Grinder-Brewer Combos

Grind-and-brew models get middling marks

For maximum coffee flavor, experts say, you should use freshly ground beans. That usually means buying two appliances: a grinder and coffee maker, at an average combined cost of around $100 for budget models. Manufacturers have found a way to merge the two, but the convenience comes at around twice the price.

With a grinder-brew combo, there's no separate grinder to clean, and the grounds are neatly contained, but such units are more difficult to clean than standard coffee makers. If you're willing to spend a bit more time cleaning in exchange for the convenience of all-in-one grinding and brewing, and if you don't mind sacrificing control of brew strength, a combo model may be right for you. The downside of grind-and-brew models is that if either component breaks, you lose two appliances instead of just one. And in general, grinder-brew combo models fare worse in reviews than do standard coffee makers.

The Capresso CoffeeTeam S 454 (*Est. $200) employs a conical burr grinder, which coffee experts say does a better job at grinding beans than a blade grinder. Owners posting to Amazon.com give the Capresso CoffeeTeam S 454 above-average scores in about 100 reviews. This model has a programmable timer, glass carafe and auto shutoff. A few owners complain that they're unable to control the amount of ground coffee, which makes it impossible to brew a pot at the strength they prefer. We also read reports of fading digital readouts. There's also a thermal-carafe version, the Capresso CoffeeTeam Therm 455 (*Est. $300), but it costs significantly more. Reviews say that the thermal-carafe version is not worth the extra $100; you can buy a separate thermal carafe for $20 or $30 and transfer coffee to it.

The Cuisinart Grind and Brew Thermal DGB-900BC (*Est. $200) grinds very noisily, say experts and owners, who add that the water remains below the optimum temperature for most of the brewing cycle. This coffee maker uses a blade grinder, which grinds less finely than a conical burr grinder like the one found in the Capresso CoffeeTeam S 454. While some expert tasters and owners like the coffee, others find it watery.

We chose not to include any of these grinder/brewer coffee makers in the ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed section.