Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Review: Is the Built-In Grinder Worth It?

We judge it on three things: cup quality, noise, and cleanup. Its coffee quality is the main reason to buy it, but we weigh that against the noise and cleanup.

Buy it if you drink several cups each morning, already buy whole beans, and want one machine on the counter. It is a good daily driver for a household that likes strong coffee and does not mind a two-minute wipe-down afterward.

Skip it if you brew late at night or share a thin wall with a sleeper. Skip it too if you want a one-minute pod routine, or if you would rather not clear a grind chute. If you are comparing brands, coffee makers with a built-in grinder are worth a look, and every Breville we have tested shows how this one sits among its siblings.

The Grind Control measures 8.5 in W x 12.5 in D x 16.3 in H, so the height is what matters under upper cabinets. The 60 oz water tank covers a full 12-cup pot, and the bean hopper holds 1/2 lb with a lock so you can swap beans without spilling.

Setup also takes some learning. Dialing in grind and strength took some trial and error before the cups tasted right, and we recommend running a pot or two before you judge it.

Once it is set up, the grinder is the heart of the machine. The integrated adjustable burr grinder drops grounds straight into the filter right before brewing, which is the whole point of the machine. You skip the staleness of pre-ground coffee, and the aroma at brew time shows it. Most people will find the strength settings more useful than fiddling with grind size.

Noise is the one cost you hear every time. We do not have a measured decibel reading, so we will not put a number on it, but plan your brew time around who is asleep.

The Grind Control justifies its cost through brew quality, which you can adjust with the strength controls.

Strength Settings and Bloom

There are 8 strength settings plus a pre-ground option. Climbing the scale makes the pot clearly bolder.

Single Cup and Travel Mug Brewing

Steep and Release brews straight into the carafe, and it works well for a tall cup or travel mug while keeping the carafe clean. The catch is time: a single cup takes around four minutes, against about one minute from a pod machine.

Thermal Carafe Performance

The dual-wall stainless carafe is the right idea for a machine this size. In practice some cups come out lukewarm, and preheating the carafe with hot water helps it hold temperature. We have no timed heat-retention figure, so treat the carafe as good, not exceptional.

Upkeep is the price of that fresh grind, and it is real. Grounds stick in the lid of the basket holder, and the carafe is awkward to pour from and to clean. Brush out the chute and the basket lid after each use, using the cleaning brush that ships with the machine, along with the gold tone filter.

Descaling is prompted by the LCD. Breville's guide calls for one descaler packet, 1 L of warm water, and about 30 minutes. The reliability picture here is mixed: some units hold up for years, while the grinder is the first part to fail on others, often soon after the 1-year warranty ends.

The Cuisinart Grind & Brew DGB-800 is the closest rival: a direct-flow grind assembly into the brew basket, a half-pound sealed bean hopper, and a 12-cup glass carafe. Its strength choices are regular, bold, and extra-bold, against the Breville's 8 settings plus a pre-ground option. The Breville's stainless thermal carafe is the clearest difference, since glass usually sits on a heated plate.

We could not verify specifications for the DeLonghi TrueBrew, so we are not comparing it point by point.

Grinder Chute Clogging

Compacted grounds behind the chute flap can stop the grinder wheel and trigger an empty-filter message. Clear the chute with the supplied brush, and do it routinely before it jams.

Carafe Dripping and Weak Flavor

For drips at the spout, pour slowly and keep the lip clean. Weak, uneven brews point back to the chute covered above.

E01 Error

We could not find a source that defines the E01 message, so we will not guess at its cause. Check Breville's manual for your unit, and if you see an empty-filter message, clear the chute first.

It sits in the premium tier for drip makers, and the extra cost buys fresh grinding, a thermal carafe, and a flexible single-cup mode. Whether it is worth it depends on how much you will use those features. Street pricing moves week to week, so check the current price before you decide.

If you brew a pot or more every day on whole beans, the flavor gain justifies it. If you brew occasionally, a simpler machine and a separate grinder will serve you better.

Pair this machine with a bag of fresh whole beans and a habit of brushing the chute, and it settles into a routine. It suits households that prioritize coffee; occasional drinkers should consider a simpler brewer. For more grinder-focused options, see our coffee grinder reviews.