee comes out the other, with a blade grinder built into the machine to do the grinding just before brewing. Cuisinart sells this grind and brew coffee maker for $119.95 on its US store, and it adds a 24-hour brew-start timer, an adjustable auto-off and a Brew Pause feature for pouring a cup early.
What is the Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup DGB-400NAS?
It is the current 12-cup grind and brew coffee maker in Cuisinart's US range, model DGB-400NAS. The older DGB-800 burr version now sits on Cuisinart's discontinued list, so the DGB-400NAS is the 12-cup model you can still buy from the maker. Cuisinart's description is short: a "powerful blade grinder that automatically grind beans just before brewing", programmable 24-hour brew start, adjustable auto-off and a 1-4 cup setting, with a 12-cup glass carafe and a gold-tone permanent filter.
The whole idea is fewer steps. You fill the grinder basket with whole beans, fill the water reservoir, pick the number of cups and start it, or set it the night before. If you have pre-ground coffee in the house, a Grind-Off button turns the grinder off and the machine behaves like an ordinary drip brewer.
Cuisinart DGB-400NAS specs
| Grinder | Blade grinder with a stainless steel blade, grinds before brewing |
|---|---|
| Carafe | 12-cup glass carafe with markings for four to 12 cups |
| Timer | 24-hour programmable brew start |
| Auto-off | Adjustable, 0 to 4 hours after the brew cycle |
| Small batches | 1-4 cup setting |
| Filters | Gold-tone permanent filter, #4 paper filters included, charcoal water filter |
| Extras | Brew Pause, Grind-Off, self-clean |
| Warming | Nonstick warming plate |
| Size | 8.13 in L x 9.98 in W x 15.5 in H |
| Color | Black Stainless |
| Warranty | 3-year limited |
Cuisinart does not publish a wattage, a brew temperature, a reservoir volume in liters or any grind size settings for this model, and it is not listed as SCA certified. None of those are claimed here. The manual says only that the grind is preset to medium, "the optimal grind for this type of brewing process".
How the grinder and brew cycle work
The grinder basket sits in the machine with a stainless steel blade and a lid you lift off by the recess on each side. A blade grinder chops beans rather than crushing them between two burrs, which is the usual reason enthusiasts prefer burr grinders, and Cuisinart gives no way to change the coarseness. If you care about grind control, that is the trade-off you accept for the convenience of one machine.
The control panel has five buttons: Prog, 1-4 Cup, Grind Off, Clean and Brew/Off/Auto Off, plus hour and minute buttons for the clock. The 1-4 Cup setting is described as improving "extraction, flavor and temperature" when you brew fewer than five cups. Auto-off can be programmed to shut the machine off 0 to 4 hours after the brew cycle is complete. A Clean light tells you when to descale, using a mixture of one third white vinegar and two thirds water.
Brew Pause stops the flow of coffee from the basket when you lift the carafe off the plate, for up to 20 seconds, so you can pour a cup mid-brew. The carafe is described as easy-pour and dripless, with brewed coffee markings from four to 12 cups. An included scoop with a brush helps with the grinder basket, and the manual warns not to put water into the unit once the grinder basket has been removed, because water reaching the grinder motor may damage it.
Cuisinart DGB-400NAS vs Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable is the same brand without a grinder. It lists a 24-hour programmable timer, a regular or bold strength choice, a 1 to 4 cup setting and a 3-year warranty, and Cuisinart sells it for $84.99. Both have a gold-tone permanent filter. The DGB-400NAS gives you a built-in grinder for roughly $35 more on the maker prices we have, and it gives up the 14th cup and, as far as its manual and product page show, a strength setting. If you already own a grinder, the 14-cup model is the simpler purchase. If you want a single appliance and bean-to-pot convenience, the DGB-400NAS is the one with the grinder.
Cuisinart DGB-400NAS vs a separate burr grinder
The real alternative to a grind and brew machine is a plain brewer plus a burr grinder. The Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill lists 18 grind positions and costs $74.95. Put next to the $84.99 14-cup brewer, that pair costs about $160 and gives you control of the grind. The DGB-400NAS costs $119.95 for both jobs in one footprint. You trade grind control and a second appliance on the counter for lower cost and one set of parts to clean.
Is the Cuisinart DGB-400NAS worth it?
As a convenience machine it has a clear case: a 24-hour timer that also grinds means fresh-ground beans can be waiting at a set time without a separate grinder to fill and empty. The 3-year warranty is longer than the 1-year terms on many budget brewers, and Cuisinart sells replacement parts for it, including a filter basket and a grinder with a stainless steel blade.
The doubts are the same ones the maker's page implies. A blade grinder gives you no grind setting, there is no published brew temperature or SCA certification, and the manual asks for a more involved clean-up than a plain brewer. It advises cleaning the parts after every use and keeping water out of the grinder area. Nobody here has tested how the coffee tastes, so judge it on convenience, not on cup quality.
Who should buy the Cuisinart DGB-400NAS (and who should not)
It suits a household that wants coffee ready at a set time from whole beans, has little counter space for two appliances and is content with a medium grind. It also suits a buyer who wants a 12-cup glass carafe and a keep-warm plate with a 3-year warranty behind them.
It does not suit anyone who wants to choose their grind, brew single-origin coffees with care or hold the brew at a certified temperature. A thermal carafe is not offered, so coffee left on the warming plate keeps heating. In that case, a separate burr grinder and a brewer from the drip coffee makers category is the better route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cuisinart DGB-400NAS a burr or blade grinder?
A blade grinder. Cuisinart's page calls it a powerful blade grinder, and the manual shows a grinder basket with a stainless steel blade. The older DGB-800 used a burr grinder but is discontinued.
Can I use pre-ground coffee?
Yes. The Grind-Off button turns off the grinder so you can brew pre-ground coffee in the filter basket.
Does it have a timer?
Yes. Cuisinart lists 24-hour programmability, so you can set the machine to grind and brew at a chosen time. Auto-off is adjustable from 0 to 4 hours.
Can it brew a small batch?
It has a 1-4 cup setting for fewer than five cups, which Cuisinart says improves extraction, flavor and temperature. It brews into the carafe, so it is a small-batch setting, not a single-cup mode.
Are the carafe and basket dishwasher safe?
The manual says the carafe and carafe lid can go in a dishwasher, and the grinder basket lid, filter basket and filter basket cover can be cleaned in the upper rack. Do not put water in the unit once the grinder basket is removed.
What is the warranty?
Cuisinart lists a 3-year limited warranty on the product page.
