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The 6 Best Coffee Makers With Grinders, Tested and Reviewed

It's the secret to your next best cup.

Coffee Maker with Grinders
Photo:

Real Simple / Russell Kilgore

It may be a while until you next see your local barista, because cafe-quality coffee is coming to a home near you. Much like other types of food, coffee beans are best served fresh, and the easiest way to achieve this (without changing out of your pajamas) is to use a coffee grinder. While you can buy this separately, many coffee makers nowadays come with the tool built right in. All you have to do is pour your favorite beans in the hopper, press a button, and wait.

That said, the two-in-one appliance is typically an investment, so getting the right one matters. To narrow the best options for you, we tested 22 different coffee makers with grinders in our New York City lab, including drip, espresso, and automatic machines, evaluating each one on its ease of use, standard and added features, and perhaps most importantly, how delicious the coffee was that it produced.

What Stands Out
  • The grind, strength, and brew size are highly customizable, and the auto-start allows you to wake up to fresh coffee.

What Could Be Improved
  • It only makes drip coffee, and it's pricey.

The verdict is plan and simple: This Breville machine makes a great cup of coffee. It's easy to use, with convenient features, including the option to pick your preferred grind size and strength setting on the LCD screen. You can also take advantage of auto-start, which essentially allows you to pre-schedule when and how you want your coffee. That means you can sync your morning cup with your alarm clock, roll out of bed, and have it waiting for you—every coffee lover's dream.

When utilizing the grinder, it takes about six minutes to produce coffee. The machine makes up to 12 cups, which you can brew into the insulated stainless steel carafe, a tall mug, or a travel tumbler. When we taste-tested the coffee, we thought it was really smooth and tasty. Better yet, there were no off-putting grounds at the bottom of our mug, a common pitfall with many home coffee makers. This is likely due to the stainless steel burr grinder, which is the preferred grinder type among professionals, because it produces a more even grind compared to its blade counterpart.

This Breville coffee maker's ease of use, convenient features, and performance make it a great option for fans of drip coffee only, as this doesn't produce espresso drinks. Plus, we found it super simple to take apart and clean.

Grinder Type: Burr | Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Size: 12.5 by 8.5 by 16.3 inches

What Stands Out
  • It brews the fastest out of all of the coffee makers we tested, and the result is smooth and silky.

What Could Be Improved
  • It is a single-serve machine, and you can't choose the grind size or brew strength.

While shopping around, you might be shocked to find out that coffee makers with built-in grinders can run upwards of $1,000. This Cuisinart coffee maker is much more budget-friendly, offering coffee lovers a reliable, lower-cost product without sacrificing the quality of the brew. In testing, we thought this Cuisinart Grind & Brew model made smooth and silky classic drip coffee, thanks in part to the conical burr and charcoal water filter. It brews at lightning speed, too: Compared to all of the other coffee makers with grinders that we tested, this produced a cup the fastest at less than a minute and a half.

The control panel features different buttons that allow you to choose between an 8-, 10-, and 12-ounce cup of coffee. The hopper, which can hold up to 100 grams of beans, has a tight seal that helps lock in freshness, should you end up not using all of your beans that day. There is also a 48-ounce removable and see-through water tank located in the back of the machine that allows you to easily see when you need a refill. Plus, it comes with a reusable filter cup and is compatible with a variety of coffee pods, including Keurig. Although it can work in a variety of kitchens, it is comparatively smaller in size, which makes it a great option for people with small kitchens. Just note that this is a single-serve coffee maker and is therefore incapable of brewing carafes.

Grinder Type: Conical burr | Brew Capacity: 1 cup | Size: 9.1 by 9.1 by 9.1 inches

What Stands Out
  • It's highly customizable, and you can even brew two coffees at once.

What Could Be Improved
  • It's super expensive.

While the price on this one may give you sticker shock, there's no denying that it's an incredible coffee maker. The German-engineered Miele brand is known for creating a wide variety of high-quality appliances that, although expensive, manage to stay in tip-top shape for at least a decade. The Miele CM 5310 Silence Coffee Maker is no different and stands out for being a drip coffee- and espresso-maker in one. You can make up to 8 cups of drip and use the espresso and milk frother to make cappuccinos, lattes, and more. We were particularly impressed with the frother, which works automatically and perfectly with what is essentially no effort from the user.

The control panel features a touch screen and allows you to create user profiles so that the people in your household can save their preferred coffee settings without having to re-enter them when it's time to make their cup. The coffee maker can also make two coffee drinks at once. As for maintenance, you can rest easy knowing that cleaning this Miele coffee maker is super simple. Not only are there two self-cleaning mechanisms in place (the milk frother and descaling program), but the removable components (the drip tray, water container, and waste container) are dishwasher-safe.

Grinder Type: Conical burr | Brew Capacity: 2 cups | Size: 18.1 by 9.5 by 14.2 inches

What Stands Out
  • It produces delicious espresso, and you can froth milk at the same time the coffee is brewing.

What Could Be Improved
  • It takes up a decent amount of counter space.

This Italian-made coffee machine is ideal for people who want to make cafe-quality espresso at home. The sharp design was inspired by traditional coffee machines used by the professionals in Italy, and it certainly wowed us in person—the classic design is very attractive. Thankfully, we were equally impressed with the brew speed and the high-quality, flavorful coffee it produced.

The De'Longhi La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine comes with all the features you need to be a successful home barista, including a burr grinder with eight grind settings. There are also three temperature settings, a smart tamping station that gives you the right amount of pressure to produce the perfect brew, and a steam wand to help with your latte art skills. You can actually make espresso and froth milk at the same time, cutting down on production time (and providing you with a little distraction while you wait for your caffeine to be ready). There's also a sensor that alerts you when you need to refill your beans.

In all, we found this coffee maker easy to use and control, and it was very quiet, which is often hard to come by in large coffee makers with built-in grinders. When you get up before everyone else or make a cup during their afternoon nap, you won't have to worry about waking them.

Grinder Type: Burr | Brew Capacity: 1 cup | Size: 15 by 14.48 by 17.5 inches

What Stands Out
  • You can make both single-serve and full pots of coffee, and the heater plate will keep your carafe warm.

What Could Be Improved
  • It uses a blade instead of a burr grinder, and it has one of the slowest brew times on this list.

Households that enjoy classic drip coffee will get a lot of use out of this large coffee maker. The Cuisinart Grind & Brew Plus model allows you to make up to 12 cups of coffee and includes a heater plate that the included carafe sits on, which will keep your coffee warm for hours. You can use freshly ground coffee beans with the built-in blade grinder, or use pre-ground coffee to make your cup of joe. The machine also has an automatic shut-off that will power the machine down between zero to four hours of use, whichever you prefer. Plus, there is a clean button that illuminates to let you know of scale buildup that needs to be cleaned within the machine.

To the side of this drip station you'll find a smaller station where you can make coffee from coffee pods. Compatible pods include Cuisinart's own line, HomeBarista, and other popular options like Keurig. Although we that the machine produced a pretty good cup of coffee, we weren't pleased that it took nine minutes to make drip coffee, which was one of the longest production times of other coffee makers we tested. The grinder is also very loud, and looks-wise, there are certainly more stylish options on the market. Still, this is a great pick if you like to make both single-serve and full pots of coffee.

Grinder Type: Blade | Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Size: 10.75 by 11.73 by 15.93 inches

What Stands Out
  • It's a gorgeous machine that produces cafe-quality drinks at the touch of a button.

What Could Be Improved
  • It takes up a lot of counter space and is one of the pricier models we tested.

If you want your coffee maker to produce great coffee and look smashing on your kitchen countertop, choose this super stylish model from Terra Kaffe. The TK-01 allows you to brew a wide variety of coffee drinks, including an Americano, an espresso shot, a latte, a cappuccino, and more. Of all the machines we tested, we found the Terra Kaffe's shot of espresso to be the best—it was silky smooth.

This is a great option for people who want to make espresso drinks at home but don't want to go through the effort of having to prepare it themselves. We were thrilled by the TK-01's overall convenience; it does exactly what you want it to do, and you don't have to do anything except just press a button on the touch screen. However, if the mood ever does strike you to compose your own espresso-based drink, the machine does give you the capability to froth your own milk (the frother works with both dairy and non-dairy milks).

You can either grind your coffee within the machine or pour pre-ground coffee into the available chute, and there's even a warming tray to ward off cold cups. Due to size of this model, note that you'll need deep counters in order for it to fit in your kitchen. Also, the cup clearance is just 5.5 inches, so your taller travel mugs will have to sit this one out.

Grinder Type: Conical burr | Brew Capacity: 12 cups | Size: 17.3 by 10.6 by 14 inches

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker for its ability to make delectable drip coffee and its convenient features, which include an insulated carafe and ability to schedule when your coffee is made. If you're looking for a budget-friendly machine, the Cuisinart Coffee Center Grind & Brew Plus makes great single-serve coffee and is the cheapest option on our list.

Our Testing Process

We tested 22 coffee makers with grinders in our lab. First, we tested the effectiveness of each built-in grinder by grinding up the same type and amount of coffee for each. We noted the consistency of the ground coffee and whether the end result contained an excess amount of debris or dust. We then took the ground coffee and used it to make coffee in the machines, evaluating the quality of the flavor produced and how fast it took to make. If the coffee maker included a milk frother, we assessed each one's performance. We also took into account the coffee maker's overall ease of use, noting how intuitive the controls were and the clarity of the provided instruction manual, as well as how easy it was to clean once we finished our testing. We took all of these insights into account to come up with the best coffee makers with grinders.

Miele CM 5310 Silence Coffee Maker
Real Simple / Russell Kilgore

How to Shop for Coffee Makers With Grinders

Type

Generally, coffee makers that have built-in grinders are either drip coffee makers, espresso makers, or combination automatic machines. Which one you should get depends on what types of coffee drinks you'd like to make in your home and how much time you're willing to spend making coffee. Drip coffee makers with grinders are the least expensive of the three, and depending how much coffee you make (some can make upwards of 12 cups), it could take a short to moderate amount of time (about two to nine minutes).

Espresso makers are much faster, with the ability to produce a shot in less than one minute. Espresso makers are by far the most expensive coffee makers with grinder, as they come with more features than a drip coffee maker. In addition to a grinder and the ability to produce espresso, espresso makers typically come with milk frothing capabilities and sometimes automatic tamping technology. All of this and more ultimately adds up, resulting in high price tags. These types of machines are best for people who really love going through the process of making themselves an espresso-based drink every morning.

There are also automatic machines that allow you to make drip coffee, espresso, and espresso-based drinks with just the push of a button. How long your drink will take depends on the type, though considering it is automatic, it shouldn't take longer than a couple of minutes. The variety of drinks available and incredible ease of convenience also make this coffee maker type quite pricey.

Grinder Type

There are two types of coffee grinders—blade and burr—and i's important to know how to grind coffee beans with each type. Blade grinders are similar to the blades in a blender, with the blades breaking up the coffee beans to turn them into grounds. Burrs, on the other hand, are two metal circular rings that contain a sharp pattern. When pressed together with the sharp pattern side down on top of each other, the beans enter through the opening and become crushed as they move through these sharp patterns. Coffee professionals agree that this method yields a more consistent, uniform grind than a blade, resulting in a higher-quality cup of coffee. Just keep in mind that coffee makers with burr grinders tend to be more expensive.

Size

Coffee lovers may get so excited at the prospect of a brand new coffee maker that they may overlook how big the machine actually is, and whether or not they have space to fit it in their kitchen. Coffee makers with built-in grinders are bigger than regular models and require more counter space. Make sure to measure out the product before you buy to ensure that it'll comfortably fit on your kitchen countertop and is within a close distance to an electrical outlet.

Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffee Maker
Real Simple / Russell Kilgore

More Coffee Makers With Grinders to Consider

Cuisinart Burr Grind & Brew Thermal Coffee Maker: With this machine, we found the resulting brew to be similar to a nice, classic cup of coffee, and we liked how quiet the machine was during production. However, we thought this model was a little bulky and a little cheap-looking.

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine: We were impressed with the touch digital display, which allows you to choose your beverage via image. However, we found that the espresso tasted more like weak coffee than a strong shot of espresso.

De'Longhi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine: We were super pleased with how well the milk frother worked. That said, the coffee leaned acidic, and espresso-making knowledge is required when using this coffee maker. Figuring out how to use this machine was not easy.

Questions You Might Ask

How do I clean a coffee maker with a grinder?

It depends on the coffee maker. First, consult your instruction manual as it will have a detailed guide about how to safely clean your coffee maker and grinder (if the grinder is removable). You may find that you don't have to do as much cleaning as you anticipated, as some modern coffee makers have self-cleaning parts, while others can be removed and put in the dishwasher. To clean a drip coffee maker, you should be regularly washing your filters, carafes, and baskets either by hand or in the dishwasher (if they are designated as dishwasher-friendly).

To clean the insides you can't reach, start by mixing equal parts water and vinegar into the coffee maker's chamber. Then, click on the power switch and let it do its thing. When about half of the mixture has brewed, turn the machine off and let everything sit for an hour. After that, turn the machine back on to finish the coffee cycle. Discard the remaining mixture and then repeat the process with clean water until you no longer smell vinegar in the machine.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Rachel Center, a long-time coffee lover and product reviews home writer for Real Simple, and updated by Taylor Rock, senior shopping editor for Real Simple. To compile this list, we tested 22 coffee makers with grinders in our lab and evaluated each model on its ease of use, features, brew time, and quality and taste of the produced coffee.

What Is Real Simple Selects?

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn't an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.

Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.

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