Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- Grinds espresso beans
- Washable, reusable filters
- Suitable with pre-ground espresso
- Giant water tank
Cons
- No milk frothing
- Might be messy
- Can’t alter espresso or water volumes
Our Verdict
There’s loads to like about Cuisinart’s espresso maker for one. It does away with messy, wasteful filter papers and, because it doesn’t make extra espresso than you need, there’s no decline in flavour as you would possibly expertise when retaining a carafe of espresso sizzling. There are some drawbacks in relation to flexibility and design, nevertheless it appears like a step in the precise path for lengthy black espresso devotees in search of a extra eco-friendly answer.
Value When Reviewed
$149.95
Finest Costs Right this moment: Cuisinart Single Serve Espresso Maker + Espresso Grinder
$149.95
In the event you’re within the US, this espresso machine is named the Cuisinart Single Serve Espresso Maker & Espresso Grinder. Its UK identify is the Cuisinart One Cup Grind and Brew Espresso Maker. It’s the identical equipment – however as you’ll see, its US value makes it a way more enticing buy.
Espresso isn’t for everybody: many like their espresso lengthy, sizzling and fuss-free. Nevertheless, for those who reside solo or are the one one in a family who drinks it, making a complete pot of filter espresso will be at greatest, a chore, and at worst, wasteful. Enter this Cuisinart: a filter espresso machine that makes a single cup at a time, with a pair of washable, reusable filters (so no want for paper filters), and a alternative of three cup sizes. Even higher, it contains its personal grinder, so you may make the freshest cup potential straight from the bean.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Design & Construct
- 100g bean hopper
- Chrome steel conical burr grinder
- 1.35 litre water tank
If house in your worktop is at a premium, there’s excellent news: the Cuisinart One Cup Grind and Brew Espresso Maker gained’t take up an excessive amount of of it. It’s a slim 18.4 x 28 x 32.2cm (11.02 x 7.28 x 12.67in), which means that it might probably tuck right into a nook or on the again, under items, and at 3.6kg (7.9lbs), it’s simply moved round.
Successfully, it’s a machine of two halves. The left facet of the machine offers with the grinding, that includes a 100g/3.5oz espresso bean hopper geared up with a stainless-steel conical burr grinder that twists in on the backside. Under that could be a holder for one of many two reusable filter pods, so floor espresso will be distributed immediately into them.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
The correct facet handles the brewing: as soon as a reusable filter pod is stuffed with floor espresso as much as 15-20g, it’s merely sealed and popped into the brewing head. Because of this you need to use it simply as a grinder, or bypass the grinding altogether: there’s a scoop included (with a brush at one finish for cleansing the machine) so you possibly can fill a filter pod with pre-ground espresso.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
On the again, there’s a beneficiant 1.35-litre water tank. This could deal with as much as 4-5 cups of espresso, and will be eliminated for filling or stuffed in-situ – nice for those who’re operating out of water mid-cup. There are some intelligent options which might be much less apparent too, together with that the drip tray will be eliminated to accommodate taller vessels, comparable to journey cups, and hid storage on the facet for the filter pod that isn’t in use.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Efficiency & Options
- Restricted choices for tailoring espresso
- Three cup sizes: 120ml, 210ml and 300ml
- Might be messy, particularly with smaller cups
Whereas the Cuisinart One Cup Grind and Brew Espresso Maker packs in additional flexibility than your common drip espresso maker, its controls are fundamental in comparison with a typical pod machine. They’re restricted to simply 5 buttons: on/off, grind and three cup sizes: 120ml, 210ml and 300ml.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Notably, you possibly can’t alter any of those. There’s no possibility for growing the medium cup measurement by 20ml for instance, including extra water after brewing, or altering the quantity of espresso that’s floor – the identical quantity is distributed whether or not you’re making the 120ml cup or the 300ml one. If that proves to be an excessive amount of floor espresso, you possibly can take some out earlier than brewing however it might make extra sense to not grind that a lot within the first place.
As well as, the bean hopper is mounted to the machine, so for those who fancy a change, you’ll should grind your method by what’s in there or awkwardly scoop out what you possibly can, quite than having the ability to tip the beans out. Eradicating the burr grinder is another choice however beans will cascade out.
Limitations apart, the Cuisinart One Cup Grind and Brew Espresso Maker makes reliably good espresso. I used it rather than my ordinary espresso machine for a few weeks, and stuffed it with the identical beans. The espresso it made with them was distinctly milder, however retained the same flavour, particularly when brewed as a 120ml cup measurement. It was distributed at a reasonably constant 80°C/176°F. Most significantly, there was no bitterness, which might happen with some filter espresso, and no residue on the backside of the cup.
I preferred that the drip tray made house for taller cups, however there isn’t the choice to lift it for smaller cups, and the brew head can’t be lowered. This meant that when brewing into low cups, there would all the time be splashes left behind on the worktop. These joined the grounds left by espresso grinding: nonetheless onerous I attempted, there was all the time some mess, though most of it ended up on the drip tray.
It was additionally sooner to brew than drip espresso machines. Whereas it took a couple of seconds to begin brewing, even the most important cup measurement completed in lower than 30 seconds. Plus, every little thing that may be eliminated is dishwasher protected aside from the grinder, and there’s a three-year assure.
Value & Availability
Within the US, the Cuisinart Single Serve Espresso Maker and Espresso Grinder is accessible for $149.95, from Amazon and for $154.95 from Walmart. It’s not low cost nevertheless it’s a significantly higher value than within the UK, the place it prices £248.95 from Amazon, amongst different retailers.
This makes it an especially expensive possibility the place filter espresso makers are involved. But it surely doesn’t purpose to be a budget-friendly purchase and for those who’re after a top quality machine for lengthy coffees, it’d simply swimsuit you. For extra espresso machine choices, take a look at our round-up of one of the best espresso machines we’ve examined, and for fast and simple espresso making, take a look at our really helpful pod espresso machines.
Must you purchase the Cuisinart Single Serve/ One Cup Espresso Maker?
Make no mistake, the Cuisinart Single Serve/One Cup Grind and Brew Espresso Maker will not be for the latte lovers of this world. As an alternative, it’s aimed squarely at those that prize cup of filter espresso, free from bitterness, and with out the dedication to maintain shopping for single-use filter papers. There’s a lot that’s been effectively thought-out – a good-sized water tank, ease of cleansing the reusable pods, and even storage.
Nevertheless, what’s been missed is the choice to have your espresso simply the way in which you prefer it: at this value level, the power so as to add extra water, grind much less for smaller cups, or alter the distributed measurement ought to be there. In the event you don’t thoughts that quantities are set in stone, and all that’s required is sizzling, black and easy, with a decrease eco influence, this one-cup surprise ought to give you the results you want.