The Best Coffee Makers with Grinders Built in
When it comes to your coffee, fresh is undeniably best. Swapping pre-ground for grinding your own is the quickest way to ramp up the flavour in your cup, but grinders can be expensive, not to mention bulky. If you want to save space, save cash, or just make life more convenient, a coffee machine with a built-in grinder could be what you’re looking for.
With so many moving parts, there’s a lot to think about when buying an all-in-one machine. We’ve put together a guide to make shopping a little easier and give you some of our top picks.
Best Coffee Machines With Grinder – 5 Top Picks and reviews
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
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DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica |
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see on amazon
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Russell Hobbs Chester Grind And Brew Coffee Machine |
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see on amazon
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Cuisinart Grind & Brew |
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see on amazon
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Melitta AromaFresh Grind and Brew |
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see on amazon
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Jura D6 |
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see on amazon
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But let’s not stop here, that’d be too easy! We’ve tested another bunch of grind & brew machines with varying features and different price points so you know how to get the best bang for your buck. The following 5 machines, in our opinion, are worthy…
1. DeLonghi ESAM3300 Magnifica – Best Overall
Specifications
Type of machine: Espresso
- Dimensions: 27.9 x 38.9 x 36.6 cm
- Water reservoir: 1.7 litres
- Grinder type: Stainless steel conical burrs
- Grinder settings: 13
With all the options this super automatic espresso machine/coffee maker comes with, I am surprised it doesn’t have an even longer name. At the push of a button, you can have an espresso, a latte, a cappuccino or a cup of black coffee in only a minute.
As if all those options weren’t enough, this DeLonghi super automatic espresso machine also offers a hotplate on top of the machine, just to preheat your cup (because pouring coffee into anything but a warm cup is just too low-class). This machine is all about luxury, and so it is the second most expensive item on this list. However, this machine is only capable of producing one cup at a time, and cannot fill an entire carafe.
It can make coffee in three different sizes – ristretto, espresso, and American coffee size. (And it does this with an adjustable pouring spout, so no need to fiddle with the drip tray as in some espresso machines.) It also produces any of these coffees at five different strengths, from extra mild through extra strong.
Perhaps most critically, the machine works quickly and is able to yield consistent quality from cup to cup. If you are looking for something with all the bells and whistles, and don’t mind shelling out an even thousand, then this might the machine for you. Read our full Delonghi Magnifica review here.
2. Russell Hobbs Chester Grind and Brew Coffee Machine – Budget Pick
Specifications
Type of machine: Drip
- Dimensions: 38.6 x 35 x 27.8 cm
- Water reservoir: 1.5 litres
- Grinder type: Blade
- Grinder settings: 1
Russell Hobbs has been a trusted brand for affordable kitchen appliances since the 1950s, making them the Home Grounds pick for the best coffee maker with grinder on a budget.
As a filter coffee maker, it has many of the features you’d expect to see on a good machine. When brewing you can choose the number of cups from 2-12, as well as three strength settings. It’s full programmable up to 24 hours in advance, which is a particularly useful feature for an all-in-one coffee machine, as it will grind just before brewing so you can wake up to ultra-fresh coffee. Once the brew cycle has finished, the keep warm function will stay on for 40 minutes, but this can also be adjusted to your needs.
So where does the budget aspect come in? It’s in the grinder itself. The Russel Hobbs Chester features a blade grinder that’s situated inside the filter basket. Blade grinders aren’t suitable for espresso brewing as they can’t be adjusted and don’t provide the consistency needed, but you’ll find filter machines are much more forgiving. This machine also allows you to switch off the grinder function if you want to use preground coffee from time to time.
3. Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew – Best Programmable
Specifications
Type of machine: Drip
- Dimensions: 33.3 x 25.4 x 46 cm
- Water reservoir: 1.6 litres
- Grinder type: Stainless steel flat burr
- Grinder settings: 1
It’s no surprise that Cuisinart has a popular entry in this segment. And the Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew is a satisfying all-in-one coffee maker, with just a couple of quirks.
The Cuisinart DGB-900BC Grind & Brew comes with a stainless steel thermal carafe, which not only keeps your coffee hot for several hours, it also protects your coffee against oxidation better than a glass carafe on a hot plate. Here’s where you can see our list of the best coffee makers with thermal carafe. However, Grind & Brew thermal carafe is not dishwasher-safe and requires manual cleaning.
The cleaning issue crops up again with the chute between the bean hopper and the filter basket. A tiny, round brush helps get the coffee grinds out of the chute, and as is often the case it’s a bigger problem with oily, dark-roast coffee beans. If you don’t like to use paper filters, the DGB-900C has a reusable goldtone filter, which lets those oils into your coffee for a fuller flavour. Speaking of coffee filters, here’s where we listed our picks.
The charcoal water filter included in this coffee maker helps keep your coffee tasting the best; the water tank holds 1.6 litres, which the manufacturer claims works out to 12 cups (for everyone who uses 130-ml cups). And the 24-hour programmability means you can always wake up to freshly ground coffee. The bean hopper holds half a pound of whole beans, and Cuisinart suggests making sure it’s always at least half full.
4. Melitta AromaFresh Grind and Brew – Best Value for Money
Specifications
Type of machine: Drip
- Dimensions: 30.2 x 31.2 x 51.5 cm
- Water reservoir: 1.5 litres
- Grinder type: Stainless steel conical burr
- Grinder settings: 3
The Melitta AromaFresh isn’t quite as cheap as the Russel Hobbs options above, but it does have a few extra features that make it great value for money. The most important of these is the grinder, which is a stainless steel conical burr grinder. This means that not only do you get a more consistent grind, but it can also be adjusted to one of three fineness settings.
The bean hopper itself has a generous 180g, though for the sake of freshness we wouldn’t recommend storing your beans there. What is useful is the fact that the hopper and the upper grind head are removable, making cleaning a whole lot easier.
The brew cycle is programmable for those who don’t link to lift a finger first thing in the morning. This includes the choice of three different brew strengths and the option of using whole beans or pre-ground coffee.
To make caring for your machine easier, the Melitta AromaFresh features 3-in-1 calc protection. This includes the option to program your water hardness level, a descaling function, and a limescale display. If that’s not enough, your purchase is backed by a three-year warranty.
5. Jura D6 – Strongest Coffee
Specifications
Type of machine: Espresso
- Dimensions: 27.9 x 34.5 x 41.4 cm
- Water reservoir: 1.9 litres
- Grinder type: Stainless steel conical
- Grinder settings: 12
Swiss brand Jura is the brand to go to if you’re considering an all-in-one espresso machine with a grinder. Jura makes exclusively bean-to-cup espresso machines with a reputation for excellent quality, and sleek good looks to match.
Swiss engineering doesn’t come cheap, but the D6 is one of the brand’s more affordable, with a range of high-tech features to get you a delicious cup of coffee.
Inside you’ll find Jura’s Aroma G2 grinder, stainless steel conical burrs with 12 grind settings. For your coffee, it uses Intelligent Pre-Brew Aroma System (IPBAS) for the preinfusion step and a Pulse Extraction Process (PEP) for a richer crema on your espresso.
The Jura’s one-touch coffee choices include espresso, cappuccino, and regular coffee, plus the option for milk foam or hot water only. For all of the drinks, you can choose from four strength settings, two temperature settings, and the volume.
The Jura D6 is ideal for anyone who likes their espresso strong and rich. With the highest strength setting, you’ll get 16 g of beans per serve – more than competitors in this class.
What to Look for in a Coffee Maker with Grinder
Sure, we have our favourite coffee makers, but a bean-to-cup machine would make a better choice for a novice home barista or for someone who wants his coffee fast and easy. Convenience is the biggest reason for opting for a coffee machine with built-in grinder. Knowing that freshly ground beans make better coffee and wanting to do the work are two very different things. With these coffee makers, you can go from bean to cup at the touch of a button.
An all-in-one machine can be a suitable choice for anyone with a small kitchen and doesn’t have the space to have both a coffee machine and stand-alone grinder on the counter. Likewise, if this is your first home coffee setup, you might be looking to save money on equipment.
Of course, if you’ve already invested in a burr grinder it won’t make sense to buy a coffee maker that grinds for you – but if you haven’t, it sure is tempting to bundle the two.
Espresso or Drip
Before you even look at the grinder, the biggest difference in machines will be whether they make espresso coffee or drip coffee. You probably already know which kind of coffee you prefer, but it’s worth pointing out that your choice here will affect some of the features of your coffee maker.
Espresso machines are going to require a bigger investment, but you could argue that you’re going to get a better cup of coffee out of them. Bean-to-cup machines will also heat and froth your milk, allowing you to get cappuccinos or lattes at the touch of a button. Espresso machines usually have more options for small customizations.
Drip coffee makers are ideal for serving a crowd or sipping your way through a full carafe – they’ll even keep your coffee warm for you. However you won’t find any milk attachments here, so they’re not your best choice for cafe-style drinks.
The Grinder
The one downside to buying a coffee machine with grinder is that you can’t swap out either part for a better model. That’s why making sure your machine has a quality grinder is essential.
The drip method of brewing is much more forgiving of grind size, so in theory, you can get away with a cheaper grinder. You’ll find some lower-priced drip machines with a blade grinder, but be aware you’ll have no way of adjusting the fineness of your beans.
Espresso machines need a much more consistent grind, and as such will always include a burr grinder. You’ll see machines with either ceramic or steel burr grinders. Ceramic is considered better for commercial grinders, but in home grinders, there is very little difference.
Customisable Features
We all have our preferences when it comes to coffee, so the option to customise your drink a little is a welcome one, but there’s more to it than that. Different beans and roasts need different treatment, so to truly get the most out of your coffee, you need a machine that can adapt to your choices, and not the other way round.
- Grinder settings – for an all-in-one machine, this is a key feature you should be looking for. And in the case of an espresso machine, it’s essential. You’re not going to find the wide range of settings that you would on a standalone grinder, but the ability to adjust for different beans will go a long way to making a better coffee.
- Brew settings – at the bare minimum, you want to look for a machine that offers options for brew strength. This is either achieved by adjusting the amount of coffee used or extraction time depending on the machine. Brew temperature is another option that it’s nice to have for making subtle tweaks to your coffee. For espresso machines, you may be able to adjust brew size, which changes the volume of water for the machine’s preset drinks.
- Auto-off – an auto shut-off is a common feature on many electrical appliances. Designed to switch the machine off after a certain time of inactivity, it saves you electricity and provides an extra safety measure. With drip machines, this also determines how long the coffee will be kept warm on the hotplate.
- Programmable start – to be honest, this could be one of the best reasons to buy a drip coffee maker with grinder over an espresso machine. With a programmable start, you can set the machine to switch on at your desired time up to 24 hours in advance. Set it for 10 minutes before you get up and you’ll have a fresh pot of coffee to greet you first thing in the morning.
The Verdict
The best coffee machine with grinder for you will largely depend on whether you want drip or espresso. Looking at features and performance across both categories, our top pick is the Delonghi Magnifica. We love the versatility in size, strength and drink choices, and the fact it’s so easy to clean.
It won’t fill a carafe, but it can make two coffees at once, or turn out multiple coffees back-to-back with minimal downtime.
FAQs
Flat burr grinder can be better than a conical grinder for commercial settings, but for home use, the difference is minimal. Flat burr grinders offer greater consistency, but can be noisier, create more heat, and are more expensive. Conical burr grinders are what you will find in most machines designed for home use. If you have a quality conical burr grinder, it will be consistent enough for home brewing.
No, there isn’t a Keurig machine with a grinder, as they are predominantly designed to be used with K-Cups. There are some Keurig machines that use both K-Cups and ground coffee, but there is no grinder option – you’ll need to have a separate grinder or use pre-ground coffee.
You should descale your drip coffee maker once a month if you use it daily. However, you should also do some daily cleaning to ensure you get the best tasting coffee out of your machine. After each use, you should rinse the carafe, and empty and rinse the filter basket. At the end of each day, wipe down the area around the filter basket to prevent any buildup of bacteria.
References
- The E61 Group Head: An Oldie but a Goodie. (2017, September 18). Retrieved June 14, 2019, from https://fivesenses.com.au/blogs/news/the-e61-group-head-an-oldie-but-a-goodie/
- Oliver Strand. (December 12, 2012). Better Coffee Depends on Good Grinding. Retrieved June 10, 2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/dining/better-coffee-depends-on-good-grinding.html
