A coffee maker with a grinder is a great idea – you’ll save space and simplify your morning routine. More so than other categories of coffee machines, grind & brew models cover a wide range. They offer a broad selection of features, and not all of their capabilities are the same. It’s important to know whether the one you’re buying will be able to calibrate to different roasts, brew in different ways, or handle the amount of beans you want.

Buyers’ Guide

All these machines offer the simple convenience of combining two parts of your morning coffee routine. Why fuss around with two machines when a combination machine like these can ensure fresh-ground coffee in the morning and a great strong pot of brewed coffee?

There are some important considerations. For example, what type of carafe are you looking for, what settings would you like to be able to adjust, and how easy will your machine’s upkeep be?

Heating

Some machines rely on a hot plate underneath a glass carafe, while others boast double-walled thermal options. This is important because the carafe is one feature you’ll interact with every single day. Some customers may be looking for an elegant solution that stays warm when brought out to the breakfast table. In that case, a thermal model is a great bet. If you’re simply looking for a machine that keeps coffee hot throughout the day, it may be worth it to only look at models with hot plates.

Features

Think about what you’re hoping to tinker with. These machines all focus on brewing great coffee, but they each offer options to customize particular features. Models like the KRUPS 10-Cup set the standard with options to adjust brew settings and grind size. Most other models offer one or both of these features. But ones such as the Breville BDC650BSS go far beyond the standard with features like calibration. This determines the precise density of differing roasts. Stand-out features like this are important to consider. Breville 800ESXL is an amazing device to save your money and time while making it easier to have a cup of coffee anytime you want.

Lifespan

All these models are only good as long as they keep working. Of course, coffee makers are expected to see some wear and tear – they may be the only kitchen gadgets used every single day – but they should last for a while. And it’s definitely worth considering the warranty offered by each model. For example, the Cuisinart 12-Cup is our “best for the money” pick – and this is, in part, because of its impressive three-year warranty. The Capresso 465 did not impress us too much, and part of the consideration was its extended warranty, which costs additional money.

Conclusion

The KRUPS 10-Cup stands out as our top grind & brew recommendation, primarily because of its great design and variety of features. The KRUPS can almost do it all, and everything comes together in a pleasing combination. The Cuisinart 12-Cup Grind & Brew model is our pick as best bet when considering the money. Many users have reported some small issues with the construction, but the machine still packs in a whole range of impressive capabilities.