We Tested More Than 20 Coffee Makers With Grinders to Find the Best Options

How We Tested Coffee Makers With Grinders

We purchased 24 top-rated coffee makers with grinders and tested them side by side in our Lab. This included 10 espresso machines and 14 drip coffee makers. From there, we whittled down the best options to present the list above, filled with products you can trust to brew fresh, consistent coffee.

We Observed

• How well the grinder worked: We paid close attention to the built-in grinders for each machine. Did they lead to noticeably fresher coffee? Were they loud and/or messy? We also noted whether the grinders used blades or conical burrs.
• What features and settings the brewers had: We tested every feature and setting that a machine was equipped with. That included different grind settings, "strong brew" settings, and drink options like espresso shots or lattes, if available. We were more likely to recommend a machine that had a variety of useful features rather than one with limited features.
• The dimensions of each machine: We measured and weighed every coffee maker that we tested. We also observed small design details that affected an item's usability, like the size of the water tank, where the filter basket was placed, and more.

We Rated

• Brew Quality: We taste-tested multiple cups of coffee using at least two kinds of coffee beans, then scored the overall brew quality on a one-to-five scale. While taste is subjective, we tried to create a standardized rating system by focusing on key details like body, aroma, clarity, and strength.
• Ease of Use: After putting a coffee maker through its paces, we assessed its ease of use. Was it intuitive right out of the box, or did it require a lot of instruction-manual reading? Did the brewer need any hands-on effort, or could you touch a button and brew?
• Value: We compared the price of every coffee maker to its performance. Some machines exceeded their low price tags, making them excellent value purchases. Others were over-priced in light of the coffee that they brewed. Drip coffee makers and espresso machines were graded on different scales, not necessarily in comparison to one another.

About Our Testers

• Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear.
• Cheyenne Elwell is a freelance writer specializing in food and coffee. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Insider, MSN, and her own coffee blog BakedBrewedBeautiful.com. She tested the Breville Barista Express and the Breville Grind Control, both of which were later tested in our Lab.
• Jason Horn has been a commerce writer for The Spruce Eats since 2022, covering and testing pretty much anything and everything you can eat or drink, or use to make food and drinks. He reviewed the Breville Barista Express, which prompted us to test the espresso maker again in our Lab.

Other Options We Tested

• Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Grinder: This coffee maker is a solid, well-rounded option, but it doesn't stand out enough to include on the list. It's easy to use, and we enjoyed the coffee it brews; however, there are alternatives at a similar or even cheaper price that offer the same performance.
• Chefman Grind and Brew Coffee Maker: While the affordable price tag and compact design are appealing, this little brewer didn't perform well enough in our testing process to recommend it. It's hard to clean, and the blade grinder doesn't noticeably improve the flavor of the coffee.
• Krups Grind and Brew KM785: We were disappointed by the taste of the coffee from this machine. On top of weak and watery coffee, it took almost 10 minutes to brew a full pot, which was one of the longest intervals we came across in the testing process.

What to Look for in a Coffee Maker with Grinder

Burr vs. Blade

Coffee grinders will use either burrs or blades. Burrs are the far-superior option, as they offer a more even and consistent grind; they also don't produce as much heat, so the coffee's taste isn't altered when grinding. However, burr grinders are significantly more expensive. The decision may come down to your budget. Luckily, both burrs and blades make each pot of coffee a little fresher.

Coffee Style

There are usually two kinds of coffee makers with built-in grinders: espresso machines or drip coffee makers. Sometimes you can find a machine that brews both. Either way, this is an important consideration when picking out your brewing device. Do you prefer a timeless cup of joe? Or a quick shot of espresso, plus the option for a latte?

Features

Coffee makers with grinders can also come equipped with a variety of other features. Some have all kinds of bells and whistles, from automatic shut-offs to flavor strength and even temperature control. Other machines are simpler but still make delicious coffee. If you’re looking for convenience, be prepared to pay the price for advanced models.

Capacity

While larger-capacity coffee makers generally sound more appealing, a 14-cup carafe might not always be best for your coffee needs, especially if you only drink one or two cups a day. Consider the number of coffee drinkers in your home, as well as your own coffee intake. If you're primarily purchasing a drip machine for personal use, keep an eye out for items with 1- to 4-cup setting.

FAQs

Is it worth buying a coffee maker with a grinder?

Having access to a coffee grinder, whether it's a separate device or built into your coffee maker, will lead to fresher, tastier coffee than relying on pre-ground coffee all the time. So, as far as improving the quality of your coffee goes, a coffee maker with a grinder is certainly a worthwhile purchase. The downside is that they tend to be expensive, especially if they have a burr grinder. It doesn't mean all hope is lost if a coffee maker with a grinder is out of your budget, though. You can still brew good coffee with pre-ground beans, even if there's a gap in quality between it and whole bean coffee. You could also purchase a separate coffee grinder for an affordable price; this could be a worthwhile route for people who already have a coffee maker they like and don't want to buy a whole new brewing device.

What is the difference between a blade grinder and a burr grinder?

Coffee grinders fall into one of two categories: blade or burr. Blade grinders rely on a spinning metal blade to chop up coffee beans, almost like a blender. They are less consistent than burr grinders and are subsequently much cheaper. Blades can also create a lot of heat when in use, which may alter the flavor of your coffee beans. Burr grinders, on the other hand, are known as the more reliable and higher-quality option. In turn, they are significantly more expensive. There are two kinds of burr grinders, wheel and conical, both of which essentially crush coffee beans to your desired grind size. Conical burrs are considered superior because they are a little smoother, slower, and quieter than wheel burrs. There are great options for both blade and burr grinders, but try going with the latter if your budget permits.

What grind size should I use for my coffee maker?

Every coffee maker has its own ideal grind size, ranging from fine to coarse. Machines that work best with fine-ground coffee include Turkish coffee makers, espresso machines, and moka pots. Moving to a medium grind, we have drip coffee makers, pour overs, and the AeroPress. Chemex owners will want to use a medium-coarse grind. Finally, popular devices that use coarsely ground coffee include French presses, percolators, and cold brew makers.

If you're unsure what grind size you're using, Rachel Langer, the Director of Coffee at Red Rock Roasters, says one little tip when eyeballing it is that medium-ground coffee is about the consistency of table salt, while coarse-ground coffee is similar to kosher salt.

When is the best time to grind coffee beans?

For best results, grind coffee beans as close to the brewing process as possible. Rachel Langer echoed this sentiment, telling us: "I think grinding immediately before brewing is probably the most effective intervention a person can make in their at-home coffee quality."

If you purchased coffee beans that were recently roasted, however, it's worth waiting a few days to grind them. Using coffee beans too soon after they're roasted prevents them from releasing CO2, which alters flavor composition. "I like coffee to be a week [past roasting] before I drink it," Langer said. "I would say two weeks after roasting is really good too. That’s what you should aim for."

How much coffee should I use when brewing?

There's a general rule of thumb known as coffee’s Golden Ratio, which is measured in weight rather than volume. The ratio is 1 gram of coffee for every 15 to 18 grams of water. So, if you're using 100 grams of coffee, you'll want to use 1,500 to 1,800 grams of water. Rachel Langer also recommends using a roughly 1:15 ratio. This applies to a wide variety of brewing methods, except for espresso, which is best with a ratio of 1 gram of coffee for every 2 grams of water.

If you want to measure coffee in volume rather than weight, start with one scoop (2 tablespoons) of coffee for every 6 ounces of water; just know that there may be more variance in the coffee strength.

How do I clean a coffee grinder?

The process for cleaning a grinder that's built into a coffee maker is different from cleaning a separate grinder. Sometimes you can't access a grinder that's built into a machine. In those instances, consult the item's instruction manual beforehand. At the very least, you should be able to brush away loose grounds and coffee chaff from the top of the grinder.

If you are able to access or completely remove the grinder, the cleaning process will be more thorough. Blade grinders can be wiped with a damp towel, while burr grinders should be cleaned with a dry cloth. Make sure to remove as many loose grounds as possible to ensure better performance and flavor with your next brew.

For those who own a separate coffee grinder, the cleaning process once again depends on blade versus burr. One popular way to clean a blade grinder is to fill the device with one-fourth cup of rice and grind until the rice becomes a fine powder. Afterward, empty the rice, and wipe inside the grinder with a wet cloth. This is a handy trick, because rice soaks up leftover coffee oils and residue from previous brews. Burr grinders should be disassembled and scrubbed with a toothbrush or bottle brush. Avoid cleaning burrs with water unless otherwise specified.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He typically uses non-electric coffee makers at home, alternating between the Bialetti Moka Express and the Bodum Brazil French Press. For this piece, he researched the differences between blade and burr grinders. He also tested the Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker, which did not make the list.

Sources

Rachel Langer, the Director of Coffee for Red Rock Roasters, was interviewed for this piece. She has spent most of her life in and around the coffee industry. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Red Rock Roasters was founded in 1993 by Rachel's parents, Nancy and David Langer.

Paulo Asi is the Director of Training at the Seattle Barista Academy. He has worked in the coffee industry for more than 12 years. Founded in 2013, the Seattle Barista Academy is a multi-dimensional program that trains baristas who are committed to the professional preparation of espresso drinks.