Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- Grinds espresso beans
- Washable, reusable filters
- Appropriate with pre-ground espresso
- Massive water tank
Cons
- No milk frothing
- Could be messy
- Can’t alter espresso or water volumes
Our Verdict
There’s rather a lot 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 maintaining a carafe of espresso sizzling. There are some drawbacks in relation to flexibility and design, however it seems like a step in the appropriate route for lengthy black espresso devotees on the lookout for a extra eco-friendly answer.
In case you’re within the US, this espresso machine known as the Cuisinart Single Serve Espresso Maker & Espresso Grinder. Its UK title 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 engaging buy.
Espresso isn’t for everybody: many like their espresso lengthy, sizzling and fuss-free. Nevertheless, should you stay solo or are the one one in a family who drinks it, making an entire pot of filter espresso might be at finest, 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 selection of three cup sizes. Even higher, it contains its personal grinder, so you may make the freshest cup doable straight from the bean.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Design & Construct
- 100g bean hopper
- Chrome steel conical burr grinder
- 1.35 litre water tank
If area 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), that means that it could possibly tuck right into a nook or on the again, under models, 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 outfitted 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 might be distributed instantly into them.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
The proper facet handles the brewing: as soon as a reusable filter pod is full of floor espresso as much as 15-20g, it’s merely sealed and popped into the brewing head. Which means you should 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 may fill a filter pod with pre-ground espresso.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
On the again, there’s a beneficiant 1.35-litre water tank. This may deal with as much as 4-5 cups of espresso, and might be eliminated for filling or stuffed in-situ – nice should you’re working out of water mid-cup. There are some intelligent options which can be much less apparent too, together with that the drip tray might 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
- Could 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.
Notably, you may’t alter any of those. There’s no choice for growing the medium cup dimension 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 may 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 fastened to the machine, so should you fancy a change, you’ll must grind your approach by means of what’s in there or awkwardly scoop out what you may, slightly than having the ability to tip the beans out. Eradicating the burr grinder is an alternative choice however beans will cascade out.
Limitations apart, the Cuisinart One Cup Grind and Brew Espresso Maker makes reliably good espresso. I used it instead of my standard 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 dimension. 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 appreciated that the drip tray made area for taller cups, however there isn’t the choice to boost 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 just a few seconds to start out brewing, even the biggest cup dimension completed in lower than 30 seconds. Plus, every part that may be eliminated is dishwasher secure apart from the grinder, and there’s a three-year assure.
Worth & 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 however it’s a significantly higher value than within the UK, the place it prices £248.95 from Amazon, amongst different retailers.
This makes it a particularly dear choice the place filter espresso makers are involved. Nevertheless it doesn’t intention to be a budget-friendly purchase and should you’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 the very best espresso machines we’ve examined, and for fast and straightforward espresso making, try our really helpful pod espresso machines.
Do you have to 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 an excellent cup of filter espresso, free from bitterness, and with out the dedication to maintain shopping for single-use filter papers. There’s loads that’s been properly thought-out – a good-sized water tank, ease of cleansing the reusable pods, and even storage.
Nevertheless, what’s been neglected is the choice to have your espresso simply the best way you prefer it: at this value level, the power so as to add extra water, grind much less for smaller cups, or modify the distributed dimension needs to be there. In case you don’t thoughts that quantities are set in stone, and all that’s required is sizzling, black and easy, with a decrease eco impression, this one-cup surprise ought to give you the results you want.
