The Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill is built around a simple promise: pick how fine you want the grind, pick how many cups you need, press one bar and walk away while it grinds and shuts itself off. This guide goes through what Cuisinart publishes about the DBM-8P1, how it compares with three grinders listed on this site, and who it suits.
What is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill?
It is an electric burr coffee grinder for the countertop, sold by Cuisinart in the United States as model DBM-8P1 with a brushed stainless steel finish. Cuisinart describes it as an automatic burr mill with 18 levels of grind, from ultra-fine to extra-coarse, and an automatic stop so the beans are ground to the chosen grade and the grinder switches itself off. Burr grinding, the maker says, gives a uniform grind and optimum flavor, which is the usual argument for burrs over blades.
It is not a single-dose grinder and it has no scale. You fill a removable hopper with whole beans, set the cup dial, and the grounds fall into a removable chamber that Cuisinart says holds enough coffee for up to 32 cups. Cuisinart's own store lists it at $74.95.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill specs
| Spec | As published by Cuisinart |
|---|---|
| Model | DBM-8P1 |
| Grind selector | 18 positions, ultra-fine to extra-coarse |
| Cup dial | 4 to 18 cups, slide dial |
| Bean hopper | Removable, 8 oz maximum fill |
| Grind chamber | Removable, holds enough ground coffee for up to 32 cups |
| Power control | Separate one-touch power bar, electric timer shuts off when the cycle ends |
| Cleaning | Removable parts are top-rack dishwasher safe; scoop and cleaning brush included |
| Finish | Brushed stainless steel, listed as Black Stainless |
| Warranty | Limited 18-month |
Cuisinart does not publish the burr diameter, the burr material, the motor wattage, a noise figure or how much coffee stays behind in the grinder. The product page also lists a weight but gives no unit for it and shows no dimensions, so neither is repeated here.
How the grind selector and cup dial work
There are two controls and they do different jobs. The grind selector sets fineness. Cuisinart's guide says to use the coarse end for percolator and French press, the medium setting for automatic drip, and the fine end for espresso. The manual adds that there are 6 settings per grind type, so the 18 positions are really three bands of six.
The slide dial sets the amount, from 4 to 18 cups. Cuisinart notes that the grinder ships set to a medium grind, and that on that setting it takes about 40 seconds for 12 cups and about 55 seconds for 18 cups. It also warns that fine grounds are compact and coarse grounds are loose, so you may need to move the cup selector up or down to land on the amount of coffee you want. In practice that means the dial is a rough dose, not a measured one. If you weigh your coffee, this machine will not do it for you.
To start, you press and release the power bar. Grinding stops by itself when the cycle finishes, and you can also slide the dial all the way to OFF to stop early. A safety feature stops the grinder from running unless the hopper and the grind chamber are properly in place.
Cleaning and everyday handling
Cuisinart says all removable parts are dishwasher safe on the top rack only, never the bottom, and that the base must never go in water. You wipe the base with a damp cloth and use the supplied brush on the grind release area. The cord wraps around tabs under the base for storage. The bean hopper, hopper lid, scoop with brush and grind chamber lid are all sold as spare parts on Cuisinart's site, so a lost lid does not mean a new grinder.
The warranty is a limited 18-month one, available to consumers who bought at retail for household use. Repair or replacement is at Cuisinart's option, and the guide asks for a $4.00 check or money order to cover shipping and handling when you send the unit in.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind vs Mr. Coffee Cafe Grind
The Mr. Coffee Cafe Grind 18-Cup BVMC-BMG25 is the closest match on this site. It also has 18 grind settings, a cup selector that runs from 2 to 18 cups, flat burrs and a hopper that holds 8 oz of beans. The Cuisinart's dial starts at 4 cups where the Mr. Coffee's starts at 2, and its warranty is 18 months against Mr. Coffee's one year. Mr. Coffee states the burr shape and a removable top burr for cleaning; Cuisinart does not state either.
If you want to know exactly what sort of burr you are buying, the Mr. Coffee gives you more to go on. If you value a longer warranty and a chamber sized for up to 32 cups, the Cuisinart does.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind vs Hamilton Beach Electric Burr Grinder
The Hamilton Beach Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 16oz is $39.95 on its maker's store, has 18 settings and a 16 oz hopper, double the Cuisinart's 8 oz, and sends its containers and lids through the dishwasher. The Cuisinart costs about $35 more and has a smaller hopper. What it offers in return is a cup dial that runs up to 18 cups and a timer that shuts the grinder off when the chosen amount is done. Anyone who grinds a week of coffee in one go will like the bigger hopper; anyone grinding fresh each morning for a small household is not paying for that capacity.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind vs Baratza Encore
The Baratza Encore ZCG485BLK is $149.95, with conical burrs, 40 grind settings and a 300 g hopper, and no timer, so you dose by hand. That is double the Cuisinart's price. The Encore gives finer steps across its range; the Cuisinart gives an automatic cup dial and a simpler three-band selector. If you brew several methods and want to dial each in, the Encore has the finer control. If you brew mostly drip and want a grinder that handles the amount for you, the Cuisinart does that for less money. Browse the rest of the grinder category for more options at every price.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind vs Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Burr Grinder
The Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Automatic Burr Grinder works the same way, with a cup selector rather than a scale, but smaller: 12 grind settings on flat burrs and a 2 to 12 cup selector, against the Supreme Grind's 18 positions and 4 to 18 cup dial. The Supreme Grind also puts every removable part in the dishwasher, where the Mr. Coffee allows only the grinding chamber.
Is the Cuisinart Supreme Grind worth it?
At $74.95 it costs about $35 more than the Hamilton Beach and half the price of the Baratza Encore. What you get for that is a stainless finish, 18 settings, an automatic cup dial and a dishwasher-safe set of parts, all backed by 18 months of warranty. What you do not get is any published detail about the burrs themselves, so the grind quality cannot be judged from the specifications. Nobody here has tested the grinder, so how even the grounds are, how loud it runs and how long it lasts are all open questions.
The fair way to read the price is as a convenience purchase. It is for the cook who is tired of a blade grinder or of pre-ground coffee and wants to press one bar and get on with the morning.
Who should buy the Cuisinart Supreme Grind (and who should not)
It suits households that brew drip coffee, French press or a moka pot and want a hands-off grinder: set the grade, set the cups, press the bar. It suits anyone who wants parts that go in the dishwasher and a warranty that runs past a year. It also suits a gift buyer who wants a recognizable brand with a simple control layout.
It does not suit someone who weighs every dose, because there is no scale and the dial is approximate. It does not suit buyers who want published burr size and material before they commit, or anyone who needs a single-dose workflow with little coffee left behind, since Cuisinart gives no retention figure. And it is not a fit if you want fine, stepless espresso adjustment, because the 18 positions are fixed steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grind settings does the Cuisinart Supreme Grind have?
It has an 18-position grind selector that runs from ultra-fine to extra-coarse. Cuisinart's guide says there are 6 settings per grind type, with the coarse end for percolator and French press, medium for automatic drip and fine for espresso.
How many cups does it grind at once?
The slide dial is marked from 4 to 18 cups. The grind chamber can hold enough ground coffee for up to 32 cups, and the hopper holds up to 8 oz of beans.
Can I put the parts in the dishwasher?
Cuisinart says all removable parts are dishwasher safe on the top rack. The base must never be put in water; wipe it with a damp cloth and use the brush on the grind release area.
Does it stop by itself?
Yes. An electric timer shuts the grinder off when the grind cycle is complete, and you can stop it early by sliding the dial to OFF. It will not run unless the hopper and grind chamber are in place.
Is it good enough for espresso?
Cuisinart's guide names the fine end of the selector for espresso, so the maker positions it for that use. It publishes no burr size or fine-grind figure, and the 18 positions are fixed steps, so a dedicated espresso machine owner may want a grinder with finer adjustment.
What warranty does it have?
It carries a limited 18-month warranty for consumers who bought it at retail for household use. Cuisinart will repair or replace a defective unit at its option.
