Best Grind and Brew Coffee Maker Machines: Top 5 (Affordable) Picks

Are you looking for the best grind and brew coffee maker? They say that proficient coffee drinkers can smell sweet coffee from a few meters away. While you wonder how that is possible, the sniffing ability is only aided by always taking coffee out of freshly ground beans.

As we advocate for instant grinding and brewing, some of us don’t like how you need to shift from the grinder to the brewing machine. Others will think that having both is more expensive. If that’s your case, have you ever considered the best grind and brew coffee maker?

Yes, some machines only need your coffee beans and the settings. The next thing you have is your strong espresso among other coffee-related drinks that you plan to make. That is why I have taken time to review three of the best so that you can have an idea of what to choose in the already flooded market.

Comparison Table

If you are eager to see the grind and brew coffee makers, here is a comparison table to show you how they fair.

Best Grind and Brew Coffee Maker Product Reviews

IMAGE PRODUCT PROS CONS   
Top Rated Breville BES870XL Barista Express
  • Has a conical burr grinder which is excellent in grinding
  • Hands-free grinding and porta filling
  • Stainless steel construction
  • It lets you know when it’s time to clean
  • It uses the same thermocouple to heat the wand and water
  • You may need a better steam wand if the present one does not froth as you expect
Editor’s Choice Cuisinart DGB-550BK
  • 24-hour programmable coffee maker
  • Has separate grind and filter areas to make way for easy cleaning
  • Comes with a water filter
  • Includes an alarm to brew coffee and wake you up in the morning
  • It has a blade grinder instead of a burr type
  • Needs you to clean after every use
  • Can be louder than usual
Barsetto Digital Drip Coffee Machine
  • Grind and brew mechanism with a 24-hour programmable coffee maker
  • Allows you to set the brewing time
  • Glass carafe included with an ergonomic handle
  • The grinder is a burr type
  • Needs regular cleaning
  • You cannot froth using this machine

1) Breville BES870XL Barista Express

Why is it the best?

  • Has a conical burr grinder which is excellent in grinding
  • Hands-free grinding and porta filling
  • Stainless steel construction
  • It lets you know when it’s time to clean

Straight from Australia, we have the Breville BES870XL which will do the grinding and brewing for you. It will make espresso and the associated coffee drinks within a short time after grinding your dose at the top.

From the appearance, it is shiny and vulnerable to scratches. You can see the fingerprints after using it for some days. It’s however sleek with a durable stainless steel finishing and you get it for less than $1000. The top hosts a bean hopper, which also represents the grinding section.

You can control the amount of coffee you need to grind before brewing some of the darkest samples. Other capabilities include having a steam wand for the milk froth and customizing the settings for single or double shots.

Working with the gauges and dials can be tricky, but as you learn, you will know the best ways to personalize your brewing technique. For the settings, they include selecting your grind (the coarseness and amount) selecting the filter size, and the monitoring gauges.

BES870XL Features

The 23-pound grind and brew machine has steel conical burrs for the grinder. You will want conical burrs if you wish for some better grinding and the right flavor out of your coffee. The bean hopper does not hold more than ½ lb. but it locks to keep the beans secure as you grind.

The portafilter below the panel is commercial grade despite the machine fitting home use. Now, for the porta, that is where the grinder damps the coffee after working on it. As you brew, the Breville delivers 15 bars of pressure from the Italian pump which you can monitor using the pressure gauge.

To make the water from the 67 oz. removable tank and the steam wand hot, the machine uses a 1600W thermocouple with a stainless steel coil. The coil is there to regulate the temperature, but at times it builds up after steaming, and that’s not good for the extraction. To control the heat, the BES870XL auto-purges to lower the temperature and make it perfect for brewing.

The steam wand has a 360-degree movement to make it easy to froth at any position, but customers have wished for a better steam wand. You can set the filter to give you a single or double pull. As for the drip tray, it’s removable when it’s time to clean.

Pros

  • Has a conical burr grinder which is excellent in grinding
  • Hands-free grinding and porta filling
  • Stainless steel construction
  • It lets you know when it’s time to clean

Cons

  • It uses the same thermocouple to heat the wand and water
  • You may need a better steam wand if the present one does not froth as you expect

2) Cuisinart DGB-550BK

Why is it the best?

  • 24-hour programmable coffee maker
  • Has separate grind and filter areas to make way for easy cleaning
  • Comes with a water filter
  • Includes an alarm to brew coffee and wake you up in the morning

If you are on a budget, here is a coffee maker that will grind, brew, and also wake you up in the morning. The Cuisinart DGB-550BK is relatively cheap, and while you don’t expect it to be of high quality, it has adorable features that will make you want to keep it.

First, it is a 24-hour programmable unit that will deliver some wake-up coffee after setting the timer. It also includes a separate grinder and filtering chamber to make it easy during addition and removal. At times, you may feel like the mill is too loud. The 550BK allows you to use pre-ground coffee by first turning off the grinder via ‘grind off’ control.

The only flaw here is that it is a blade grinder for those who prefer the burr alternative.

You have to use the number of coffee beans needed to brew 12 cups before refilling. On the other hand, lesser cups means adding less water and fewer beans. The brewing session allows you to brew 1-4 cups, but it also allows you to sneak and taste the coffee using the brew-pause function. After brewing, the machine will beep five times to signify completion.

Brewing and the Settings

The filtration mechanism involves the gold-tone filter for the coffee and a charcoal water filter to remove the water impurities. While the filter area is separated for easy cleaning, it’s one of the areas that you will have to wash after every brewing cycle.

As you brew, the machine has a 60-ounce glass carafe to receive the coffee. It has an ergonomic handle, a dripless pour spout that is useful while serving, and a knuckle guard. Once you finish brewing, you can adjust the auto-shutoff for up to 4 hours. There is an LED display to guide you as you dial. When not in use, the LED can be used to show you the time.

One of the issues you have to deal with is cleaning the unit after every use. As you do so, make sure not to touch the start button. The machine will start beeping until you put all the parts back. The best part is that it cannot operate while open.

That’s why it’s a suitable gift idea for that friend who is still learning how to operate such coffee machines.

Pros

  • 24-hour programmable coffee maker
  • Has separate grind and filter areas to make way for easy cleaning
  • Comes with a water filter
  • Includes an alarm to brew coffee and wake you up in the morning

Cons

  • It has a blade grinder instead of a burr type
  • Needs you to clean after every use
  • Can be louder than usual

3. Cuisinart DGB-800

3) Cuisinart DGB-800

Why is it the best?

  • Burr grinder and brew combination
  • You can set the coarseness and coffee strength
  • Programmable with a wake-up timer
  • Filtration involves the coffee filter and charcoal water filter

The Cuisinart DGB-800 may not be so different from the 550BK model, but it has a few features that distinguish it from the one above. It’s still another 24-hour programmable grind and brew coffee maker with a BPA-free plastic housing. It is also more expensive than the latter since it’s above $100.

One of the differences is in the grinder where the DGB-800 comes with a burr type and not the blade. The hopper at the top holds ½ a pound of beans. It is advisable not to overfill it so that the grinder does not jam. In this model, you can set the coarseness of the grinds and the amount you want before brewing. The hopper is also removable for easy filling.

When it comes to brewing, you can select between strong and mild via the strength selector. It also includes a brew-pause function in case you need to take some coffee before the cycle is complete.

Brewing and Settings Similar To 550BK Model

For it to brew, you need to make sure that every piece is intact, especially locking the hopper if you had removed it. The DGB-800 also comes with an interlock system that seizes operation if the hopper is not correctly inserted.

You can select the number of cups you want to brew with the LCD guiding you through. If you need the programmed brewing, you will have to set the time first before applying the strength and number of cups settings. As it brews the gold-tone filter takes care of the extraction as the charcoal filter cleans the water before mixing with the grounds. It also has the auto-shutoff feature.

The receiving end has a 12-cup carafe, which is equivalent to the amount of water you use for brewing. The carafe is glass made with an ergonomic handle to help you insert and remove it. Some customers have wished to use another receiving unit, but you need to take care of the height here and the pour. Too tall will not fit well while too short may lead to overfilling.

As for the accessories, it comes with a measuring scoop and a manual for the instructions. Just like its counterpart, it also needs regular cleaning for long-term use.

Pros

  • Burr grinder and brew combination
  • You can set the coarseness and coffee strength
  • Programmable with a wake-up timer
  • Filtration involves the coffee filter and charcoal water filter

Cons

  • Needs regular cleaning after every 12-cup brewing session
  • The glass carafe is fragile. It needs proper care and maintenance

4. 7 Piece All-In-One Barista Bundle Set

4) 7 Piece All-In-One Barista Bundle Set

Why is it the best?

  • Heats up quickly
  • Transparent and removable water tank
  • Separate and durable grinding unit

For those who want to practice the barista styles at home, here is a 7 Piece All-In-One Barista set that will grind, brew and also froth milk for you. Being semi-automatic, like the Breville, you have to take control of what you want in your coffee cup.

Starting and using the machine is easy since it’s ready in 45 seconds. It comes with an advanced thermoblock heating system.

That is what enables the fast heating, which brings the coffee maker to the right brewing and steaming temperature. When you need to grind, it has a separate unit for that. Go ahead add the beans, start the grinder and then transfer the fresh grounds to the portafilter.

The barista bundle also has a scoop to fill the grounds and a tamper. When it comes to brewing, the water is delivered from the 1.25-liter transparent reservoir. It’s easy to tell when it’s empty by just looking at the water level. The tank also has a handle to facilitate easy removal.

Performance and Replacement Guarantee

As it brews, the machine gives in 15 bars of pressure, which is the standard needed to pull the espresso shots, full of flavor. The portafilter is stainless steel with a single and double shot basket. Each shot delivered is 3.6 oz. for each cup.

If you want to make the cappuccino and other coffee-milk related drinks, there is a steam wand for the milk. The coffee maker also includes a stainless steel frothing cup, which is the specification needed for milk frothing.

When it’s time to clean the 7-pc, you can detach the water tank for cleaning and refilling. The frother is also removable not forgetting the drip tray. One thing recommendable about buying this coffee maker is that it comes with everything you need. Next, the manufacturer always stands by the product. So, in case of any questions or defects, be sure to get a replacement with no questions asked.

Pros

  • Heats up quickly
  • Transparent and removable water tank
  • Separate and durable grinding unit

Cons

  • It comes with blade grinders
  • You cannot use pods on this machine

5. Barsetto Digital Drip Coffee Machine

5) Barsetto Digital Drip Coffee Machine

Why is it the best?

  • Grind and brew mechanism with a 24-hour programmable coffee maker
  • Allows you to set the brewing time
  • Glass carafe included with an ergonomic handle
  • The grinder is a burr type

Lastly, here is a grind and brew machine that resembles the Cuisinarts. The Barsetto Digital Coffee Machine is a drip-style coffee maker with a brushed metal design at the front while the bottom holds the receiving carafe. For the plastic parts, they are BPA-free.

At the top, you get the grinder that gets the beans from the hopper. It’s a conical burr type that you can control the coarseness before grinding starts. It has eight settings to select from so, the only thing left is to set the desired one.

If you need to brew, the controls also let you select between 2 to a maximum of 10 cups. Also, you can choose to start with pre-ground coffee, which demands you to shut off the grinder using the grind off function.

Being a 24-hour programmable machine, you can set the time you need it to brew. After brewing, you will hear three beeps to signify completion.

More Controls for the Brewing Task

How strong do you want the coffee? The strength control dial allows you to determine if you want it strong or diluted. After using the Barsetto, it automatically shuts off after 2 hours. For the settings, you can view what you are doing via the LCD screen on the front panel.

As you brew, it’s possible to remove the glass carafe with an ergonomic handle if you want to take a cup before the brewing session is over.

The machine has a brew-pause function that stops dripping the coffee for 30 seconds once you take the carafe out. That is 10 seconds longer than the pause function in the Cuisinart models.

If you are asking how much the carafe holds, it takes 10 cups. As the coffee drips, it passes through the gold-tone filter, which is removable when it’s time to clean.

At times, when you brew, some coffee remains, and you would like it to be warm after the next hour. The programmable coffee brewer will keep the coffee warm for the next two hours before the warming feature goes off.

As we finish up, just like the Cuisinart’s again, it needs regular cleaning and maintenance.

Pros

  • Grind and brew mechanism with a 24-hour programmable coffee maker
  • Allows you to set the brewing time
  • Glass carafe included with an ergonomic handle
  • The grinder is a burr type

Cons

  • Needs regular cleaning
  • You cannot froth using this machine

Wrapping Up

Now that you can get a brewing machine with a built-in or included grinder, the only thing remaining is selecting the product that meets your specifications. As I conclude, it is better to get a coffee machine with a burr grinder as opposed to blade types.

Next, always know the drinks you want to make before you make the final choice. Some of the units will not allow you to froth milk, for example. Otherwise, grind and brew coffee makers offer you the comfort of only adding the beans as the machine does the rest.

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