Best Coffee Maker With Grinder (Grind and Brew) – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

On so many levels, Breville BES870XL is a dream-come-true. The price is what pulls you initially, but you’ll soon realize that the functionality outweighs the price.

To start off with, it’s semi-automated.

Meaning:

You can’t simply cross your arms and wait for it to fix your cup. Instead you need to get your hands busy, by heart the instruction manual, and get going.

If you haven’t owned a coffee maker with grinder before, then all the dials on the face of the machine may intimidate you a little. But be rest assured that it’s not what it seems, and you’d be able to get a hang of it right after a few uses.

The best part:

Semi automation also stands for ‘your cup is customizable.’ Everything from grind dosage to grind fineness, water temperature, and tamp pressure can be experimented and set up to your personal standards so that you can always, always have your definition of The Best Espresso.

Also:

Clocking in at 13.2 x 12.5 x 15.8 inches, and weighing about 23 pounds, this machine is bulkier than most. But that’s what makes it solid, durable and long-lasting compared to space-serving models.

However:

All the extra weight and stainless steel parts make it a tad loud. We wish the manufacturers could focus on noise insulation but then we need to be realistic from a low price point.

Cuisinart DGB-650BC is the junior version of DGB-900BC, boasting similar features yet at a tad smaller size. It combines the ease of grinding with a clear control panel, and easy-to-follow instructions that’ll leave no room for complaints.

Though advertised to brew 10 cups at time, it can go about brewing in smaller quantities between 1-4 cups as well. The good news is that even for smaller quantities, neither the strength nor the coffee quality will be compromised.

What’s more:

The 24-hour programmability ensures you wake up to the sweet aroma of a customized cup. For this purpose alone, you’ll be provided with a double-walled thermal carafe that can keep coffee warm for a couple of hours straight.

The construction quality of Cuisinart DGB-650BC Grind-and-Brew has earned many praises as well. It’s robust and surprisingly more rugged than its rivals.

Also:

We liked how it shuts off automatically and can be paused to sneak a cup without having to wait until it fixes coffee for the rest of the household.

However:

Similar to the other models in the Cuisinart Grind-and-Brew line, this one too, is a pain to clean. It has altogether 5 pieces that need constant cleaning for an uninterrupted brewing process. But keep in mind that some level of cleaning is expected in all types of coffee brewers with a built-in grinder.

Getting both a grinder and coffee-maker for less than 100 is a steal.

But:

Let’s be realistic. You can’t expect it to be a high-quality unit with stainless steel exterior. So make sure you expect it to have good-quality plastic on a few places and a lifespan of not more than a couple of years.

With that in mind:

Let’s sneak a quick peek at what Cuisinart DGB-550BK is all about.

The best:

It is capable of brewing a delightful cup right out of freshly ground beans. You can also use pre-ground coffee by simply turning off the grinding function.

Additionally:

It’s programmable. Meaning – you can set it up to brew coffee on its own without even lifting a finger! 12 cups can be brewed back-to back, but a cup for one or two is still possible through the 1-4 cup brew function.

The basic difference between this model and the previous models of Cuisinart is that it comes with a glass carafe instead of a thermal one. But the glass carafe has a hot plate. Though not energy-efficient, it’ll keep coffee hot for about 2 hours before the automatic shut-off system of the machine kicks in.

On a difficulty scale of 1 to 10, cleaning this machine can initially be rated 7 and higher once you get a hang of it. Just make sure you rinse specially the grinder clean after every use. This would help you avoid build-up that’ll clog and shorten the longevity of the machine.

Also:

The manufacturers advertise Cuisinart DGB-550BK to be used as an alarm. Yes - they can’t be more right because the grinding process is definitely going to wake you up! But thankfully, it lasts only for a few tolerable seconds.

Better still:

It comes equipped with multiple settings, including settings for concentration and amount of liquid. They help you customize your espresso until you reach just the perfect texture. The unique cappuccino system is patented as well, and rotates 180 degrees – accommodating milk containers of any size.

Unlike most other coffee machines, DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica is a delight to clean. Not only does it feature an automatic descaling indicator, but also easily-removable parts that make the entire process of daily-cleaning less painful.

If there’s one thing holding you back from hitting the ‘buy’ button, then it could only be the price. But let us tell you that this is definitely one of the top models to have ever hit the market, and the price is entirely justifiable. It’s well worth splurging a little on.

One of the major selling points of Capresso CoffeeTeam TS is that it does exactly what it promises to do – i.e. making great coffee. With multiple settings to adjust the flavor and strength of the brew, even the ones who enjoy dark-roast coffee can have a great fix.

After all, you paid for all those extra buttons, so put them to use.

The programmability of this machine is definitely a plus as well. It can be set up to brew you wake-up coffee, or off-work coffee that you might often feel too lazy to brew.

What’s more:

Capresso CoffeeTeam TS is built with high-grade materials that it may even seem bullet-proof. So longevity isn’t going to be an issue.

However:

When this unit sets to work, you’ll have to get ready to sacrifice your sleep for a good cup of joe. You guessed it right – it’s loud. And the process lasts for a few seconds longer than an average grinder. But be rest assured that the grinder does a job well done, with 5 delightful fineness settings. So the noise is a justifiable trade-off.

Plus:

We’ve heard another minor gripe coming from the bean basket as it is considered to have a low capacity – needing frequent refills. However, it’s not a deal breaker for loners and couples who don’t brew an entire carafe at a time.

Breville BDC650BSS comes from one of the well-established and reliable brands in the industry. However, what makes this model with a built-in Burr grinder stand out from similar models is its customizability.

For this reason alone:

It comes with industry’s largest 8-strength settings – catering a wide range of customer needs and brewing their own definition of ‘The Perfect Cup.”

The grinder, on the other hand, has 6 different fineness settings and is programmable. This enables you to brew up to 12 cups at a time – without even lifting a finger!

What’s more:

The drip tray is removable, making room to accommodate travel mugs of varying sizes. This includes mugs even as tall as 7.5 inches.

It accepts pre-ground coffee as well, which means you can use flavored coffee beans from your favorite brand. All you need is to select the ‘Pre-Ground’ mode and bypass the grinder – You’d be good to go.

However:

Using flavored coffee will accumulate more oils, which can clog up the system and shorten the lifespan of this machine. So make sure you stick to a frequent and thorough cleaning schedule.

Speaking of cleaning, it’s as straightforward as it gets and you’ll eventually fall into step with it. Daily cleaning of the filter is highly essential because it can clog up and weaken your coffee.