In this comprehensive review, we look at the different series of GE, Profile and Cafe dishwashers and their features so you can decide if this is a brand that fits your needs.
Shopping for a new dishwasher can be an overwhelming experience. With so many brands that look almost identical in finish and size, along with varying features and wash cycles, how do you choose? Sticking to your purchasing budget, we recommend that you do your research to find out what features are available since new technologies are being introduced all the time that make dishwashing easier than ever before.
GE recently went through a rebranding initiative. As a result, the marketing names of its brands have changed to GE, Profile, and Cafe along with their respective new logos. Also, GE made a massive effort to cut down on its notoriously high number of products which created a conflict among its brands in terms of features, prices, and design. We updated this review to reflect the latest changes.
As of October 2019, we also noticed a confusion in the marketplace in terms of retired and new products. We expect the retired models to soon disappear as GE sells through its inventory. (We notated discontinued models in the article for your convenience.)
Top Picks Table GE vs Profile vs Cafe: What’s the difference?
GE Appliances is now one of the largest appliance brands in the USA. Thanks to its over 125 year history the company manufactures all sorts of household products such as refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, washing machines and more.
Today, GE offers dishwashers of all sizes from portable to standard 24-inch, and even 18-inch slim-size.
Under the GE, Profile, and Cafe brands, the company caters for different budgets and feature preferences.
GE – GE branded dishwashers are reliable, essential, and cost-efficient (well under $600), and are ideal for those that don’t need a lot of fancy features.
Some of the models under standard GE label are very loud (over 50 dB). We believe the company still makes them to supply the construction industry with really inexpensive products.
Profile Dishwashers
At a higher price point with a more flair than the standard GE brand, Profile dishwashers come with new technologies and extra features packed into a sleek and stylish design.
GE streamlined Profile dishwashers to follow the classic good, better, best choices to show a clear value chain.
Ranking Feature Overview Good PDP715SYNFS with a pocket handle or PDT715SYNFS bar handle design. Quiet at 45 dB, Reliable wash action, heated dry. Comes with a 3rd Rack, Has specific bottle and silverware jets. Steam for sanitization. Under $699 Better PDT775SYNFS is very quiet with 42 dB rating. Comes with wi-fi connectivity. 3rd Rack is an optional accessory on this model. Under $999 Best PDT785SYNFS Ultra Quiet 39 dB ideal for home with an open kitchen. Includes the 3rd Rack. Under $1,199
Profile dishwashers also offer 18-inch, small apartment size models. Quick not with regards to once popular PDT845SSJSS. GE no longer makes this product.
Ge Profile and Cafe Dishwasher StylesCafe Dishwashers
Ultra quiet with robust pro design GE Cafe dishwashers are the best that GE offers. Cafe dishwashers went through many chances in the last 12 months. Here are the current models in a comparison format:
Ranking Feature Overview Good CDT805P2NS1 bar handle or CDT805M5NS5 pocket handle design. Quiet at 45 dB, Reliable wash action, heated dry. Comes with a 3rd Rack, Has bottle jets. Under $999 Slightly Better CDT845P2NS1 with bar handle and CDT845M5NS5 with pocket handle maintain 45 dB quietness. The only change is dedicated silverware jets Under $1,199 Best CDT855M5NS5 at 45 dB and the ultra quiet CDT875P2NS1 at 39 dB share the new, world class GE dishwasher motor and dry system providing the best clean. These models also come with Wifi connectivity. Under $1,549
Cafe dishwashers use the GE's new 800 series wash system which is super effective. Due to the success of this wash system Cafe does not offer steam pre-wash feature on Cafe.
The highest end Cafe dishwashers also feature the new GE motor which is the heart of the dishwasher along with a high-heat drying system.
You can mix and match the handles of Cafe dishwashers.
The once popular models CDT800P2NS1, CDT706P2MS1, CDT836P2MS1, CDT866P2MS1 are now discontinued.
Shopping for Cafe appliances? Wall Ovens, Ranges, Cooktops and More Read Our Guide Top Picks Table The GE Dishwasher Styles
GE dishwashers have two main visual styles. GE recently stopped making panel ready dishwashers. We love the color choices offered by all GE brands from traditional white, black and stainless steel to slate, black slate, and black stainless steel.
Visible Control Dishwashers – Generally cheaper than their counterparts, these classic dishwashers have easily accessible visible controls on the front of the machine.
Hidden Control Dishwashers – With no visible displays or control buttons, there is no risk of pushing buttons by accident, which is particularly useful for those with young children. These dishwashers have a clean finish, and you can find the controls on the upper part of the front door. GE even copied a page from Bosch's playbook and produced an evergreen pocket handle version.
There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing a style of GE dishwasher, as it is up to your personal preference what works for you and what will suit your kitchen design.
What Makes GE Dishwashers Special?
Before purchasing a GE dishwasher, it’s good to know what sets this brand apart from others. These are the critical shared technologies that you can find:
Steam Prewash – This function is ideal if you have dishes or cookware with baked-on food that is hard to remove. A Steam Prewash before the actual washing cycle helps to soften these soils for easier cleaning on the Heavy, AutoSense, or Normal cycles.
Piranha™ Hard Food Disposer with Removable Filter – Rather than sending large food particles down the drain, the Hard Food Disposer grinds food waste and eliminates drain blockages and the need to pre-rinse dishes.
Bottle Jets – Water bottles, baby bottles, and champagne glasses do not always get adequately clean in the dishwasher, but with GE’s bottle jets placed in the upper racks, you’ll find that these items come out sparkly clean.
Dedicated Silverware Jets – In some GE dishwashers, you’ll find silverware jets that spray pressurized water directly onto the silverware basket from the middle rotating washer arm. This means that your silverware comes out crystal clear.
Deep Clean Silverware Jets – A step further than the Dedicated Silverware Jets, the Deep Clean Silverware Jets focus on your silverware from below the basket ensuring that all dried-on or sticky food is removed.
Sanitization (NSF Certified) – Since bacteria can be commonly present in our kitchens, taking the right steps to eliminate it and keep your family safe from harm is vital. The SaniWash, Sanitize, or Anti-Bacteria function heats the water inside the dishwasher to around 155 degrees Fahrenheit to kill all bacteria, giving you peace of mind that your dishes are spotless and free of nasty bugs.
Clean Sensor – This smart technology determines the right amount of water, time, and temperature needed to clean your dishes by sending a light beam through the wash water to measure its clarity.
Heated Dry – With this rapid dry function, you can save around 8 minutes in the speed cycle and 30 minutes on regular cycles.
Shopping for a new dishwasher? Check out the new Bosch dishashers! Read Our Guide Upgrade Features
As well as the standard features listed above across the GE lineup, you’ll notice that some models have premium features depending on the price range that they are in.
Reversing Quad Blade Lower Wash Arm – With 4 blades and 25 water jets, this unique wash arm turns both clockwise and counterclockwise and sits in the lower part of the dishwasher. With jets dispersing water at different angles while it spins, all parts of your dishes will be sprayed to ensure a deeper clean.
Quad Blade Middle Wash Arm – For better cleaning, rather than having two blades on the middle wash arm, there are now four.
Side Jets – Dried-on food can sometimes be troublesome to remove, even on a heavy cycle. The side jets placed on the right and the left side of the tub above the silverware basket ensure that food soils are moistened while the dishwasher is filling.
Third Rack – Silverware baskets can be a pain sometimes, so a third rack has been introduced into some models which allows you to put all your spoons, knives, and forks flat at the top, leaving extra space for your dishes in the bottom rack.
Wi-Fi (GE Profile and GE Cafe only) – No longer do you have to go into the kitchen to check if a cycle has finished, as you can monitor its progress right from your smartphone. Amazon Alexa is also able to order more dishwasher detergent when you run out.
Variable Pressure Jets – To ensure that all types of dishes with different kinds of soils are cleaned effectively, different water pressures are applied during the washing cycle. As well as these, you’ll find dedicated silverware jets and deep clean silverware jets as talked about above.
Additional Wash Cycles – On top of the standard wash cycles, some models feature extra wash cycles such as:
Express – This 30-minute cycle is ideal for very light soils and is quicker than the light washing cycle. eWash – This environmentally friendly wash uses energy efficiency and less water for a short cycle time of just over an hour. Rinse – Instead of rinsing your dinner plates off under the faucet, place them in the dishwasher on the rinse cycle to get rid of excess food before you are ready to do a wash cycle.
Additional Drying Options – On top of the standard drying functions, you can also find:
Fan Assist Dry – A fan pulls out the air and removes moisture from inside your dishwasher. Heated Dry – More heat is used for fast drying but using this function will mean that your wash cycle is about eight minutes longer. Power Dry – Instead of the heated dry function, some models use Power Dry, which has a different effect depending on the cycle it’s used with. When used with the Express wash, 15 minutes of drying time is added on to the cycle, and water evaporation occurs from an increased final rinse temperature. On the eWash cycle, drying time is 1.5 hours, and on other wash cycles, an additional dry time of 65 minutes is added as well as another 90 minutes for the fan to run.
4-Pass Multi-Wattage Wash & Dry Element – This allows for better heating coverage of the water during the cycle and ensures dishes are effectively dried.
Floor Protect – The fear of your dishwasher flooding the kitchen can sometimes be in the back of your mind, but this feature is able to detect any leakage using the bottom pan.
Shopping for a new dishwasher? Sizing, quietness, drying & other must know topics covered in-depth! Read Our Guide Our 4 Best GE Dishwasher Picks
To make your life a whole lot easier when it comes to choosing a new dishwasher, we’ve made our call on which are the best GE models that money can buy today. Whether you have a small budget, are willing to stretch your pocket for a bit more luxury, or are somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered. Read on for our top GE dishwasher picks.
1) Best Budget, GE GDF630PSMSS Product Place Holder
Buying a great dishwasher doesn’t have to cost the earth, especially when you don’t need a lot of fancy features. At under $599 (depending on seasonal promotions) the GDF630PSMSS is a reliable and classically-designed model, with all the common GE dishwasher features and shared technologies at an excellent price point. It’s a built-in, front-control washer that comes in black, white, slate, or stainless steel so you can choose the right color that fits in with your other appliances. You’ll find silverware baskets with cell covers, a lower rack, and an adjustable upper rack with two bottle jets. The downside is that this dishwasher is considered borderline of being loud at 50 decibels.
One thing we do love about this model is that it has a regular wash cycle of 73 minutes which is shorter than most other dishwashers. The shorter time does not compromise on quality though, as dishes come out perfectly clean and completely dry, something that doesn’t always happen in this price range.
2) Best Value, GE GDT695SSJSS Product Place Holder
If you have a bit more money to spend (under $799) and would like some modern additions as well as traditional specs in your dishwasher, the affordable GDT695SSJSS GE Profile Series could be just what you are looking for. At only 45 decibels, this dishwasher is super silent, so you’ll barely even realize that it’s on.
This is one of GE’s most popular 24-inch built-in models, with hidden top controls and a thick handle, coming in multiple color options. As well as all the shared technologies of GE dishwashers, you get the Steam Prewash function, as well as the 4-Pass Multi-wattage Wash and Dry Element.
The interior design features upper and lower nylon racks as well as a removable third rack for silverware. While the upper rack is height adjustable, the bottom rack has multi-position fold-down-tines so you can customize the layout depending on what dishes you need to wash. The dedicated silverware jets ensure that your cutlery in the 3-piece basket gets nice and clean each and every time.
3) Best Profile Dishwasher, PDP715SYNFS Product Place Holder
Delving into the mid-range price bracket (under $900) we have the GE Profile PDP715SYNFS, which is another super silent 24-inch model with a stainless-steel tub. It has smoothly moving racks, with the upper adjustable rack featuring a mix of fixed tines, fold down tines, steam safe racks, and ball-tip tines.
As well as all the shared technologies and features of the GDT695, you get the Quad Blade Middle Wash Arm and a Reversing Quad Blade Lower Wash Arm. What really sets this model apart from the cheaper models is the boosted washing system, now with 140 spray jets for an even better clean.
There are more silent and wifi enabled dishwashers in Profile lineup. However, the price point makes this model a winner.
4) Best Clean, Cafe CDT875P2NS1 Product Place Holder
Out of all the fantastic dishwashers from this brand, our number one choice is the GE Cafe CDT875P2NS1. The stunning stainless-steel design with large tubular special handle makes it a delight to have in your kitchen.
As you’d probably expect from the higher price point (right below $1,499), Cafe features its new dishwasher motor and high power drying system in this dishwasher. If you are purchasing a Cafe suite of appliances, GE has many promotions that help with the price of this dishwasher.
This model is ideal if you want to go to the distance and keep all your dishes and cookware sparkling clean for many years to come.
Conclusion
As you can see from our comprehensive guide, GE, Profile, and Cafe have a large variety of products to choose from. While we have given you our top picks for budget and luxury dishwashers, you can further research the entire lineup on on our site..
All in all, GE catalog includes many sub-standard models with well over 50 dB noise level and outdated looks. Once you pass these products (which range in price from approximately $300 to $550), you will get more handsome dishwashers with up-to-date technologies and respectable quietness and wash capabilities. Especially, Profile and Cafe products complete the look of any kitchen package and offer one of the best clean in the industry.
Here at Designer Appliances, we know all about how to find the right appliance for your home and can carefully guide you through the selection process. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements or drop in and see us at our showroom where one of our friendly sales staff will happily walk you through your options.
Shopping for a new dishwasher? Sizing, quietness, drying & other must know topics covered in-depth! Read Our Guide #GEProfile #GEDishwasher #GEDishwashers #GECafe #DishwasherReviews
