
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.
How Much Will One of These Babies Set Me Back?
All of that is good news for you because, for $100 to $300, 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 pods 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 ten grind and brew coffee machines on the market in 2021. 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.
The Top 10 Coffee Machines With Grinder: Something for Everyone
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
Stainless steel burr grinder
Replaceable water filter
3-year warranty
Similar features to top-tier machines
Stainless steel burr grinder
Good value for the money
DirectFlow grind assembly
Replaceable water filter
Sealed lid on bean hopper
Conical burr grinder
Thermal carafe
Removable bean hopper
Comparable to top-tier machines but cheaper
Stainless steel burr grinder
2-year warranty
Similar features to top-tier machines
Thermal carafe
Stainless steel burr grinder
Small footprint
Swing-out brew basket
Stainless steel housing
Low price
Gold-tone filter
3-year warranty
Low price
8 oz bean hopper
2-year warranty
Best Grind and Brew Coffee Maker in the $300 Range
If you’re looking for the top-of-the-line option and just need some advice about a coffee maker with grinder to consider, check out one great offering from Breville and two from Cuisinart.
Before we dive in, I just want to say that the whole point of going with a grind and brew coffee maker over a super-automatic espresso machine is the pot function.
So if you plan to only use this purchase to make one to two cups at a time, I highly recommend you read my Tchibo review before making a final decision. It offers a lot more functionality for around the same price — well, assuming you don’t want to brew a pot, that is! Right now it is $529.00 on Amazon.
Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker BDC650BSSUSC
Buy Now on Amazon The Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker is an ideal choice for anyone who wants the maximum amount of control that a coffee maker with grinder can offer. And for $329.99 on Amazon, its stainless steel burr grinder offers six different grinding levels, which is pretty great.
There are also eight separate levels for coffee strength adjustment. With this amount of control, it definitely puts the Breville Grind Control coffee maker 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.
Check Out: Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Review 2023
PROS
- Unmatched grind control levels
- Fantastic coffee maker grinder
- Unrivaled coffee strength adjustment levels
- Stainless steel burr grinder
- Thermal carafe
- Sleek design
CONS
- Pricey
- Weighs 16 lbs
- 1-year warranty
- May cause jealousy
Cuisinart Burr Grind and Brew Thermal Coffee Maker DGB-900BC
Buy Now on Amazon At the time of writing, the Cuisinart Burr Grind and Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker is $260.00 on Amazon. Just a few months back it was considerably more due to strains on supply chains.
There are a lot of great features built into this coffee pot with grinder. In fact, I’ve named it the “best overall coffee maker with grinder.”
Unlike the Breville option mentioned above, the Cuisinart Burr Grind and Brew Thermal coffee maker comes with a replaceable water filter. It also comes with a three-year limited warranty that many will appreciate.
PROS
- Stainless steel burr grinder
- Brew Pause Technology
- Replaceable water filter
- 3-year warranty
CONS
- Expensive
- Weighs 15.4 lbs
- Difficult to fully empty the carafe
Cuisinart Burr Grind and Brew Coffee Maker DGB-850
Buy Now on Amazon Much like it’s larger 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 $229.00 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.
PROS
- DirectFlow grind assembly
- Brew Pause Technology
- Replaceable water filter
- Sealed lid on bean hopper
- 3-year warranty
CONS
- Moisture buildup in the bean hopper
- Weighs 15 lbs
- Difficult to fully empty the carafe
Capresso Team Pro Plus Coffee Maker With Grinder
Buy Now on Amazon The Capresso Team Pro Plus Coffee Maker With Grinder has a lot to offer — which it should for $237.97!
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.
PROS
- Conical burr grinder
- Thermal carafe
- Removable bean hopper
A Comparison of the Best Grind and Brew Coffee Makers in the $300 Range
Category | Breville Grind Control 12-Cup Coffee Maker | Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker | Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew 10-Cup Coffee Maker | Capresso Team Pro Plus 10-Cup Coffee Maker With Grinder |
Model number | BDC650BSSUSC | DGB-900BC | DGB-850 | 488.05 |
Housing material | Stainless steel/black plastic | Stainless steel/black plastic | Stainless steel/black plastic | Stainless steel |
Display | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water tank | 60 oz (12 cups) | 60 oz (12 cups) | 50 oz (10 cups) | 50 oz (10 cups) |
Grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder |
Grind levels | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Bean compartment | 8 oz | 8 oz | 8 oz | 7 oz |
Pre-ground coffee option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Reusable filter | Gold-tone filter | Gold-tone filter | Gold-tone filter | Gold-tone filter |
Carafe | Thermal | Thermal | Thermal | Thermal |
Adjustable coffee strength | Yes (8 levels) | Yes (3 levels) | Yes (3 levels) | No |
Water filter | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Programmable auto start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power | 1,100 W/110-120 V | 1,000 W/110 V | 1,000 W/110 V | 1,000 W/110 V |
Weight | 16.0 lbs | 15.4 lbs | 15.0 lbs | 14.0 lbs |
Dimensions (height x width x depth) | 16.3 x 8.5 x 12.5 in | 16.34 x 11.61 x 8.27 in | 19.5 x 14.5 x 11.0 in | 16.5 x 12.5 x 8.25 in |
Notes | Can brew directly into a cup or travel mug if desired. | Brew Pause Technology feature allows you to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes brewing. | Brew Pause Technology feature allows you to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes brewing. | Has an oily bean setting |
Warranty | 1-year | 3-year | 3-year | |
Current Price on Amazon | $329.99 | $261.25 | $230.71 | $237.97 |
Best Coffee Maker With Grinder in the $100-$200 Range
If you and Goldilocks are cut from the same cloth — getting one that’s “just right” — you’ll be happy to know that there are some great coffee maker with grinder options available in the $100-200 range.
Gevi GECMA025A-U Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
Buy Now on Amazon Weighing in at a mere 3.2 lbs, and selling for $186.69 on Amazon, the Gevi GECMA025A-U 10-Cup Grind and Brew Coffee Maker will be perfect for many of you.
And with eight levels for grind adjustment and three coffee strength adjustment levels, Gevi provides you with similar control to what you’d get on a top-tier machine.
The Gevi GECMA025A-U also comes with a glass pot instead of a carafe. However, it has a burr grinder, as opposed to the blades you find on similarly priced machines.
Overall, it’s a light version with many of the features that more expensive machines offer. Just keep in mind that, at the end of the day, you get what you pay for.
That being said, I’m naming this the “best budget coffee machine with grinder.”
PROS
- Similar features to top-tier machines
- Stainless steel burr grinder
- Good value for the money
CONS
- Mesh funnel filter
- Glass pot
- 1-year warranty
Krups FCM Grind and Brew Coffee Maker KM785D50
Buy Now on Amazon The Krups FCM Grind and Brew Coffee Maker may be exactly what you’re looking for at the moment.
You see, by eliminating much of the stainless steel in the housing and using a glass pot instead of a carafe, Krups can cut the price to less than half of the first three machines on this list, making it much more bang for your buck. At the time of writing, it’s selling for $197.04 on Amazon. This fluctuates greatly depending on availability.
That’s a big deal considering you still end up with a stainless steel burr grinder, five grind levels and three strength adjustment levels, to boot.
Sure, there’s no built-in water filter, a gold-tone coffee filter comes standard on all Krups FCM Grind and Brew KM785D50 coffee makers. That makes for easy cleanup once the brewing finishes.
PROS
- Comparable to top-tier machines but cheaper
- Stainless steel burr grinder
- Weighs 8.6 lbs
- Can pause brewing
- 2-year warranty
Capresso 465 CoffeeTeam TS Coffee Maker
Buy Now on Amazon Capresso’s 465 CoffeeTeam TS Coffee Maker is well-liked by many users, and for good reason. Apparently, some have even reported that Capresso paid for shipping both ways during warranty repairs, which is how it should be!
For $230.00 on Amazon, this Capresso option is a bit more than the Krups option mentioned above, though it does include a replaceable water filter and thermal carafe. There’s also an option to get a glass pot instead — you’ll be happy to know that the prices are nearly the same between the glass and thermal pots.
The Capresso 465 CoffeeTeam TS also has the smallest footprint of all the coffee machines with grinder mentioned here today, making it ideal for people with limited counter space.
Roughing it in an RV-glamping adventure this year? This is the pot for you! Fill that carafe and hit the road.
PROS
- Similar features to top-tier machines
- Thermal carafe
- Stainless steel burr grinder
- Small footprint
- Dependable support for warranty claims
CONS
- Doesn’t grind oily beans as well
- 1-year warranty
Hamilton Beach 45501 Grind and Brew Coffee Maker
Buy Now on Amazon The $99.99 Hamilton Beach 45501 Grind and Brew Coffee Maker has a small countertop footprint.
There’s a swing-out brew basket that provides convenient access to a reusable coffee filter.
A stainless steel housing ensures that this coffee machine will look beautiful in most any kitchen.
The unfortunate downside is the presence of a flat blade grinder, which will chop and break beans instead of grinding them.
On top of that, Hamilton Beach has designed this grind and brew coffee maker with a self-rinsing grinder. That’s probably why there are flat blades instead of conical burrs. I haven’t tested this specific machine, but tend to think the water and any leftover coffee grinds will create mud.
PROS
- Small footprint
- Swing-out brew basket
- Stainless steel housing
CONS
- Blade grinder
- Unproven self-rinsing grinder
A Comparison of the Best Grind and Brew Coffee Makers in the $100-$200 Range
Category | Gevi GECMA025A-U 10-Cup Grind and Brew Coffee Maker | Krups FCM Grind and Brew Coffee Maker | Capresso 465 CoffeeTeam TS Coffee Maker | Hamilton Beach 45501 Grind and Brew Coffee Maker |
Model number | GECMA025A-U | KM785D50 | 465.05 | 45501 |
Housing material | Stainless steel/black plastic | Black plastic/stainless steel parts | Black plastic/stainless steel parts | Stainless steel/black plastic parts |
Display | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Water tank | 50 oz (10 cups) | 50 oz (10 cups) | 50 oz (10 cups) | 60 oz (10 cups) |
Grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder | Stainless steel burr grinder | Flat blade grinder |
Grind levels | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Bean compartment | 7.0 oz | 5.3 oz | 6.0 oz | 5.3 oz |
Pre-ground coffee option | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Reusable filter | Funnel filter | Gold-tone filter | Gold-tone filter | Gold-tone filter |
Carafe | Glass | Glass | Thermal | Thermal |
Adjustable coffee strength | Yes (3 levels) | Yes (3 levels) | Yes (3 levels) | Yes (2 levels) |
Water filter | No | No | Yes | No |
Programmable auto start | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Power | 950 W/110-120 V | 1,000 W/110 V | 1,000 W/110-120 V | 1,100 W/110 V |
Weight | 14.0 lbs | 8.6 lbs | 10 lbs | 7.0 lbs |
Dimensions (height x width x depth) | 16.9 x 8.3 x 10.2 in | 17.5 x 11.6 x 13.8 in | 15.5 x 9.5 x 9.0 in | 16.5 x 9.8 X 8.7 in |
Notes | Can pause brewing to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes | Can pause brewing to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes | Can pause brewing to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes | Can brew 1-4 cups or 10 cups |
Warranty | 1-year | 2-year | 1-year | 5-year in Canada 1-year in USA |
Current Price on Amazon | $186.69 | $197.04 | $230.00 | $99.99 |
Best Coffee Maker With Grinder for $100 or Less
Thankfully, there are still coffee machines with grinder available on the market for those who want — or need — to spend $100 or less. So, last but not least, we’ll look at two options that stand out above similarly priced machines.
Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker DGB-550BKP1
Buy Now on Amazon By now, you’ve probably noticed that Cuisinart landed three machines on this list.
That’s clearly because of the great design teams that have taken the time to understand what users need in a grind and brew coffee machine.
The Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker DGB-550BKP1 Coffee Maker is a great little machine. And like its more expensive cousins, it offers Brew Pause Technology that allows you to enjoy a cup of joe midway through the brewing process — but for $93.85 on Amazon instead of more than three or four times that amount.
Then again, the downside to this machine is the grinder. Being a blade mill grinder, it’s considerably louder than machines with stainless steel conical burr grinders.
Blade mill grinders also don’t grind as evenly or as consistently as burr grinders. That means you won’t get the same level of extraction from your coffee beans.
PROS
- Low price
- Brew Pause Technology
- Gold-tone filter
- 3-year warranty
CONS
- Inconsistent and noisy blade mill grinders
- Glass pot
BLACK+DECKER Mill and Brew Coffee Maker CM5000B
Buy Now on Amazon No, you’re not seeing double: the BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffee Maker CM5000B is a lot like the Cuisinart DGB-550BKP1 mentioned above.
You should know that the blade mill grinder on this machine is considerably louder than stainless steel conical burr grinders. And like other blade mill grinders, the grind is uneven and inconsistent.
That said, if you’re looking for an affordable coffee machine with a grinder, this one fits the bill. Available on Amazon for $72.36, you won’t have to worry about not being able to grind beans or how to grind coffee beans without a grinder anymore, saving your blender. So, that’s a plus.
PROS
- Low price
- 8 oz bean hopper
- Sneak-a-Cup Technology
- 2-year warranty
CONS
- Inconsistent and noisy blade mill grinders
- Glass pot
A Comparison of the Best Grind and Brew Coffee Makers for $100 or Less
Category | Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker DGB-550BKP1 Coffee Maker | BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Mill and Brew Coffee Maker CM5000B |
Model number | DGB-550BKP1 | CM5000B |
Housing material | Black plastic with stainless steel parts | Black plastic with stainless steel parts |
Display | Yes | Yes |
Water tank | 60 oz (12 Cups) | 60 oz (12 Cups) |
Grinder | Blade mill grinder | Blade mill grinder |
Grind levels | 1 | 1 |
Bean compartment | 5.0 oz | 8.0 oz |
Pre-ground coffee option | Yes | Yes |
Reusable filter | Gold-tone filter | Bronze-tone filter |
Carafe | Glass | Glass |
Adjustable coffee strength | Yes (3 levels) | Yes (3 levels) |
Water filter | Yes | No |
Programmable auto start | Yes | Yes |
Power | 1,025 W/110-120 V | 1,025 W/110-120 V |
Weight | 10.8 lbs | 9.5 lbs |
Dimensions (height x width x depth) | 15.16 x 11.20 x 7.48 in | 17.8 x 14.8 x 11.9 in |
Notes | Brew Pause Technology allows you to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes brewing. | Sneak-a-Cup feature allows you to enjoy a cup before the entire pot finishes brewing. |
Warranty | 3-year | 2-year |
Current Price on Amazon | $99.95 | $63.87 |
Grind and Brew Coffee Machines vs Super-Automatic Espresso Machines
OK, so maybe this is a bit like comparing a Dodge Grand Caravan to a Ferrari, but it helps to have a quality benchmark. Another way to look at this comparison is to ask, “what am I missing from one if I go with the other?”
One word: capacity.
A super-automatic espresso machine offers a lot of bells and whistles that you’ll never find on a grind and brew coffee machine, but it’s also a two-seater. Like the Ferrari, the most a super-automatic espresso machine can brew in a single go is two cups.
A grind and brew coffee machine, on the other hand, can brew one to two cups, but it can also brew 10-12. Therein lies the difference.
So, say you need a pot of coffee.
Brewing 1-2 cups at a time won’t do. But if you need an Espresso or Cappuccino, though, you’d better go with a super-automatic espresso machine.
Brewing Process
The brewing process of coffee machines with a grinder is also a bit different from a super-automatic espresso machine. Both styles of machine may start by grinding fresh beans, but that’s where the similarities end.
While a super-automatic espresso machine would use pressure and a very fine grind to produce some form of espresso, a grind and brew coffee machine uses a heating element that heats water that rises up through a pipe.
It’s then sprayed out over ground coffee with a medium level of coarseness into a coffee filter via a “nozzle.” The water percolates through the ground coffee, extracting the coffee, which then runs down an outlet with a drip stop into a pot.
Now “surge brewing” means that the coffee machine with a grinder heats the water to as close to boiling as possible and then more or less gently “showers” the ground coffee.
Ideally, the water soaks the ground coffee evenly. But keep in mind that gushing water in one spot is fairly common, which can affect the proper extraction of flavors.
On the other hand, “gentle showering” — a little pre-infusion to swell the coffee grounds — takes time. That’s why you should always be suspicious of any coffee machine that only requires a few minutes to brew a full batch of coffee. That speed comes at a cost.
For a comparison, imagine the difference it would make to a cup of tea if you draped the bag across the rim of your mug. Even though all of the leaves would eventually get wet, you wouldn’t benefit from the flavors locked away in the leaves on the outside of the cup.
Well, the same goes for coffee when the grounds around the outer edges of a filter basket barely get wet. If the nozzle doesn’t spray the water evenly, the flavors will primarily come from the grounds at the center of the coffee filter basket.
Thankfully, one of the great things about a coffee maker with grinder is a high-fault tolerance. That means the machine can produce good coffee even when everything isn’t just right.
Truth be told, a lot of people who buy super-automatic espresso machines only want a grind and brew coffee machine but purchase a super-automatic because of the popularity.
What Should I Look For in a Coffee Maker With Grinder?
Much of what I’m about to explain also applies in part to super-automatic coffee makers. Here are some basic requirements that apply to coffee machines with grinders:
- The grinder shouldn’t grind the beans finely but uniformly at a medium level of coarseness.
- The brewing process should be even and gentle.
- The brewing time shouldn’t be too short nor too long.
- The pot — whatever the material — should maintain the temperature of the coffee well.
- The taste should be at least similar to results from a hand filter.
- Cleaning should be easy and thorough.
That probably reads a bit like a personal ad that you’ll want to swipe away — hence my insatiable search for the perfect machine.
Though the trend toward precise, barista-quality coffee machines is gaining traction, coffee machines with grinders operate on two basic principles:
- Goal #1: Make a lot of coffee at once.
- Goal #2: Grind fresh coffee beans.
Our top pick, the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker, is a perfect example of what I mean.
What Makes One Grinder Better Than Another?
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.
Seven of the ten machines listed in this review have stainless steel burr 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 greater the chance that the machine will prepare the grind correctly.
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.
That’s why the grind and brew winner from Breville generally produces better coffee than the two Cuisinart machines in the $300 price range. It has six grind levels and eight coffee strength adjustment levels. The Cuisinart alternatives, on the other hand, have one grind level, albeit medium, and three coffee strength adjustment levels.
You can use the coarser grind for darker roasts, the finer grind for lighter roasts and the medium grind for everything in between — and you’ll always get good drinkable coffee.
In short, with the Breville Grind Control, you can extract a greater amount of aroma from your coffee beans. Score.
Should You Go With a Glass Pot or Thermal Carafe?
When it comes to 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.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Coffee Maker With Grinder?
As many of you know, I’m a purist. I drink coffee and Espresso basically black and preferably from a pour-over coffee filter. 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:
- The grinder quality can make a lot of noise and too coarse of grinding 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 a wash with 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!
How Do I Set Up a Coffee Machine With a Grinder?
First of all, when you first unbox your grind and brew coffee machine of choice, you’ll want to wipe down and rise out the machine to remove any dust from the factory or packaging materials.
Then, turn your eyes to the heart and soul of the machine — the grinder! Adjust the respective switch to the grinder.
For this style of machine, a medium level of coarseness for your grind is ideal. But even within what’s defined as “medium,” a machine such as the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker will allow you to make adjustments.
I recommend you start off at the finer end of medium and gradually increase the grind size based on the results.
Now you shouldn’t see a bunch of residue at the bottom of your coffee cup when you’re done drinking. If you do, move the grinder one stop back to a coarser grind. After a few pots, you should know the parameters. Then, you can make adjustments as necessary depending on the results from various beans.
I can also tell you from my testing experience that the coffee strength option usually performs best at the “medium setting.”
To avoid watery coffee, which can result from too coarse a grind, I would play with the amount of water. For example, if you want to make four cups, you can reduce the amount of water to 3.75 cups, but select five cups of coffee. This hack of sorts can work wonders.
I like to pre-warm my pots by filling them with hot water that I immediately pour out before brewing. Plus, if using a paper filter, you should always rinse it in the filter holder to moisten the fibers. Doing so opens and frees the pores for use. It also evacuates microparticles of dust from the filter, which you don’t need to be drinking.
How Do I Clean a Coffee Machine With Grinder?
With a normal coffee maker, a descaling cycle without any ground coffee present is enough. On a grind and brew machine, though, it’s not as easy. But it’s also not that hard, either.
And since most coffee machine with grinder designs make it difficult or impossible to disassemble them down to the bare grinder, you either have to use cleaning tablets for grinders or at least a vacuum cleaner and brush.
Otherwise, daily cleaning of any part you can dismantle from the machine without force is definitely in order. You can do this under running water in your sink or the dishwasher.
Then there’s the water tank, which often turns out to be the Achilles’ heel of these machines. This is because it’s usually permanently installed.
If this isn’t the case, then you can put this component in the dishwasher quite often.
There’s also value in going through the trouble to dry out the water tank on a daily basis. Just wipe it down and allow it to dry fully. Otherwise, you’ll soon be brewing your coffee with microalgae in your water. Yuck!
Decision Time: Which Machine Are You Going to Get?
As always, you know your needs better than anyone, so the final choice is up to you. But here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:
- What’s my budget for a 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.
FAQ on Grind and Brew Coffee Makers
The answer to this question is relative to each user. A grind and brew coffee maker doesn’t require as much counter space as having two separate units. However, you’ll get better performance out of a dedicated coffee grinder. For more information on grinders, check out my coffee grinder guide.
A medium to medium-fine grind size is ideal for drip coffee makers. If you discover coffee grind particles at the bottom of your cup, the setting is too fine.
Conical burr grinders are way better than flat blade grinders. Burr grinders actually grind up the coffee beans, whereas blade grinders just break and chop. Technically speaking, we shouldn’t really call those with a blade grinders at all.
It’s important to maintain any coffee maker on a regular basis. I recommend you descale your grind and brew coffee maker every two to three months, depending on how frequently you use it.
You always want to monitor the inside of the water tank to make sure no sludge is growing.
As far as the grinder goes, you don’t have to clean it every time you use it. Removing any buildup should be done once a month. You can use a vacuum to remove dry coffee grinds.
What do you think of this world of coffee pots with grinders? Which coffee grinder machine would you like to see tested? Leave me a comment below! Thanks for reading!