Coffee lovers everywhere know there’s nothing quite like the smell and taste of freshly ground coffee beans in a coffee shop.
But, when you grind your beans at home, you’re saving time and money in the long run. Add in the convenience of an espresso machine with a built-in grinder, and it’s a win-win-win.
We’re here to break down the best espresso machines with integrated grinders, the best of which is the Breville Barista Pro.
Why Pro? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Top Picks
- 30 precision grind settings
- 3-second heat-up
- LCD digital control panel
- Dual boiler
- 180-degree rotating frothing wand
- Cup warming tray
- Aroma Grinder for better taste
- 17 pre-programmed drink options
- Color touchscreen
- Quiet ceramic grinder
- Height-adjustable coffee dispenser
- Auto-frothing milk carafe
- Heat-up time of 1 second
- Sensor grinding technology
- Dual boilers
- Affordable and compact design
- Gaggia adaptive grinder
- Panarello steam wand
In-Depth Reviews
Breville Barista Pro
SUMMARY: The best overall espresso machine of our contenders, with a powerful brew process and an even more powerful, highly adjustable burr grinder.
The Breville Barista Pro takes the cake and is our best overall pick for espresso machines with a built-in grinder.
Featuring an integrated steel conical burr grinder, you can choose from up to 30 possible precision grind settings, all at the touch of a button. However fine or coarse you like it, the Breville Pro has got you covered. You can also bypass the grinder and use your already ground coffee beans.
The simple LCD digital control panel with button controls is a great alternative to high-end, analog, or manual espresso machines. This is especially true for beginner baristas just starting out, and the Pro makes finding your ideal cup of coffee easy.
For brewing, the Breville Barista Pro starts with PID-optimized espresso extraction with 9 bar power. This means your coffee is constantly monitored for the ideal drinking temperature by making adjustments on the fly. And with the Thermojet heating system, your coffee is ready for brewing in just 3 seconds.
You can also customize your milk frothing with the four-hole steam wand, a highly pressurized frother with a greater throughput of pressurized steam. You can adjust your milk temperature and texture through the interface, finding the sweet spot for steamed milk, microfoam, or macrofoam.
The downside to the Barista Pro is the lack of a cup warming tray, while the drip tray is rather small and will require more consistent maintenance and cleaning than other espresso machines.
- 30 precision grind settings
- XL hopper size
- PID-optimized espresso extraction
- Thermojet heating fast heats in 3 seconds
- Customizable coffee experience down to the minute details
- No cup warming tray
- Small drip tray
De'Longhi ESAM3300 Magnifica
SUMMARY: The classic Italian design with all the grinding convenience and brewing you’d expect from a next-generation espresso machine; the Magnifica lives up to its name.
With a sleek, stainless steel exterior that leans into classic Italian engineering, the Magnifica will not only make your countertops shine but prove to be an easy-to-use espresso machine.
With an LCD button display and a rotary control panel, you get a delicious espresso at the touch of a button. By way of the control panel, you can also take the reins of your grinding process with 13 adjustable grind control settings. Or, bypass the grinder and use pre-ground beans.
The two stainless steel boilers deliver your drink at the perfect temperature with consistent heat distribution. Having a dual boiler means you can brew and steam at the same time; no delay, for the smoothest possible brewing experience.
Another great feature of the Magnifica is the included cup warming tray; toasty cups of coffee that preserve temperature. The Magnifica also has a 180-degree rotating frothing wand; mobile enough to fit any milk container.
The integrated burr grinder does tend to run a little on the noisy side, while this brewer also doesn’t handle dark roasts too well. Oily beans tend to stick to the portafilter and grinder a little too much for the Magnifica.
- 13 adjustable grind control settings
- Two stainless steel boilers deliver espresso at the perfect temp
- Can bypass the grinder to use pre-ground coffee
- Cup warming tray
- 180-degree rotating, built-in steam wand
- Runs loud
- Doesn’t handle dark roasts well
Jura E8 — Best Premium Choice
Jura E8
SUMMARY: The personal butler of coffee machines, with intuitive AI technology and a high-performing grinder.
Ahhh, Jura; the bar-none, most expensive espresso machine in today’s coffee world. If you have the cap space for a Jura coffee machine, the E8 is a superb, premium espresso machine with an even better grinder.
For starters, the Professional Aroma Grinder guarantees over 12% more aroma steaming from your hot espresso. Enjoy that sweet coffee smell strong enough to clear out your sinuses.
The integrated grinder with Professional Aroma tech paired with the double shot spout makes the E8 not only a memorable coffee experience that delights the sense, but also efficient.
And did I mention easy? The Jura E8 relies on a 2.8″ TFT display with a single-touch automated interface. Here you’ll find my favorite feature: 17 pre-programmed drink options. Meanwhile, the A.I. smart technology learns and sorts your pre-sets over time and under distinct user profiles.
Jura has added features to promote the longevity of the machine by implementing auto-cleaning software and a milk tube encased in stainless steel springs. No matter where you go, you can rely on the E8.
As mentioned above, this is a quite pricey, super-automatic espresso machine. Engineered in Switzerland, it will probably take a while to arrive at your doorstep if you’re ordering online. If you can dole out the cash and don’t mind waiting a while, the pay-off is 100% worth it.
- Grinder guarantees 12% more aroma
- Double spout allows for easy double shots
- Color, touch-screen display great for beginners
- 17 pre-programmed drink options with AI compatibility
- Auto-cleaning maintenance
- Expensive compared to other models
- Long shipping times
Gaggia Accademia Espresso Machine — Best Milk-Based Drinks
Gaggia Accademia
SUMMARY: The Accademia makes delicious froth for cappuccinos or lattes while grinding with an ever-strong ceramic burr grinder.
The Gaggia Accademia is a super-automatic espresso maker with all the bells and whistles needed to make a variety of coffee drinks and, especially, exceptional milk-based coffee.
With a ceramic burr grinder, you’re getting a brewer that grinds quietly and won’t burn your coffee grounds. Ceramic grinders don’t conduct heat the way stainless steel burrs do, meaning your coffee will have a more traditional, true-to-bean taste, as the oils are unaffected.
You’re able to bypass the grinder altogether and use your own selection of freshly ground coffee beans. You can also adjust your extraction levels manually with the flow knob for lower or higher water pressure.
The Accademia features a height-adjustable telescopic coffee dispenser to accommodate different cup sizes. That said, the spout itself looks a little cheap with its all-plastic design. The stair of the show for the Accademia, however, comes down to its milk-frothing capabilities.
The automatic milk frother carafe whips up your milk at the touch of a button, while the manual steam wand gives you just the right amount of control without the complexity of perfecting your latte art. The carafe is also self-cleaning, so you’ll never need to worry about descaling it yourself.
The biggest downside here is the small, self-rinsing water reservoir. Because it is a self-cleaning reservoir smaller than 60 oz., each coffee cycle will use more water than you’d expect. This results in more trips to the fridge for clean water to refill your tank.
- Ceramic grinder that runs quietly and doesn’t burn your grounds
- Height-adjustable telescopic coffee dispenser
- Auto-frothing milk carafe
- Bypass doser for pre-ground coffee
- Adjustable extraction levels with flow knob
- Cheap plastic coffee spout
- Small, self-rinsing water reservoir
Delonghi La Specialista Prestigio — Fastest Brew Speed
De'Longhi La Specialista Prestigio
SUMMARY: The fasted draw in the West, with a 1-second heat-up time and Sensor Grinding technology.
With a quick start heat-up time of 1 second and a brew speed of fewer than 30 seconds, you’ll have more time in your mornings to sing in the shower rather than labor over an excellent cup of espresso; meet the La Specialista.
With sensor grinding technology, you get the freshest, most uniform grind possible, with two sensors that detect dosing and bean hopper levels. The Specialista also includes a Smart Tamping station for an even tamp and a mess-free morning.
The brewing system relies heavily on low-pressure pre-infusion, while the digital temperature controls allow you to monitor your temperature settings. The dual heating system coming from double boilers ensures you get to brew and froth at the same time with no delays.
You have two milk foam options when it comes to finding your perfect creamy froth: steamed milk or microfoam. The system runs automatically and all at the push of a button.
Many online reviewers without barista skills or with less experience in at-home brewing highlighted that it does take a considerable amount of practice to get your settings right.
Another thing to consider is the La Specialista’s dual wall baskets. These baskets are highly pressurized and typically lead to a weaker taste due to lower extraction levels.
- 1-second quick start
- Smart Tamping station
- Sensor grinding technology
- Low-pressure pre-infusion brewing
- Two milk foam options for automatic milk frothing
- Complicated process to fine-tune your settings
- Pressurized basket leads to a weaker taste
Gaggia Brera — Best Compact Machine
Gaggia Brera
SUMMARY: A giant of a coffee machine with a high-performance grinder, but without the oversized look and feel.
While not as compact as other models, the Gaggia Brera is an excellent choice of a machine within a modest price range and a small size bracket.
The built-in, conical grinder is designed with adaptive technology, where the grinder automatically adjusts over time to your preferred coffee settings. This quality grinder turns your guessing game into a solidified, smart grinding system.
The stainless steel Panarello steam wand siphons air directly into the milk through an intake hole, and through rapid steam engineering, you’ll have rich microfoam in under 10 seconds.
With the removable brew group and front-loaded design, the Brera is one of the easiest machines on our list to disassemble and clean. The removable water tank and dreg box are positioned at the front of the machine, adding ease of convenience to the necessary upkeep of your brewer.
That said, unlike other semi-automatic espresso machines on our list, this type of espresso machine requires manual cleaning exclusively. Another drawback compared to other semi-automatics is that there is no indication of when the hopper is running low.
- Compact design
- Gaggia adaptive grinder
- Front loaded for easily accessible water reservoir and dreg box
- Removable brew group
- Stainless steel Panarello steam wand
- Manual cleaning only
- Doesn’t indicate when beans are low
Buyer’s Guide
Every added feature on these machines makes it even harder to choose. In order to reduce the confusion, focus on these aspects primarily.
Grinder Performance
Look for a brewer with dose-control grinding that will offer you the most consistent grind possible. Dose control grinding minimizes the static charge of your favorite coffee beans while allowing you to grind directly into the portafilter. The result is a better taste without the mess.
Also, look for if you’re able to bypass the grinder altogether and use already ground coffee beans. Machines like the Breville Pro or the Gaggia Accademia allow you to brew without grinding first. This will enable you to use a separate grinder altogether.
Durability is also a major concern when consumers shop for coffee makers with grinders. Stainless steel is a durable material that can withstand the intense demands of grinding over time, while ceramic burr grinders are the best for maintaining the taste and integrity of your coffee.
Grind/Coffee Preferences
How much control over your coffee experience do you want to have? How creative do you want to be as a barista? Super-automatic machines like the Jura E8 allow you to fine-tune and program user profiles with all the ideas and preferences you could imagine.
The Breville Pro offers the most user-friendly, inventive grinding experience, with 30 possible grind settings to pick and choose from.
But, for those with less experienced palettes and who are easily satisfied with their morning coffee, you may not need all the flash and flare of grind settings and a multitude of control options. Keep in mind these will also affect the price of your machine.
Budget
Naturally, brewers without an integrated grinder will come in at a more affordable price than those with a built-in grinder. Other factors like ease of cleaning, touch digital interfaces, and customizable options like digital temperature control technology, will affect the ceiling of your machine’s price.
An expensive machine will ultimately bring more value to your coffee routine because, like anything, you get what you pay for.
The Gaggia Brera is the most affordable option when it comes to espresso machines. The Breville Barista Pro or the Delonghi Magnifica, on the other hand, give you more in the long run and a better handle on a tailored to you cup of coffee. Think about how much dinero you’re playing with and what features you cannot compromise on.
Size
For smaller spaces needing a compact brewer, you’re best opting for a machine like the Gaggia Brera, while a machine like the Delonghi Specialista or the Jura E8 will clutter up your kitchen and/or office space.
For portability, weight is the biggest concern. The Gaggia Accademia weighs a hulking 45 lbs. and will be too cumbersome to carry on the go.
Drink Options
If you’re a latte lover and can’t go without the sweet taste of foam dollops topping your coffee, consider the Gaggia Accademia as our top pick for best milk-based drinks.
All of the options among our favorites provide tons of your favorite drink options with frothing capabilities; the Jura E8 offers 17 pre-programmed drink options all at your fingertips.
Keep in mind that automatic milk frothing and versatile brewing with many kinds of coffee will affect the pricing of your machine. Manual steam wands/brewing cycles are priced in a modest to low price range but do require more effort and practice.
Hopper & Water Tank Capacity
These considerations go hand-in-hand with convenience, as a smaller water tank and/or bean hopper will affect how often you’ll refill, clean, and descale.
The Breville Pro has the largest bean hopper among our top picks, while the La Specialista has the biggest water reservoir. Not only will these larger sizes make your life easier, but both machines are great for serving multiple cups of espresso for larger groups of coffee drinkers.
Also, consider how a machine like the Gaggia Accademia has a small, self-rinsing water reservoir. That is because it uses more water during its brew cycle and will require more frequent refilling.
The Verdict
We’ve brought you our favorite espresso machines with built-in grinders. With tons of options to choose from, it’s easy for the average coffee enthusiast to get lost.
But that’s why we’re here, and we’re here to tell you that the Breville Barista Pro is the creme de la creme among machines with grinders integrated into their design.
With 30 programmable settings for your desired grind coarseness, the Pro has the most versatile and impressive grinder on our list. At the same time, it offers you a durable, highly intuitive brewer that makes incredible shots of espresso.
