Grind and brew coffee makers are quickly catching on everywhere you look. After all, why take up more counter space with a coffee grinder if you don’t have to? I'll show you why one of these beauties should be on its way to your house today.
Let me guess. You woke up this morning and found something missing from your coffee.
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Lots of folks have slipped into the coffee pod routine, leaving behind the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee made from freshly ground coffee beans.
Back in the day, no one was asking for the best coffee maker with grinder. So when the capsule coffee machine trend started, the best grind and brew coffee maker was at the coffee shop on the way to work. Compared to $3.00 per cup, spending $1.00 per coffee pod made sense. That, folks, is how we got duped.
Here’s a headline for you: “You Now Have Options That You Didn’t Have Before!” That means the grind and brew coffee maker trend has officially started, and things can only get better from here.
All of that is good news for you because, for under $200, you can get an outstanding coffee maker with grinder built-in, offering a one-stop brewing experience. Just think, bar postal service delays, you could be basking in the pleasant aroma of coffee made from freshly ground beans by week’s end.
You know that has to beat a pre-ground coffee pod that claims to have a shelf life of a year or more! What suckers were we for falling into this tasteless coffee trap?
Thankfully, this development is also great for the environment! With over 10 billion non-recyclable coffee pods going into landfills every year, we all need to do our part in reducing single-use plastic waste. OK, I’ll get off my soapbox.
Moving away from coffee capsules and back to coffee beans is also good for farmers who weren’t part of the coffee pod revolution. You know, I’m always one to promote fair trade practices. All of this to say, there are lots of positive things about the growth and development of coffee makers with grinders.
In this article, we’ll explore the top grind and brew coffee machines on the market in 2023. I’ll also explain the strengths and weaknesses of each. Plus, I’ll give recommendations about who each machine is ideally suited for. But keep in mind, there are always exceptions.
Here’s a list of the best grind and brew coffee machines that we’ll dive into today:
Unmatched grind control levels
Unrivaled coffee strength adjustment levels
Stainless steel burr grinder
DirectFlow grind assembly
Replaceable water filter
Airtight bean hopper lid
Similar features to top-tier machines
Stainless steel burr grinder
Thermal carafe
As many of you know, I’m a purist. I drink coffee and espresso basically black and preferably from a pour-over coffee maker. This requires more expertise than you might think, as you have to get everything just right.
Grind and brew coffee machines save you from having to geek out on your brewing process.
Ideally, these machines are so well-designed and thought-out that the aroma and taste are right even if you have no idea what you’re doing. But let’s be clear about one thing: a quality design is useless if you use low-quality beans. That to say, there’s no abracadabra button.
Freshly ground coffee from decent beans is the most important element of any coffee machine. So if you don’t want to spend money on good beans, you’ll never achieve greatness in your cup.
Plus, coffee machines with grinders have some undeniable advantages:
You can automatically brew a large amount of filter coffee.
You don’t need an extra grinder, so you use less countertop space.
Some level of adjustment is always possible.
In case of a coffee emergency, you can also use pre-ground coffee — of course, I mean earthquakes and hurricanes here!
The disadvantages of coffee makers with grinders are:
A lower quality grinder can make a lot of noise and deliver inconsistent results — why wake the dead if your grinds aren’t truly amazing?
The machines are quite bulky and tall for the category — one could argue that the space saved by having a built-in grinder ends up being canceled out by the increase in the size of the overall machine.
The limitations of onboard functions become evident as you experiment with different roasts.
On the other hand, once you’ve found the balance between your favorite roast, the machine settings and the machine’s weaknesses, you can drink coffee ad nauseam — and a lot of it at once!
Now that we’ve established a few of the pros and cons of this type of coffee machine, let’s help you narrow down your search. I’ve compiled a list of things to consider as you’re shopping for the best coffee maker with grinder.
As I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to spend your life savings to get hold of a decent coffee machine with a built-in grinder. However, it’s certainly possible to spend upward of $500 on a really fancy model.
I guess it all comes down to how much you’re willing to spend and how often you’ll actually use the thing. I mean, if you’ll be brewing coffee at home instead of hitting your local coffee shop twice a day, the coffee machine will quickly pay for itself.
One thing I should point out is that the type of built-in grinder is important. In other words, don’t be tempted by a budget machine with a blade grinder on board. Instead, spend a little more to get a burr grinder – it’ll make a huge difference!
When it comes to the built-in coffee maker grinder, it can either make or break a coffee machine in this entire category.
So, while most grind and brew coffee machines allow you to switch off the grinder to use pre-ground coffee, this kinda defeats the purpose.
But then again, I get it. People want convenience.
All the machines listed below have stainless steel burr coffee grinders, which will produce uniformly ground coffee for effective extraction.
The thing is, a coffee maker with grinder doesn’t necessarily need a lot of grinding levels, just decent ones. Still, the more grinding levels available, the more flexibility you have to experiment.
For this style of machine, a medium level of coarseness is desirable. But make no mistake, even within the term “medium,” there’s some wiggle room.
In terms of the quality of what’s brewed, a glass pot is basically just as good or bad as a thermal carafe. After all, the pot or carafe has nothing to do with your choice of beans, brewing methods or the final taste.
That said, I personally would always pay extra for the thermal carafe. Why? Well, I’ll give you two reasons:
Whether your thermal carafe is on a dining or coffee table, the coffee will stay warm for a while.
During preparation, the coffee temperature in the pot doesn’t drop as quickly, which is especially important when brewing small quantities.
My experience with testing has shown me many times that, despite a hot plate and top-quality glass, you quickly end up with lukewarm coffee – and at an accelerated speed as you empty the pot.
This makes sense if you think about it, really.
A full pot of coffee can heat up even the coldest glass quickly and evenly, and the heat retains fairly well. In contrast, if that same cold glass pot is only filled with a small amount of coffee, the coldness from the pot takes over and wins the battle.
Thermal carafes help prevent this problem, but only if you run plenty of hot water through them before brewing. Of course, this strategy can help with a glass pot, too, but the effect doesn’t last as long.
On the other hand, glass pots are much easier to clean and relatively inexpensive to replace if you break them.
Let’s not forget that a built-in grinder is a pretty darn special feature all on its own! Still, some coffee makers with grinders are fairly straightforward in terms of what they can do. Namely, brew a pot of coffee.
However, you may want a model with more versatility to keep things interesting. In that case, look for a grind and brew machine with adjustable strength settings and perhaps even multiple brewing styles.
One thing that’s important to a lot of folks is being able to program their machine to start brewing before they wake up. I totally get it – nothing beats waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee!
Other features to look out for include water filters and reusable coffee filters. Your coffee will always taste better if you’re using filtered water, and having a permanent filter means you won’t have to spend money on paper filters.
By now you should have a better idea of what you want in a grind and brew coffee maker. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the best models on the market.
The Breville Grind Control is an ideal choice for anyone who wants the maximum amount of control that a coffee maker with grinder can offer. And for $279.95on Amazon, its stainless steel burr grinder offers six adjustment levels, which is pretty great.
There are also eight separate levels for coffee strength adjustment. With this amount of flexibility, the Breville Grind Control coffee maker is definitely among the best of the best. I mean, it’s the perfect choice for coffee aficionados who want a reasonable amount of control over the outcome of what’s brewing.
Plus, the thermal carafe will keep your coffee hot, saving you many trips back and forth from the breakfast table to the coffee pot.
And if you’re ever in a hurry to get a cup of coffee before the entire brewing process is complete, you can pause the brewing process and fill your travel mug or favorite cup.
This machine is a work of art!
I guarantee that the Breville Grind Control coffee maker will enhance any kitchen counter, with its sleek design and well-illuminated display screen — it’s just spectacular.
Can you tell I like it? I guess you can say I have a bit of a coffee machine crush. It really does just sell itself. That’s why I’m naming it the “best performing coffee maker with grinder” in this roundup review.
See Also: Breville Grind Control Review 2023
If you’re having a hard time deciding between a drip coffee maker and a fully automatic espresso machine, the DeLonghi TrueBrew might be just what you need.
Trust me, having tested this thing out I can tell you it’s a true marvel. Sure, you’ll pay a not-insubstantial $496.77 for the DeLonghi TrueBrew. However, the features and convenience this fully automatic coffee maker brings to the table make its asking price more than reasonable.
Seeing as it has an internal brew group, the TrueBrew doesn’t require filters. Seriously, this is a one-touch coffee maker with grinder that’s super convenient. Plus, you have tons of options in terms of brew strength, style and size.
Heck, there are even “espresso style” and “over ice” options.
While you aren’t able to make grind size adjustments, the machine’s Bean Extract Technology is very effective. In fact, I was blown away by the TrueBrew’s performance and consistency.
Featuring a cool touchscreen display, the DeLonghi TrueBrew has been designed as a single-serve coffee maker for a variety of different cup sizes. However, by spending an additional hundred bucks or so, you can pick up the TrueBrew with Thermal Carafe.
See Also: DeLonghi TrueBrew Review 2023
Let me start by saying that the Gevi 4 in 1 is no ordinary coffee maker with grinder. Then again, you probably already figured that out by looking at the thing.
Still, if you’re a pour-over freak like me, you might already be trying to convince yourself that you can afford to spend $N/A on this coffee machine!
I just had to include the Gevi 4 in 1 on this list because it’s so darn special. I mean, this coffee maker with grinder features a color touchscreen display, a built-in scale and programmable rotating water spouts! In essence, you can program the Gevi 4 in 1 to replicate your pour-over technique.
In case you aren’t yet convinced, allow me to tell you about the Gevi’s built-in grinder. It’s equipped with 60-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs and comes with over 50 adjustment settings. That’s serious business!
As you’ve probably guessed, you can program just about everything on the Gevi 4 in 1, including brew temperature, water flow rate and bloom time. Plus, you’re able to use this coffee machine with any number of pour-over drippers including the Hario V60 and Kalita Wave.
Ultimately, the Gevi 4 in 1 will appeal to the nerdiest of coffee geeks, myself included. It’s just so cool!
See Also: Gevi 4 in 1 Review 2023
Much like it’s larger 12-cup sibling, the Cuisinart Burr Grind and Brew 10-Cup Coffee Maker has a lot of valuable features for a countertop coffee machine with grinder — especially at a price of $227.33 on Amazon.
My favorite thing about this 10-cup coffee maker is the DirectFlow grind assembly, which as Cuisinart puts it:
Seamlessly dispenses grounds directly into the brew basket.
That’s Cuisinart’s way of saying, “Hey, our designers finally figured out how gravity works!”
No, but seriously, the design forces the coffee grounds to fall exactly where they should be, in the filter basket.
As if that wasn’t enough, though, Cuisinart also added an AutoRinse feature that helps to ensure the coffee grounds get to the right spot. It’s quite a smart design, really, though I haven’t had the opportunity to test the auto rinse feature myself.
A sealed lid on the bean hopper will keep beans fresh. This is a positive for sure, but you’ll want to watch that direct sun doesn’t hit the bean hopper, or else you may end up with moisture buildup that will dampen your beans, causing ground coffee to clump. But then again, that’s true for any machine.
The Capresso Team Pro Plus Coffee Maker With Grinder has a lot to offer — which it should for $205.00!
This 10-cup coffee maker comes with a conical burr grinder. The upper burr and bean hopper are removable to help with cleaning.
Capresso has also built a charcoal water filter into the design, which will help remove impurities and unwanted flavors.
Overall, the machine has a bit of a boxy design, but it’s hard to argue with the clean look of the stainless steel.
There are two versions of this machine. One has a thermal carafe. The other has a glass carafe.
As always, you know your needs better than anyone, so the final choice is up to you. But to sum up, here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:
What’s my budget for a drip coffee maker with grinder?
Are there any space limitations I need to consider in the place I want to put the machine? (Be sure to take into consideration both your counter space and the cabinet height above.)
Does the weight of a machine matter to me?
Do I want a glass pot or thermal carafe?
Would a super-automatic espresso machine be a better fit?
Keep in mind that coffee machines with grinders are still in the infancy phase. These machines offer a lot of value now, but expect them to also improve in the future.
What do you think of this world of drip coffee makers with grinders? Which coffee grinder machine would you like to see tested? Leave me a comment below! Thanks for reading!
While a coffee machine with grinder offers a lot of convenience, it’s usually the case that a separate coffee grinder will offer better results.
There’s a growing number of coffee machines that both grind and brew drip coffee.
While you don’t have to spend massive amounts of money on a burr coffee grinder, it’s definitely worth investing in one that’ll produce consistent results.
Seeing as blade grinders chop up coffee beans, you’ll never get reliable grind consistency.
