Although the specific model I got from Costco differs from what's noted here (mine is called the CCM-16PC), the machine itself is identical to the DBM-8. The specifications, the look, the dimensions, even the 18-month warranty are all identical. It may be that this model is carried exclusively by Costco because I can't find much mention of it at all online. In any event, I have found zero difference between it and the DBM-8.

The grinder, in a combination of stainless steel, black plastic, and clear plastic, is definitely attractive, and while the bean hopper isn't what I'd call clinically airtight, it suffices well enough for bean storage. I seldom put more than a couple of days' worth of beans in there anyway; they're all stored in truly airtight canisters in a dark cupboard until it's time to grind. One oddity I've found with the overall design is that to adjust the grind setting, the hopper rotates, not the "grind selector" ring. This isn't a flaw in any manner whatsoever, just something that's a bit curious to me. If the hopper were round, it wouldn't matter, but as it's not (more like an inverted pyramid), it's very noticeable when the thing isn't set all the way to either side of "medium" (90° rotations either way).

Other reviewers have mentioned static electricity being a problem, and this seems to be true with any grinder when grinding dry beans (as opposed to rather oily beans). We have a very high-dollar commercial-quality burr grinder at my office, and the static buildup is so extreme, the ground coffee bits literally jump around when you pull the container out. The remedy: A few drops of water added to the hopper. The volume of water is inconsequential enough to preclude any damage to the burr plates, but effective enough to curtail a buildup of static electricity. I've also noticed that beans which are visibly quite oily do not require any added water before grinding. Their oils seem to naturally counteract the static buildup. If the beans appear somewhat dry, though, I add a tiny bit of water (again, just a few drops).

My drip coffeemaker is a Krups Aroma Control (which I have reviewed on here as well), and I also have a Gran Gaggia pump espresso machine. The problem with my previous grinder, which I picked up secondhand, was that it didn't grind finely enough for espresso, and in all truthfulness, really not even finely enough for automatic drip machines. That was my motivation for buying the Cuisinart grinder. Costco had it for $29, which for a burr grinder made by a company as reputable as Cuisinart, seemed like a good deal to me. I have a blender and a food processor made by Cuisinart, and they've performed flawlessly for quite some time now. Besides, if I run into any of the problems others have had with their Cuisinart grinders, I know Costco will stand behind it 100%.

As for the noise, I'm not sure if people expect a coffee grinder to be silent, but I don't understand the complaints. Of course the thing makes noise, but I've not found it to be unbearable at all. It's a fair bit quieter than the DeLonghi grinder it replaced, and probably makes about the same amount of noise as a good-quality hand mixer. The thing is crushing hard coffee beans into tiny pieces, after all, so it won't be a muted affair.

Cuisinart apparently decided that 18 was the magic number for this grinder, as it has 18 grind settings, grinds up to 18 cups' worth of coffee at a time, and has an 18-month warranty.

I particularly like the automatic grinding nature of this machine. With my old grinder, I turned it on and just had to run it until I figured I had enough coffee. With the Cuisinart grinder, it's a bit more precise. A slider on the top lets you select the number of cups you plan to brew, from 4-18. This setting is based on the "medium" grind selection. If you grind finer, it should be increased slightly (i.e., set for 6 cups if you want to brew 4). Conversely, if you grind coarsely, adjust the other way. Once you set the slider, just press the "start" bar. A timer operates the grinder for the appropriate length of time. Then you just slide the grind chamber out, remove the lid, and, in my case, dump it all into the gold filter basket. Based on strictly visual inspection, the grind seems to be quite uniform, for both medium and fine grind settings. Grind consistency is one of the burr grinder's big appeals (as opposed to the blade grinder, which just hacks the coffee beans randomly into oblivion). I've been quite impressed with the grinding results for both drip and espresso grinds.

Can you buy a better burr grinder? Most definitely. You'll spend more for it though, and I'm not sure the price increase and quality increase would necessarily be proportional. (i.e., You can spend three times the cash, but not necessarily get three times the grinder.) For the money, I think this is a fine burr grinder. Had this machine carried a $50 price tag, it's unlikely I'd have bought it. But for $29 at Costco, it really is a good value, and does a perfectly serviceable job. Teamed up with fresh coffee beans and a good quality coffee maker, you can count on brewing some excellent coffee at home.

Cleaning is pretty easy as well. All removeable parts are top-rack dishwasher safe, so the hopper, the grind chamber, the burr plates (which are contained in the base of the hopper) can all just be tossed into the dishwasher periodically. Cuisinart also includes a combination measuring scoop and cleaning brush.

Recommended: Yes