- Better: overall rating and brew modes The review says Breville's Precision Brewer rated slightly higher and offers more brew modes.
Breville The Grind Control Coffee Maker Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for fresh-ground drip coffee, strong customization, and hot carafe coffee. Skip it if you want low-maintenance cleanup, flawless pouring, or a cheaper machine.
Best for
Best for coffee drinkers who want fresh-ground drip coffee without using a separate grinder, especially households that brew full carafes but still want single-cup flexibility.
Not for
Not for buyers who want a low-maintenance, inexpensive, or ultra-simple coffee maker, or anyone who will be frustrated by chute cleaning and an awkward thermal carafe.
Verdict
Breville The Grind Control stands out because reviewers consistently connect its built-in burr grinder, strength settings, and programmable brewing with fresher, stronger drip coffee. It can handle a full carafe or a single cup, and the thermal carafe often keeps coffee hot for hours. The tradeoff is complexity: several reviewers mention calibration, regular descaling, grinder-chute cleaning, and messy grounds. Carafe handling is also divisive, with some praising the pour while others complain about dripping or awkward angles. The machine is best understood as a convenient all-in-one fresh-bean brewer that rewards upkeep rather than a simple, maintenance-light drip machine.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Capresso Team Pro Plus
- Cheaper: price The Capresso Team Pro Plus is named as a more affordable stainless-carafe competitor.
Cuisinart DGB-800
- Cheaper: price The Cuisinart DGB-800 is presented as a much cheaper grind-and-brew alternative.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
27 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 26% 7 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 52% 14 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 19% 5 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 4% 1 feature
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
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Shipping evidence is limited but positive, with one reviewer saying the retailer shipped quickly with free shipping.
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Reviewers like the programmable auto-start, countdown/timer information, and morning automation that grinds and brews fresh coffee.
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Recognition is favorable, with Good Housekeeping describing it as a Lab favorite for hot, full-bodied coffee.
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Overall user experience is strongly positive once the machine is dialed in, with reviewers calling it convenient, satisfying, easy to use, and a very nice coffee maker.
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Capacity is a strength, with praise for the large water tank, 12-cup output, and bean/reservoir capacity that reduces refills.
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Design and ergonomics are usually praised for stainless styling, readable displays, user-friendly controls, and manageable under-cabinet height, despite some smudging and bulk.
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Beverage quality is a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly describing the coffee as rich, robust, strong, tasty, or better than expected, though one single-cup test was muddy.
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Brewing performance is mostly praised for strong, hot, flavorful coffee, though one review needed calibration before reaching the best batch.
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Popularity/reception is favorable, including a best-overall guide mention and comments about strong online and expert reception.
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The grinder and hopper system are central strengths, praised for burr quality, customization, efficiency, and grind consistency, but several reviews warn about chute cleaning or beans getting stuck.
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Heating performance is viewed positively, with reviewers describing hot coffee, improved temperature control, and measured temperatures that support a hot cup.
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Filter options are praised for flexibility, with paper filters producing cleaner extraction and reducing mess while the included filter supports a fuller cup.
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One hands-on review says the machine delivers on the promise of a great cup of coffee.
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One video frames the non-capsule approach as a benefit because it avoids disposable plastic cups and lowers cost per cup.
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Speed evidence is positive, with one lab review saying it brewed quickly and another video calling the brew time not too long.
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Travel-mug friendliness is positive in the one direct evaluation, thanks to removable drip-tray clearance for taller mugs.
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Carafe/pot mode performs well in the available evidence, with reviewers favoring carafe mode or finding quality consistent across modes.
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Value is mixed: reviewers say the brew and all-in-one grinder justify the price, but others flag the cost if durability problems appear.
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Setup is generally manageable, with one review calling it extremely simple, but others emphasize reading instructions, calibration, or an initial chemical smell.
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Durability sentiment is split: one long-term owner says it outperforms other machines after years, while another warns complex parts may fail sooner.
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Carafe performance is sharply mixed: reviewers praise heat retention and some pouring experiences, but multiple reviews complain about dripping or awkward pouring.
Cons
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Water and maintenance evidence is mixed: filling can be easy, but regular descaling and chute cleaning are repeated requirements.
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Mess control is mixed to negative: some uses avoid overflow, but several reviewers report loose grounds, stuck chute residue, or messy cleanup.
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Warranty sentiment is modest to negative because the one-year warranty is considered standard and short for a potentially failure-prone appliance.
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Common design flaws center on the carafe lip, grinder chute clogging risk, oily-bean clogging, and messy maintenance.
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Accessories receive little direct evaluation; one reviewer specifically downplays the included cleaning brush as small.
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Packaging sustainability receives one negative mention because the product arrived with styrofoam and lots of plastic.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Coffee Machines, this product is above average in Accuracy of marketing claims, Grinder, hopper and dosing system, Capacity, below average in Accessories, Environmental packaging sustainability, Mess-free used-puck disposal.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 38% 3 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 63% 5 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessories | 2.5 | 3.7 | -1.2 |
| Environmental packaging sustainability | 2.0 | 3.1 | -1.1 |
| Mess-free used-puck disposal | 3.0 | 3.9 | -1.0 |
| Accuracy of marketing claims | 4.3 | 3.2 | +1.1 |
| Warranty and Customer support | 2.8 | 3.7 | -1.0 |
| Grinder, hopper and dosing system | 4.4 | 3.7 | +0.7 |
| Capacity | 4.6 | 3.8 | +0.7 |
| Water system, maintenance and descaling | 3.4 | 4.0 | -0.6 |
FAQ
Does it make strong coffee?
Yes. Multiple reviewers praised the coffee as strong, rich, robust, hot, or flavorful once the grind and strength settings were dialed in.
Is the built-in grinder good?
Reviewers generally liked the burr grinder for consistency, freshness, and customization. The main caveat is that the chute needs regular cleaning and can clog, especially with oily beans.
Can it brew a single cup?
Yes. Reviewers used it for single cups and travel mugs, and one review liked the removable drip tray for taller mugs. One reviewer preferred carafe mode because single-cup brewing tasted slightly muddy.
Does the thermal carafe keep coffee hot?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly praised the carafe for keeping coffee hot for hours, including lab-style temperature checks. Pouring from the carafe is the bigger complaint.
Is it easy to clean?
It is not maintenance-free. Reviews mention regular descaling, rinsing parts, clearing the grinder chute, and dealing with messy grounds, though some owners felt the upkeep kept performance strong.
Is it worth the price?
Reviewer opinion is mixed but generally favorable. Several reviews say the all-in-one grinder and coffee quality justify the cost, while others warn that the price feels risky if long-term grinder problems appear.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.3/5
Article Reviews
lifeboostcoffee.com
- Review score
- 4.4/5
homesandgardens.com
- Review score
- 3.5/5
Consider This Instead
If you want better Environmental packaging sustainability
Choose De’Longhi La Specialista Touch Espresso Machine. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for Environmental packaging sustainability, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Accessories
Choose DeLonghi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine. It scores 4.8 vs 2.5 for Accessories, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Warranty and Customer support
Choose Technivorm Moccamaster Cup One Coffee Maker. It scores 5.0 vs 2.8 for Warranty and Customer support, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Mess-free used-puck disposal
Choose Delonghi Dinamica Plus Espresso & Coffee Machine. It scores 5.0 vs 3.0 for Mess-free used-puck disposal, with a 4.0 overall score.
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