✔️ Grinder type: Coffee machines with a built-in blade grinder are either blade grinders or burr grinders. Blade grinders work like food processors, where blades rotate to crush coffee beans. Burr grinders are similar to pepper mills, so two metal or plastic grinding surfaces grind the coffee into fine pieces. Blade grinders are usually cheaper than burr grinders, but this often comes with the trade-off of only having one grind size setting. If you want to customize your grind settings, more costly built-in burr grinders often have more settings to choose from.
✔️ Number of grind settings: If you want to fine-tune the fineness of your coffee grind, look for machines with multiple grind settings. The fineness of the grind affects the taste of the coffee: the finer the grind, the stronger the coffee.
✔️ Carafe type: Glass and thermal jugs have their pros and cons. Glass jugs are usually cheaper, lightweight and straightforward to neat, as they are often dishwasher secure. Thermal jugs are usually more costly, but they can keep your coffee sizzling for hours without using a hotplate, meaning you don’t have to worry about whether to turn off your coffee machine or whether to bring the jug directly to the table.
✔️ Personalization and convenience: In addition to grind settings, coffee makers with grinders may also have customization options, such as cup size and coffee strength. More advanced machines can make café-style drinks like lattes at the touch of a button, without the need for manual tamping or frothing. However, you’ll often pay a lot more for this convenience. As a general rule, the more convenient and hands-free the coffee maker, the higher the price. Pay attention to which features are worth the extra money to fit your lifestyle.
