Although purchasing pre-ground coffee is convenient, it doesn’t produce the same fresh flavor that freshly ground coffee has.
Beans that have been freshly ground have a more complete, full-bodied in contrast to pre-ground blends, which just can’t be as fresh. By grinding right before you brew, you can capture all of the aromas before they have a chance to dissipate- some of which dissipate within a matter of minutes. The outcome of grinding right before brewing? A supremely superior flavor.
A grind and brew coffee maker provides you with coffee freshly ground in each cup. Best of all, it requires no work on your end – the machine will do the entire process for you.
Selecting a Drip Coffee Machine with a Grinder
Grind and Brew coffee machines come with either a burr or blade grinding mechanism.
Blade grinders are the cheaper option of the two. You’ll save money by buying one, but we’d advise against it if possible, as your grind size won’t be nearly as consistent.
Burr grinders are the more expensive- and slower operating- option of the two, however, your grind will end up much more uniform. A proper grind ensures proper extraction- and proper extraction is the most important consideration when trying to brew a quality cup of coffee.
The type of carafe can also affect the quality of the coffee. Glass carafes typically sit on a hot plate, cooking the flavor right out of the cup. If possible, opt for a thermal carafe without a hot plate in order to retain the warmth of your coffee without compromising its flavor.
You’ll also want a machine that is relatively easy to clean. Some machines offer self-rinsing functionality which can be convenient, but also hit-or-miss. It’s most important to prioritize a machine with a construction that provides for easy access to all of the parts you need to wipe down.
With these suggestions in mind, we took a look at 7 very popular grind and brew drip coffee makers available for purchase and ranked them from worst-to-best. If you are in search of a brew and grind coffee maker capable of providing a quality grind and brew without paying an arm and a leg, you should definitely consider these machines.
So, without further ado, here is our review of 7 popular grind and brew drip coffee makers out there:
Seven Grind and Brew Drip Coffee Makers Reviewed
7. Gourmia GCM4500 Coffee Maker – $100
Does the thought of awakening to the scent of coffee freshly brewed sound appealing? The Gourmia GCM4500 was developed to do just that- with a focus on simplicity.
And by “simplicity,” we mean that it doesn’t include nearly as many brewing options as other devices on this list. The 5-button interface with LCD display is very easy to navigate, but the functionality is definitely limited. You can program coffee brewing in advance, but not vary the brew strength like other more complete systems.
Looks-wise, this coffee machine and grinder happens to be very attractive, and has a modern appeal to it. It has a black and stainless steel façade, making it blend into most decor styles and kitchen designs seamlessly. It’s also a good fit for those who are short on counter space, as it measures a compact 11” x 7” x 12”.
The grinder, perched on the top of the machine, is only capable of holding about 2 ounces of beans- basically the amount necessary for brewing one pot of coffee. It is also a blade grinder, and doesn’t produce a quality grind.
The system utilizes a glass carafe and hot plate, so be sure to drink your coffee quick; the hotplate/glass carafe can leave your coffee burnt if you leave it too long.
We’d suggest opting for other options on our list. Particularly at a $100 price point, the Gourmia’s deficiencies are impossible to overlook.
6. Melitta MEMB1B Mill and Brew 10-Cup Coffee Maker – $70-$80
The Melitta MEMB1B Mill and Brew is designed to provide grind and brew with a no-frills design that doesn’t come with a learning curve.
The programmability is limited to a clock timer that, in addition to displaying the time, includes an option to set the brew and grind feature automatically one day in advance. The glass carafe, which is quite durable, has a maximum capacity of 10 cups, and the hot plate features a 60-minute automatic shut off feature for extra safety, curbing potential overheating.
The built-in grinder comes with seven settings, allowing you to achieve the more common grinds. The grinding choices at your disposal range from fine to coarse, which does allow for some modification of brew strength. Truth be told, most of these aren’t really that useful – you’ll want to stick to a medium grind for best drip-extraction. Unfortunately, the grinder is a blade grinder that yields a pretty inconsistent grind.
The stainless steel permanent filter basket is simple to clean and remove. You can even brew single cups in the middle of a brew. It also features “drip-stoppage”- their term for “pause and serve”- allowing you to grab your first cup before brewing is complete.
Overall, the Melitta MEMB1B, while a low-budget option, is somewhat hard to recommend given its drawbacks.
5. Black & Decker CM5000B Mill and Brew Coffee Maker – $60
Those with hectic schedules who want coffee brewed directly from beans that are freshly ground will enjoy the pre-programming functionality featured in the Black & Decker CM5000B. The 24-hour programmable feature lets you pre-set automatic brew and grind for your mornings.
It also allows for easily toggling the grinder on or off, making it a versatile machine for switching frequently between whole bean and pre-ground coffee. But that’s not all – the Black & Decker CM5000B allows you to adjust the coffee strength and grind size to your preferences, making it a one-size-fits-all solution. Unfortunately, like with the Melitta, the integrated grinder is a blade grinder that yields a pretty inconsistent grind.
A transparent viewing window gives you the ability to see the amount of water inside the machine and the carafe – which is made of glass – is capable of holding as many as 12 cups. The machine also includes a permanent filter which can be substituted for paper if you prefer. It’s feature that they call “sneak-a-cup” is equivalent to “pause-and-serve”- allowing you to grab your first cup before brewing is complete.
The Black & Decker CM5000B is also easy to clean, with every part being detachable.
Overall, this system is inexpensive and feature-rich, making it a reasonable option for those on a budget.
4. KRUPS Grind and Brew Auto-Start Maker – $130-$170
The KRUPS Grind and Brew seeks to marry a minimalist design with functionality- all at a fairly reasonable price point.
This user-friendly coffee maker has a transparent LCD display and intuitive controls. You’ll have the ability to personalize a majority of settings in order to brew your drink to your preferences, including changing the brew strength. Its sleek profile makes it aesthetically-pleasing in just about every kitchen.
A real selling point for the KRUPS is the burr grinder – which provides a dramatic increase in grinding consistency when compared to the blade grinders of the Melitta discussed earlier and the Black & Decker next up on our list. There aren’t many grind and brew machines out there with an included burr grinder in the $150 price range. This burr grinder produces a quality grind that ensures proper extraction. The five different grind settings are sufficient to produce any reasonable variation of drip coffee you might be interested in brewing.
The KRUPS includes pause-and-serve functionality, allowing you to grab a cup before brewing is complete as well as a GoldTone permanent filter, but you can swap it for a paper filter if you prefer.
A downside to the KRUPS is the glass carafe and hotplate. However, at its price point, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t be able to get all of the features of more expensive systems. Additionally, some online reviewers have complained about reliability issues.
Overall, the KRUPS is definitely an option to consider if you are on a budget and still want to ensure a proper grind.
3. Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind and Brew – $400
The Cuisinart Grind and Brew checks pretty much all of the boxes, but at a hefty price tag.
The machine’s stainless steel construction has an elegant look while being ultra durable. The 24-hour programmable features include automatic shut-off, automatic brew and the ability to switch off the embedded burr grinder whenever you opt to use coffee that comes pre-ground. This burr grinder is a real positive for the machine- allowing for an ultra consistent grind that blade grinders can’t provide.
Other features include an embedded burr grinder, which is automatic. You can fine-tune the grinder to regulate the volume, grind size, and brew-strength intensity. The bean hopper can hold up to 8 ounces of beans at a time.
The machine’s thermal carafe also does a great job at retaining coffee heat. No hotplate needed- and your coffee will keep its fresh taste for hours. It has double thermal wall insulation with a storage capacity of 12 cups.
The permanent water filter, made of charcoal, improves brewing water quality by removing the impurities that tap water typically contains.
As we noted previously, the Cuisinart DGB-900BC checks pretty much all of the boxes. But, at its typical price of $400, it isn’t one we can easily recommend given a couple of the alternatives on this list that offer similar- or better- performance at a more reasonable price point.
2. Capresso 465 CoffeeTeam TS – $200
Unfortunately, many automatic drip coffee machines don’t make great tasting coffee when compared to their manual brewing counterparts. While the Capresso still won’t measure up to pour over coffee or using an Aeropress, it has a design focus geared towards a better brew.
This machine has everything you need to make a great cup of coffee. The integrated burr grinder delivers a consistent grind. Like with the Black & Decker, it can be used with or without the grinder. The five grinder settings vary from fine to coarse. It’s bean container has a capacity of 6 ounces, allowing for a number of brews before refilling. Charcoal water filters are included to optimize filtration, providing an upgrade in brewing water quality.
The fully digital programmable display panel comes with a timer and clock for extra functionality and convenience. The Capresso 465 can make as many as 10 cups in one brew, so you’ll have the flexibility to handle brewing for larger groups. With the touch of a button, you can set it to brew 4, 6, 8, or 10 cups at an intensity of mild, regular, or strong. It also features pause-and-serve functionality, allowing you to grab a cup before brewing is complete.
The thermal carafe’s exterior is made from stainless steel while an internal thermal casing helps to maintain the freshly brewed coffee’s flavor. It is also capable of retaining heat for multiple hours, while minimizing the scorching impact from the use of a glass carafe and hot plate.
The Capresso 465 also offers a step-up in styling versus some other options on the list, with neutral black and silver colors that allow for a seamless blending-in with most office or kitchen decorating schemes.
A minor drawback is that the process of grinding with the Capresso 465 does take a while and is somewhat loud. However, it does produce a uniform-size grind and a fairly high quality brew.
Overall, the Capresso 465 checks almost every important box for a grind and brew system.
1. Breville BDC650BSS Grind Control – $300
Many call the Breville Grind Control the best brew and grind coffee maker out there today. We tend to agree. If you are trying to brew a well-balanced pot or cup of coffee, this machine is capable of delivering it for you without any compromises.
The Breville Grind Control grind is fitted with modifiable burrs made of stainless steel. These burr adjustments are even small enough to enable you to adjust grind for different roasts or origins. For a drip coffee machine, these are the adjustments that matter as opposed to being able to grind coarsely or ultra-fine. This grinder can also be disabled if you want to use pre-ground coffee.
The Breville Grind Control also has a wide variety of programmability. You can pick between 8 individual strength settings. Doing so will modify the “coffee to water” ratio with strong settings resulting in increased usage of coffee without changing the quantity of water. Further, the machine supports brewing either an entire Carafe or a Single Cup at a time. The carafe setting allows for brewing anywhere between 2 and 12 cups into the thermal, stainless steel carafe.
The automatic start feature lets you program a specific time for the machine to turn on and begin its grind and brew, allowing you to smell the aroma of freshly ground, freshly brewed coffee in the morning.
The Breville Grind Control is essentially an updated model of the Breville YouBrew. Breville appears to have rectified all of the faults of the YouBrew and improved functionality by relocating the heater to improve water temperature consistency. The result: well-balanced and superior brewing.
Overall, the Breville Grind Control earns our top spot in our list of Grind and Brews for its high quality grinding, extensive programmability, and overall feature completeness.
