The Cuisinart Barista Bar is an ambitious machine that aims to eliminate the need to choose between a established coffee maker, a Keurig, a Nespresso, and an espresso machine by giving you all of those options in one machine. I tested the Barista Bar for a few weeks to see if this coffee maker is really the DIYer it claims to be—or simply a master of none.
My testing began with setting up the machine and I continued using it for over a week, brewing established coffee, Nespresso pods, and Keurig K-Cups, as well as a few lattes and cappuccinos for good measure. After testing the Barista Bar for a few weeks, I found that it largely did what it was supposed to do, making it a great option for those who enjoy coffee in a variety of forms.
Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar 4 in 1 Coffee Maker: In Brief
Rating: 9/10
ADVANTAGES
- Works with Keurig K-Cups, Nespresso capsules and ground coffee
- It has a built-in steam nozzle for frothing milk, so you can prepare barista-style drinks
- Intuitive controls make it simple to operate all machine functions
CONS
- The steam nozzle does not provide much space underneath
- It costs twice as much as other dual head coffee machines
Buy the Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar 4 in 1 coffee machine at:
What is the Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar 4-in-1 coffee machine?
Cuisinart’s Barista Bar Coffee Center is a established drip coffee maker and single-serve coffee maker with a few notable extra features. The drip side can make up to 12 cups of coffee and has options to change the strength or pause the brewing so you can grab a cup without waiting for the full carafe to finish. You can also set a timer to start the coffee maker in the morning and customize the carafe warmer’s automatic shut-off.
The single-serve side works with both K-Cup and Nespresso pods, and can also dispense regular scorching water for tea and even scorching cereal. You can also make single and double espressos from coffee grounds using a special filter that fits into the K-Cup pod holder. A steam wand attached to the single-serve side froths milk for lattes, cappuccinos, and other specialty drinks.
Both the single coffee pot and the carafe jug have built-in carbon filters that remove sediment, chlorine and other impurities from the water that can spoil the taste of the coffee.
Is the Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar hard to set up and utilize?
As with most coffee machines, the Cuisinart Barista Bar requires that water be run through the coffee and single-serve sections for several cycles to remove any production residue before operating the machine.
Both the single-serve and drip sides of the Barista Bar are simple to utilize. Using the coffee machine side is very similar to using a standard coffee machine: fill the reservoir, add ground coffee to the filter, select the desired strength and press the brew button.
Lift the top of the single-serve side and you’ll find space for K-Cup capsules and a smaller holder for Nespresso capsules. You can also remove the K-Cup brewing basket and add a single-serve espresso filter with your choice of grounds.
The abundance of brewing options on the single-shot side can be a challenge. However, the Cuisinart has a single knob and LED display, making it simple to switch between multiple size options and steam wand controls. Size options include single or double shot espresso and 6-, 8-, or 10-ounce capsule serving sizes. Warm water dispensing and steam wand control are also available.
I like the included milk frother for making cappuccinos and espressos, but I had some difficulty using it. Because the nozzle is so long, there’s only about 4 inches of space between the tip and the countertop, meaning you can only fit a diminutive cup of milk under it.
Is the Cuisinart Barista Bar well designed?
You’d be hard-pressed to find a multi-function coffee maker that can do as much as the Cuisinart. It makes 12 cups of coffee, two different sizes of espresso, works with K-Cups and Nespresso capsules, and froths milk for cappuccinos and lattes. What’s more, it does all of these things well.
Still, the Cuisinart takes up more countertop space than a standard espresso machine, or even other dual-function machines. But when you consider all the coffee machines it replaces (Nespresso, Keurig, espresso machine, latte machine), it’s actually quite compact.
Cuisinart makes attractive appliances, and this model is no exception. It has a stainless steel finish, giving it a more premium look than your average black plastic coffee maker.
I also like the fact that the Barista Bar separates its two main functions. Each side has its own dispensers, meaning you don’t have to move the coffee pot around if you fancy a Nespresso.
There are other less obvious design features that I also like. A built-in carbon filter removes chlorine, sediment, and other contaminants that can ruin the taste of your coffee. There’s also a sensor that prevents brewing when the reservoir is empty, which could damage the machine. An indicator on the control panel lets you know when the reservoir needs to be refilled.
How does Cuisinart Barista Bar work?
All the features that Barista Cuisinart deals wouldn’t be worth much if it didn’t make decent coffee. Luckily, Cuisinart does. I used the Cuisinart for a few weeks, exploring all of its different functions and features.
The drip coffee I made at Barista Bar was wealthy in flavor. Since I like my coffee robust, I especially liked the settings that allowed me to go for a bolder flavor.
I have owned and used Keurig and Nespresso machines, so I am familiar with both. I have found that the coffee from the Barista Bar Single-Purchase service is very comparable in taste and quality to the coffee from Keurig and Nespresso machines.
Is the Cuisinart Barista Bar worth the price?
While the Cuisinart Barista Bar’s $300 price tag puts it among the more exorbitant dual-function coffee makers on the market, it’s vital to note that it actually does more than most of those models. With the Barista Bar, you can brew drip coffee, quickly make single-serve coffees using Keurig K-Cups or Nespresso pods, dispense scorching water for tea, and even froth milk for cappuccinos and espressos. Buying separate machines for each of these tasks would certainly cost hundreds of dollars more.
In addition, the device has many other useful features that add value to it, including carbon filters that lend a hand improve the taste of your coffee by removing impurities from the water, brewing strength control, and a low water level sensor.
Is Cuisinart Barista Bar right for you?
Should you jump on Barista Cuisinart is really a question of what your coffee preferences are. If you like to brew a whole pot of coffee, but also appreciate the ability to quickly make a single cup with a K-Cup while you’re on the go, enjoy an afternoon Nespresso, and occasionally indulge in a specialty latte or cappuccino, then the Barista Bar is the perfect machine for you.
While it’s more exorbitant than other dual espresso machines, it’s certainly cheaper than buying separate machines to meet all of these requirements. You also won’t have to clutter up your kitchen counter with multiple coffee-making devices.
That said, if you don’t plan on using all the features of the Barista Bar, it may not make sense to invest in one. There are other dual-serve coffee machines that cost significantly less money and work with Nespresso or Keurig K-Cups, allowing you to make single-serve drinks.
Where to buy the Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar 4 in 1 coffee machine
Buy the Cuisinart Coffee Center Barista Bar 4 in 1 coffee machine at:
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, landscaping, technology, home security, and design. His writing has been featured on sites such as Popular Mechanics, Futurism, Field & Stream, 360 Reviews by US News & World Report, Domino, and more. In addition to testing coffee makers, Tony has conducted demanding product testing on everything from power tools to home security systems to outdoor grills. His goal with each review is to lend a hand readers determine whether a product meets their needs and is worth the price.
