Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Review: Friggin Awesome!

Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.

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I've been itching to write a Breville Grind Control coffee maker review ever since it won the title of "best performing" in my coffee maker with grinder guide 2024. I mean, that's quite the achievement considering how crowded the grind and brew coffee maker field has become.

I’ve been itching to write a Breville Grind Control coffee maker review ever since it won the title of “best performing” in my coffee maker with grinder guide 2024. I mean, that’s quite the achievement considering how crowded the grind and brew coffee maker field has become.

It just so happens I ordered the Breville Grind Control coffee maker to play with. I’m sure you can imagine how jazzed I was to get my hands on it. I’ve spent a lot of time testing this coffee maker with grinder out, and I’ll report on my findings later in this Breville Grind Control coffee maker review. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at what this sophisticated coffee maker is all about.

Amazing Machine

Breville Grind Control

Hard to Beat

Solid and sturdy design

Fantastic user interface

High quality stainless steel burrs

Multiple strength settings

Steep and release technology

Potential clogging issues

Quite expensive

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Overview

Regular Coffeeness readers will most likely know how highly I rate Breville coffee makers. In my opinion, the Australian manufacturer’s reputation for producing high quality, well designed machines is more than justified. If you want proof, head over to my espresso machine guide 2024 and check out my review of the Breville Oracle Touch. 

Before proceeding any further with this Breville Grind Control coffee maker review, I should probably point out that this machine isn’t for everyone. I mean, let’s face it; those of you who already own a good coffee grinder aren’t going to see the point of buying a grind and brew coffee maker. 

Not only that, opting for a coffee maker with grinder could be fairly limiting for those of you who want to experiment with different brew methods such as Chemex and French press

However, the growing number of folks who are making the move away from using pre ground coffee will find the Breville’s convenience factor very appealing. As far as I’m concerned, the more people that discover the wonderful world of coffee made using freshly ground beans the better!

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker First Impressions

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Overview from the Front.

My first impressions of the Breville Grind Control are of a fairly standard looking coffee maker, albeit a bulky one.

With that said, all the hallmarks of a quality Breville product are in evidence, including brushed stainless steel construction and a sleek, contemporary design.

The illuminated LCD screen and control panel sit above the insulated carafe, backed by a water tank access door.

As you already know, that’s not the whole story. After all, this wouldn’t be a grind and brew coffee maker without a way to grind beans!

The Breville’s stainless steel burr grinder is located at the rear of the machine and accessed via a top loading bean hopper. You can change the grind size using a dial that sticks out through the bean hopper lid, and ground coffee is dosed straight into the brew basket. 

I’m impressed by how well designed this setup is, but I did wonder how well it would work. I know all too well about the curse of static buildup, so I kept a close eye out during my hands on test. I’ll let you know how that turned out a little later!

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Features

By now you’ll probably have guessed that the Breville Grind Control isn’t a budget coffee maker. Still, when you consider what you’re getting, the $349.95 price tag is more than reasonable. 

The combined cost of a quality coffee machine and a halfway decent coffee grinder would far exceed what you’ll spend on this grind and brew coffee maker. Let’s continue this Breville Grind Control coffee maker review by exploring the features that make it so special.

LCD Screen

The LC Display Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Overview from the Front.

The Breville Grind Control’s backlit LCD screen offers up all the information you need in a clear and concise fashion. I love that the display is angled upward – it shows Breville actually cares about their customers’ eyes! 

You’ll find information relating to the brew size and strength setting as well as how much water is left in the reservoir. It almost goes without saying you’ll find a clock here, as well. What’s really cool is the timer function which appears when the machine is brewing; it’s not every coffee machine that lets you know how long you’re going to have to wait for freshly brewed coffee.

Programmable Auto Start

I know that lots of you like coffee makers that’ll have hot coffee ready and waiting as you stumble out of bed in the mornings. However, that usually means the ground coffee will have been sitting overnight, which I just can’t support. 

That’s not an issue with the Breville Grind Control, though! Using the Auto Start button, you can program the machine to grind and brew morning coffee at whatever time your heart desires.

Still, you’ll have to make breakfast yourself. Breville hasn’t figured out an auto start feature for scrambled eggs and toast just yet.

Do be aware of course that the noise of the coffee grinder will likely wake you up until your brain decides to tune it out. It’s like any other noises that you have to get used to.

Built In Grinder

The Grinder fixed in the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.
Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Burr Grinder removed.

A quick inspection of the Grind Control’s built in burr grinder tells me the manufacturer has ironed out some of the issues that plagued the older YouBrew coffee maker. 

For starters, the Grind Control features machined stainless steel flat burrs, which are much more consistent and reliable than the previous conical burrs. Not only that, the Grind Control allows you to select from six grinder settings, giving you way more control over the brewing process.

The bean hopper is fully removable and locks at the bottom so you won’t spill your precious coffee beans. Underneath, you’ll have access to the grinder itself. The upper burr can be removed for cleaning, and there’s even a little brush included for that purpose. Always unplug the machine before cleaning the grinder!

Incidentally, if you want to bypass the grinder altogether when brewing, there’s a menu setting that’ll tell the machine not to grind coffee into the brew basket. I suppose that could be handy for using pre ground decaf when you’re feeling like consuming more caffeine would be irresponsible! No one ever does that, right?

Water Tank

As I already mentioned, the Grind Control’s water tank door is located between the LCD display and the bean hopper, on top of the machine. The water tank has an impressive 60 ounce (1.8 liter) capacity, and a nifty little indicator pops up when it’s full to prevent you from overfilling. 

Unlike many coffee makers, the Breville Grind Control doesn’t use all the water in the reservoir each time it brews. That said, I wouldn’t leave water hanging out in there for days at a time – your coffee will always taste better with fresh, filtered water.

Brew Basket

To access the Breville Grind Control’s brew basket, press the Open button and the whole front of the coffee machine swings open. Now you can get a good look at how well designed this thing actually is. 

The brew basket sits beneath a lid, which connects to the coffee grinds chute. If the brew basket isn’t properly installed, there’s a safety interlock system that’ll prevent the coffee maker from brewing. You can use the included reusable gold tone filter, although you’ll get a cleaner extraction by using 8-12 cup basket paper filters

Thermal Carafe

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Thermal Carafe.

The Breville Grind Control comes with an elegant dual wall stainless steel thermal carafe. As long as you remember to preheat the carafe, it’ll keep coffee hot for hours.

Although Breville’s carafe ticks the visual appeal box, I have to say that it isn’t the best I’ve ever used. The thing feels substantial, but it’s difficult to maintain a steady flow when you’re pouring coffee. Plus, the last few ounces are almost impossible to retrieve and I ended up spilling coffee all over the place.

That said, I’ll take a mediocre thermal carafe over a glass pot and keep warm function every time!

Steep and Release

One of the features I find most intriguing about the Breville Grind Control is its Steep and Release technology. During normal brewing in Carafe mode, the Breville performs like any other drip coffee maker. Water is heated, then dispersed at a steady rate over a bed of ground coffee. 

However, when you select Single Cup mode, the Grind Control performs more like an immersion brewer. The hot water is dispersed over the ground coffee and the drip valve is kept closed. The coffee grinds steep for several minutes and, once brewing is complete, the coffee is released in one go into your cup or travel mug. 

As you can imagine, I was really looking forward to experimenting with this setting and comparing the results of both brewing methods. I’ll give you the lowdown later in this Breville Grind Control coffee maker review!

Warranty

The Warranty Paper of the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.

It’s unlikely you’ll end up with a defective Breville coffee maker with grinder. Still, it’s a good idea to keep your sales receipt, just in case. The Breville Grind Control comes with a one year limited warranty, which is fairly standard. If something goes wrong and the coffee maker is still under warranty, the manufacturer will take care of shipping costs and either repair or replace your machine.

Of course, if you buy on Amazon, your order history and receipt can always be accessed. I know I’ve used that feature more than once.

What’s in the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Box?

Unboxing the Breville Grind Control.

Here’s what’s included with the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker:

  • Coffee machine base with built in grinder

  • Stainless steel thermal carafe

  • Reusable gold tone filter

  • Removable drip tray

  • Removable grinds catcher

  • Cleaning brush

  • Instruction manual

How to Use the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker

Although the Breville Grind Control is more sophisticated than your average drip coffee maker, it’s remarkably easy to use. However, for best results, you’ll likely want to play around with the settings a little. Anyway, this coffee machine is tailor made for coffee nerds like me, so dialing it in could never be a chore!

Before using the Grind Control for the first time, I’d recommend removing all washable parts and giving them a good rinse under warm water. That goes double for the thermal carafe – I experienced a stubborn chemical smell in there that wasn’t easy to get rid of. After that’s done, run a full brew cycle using only water to flush and prime the machine.

Grind Settings

Hopper full of Fresh Coffee Beans.
Setting the Grind Level of the Breville Grind Control

Once you’ve filled the hopper with coffee beans, you’ll need to select your preferred grind size. I recommend starting somewhere in the middle and adjusting the grind depending on roast profile, brew size and which strength setting you’re using. Once you’ve adjusted the grind, the current setting will be displayed on the screen.

In most cases you’ll want to use a slightly coarser grind when using the Single Cup mode. Seeing as how the Steep and Release method involves so much contact time between water and ground coffee, you’re going to want less surface area to prevent over extraction. 

Incidentally, the Strength setting refers to the actual volume of ground coffee the Breville Grind Control uses for brewing. There are eight levels to choose from, so it’s a good idea to start on the lower end and adjust upward according to your taste.

If you want to really geek out, you’re able to manually calibrate each strength setting. This means you can adjust the volume of ground coffee used, depending on the type of beans you’re using. I definitely took advantage of this option during my Breville Grind Control coffee maker review.

Brewing Coffee

The Filter and Filterholder of the Breville Grind Control.

Now that you’ve dialed in the grind size, it’s time to brew some coffee. Let’s take this step by step so you’ll know how to start getting excellent coffee from the Breville Grind Control:

  1. Press the flip top water tank lid and fill the reservoir with cold, filtered water. Remember to keep an eye out for the red water level float, which will help show you when the tank is full. As it happens, the Grind Control will also beep when the water tank is at capacity.

  2. Press the Open button and fit the reusable gold tone filter or paper coffee filter into the brew basket. If you’re using the included gold tone filter, make sure the handle is facing the brew basket lid’s hinge.

  3. Press the Cup/Carafe button to switch between brew modes and use the dial to select a brew size. There are seven different size options in Single Cup mode and you can brew anywhere from 2 to 12 cups in Carafe mode.

  4. Use the Strength dial to select your preferred strength setting. This is where you’ll find the setting for using pre ground coffee.

  5. Press the Start/Cancel button and away we go! The machine will keep you up to date on what’s happening during the brewing process by flashing messages on the LCD screen. Once your coffee is ready, the Grind Control will beep and start telling you to empty the coffee filter. I say take a minute to enjoy some piping hot coffee before taking care of that!

By the way, if you’re brewing into a 20 ounce (591 milliliter) insulated travel mug, you should know that the drip tray can be removed to accommodate taller cups. Pretty cool, eh?!

Brewing Coffee with the Breville Grind Control.

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Observations

I always like to start coffee maker tests by following the manufacturer’s recommendations to the letter. I mean, that’s what most people are going to do, so it makes sense, right? To that end, I adjusted the grind to the third finest setting and entered a strength of 4. 

I brewed a carafe, using a beautiful honey process coffee from El Salvador. I’ve been obsessed with this coffee lately, and know what to expect when it’s been brewed to perfection. Unfortunately, my first Breville batch was a failure. The coffee was weak and watery, so it went straight down the sink. 

More concerning was the fact that ground coffee seemed to be everywhere when I opened the brew basket compartment. In fact, the chute was clogged with coffee grounds that hadn’t even made it into the filter. 

For the next couple of batches I experimented with different grinder and strength settings, before deciding to calibrate. Eventually, I settled on a grind setting of 2 and a strength setting of 8, which yielded the best results of the day. The El Salvador wasn’t as delicious as when I’d brewed it in a pour over coffee maker. That said, the Breville did manage to bring out its sparkling acidity and sweet vanilla notes. 

I will say that each time I used the Grind Control, too much ground coffee was left hanging out in the chute. With that in mind, I’d recommend compensating by tacking on a couple of extra grams when you’re calibrating the grinder. 

Carafe vs Single Cup Mode

By now, you’re probably wondering how the coffee brewed in Single Cup mode compares to that from Carafe mode. I have to say that it was easier to dial in the right settings for a single cup, but I wasn’t impressed by the results.

Don’t get me wrong, the coffee wasn’t terrible; it’s just that the immersion process produced an indistinct and slightly muddy cup profile. In short, I’d recommend spending the time finding your ideal settings for Carafe mode and sticking with that.

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Cleaning and Descaling

Cleaning the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.

Seeing as the Breville Grind Control is such a handsome devil, you’ll want to keep it looking its best. Feel free to wipe down the machine with a soft, damp cloth when you notice any smudges or coffee splashes. That said, I’d avoid using any kind of spray cleaner. 

All removable parts including the brew basket, gold tone filter and drip tray should be rinsed with warm water after each use. The same goes for the stainless steel carafe, but please avoid putting it in the dishwasher!

Oh, and make sure to let the brew basket dry fully before using it again. Otherwise, you’ll suffer from particularly bad clogging issues.

As for the bean hopper, I’d recommend wiping it down with a paper towel each time you change out coffee beans to remove any coffee oils. 

Every so often the Grind Control will let you know that the grinder chute and burrs need cleaning. You can use the included brush to eliminate coffee grinds that have accumulated in the grinding chamber and around the upper burr. While you’re at it, feel free to remove the upper burr altogether and give it a good going over. 

Even if you’re using filtered water, you’ll need to descale the Breville Grind control on a regular basis. Personally, I wouldn’t wait for the machine to let you know but rather perform this function every two weeks or so. 

It’s refreshing to see that the manufacturer recommends using white vinegar rather than trying to sell its own cleaning product – way to go Breville! However, if you’re averse to using vinegar a descaling solution will do the job nicely.

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Specifications

Breville Grind Control
Current price on Amazon

$349.95

All specifications

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker vs the Competition

It’s always a good idea to shop around, especially when you’re thinking of spending over $300 on a coffee machine with grinder. Let’s continue this Breville Grind Control coffee maker review by seeing how the machine compares with a few other popular grind and brew coffee makers.

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker vs Cuisinart DGB-900BC

Cusisinart DGB-900BC vs Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.

In my grind and brew coffee maker guide, I awarded the Cuisinart Burr Grind and Brew 12 Cup Coffee Maker the title of “best overall” coffee maker with grinder and for good reason. 

Not only does the Cuisinart come with a replaceable water filter, you’ll also get a 3 year warranty with this machine. Sharing many of the Breville’s features, the Cuisinart DGB-900BC costs just $289.99 on Amazon. I’m sure this will make it an attractive proposition to those who can’t swallow the Grind Control’s price tag.

Related: Best Coffee Maker With Grinder Guide 2024

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker vs Capresso Team Pro Plus

Capresso Team Pro Plus vs Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.

Another more affordable coffee maker with grinder, the Capresso Team Pro Plus costs $241.52 on Amazon for the stainless steel carafe model. 

I actually really like the boxy shape of this machine, and there’s plenty of stainless steel in evidence too. Still, what really lets the Capresso down is the limited choice of three grind settings. I just feel like you’ll have more control over your extraction with the Breville Grind Control.

Related: Best Coffee Maker With Grinder Guide 2024

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker vs Gevi GECMA025A-U

Gevi GECMA025A-U-vs Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker.

Costing just $130.02 on Amazon, the Gevi 10 Cup Grind and Brew Coffee Maker is definitely worth checking out. 

Although the Gevi comes with a glass carafe and isn’t quite as solid feeling as the Breville Grind Control, you do get multiple grind settings and strength settings as well as a programmable auto start function. If you’re on a budget, the Gevi 10 Cup Grind and Brew Coffee Maker will certainly deliver.

Related: Best Coffee Maker With Grinder Guide 2024

Verdict: Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Review

Amazing Machine

Breville Grind Control

Hard to Beat

Solid and sturdy design

Fantastic user interface

High quality stainless steel burrs

Multiple strength settings

Steep and release technology

Potential clogging issues

Quite expensive

Admittedly, there were things that made me nervous about this grind and brew coffee maker before I even saw the thing. In particular, my worries about clogging issues in the grinder chute and static buildup were warranted. Still, the manufacturer has obviously put a lot of thought into the design of this thing, and I did manage to brew some pretty darn tasty coffee.

I seriously doubt any coffee maker with grinder could lure me away from my beloved Baratza Encore or Comandante hand coffee grinder, but I can definitely see how it could be attractive to certain folks. If you’re looking for quality, convenience and an easy way to escape the disappointing world of pre ground coffee, this could be the machine you’ve been waiting for.

I always relish a challenge, and I really enjoyed the testing phase of my Breville Grind Control coffee maker review. There’s definitely a learning curve to contend with, but once you’ve got to grips with this machine it’s a breeze to use. Now, if Breville would just sort out those pesky clogging issues … 

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Breville Grind Control coffee maker review. Do you have any experience with this machine? Got any tips on avoiding clogging issues? I look forward to your questions and comments!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Breville Grind Control coffee maker review. Do you have any experience with this machine? Got any tips on avoiding clogging issues? I look forward to your questions and comments!

Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Review FAQ

Although the Breville Grind Control coffee maker has some plastic parts, all those that come in contact with your coffee are certified BPA free.

Thanks to its auto start feature, you can program the Breville Grind Control coffee maker to make coffee up to 24 hours in advance.

The Breville Grind control comes with a reusable gold tone filter. Still, if you’d prefer a cleaner extraction, use flat bottomed 8-12 cup paper filters.

Due to ongoing supply chain issues, the Breville Grind Control coffee maker can sometimes be hard to find. With that said, keep checking on Amazon and the Breville Grind Control will eventually become available once more.

When I ordered mine it kept appearing and disappearing within a few hours of becoming available. So, when you see it, act fast!

Unfortunately, the Breville Grind Control coffee maker doesn’t come with a removable water reservoir.

Your coffee expert
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Arne Preuss

Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.

More about Arne Preuss

Hi! My name is Arne. Having spent years working as a barista I'm now on a mission to bring more good coffee to the people. To that end, my team and I provide you with a broad knowledge base on the subject of coffee.

More about Arne Preuss

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