Buying guide for best coffee makers with grinders
Want to make coffee at home that tastes as good as your barista makes it? For the best results, you need fresh beans. But instead of cluttering your kitchen counter with a coffee machine and separate coffee grinder, you can save valuable space by buying a coffee maker with a grinder.
Sometimes known as a grind-and-brew, these handy automated coffee machines have a bean grinder built in. Not only does it allow you to maximize space in your kitchen, but the machine is also able to grind the beans right before you brew your coffee for the freshest, best-tasting coffee possible. Many machines also grind the beans automatically before brewing, so the coffee-making process is as easy as can be.
But before you buy, you’ll need to decide what grinder type and settings you prefer, what type of coffee maker you need, and what other features will best suit your coffee-making habits. Luckily, our shopping guide can help you select the best coffee maker with a grinder for your home. We’ve even included our top product recommendations to simplify the shopping process.
Key considerations
Blade vs. burr grinder
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Blade grinder: Most affordable coffee makers with grinders feature a blade grinder, which has several blades that spin to chop and grind the coffee beans. While it is a budget-friendly option for a simple cup of coffee, a model with a blade grinder usually doesn’t produce grounds that are all the same size. The consistency of the grounds plays a role in how your finished coffee tastes, so if you’re a coffee aficionado, a blade grinder may not be for you.
- Burr grinder: Higher-end coffee makers with grinders usually feature a burr grinder, which has two abrasive grinding surfaces called burrs. The beans are caught between the burrs and ground down to a uniform size and consistency. A burr grinder also allows you to grind your beans finely, which usually means better-tasting coffee.
Grind settings
When you’re deciding on a coffee maker with a built-in grinder, it’s also important to pay attention to the grind settings that it offers. Some grinders only have a single setting, so you always have to grind your beans to the same consistency. However, higher-end machines often have a grinder with multiple grind settings, which allows you to choose from different options, like extra-fine, fine, medium, medium-coarse, and coarse. Depending on your coffee preferences, you may need a machine that allows you to choose precise grind settings.
Types
Most coffee makers with grinders feature an automatic drip coffee machine, which is the most common type of coffee maker. The machine heats the water to boiling and then drips it over the ground beans for brewing. The finished coffee is collected in a carafe or pot so you can make enough coffee for a group.
Higher-end coffee machines with grinders are single-serve espresso machines. There is no carafe, because the coffee makes one or two servings of coffee or espresso at a time. The machine heats the water to just shy of boiling and forces it through finely ground coffee with significant force, which produces thicker, stronger coffee. If you are extremely particular about the taste of your coffee — or just prefer espresso and espresso-based drinks — you’ll likely prefer this style.
Features
Capacity
If you opt for a coffee maker with a grinder that features a single-serve coffee machine, it can usually only make one to two cups at a time. For a person who lives alone or is the only one in the house who drinks coffee, a coffee machine with this capacity can work just fine.
However, if multiple people in your home drink coffee or you entertain regularly, you’ll prefer an auto drip coffee machine, because it can produce multiple servings at a time. Some models have pots or carafes that hold four cups at a time, while others can brew as many as a dozen cups at a time.
Strength settings
Many coffee machines with grinders have settings that allow you to select how strong you want your coffee to be. You can typically choose from mild, medium, and strong settings, so your coffee is always exactly the way you want it.
Timer
If you want a pot of hot coffee waiting for you in the morning, a timer is handy. This allows you to set a time for the machine to turn on, so when you wake up, the machine has already started and you don’t have to wait for your first cup of the day.
Auto-shutoff
When you’re running around trying to get out of the house in the morning, it’s easy to forget to shut off your coffee maker. Choosing a model with auto-shutoff gives you important peace of mind. If it hasn't been touched in a while, the machine automatically shuts itself off. That way, you’ll never get to work and spend all day worrying whether you forgot to turn off the coffee maker.
Filter
If you fill your coffee machine with water from your tap, there’s a good chance that there are impurities in it that might affect the taste of your coffee. Choose a coffee maker with a grinder that has a water filter to remove any contaminants before your coffee is brewed.
Thermal carafe
Many automatic drip coffee makers with a grinder feature a glass carafe, so you can see how much coffee is in the pot at all times and know when it’s time to brew more. A glass carafe is usually dishwasher-safe, so it’s easy to clean, too. However, the drawback to glass carafes is that they’re open on top and typically can’t keep your coffee hot for longer than about 20 minutes after brewing.
However, some auto-drip grind-and-brew coffee machines feature a thermal carafe, which is made of vacuum-sealed stainless steel. You’re not able to see how much coffee is in the carafe, but the sealed design allows your coffee to stay hot for as long as an hour. Thermal carafes are not dishwasher-safe, though, so you’ll need to hand-wash the carafe.
Coffee maker with grinder prices
Inexpensive: The most affordable coffee makers with grinders feature an automatic drip coffee machine and a blade grinder. They usually have a glass carafe and may have some special features like a timer and auto-shutoff. Most models cost between $72 to $154.
Mid-range: At the next price level are coffee makers with grinders that also feature an automatic drip coffee machine, but they usually have a burr grinder. They may have a thermal carafe and some special features, like a timer, auto-shutoff, and strength settings. Most models range from $154 to $310.
Expensive: The most expensive coffee makers with grinders are single-serve espresso-style machines with a burr grinder. They typically offer a range of special features, including a timer, auto-shutoff, and strength settings. Most models cost between $310 and $655.
Tips
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For the best-tasting coffee, buy your beans as close to when they were roasted as possible. If you use freshly roasted beans in your coffee maker with a grinder, you’ll notice a significant difference in the flavor and aroma.
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If you find that your coffee is too bitter, the grind setting on your coffee maker’s grinder may be set too fine. If your coffee isn’t flavorful enough, you may have the grinder set to too coarse a grind setting.
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If your coffee maker with a grinder doesn’t feature a water filter, use filtered or bottled water in your machine to improve the flavor of your coffee.
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To guarantee that your coffee is as flavorful as possible, drink it within an hour of brewing it.
FAQ
Q. Is buying a coffee maker with a burr grinder worth the added cost over a model with a blade grinder?
A. It really depends on how discerning of a coffee drinker you are. Because it produces a more even, consistent grind, a burr grinder typically produces better-tasting coffee. It also doesn’t generate any heat, so you don’t have to worry about the beans possibly having a burnt flavor. Due to the coarse, uneven grind with a blade grinder, you may wind up with grounds in your coffee cup if you opt for a model with that type of grinder.
Q. What type of coffee maker with a built-in grinder is best for a small kitchen?
A. If counter space is limited in your kitchen, you’re better off with a model that features an automatic drip coffee machine. It will usually have a smaller footprint than a single-serve espresso-style machine, so you can likely fit it on the counter in a small kitchen.
Q. Do coffee makers with grinders usually include a warranty?
A. Coffee makers with a built-in grinder typically offer some type of warranty protection like any coffee machine. Some models only provide a year of warranty coverage, while others include up to three or four years. Read the product specifications carefully to be sure you understand how long the coffee maker you’re buying is covered for.
