There’s a lot to consider when buying an espresso machine, and one of the most important things is whether you get a machine with a built-in grinder. You probably already know that you really need an espresso grinder to go with your machine, as using pre-ground beans really defeats the purpose of a home espresso setup. With that in mind though, there are a lot of options out there such as the Breville Barista Pro and Philips Barista Brew that combine espresso machine and grinder into a single unit. Are these options too good to be true? Let’s take a look!
The Pros
The first obvious positive for all-in-one machines is that they’re one unit, which means less shopping for you. They do often represent value as well, you’ll get a better built-in grinder and brew unit from an all-in-one in many cases than if you tried to find two separate units for the same price. These combined machines are also great from a compatibility standpoint. You know you won’t end up with a grinder that can’t quite grind fine enough for your machine when it’s built right into the espresso machine.
Other positives include the condensed footprint that these machines usually have, automation that can offer additional functionality (in the case of the Oracle line of Breville machines, for example), and other integration between the two sides of the machine. All of this can be very compelling, and all of the machines mentioned above are excellent options for anyone looking for a new espresso machine. That said, there are some downsides to built-in grinders.
The Cons
Many of the cons of all-in-one machines are the flipside of the pros. For starters, the flexibility that comes from a separate machine and grinder gives you the ability to upgrade one or the other whenever you’re ready. If you anticipate one day owning a high-end machine, it can be nice to be able to upgrade to that and get by with your entry level grinder (or, what we usually recommend, upgrade your grinder first and then pick up that fancy machine later). While it’s true that you can usually get a nicer grinder to use with your all-in-one’s brewer, then you have a lot more counter space taken up. This speaks to another con of having a built-in grinder, which is footprint. While we said above that these combined units tend to have smaller footprints, they also aren’t as flexible as a separate machine and grinder. While separate units might take up more space overall, you can also move them independently to set up your ideal workflow.
On top of these issues, sometimes it can be more difficult to perform maintenance on these all-in-one machines. The tight case design and small spaces inside of that case can make for difficulty in removing burrs and components. This isn’t an issue on the machines we’ve mentioned about, but it’s important to keep in mind.
Is a Built-In Grinder Right for You?
This depends. If you’re a newer user looking to simplify your entry into espresso then a machine like the Philips Barista or the Breville Barista Express can be an excellent way to get started. These machines offer a great value and solid performance.
If you’re looking for an upgrade off of separate entry level equipment these options still may be compelling, but you should also consider other standalone brewers and grinders, and use the flexibility you have to maybe upgrade just your grinder or brewer.
In any case, built-in grinders can be really perfect for many users. Find out more about the answer to these questions in our video below, and don’t forget to comment on this article if you have any advice for first time espresso machine buyers!