Coffee maker
Grind-and-brew machine
A filter-style automatic machine with a built-in grinder that grinds whole beans immediately before brewing each batch.
How it works
Combines a burr or blade grinder with a filter drip brewer in one unit, grinding a dose of whole beans directly into the filter basket just before the brew cycle starts.
Who it suits
- households wanting fresh-ground filter coffee without a separate grinder
- users who value simplicity over fine-tuned control
Who it may not suit
- users who want precise, independent control over grind size
- users wanting espresso-style drinks
- Starting dose
- 60g
- Starting water
- 960ml
- Coffee-to-water ratio
- 55–65 g per litre (typically 60)
- Capacity
- 4-12 cups
- Brew time
- 5-9 min
- Skill level
- beginner
- Noise
- moderate
- Space
- medium
- Cleaning burden
- medium
- Convenience
- high
- Manual control
- low
Equipment
Advantages
- fresh-ground convenience in one step
- no separate grinder purchase needed
Disadvantages
- built-in grinders are typically lower quality than a dedicated burr grinder
- less grind-size control than a standalone grinder
Cleaning & maintenance
Empty and clean the grinder hopper and filter basket regularly to avoid oil buildup.
Descale periodically based on water hardness.
Built-in grinder burrs may need cleaning or replacement over time.
Consumables: paper filters, descaling solution
Common faults
- inconsistent grind from a lower-quality built-in grinder
- stale-tasting coffee if beans sit in the hopper too long
Cost
Purchase cost band: mid rangeTypically priced above a basic filter machine but below a full bean-to-cup espresso machine.
Ongoing cost is whole beans, paper filters and descaling supplies.
Suitable roast levels
What these machines can actually do
This is a category, not a product, and machines within it genuinely differ. Where a capability varies, the answer is not on this page — it is on your machine, and each entry says how to find it.
Workflow and fittings
- Integrated grinderAlways
Fewer things on the counter and less to do. It also couples the two purchases: an integrated grinder cannot be upgraded separately, and its adjustment range is whatever the manufacturer allowed.
Water and pressure release
- Removable water tankAlways
You choose the water, which is the cheapest way to control scale and taste. It also needs emptying and cleaning: a tank left standing grows things, and a machine left full over a holiday is worse than one left empty.
Heat and temperature
- Thermoblock or thermocoilUsually
Very fast warm-up, small and cheap. Temperature is less stable across a shot than a boiler's, and steam capacity is usually limited, which is what makes milk texturing harder on these machines.
Brewing and pressure
- Volumetric dosingUsually
Repeatable without attention, which matters in a café. At home it measures volume rather than the mass in the cup, so it drifts as the coffee ages and the puck resists differently.
What it does not mean: A programmed volume is not the same as a weighed yield. If you are dialling in by ratio, weigh the cup.
Not sure if this is right for you? Try the coffee-maker selector.