Cuisinart One Cup Grind and Brew coffee maker review

For some people, the idea of spending hundreds of pounds on a coffee machine isn't a welcome one – after all, that will mean several hundred cups before you'll see a return on the investment. If this resonates with you, you might find the Cuisinart One Cup Grind to your liking.

In favour of a slim and slick design, the Cuisinart has forgone many of the trappings that other machines come with, including any form of milk steaming apparatus. But if you aren't particularly interested in frothy coffees and only want to enjoy a standard regular drip coffee, this is the machine for you.

The interface is gloriously simple, incorporating one button that, when pushed, will grind, press and dispense drip-style coffee but without the inconvenience of filters. Another button is available for when you only have ground coffee to hand, so you can still reap the benefits of the machine even if your bean supply has run out.

With a hopper that holds up to six scoops of beans and a water tank that can hold just under 500ml, this is the perfect size for individual use; it yields roughly two full cups of coffee before the water needs refilling once again.

The coffee, once brewed, showed only a thin crema but was consistently tasty and lacking in the usual silt found at the bottom of the cup with other filter machines.

The temperature held at around 70 degrees celsius making it easy to drink on the spot. Those inclined to add a generous glug of milk are strongly encouraged to drink it quickly to avoid being left with a tepid and unappealing drink.

With the hopper at the top, it's easy to refill the beans quickly without causing spillage but the water tank, sitting at the back, is a little more cumbersome to remove and replace – something you'll have to get used to doing if you drink more than two cups a day.

The grinder and conical filter can be easily removed to wipe clean and all other parts, such as the water tank, grounds drawer and drip tray are dishwasher safe. The only real downside here is that the drip tray is understandably small, so will need emptying once a day.

Though lacking in the sophistication and exciting features of others (you can't adjust the grind consistency, water pressure or create frothy coffees with this one) its appeal lies in its simplicity, offering simple drip coffee lovers the chance to enjoy the bean-to-cup experience without having to fork out for a more complex machine. Considering its reasonable price, its smartly designed and pleasing to look at, too.

Star ratings:
Functionality rating: 4.5/5
Results rating: 4/5
Ease of cleaning rating: 4/5
Value for money rating: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5

Specifications:
Dimensions (HxWxD): 355 x 210 x 215mm
Weight: 2.7kg
Power: 1100 watts
Water capacity: 473ml
Adjustable grind: No

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This review was last updated in November 2019. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.