Best Espresso Machines With a Built-In Grinder
Five espresso machines with built-in grinders compared on grinder settings, heating, tank, milk system and footprint, using maker documents and credited reviews.
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Short answer: For most people the Barista Express is the simplest way to get a grinder, gauge and manual workflow in one machine. Choose the Barista Touch or La Specialista Touch for screen guidance and automatic milk, Ninja’s Luxe Café Premier for drip and cold brew, and the Mini for the smallest body here.
A built-in grinder saves counter space and a separate purchase, but it also ties two components to one machine. If either part fails, or you outgrow the grinder, you cannot replace it on its own the way you could a standalone unit. We compared five machines from maker documents and credited independent reviews. We did not brew on any of them. Method: How We Review. Criteria: How We Rank.
Safety note: the group head, portafilter, steam wand and hot water outlet get hot enough to burn. Do not remove the portafilter during extraction and let parts cool before handling. Unplug before cleaning or before reaching near the burrs, as your manual directs, and do not try to clear a jam with your hand or a tool while the machine is plugged in. These machines draw a lot of current, so read the manual’s section on cords. Check each brand at cpsc.gov/Recalls before buying. We make no health claims about coffee.
Comparison Table
| Model | Grind settings | Heating | Water tank | Milk | Power | Dimensions (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville Barista Express | 16 | Thermocoil + PID | 67 fl oz (2 L) | Manual wand | 1750 W | 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 |
| Breville Barista Touch | 30 | ThermoJet, 3 sec stated | 68 fl oz (2 L) | Auto MilQ and manual | 1680 W | 15.7 x 12.6 x 12.4 |
| De’Longhi La Specialista Touch | 15 | Thermoblock | 57.48 oz | Auto wand, 5 froth levels | 1450 W | 14.37 x 11.22 x 15.87 |
| Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601 | 25 | 1600 W thermoblock (per Tom’s) | 37 oz (Tom’s) or 70 oz (Barista Life) | Auto frother | 1650 W (retailer) | 13.6 x 13.2 x 14.6 (retailer) |
| Ninja Luxe Café Mini ES301 | 60 | Not stated | 47 oz (1.3 L as stated) | Manual wand | 1650 W | 12.17 x 10.08 x 13.43 |
Sources vary by row: Breville and De’Longhi figures come from maker documents; Ninja’s come from named reviews and a U.S. retailer, because SharkNinja’s own pages could not be opened. De’Longhi’s U.S. page gives dimensions without a unit, which we read as inches.
Read This Before Comparing Grind Settings
A count of 60 settings is not four times as capable as 15. Makers do not publish step size, so the numbers cannot be compared across brands, and one brand’s setting 8 means nothing on another’s dial. Tom’s Coffee Corner reports that espresso sits around settings 8 to 12 on the 60-step Mini, so a lot of the dial goes to brew styles other than espresso.
The more useful questions are whether the grinder can reach your espresso range and what happens when you want to change coffee. Stepped grinders can be limiting on a shot that needs a small nudge.
Water and Heat: Practical Math
| Model | Tank vs Barista Express (67 fl oz) | Amps at 120 V | Counter area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barista Touch | 101% | 14.0 | about 198 sq in |
| Barista Express | 100% | 14.6 | about 208 sq in |
| La Specialista Touch | 86% | 12.1 | about 161 sq in |
| Ninja ES301 | 70% | 13.8 | about 123 sq in |
| Ninja ES601 | 55% or 104% (sources differ) | 13.8 | about 180 sq in (retailer dims) |
Tom’s Coffee Corner lists a 37 oz tank on the ES601 and a 70 oz tank on the ES701. Barista Life, citing Ninja, lists 70 oz for the ES601, so the two sources disagree. Confirm it on the listing. The Luxe Café Pro ES701 flushes about 4 oz after every drink, per the same reviewer, which means a 70 oz tank offers about 17 flushes (70 divided by 4) before counting the water in the drinks themselves. If you pick a Ninja, expect regular refills.
La Specialista Touch is listed at 15.87 tall, the tallest of the five. Measure your clearance, including room to access the hopper, before ordering.
How We Chose
The job: one appliance that grinds and brews espresso at home. A machine had to include a burr grinder, a portafilter or portafilter-style workflow, and enough documentation to compare. We weighted grinder usefulness, milk system fit, tank size, and the honesty of the maker’s published data. We left out two candidates: AMZCHEF’s machine, because we could not open a maker page or manual and listings for its tank size conflict, and De’Longhi’s La Specialista Arte Evo, because the sources we could open disagree on grind settings across variants and we could not tie one to our Amazon listing.
The 5 Best Espresso Machines With a Built-In Grinder
1. Breville Barista Express: Best for Learning Manual Espresso
- Heating: Thermocoil with PID, 200°F (per Breville)
- Rated pump: 15 bar, 9 bar extraction (per Breville)
- Grinder: integrated conical burr, 16 settings
- Portafilter: 54 mm stainless steel
- Water tank: 67 fl oz (2 L) (per the manual)
- Hopper: ½ lb (per the manual)
- Power: 1750 W (per the manual)
- Dimensions: 15.9 x 13.1 x 12.4 in
It earns the label because it pairs a grinder with an analog pressure gauge and manual shot control, so you can see what changes when you adjust. The trade-off is the grinder itself, which Coffee Chronicler’s reviewer calls the machine’s weak point. Details in our Breville Barista Express review.
Pros
- Pressure gauge visible during extraction
- PID temperature control
- Large 2 L tank
Cons
- Grinder may be outgrown
- No published heat-up time
- Cannot brew and steam at once, per Coffee Chronicler
Good fit if
- You are learning extraction
- You want one appliance with manual control
Skip if
- You want automatic milk
- You expect to upgrade the grinder soon
Verdict: The clearest match for buyers who want to learn with a gauge in view.
2. Breville Barista Touch: Best Touchscreen Workflow
- Heating: ThermoJet, 3 second stated heat-up (per Breville)
- Rated pump: 15 bar, 9 bar extraction (per Breville)
- Grinder: integrated conical burr, 30 settings
- Portafilter: 54 mm stainless steel
- Milk: Auto MilQ automatic wand, 104°F to 167°F, 8 texture levels, manual option
- Water tank: 68 fl oz (2 L) (per the manual)
- Hopper: 8.8 oz (250 g) (per the manual)
- Power: 1680 W (per the manual)
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 12.6 x 12.4 in
The label rests on the touchscreen coffee menu and automatic milk with adjustable temperature and texture. Combined with the large tank, it suits a household that does not want to learn every step.
Pros
- Touchscreen with preset menu
- Automatic and manual milk options
- 3 second stated heat-up
- Largest tank here with no conflicting figure
Cons
- Grinder tied to the machine
- More electronics to rely on over time
- Warranty length not stated on Breville’s page
Good fit if
- Milk drinks dominate and you want guidance
- You like menu-driven control
Skip if
- You want to learn with a gauge and manual controls only
- You want a smaller footprint
Verdict: The convenience pick from Breville, at the cost of more electronics to depend on.
3. De’Longhi La Specialista Touch: Most Complete U.S. Spec Sheet Here
- Heating: Thermoblock (per De’Longhi)
- Rated pump: 15 bar (per De’Longhi)
- Grinder: conical burr, 15 settings (per De’Longhi)
- Milk: automatic steam wand, 5 froth levels, 4 temperature settings
- Water tank: 57.48 oz; maximum cup height 4.68 in
- Dose: up to 20 g with the included tamper and dosing guide
- Power: 1450 W, 120 V
- Dimensions: 14.37 x 11.22 x 15.87 (unit not stated)
- Weight: 22.93 lb
- Warranty: up to 3 years
The label is about documentation: De’Longhi’s U.S. page gives tank, weight, watts, cup height and a warranty term, more than the others here publish on their product pages. It is also the tallest machine in the group at 15.87, and cup clearance tops out at 4.68 in.
Pros
- Published warranty and physical data
- Automatic milk with several settings
- Lower power draw than the Brevilles here
Cons
- Tallest machine here
- Small maximum cup height for tall glasses
- Tank smaller than the Brevilles
Good fit if
- You value published specs and warranty before buying
- You want automatic milk with a portafilter routine
Skip if
- You have low upper cabinets
- You often use tall travel mugs
Verdict: Well documented, but measure your cabinet height first.
4. Ninja Luxe Café Premier ES601: Best for Drip and Cold Brew in One Machine
- Grinder: 25-setting conical burr, weight-based dosing (per Tom’s Coffee Corner)
- Heating: 1600 W thermoblock (per Tom’s Coffee Corner)
- Water tank: 37 oz per Tom’s Coffee Corner, 70 oz per Barista Life (confirm against the listing)
- Portafilter: 53 mm, per Expert Reviews (U.K. version)
- Power: 120 V, 1650 W (per P.C. Richard & Son)
- Dimensions: 14.6 in H x 13.6 in W x 13.2 in D (per P.C. Richard & Son)
- Warranty: 12 months parts and labor (per P.C. Richard & Son)
Ninja sells this as a 3-in-1 machine, and the label reflects that drip and cold brew sit alongside espresso. In its review (originally August 2024, updated July 2026), Tom’s Coffee Corner notes weight-based dosing and lists no manometer or temperature readout as a drawback. Expert Reviews reports double shots extracting in roughly 27 to 29 seconds on the U.K. model, and says it could not confirm Ninja’s claim that the machine adjusts temperature and pressure for each shot. Tom’s Coffee Corner adds that the steam wand is not a no-burn design and must be cleaned immediately.
Comparing within the line? The Luxe Café Pro ES701, per Tom’s Coffee Corner’s May 2025 review, adds an integrated tamper, a hot water outlet, and a 70 oz tank.
Pros
- Espresso, drip and cold brew from one machine
- Weight-based dosing reported by reviewers
- Auto frother with milk type settings per Expert Reviews
Cons
- Tank size conflicts across sources; confirm before buying
- No pressure gauge or temperature readout, per Tom’s Coffee Corner
- Fewer details published by the maker in pages we could open
Good fit if
- Your household wants espresso and drip from one appliance
- You prefer guided dosing
Skip if
- You want to watch pressure during extraction
- You want a large confirmed tank
Verdict: A versatile pick for mixed households, once you confirm the tank size on the listing.
5. Ninja Luxe Café Mini ES301: Smallest Footprint Here
- Grinder: integrated conical burr, 60 settings (per Tom’s Coffee Corner)
- Milk: manual steam wand, same as the ES701 per Tom’s Coffee Corner
- Water tank: 47 oz, stated as 1.3 L (Mini series, per Tom’s Coffee Corner)
- Hopper: 250 g (Mini series, per Tom’s Coffee Corner)
- Power: 1650 W (Mini series, per Tom’s Coffee Corner)
- Dimensions: 10.08 in L x 12.17 in W x 13.43 in H (Mini series)
- Weight: 19.4 lb (Mini series)
- Warranty: not confirmed
At about 123 square inches, the Mini takes up the least counter of the five, which is the reason for the label. The figures above come from Tom’s Coffee Corner’s review of the Mini Plus, where the spec list is written for the Mini range, so confirm them against your listing. Tom’s Coffee Corner also reports that Mini models cannot make cold drinks.
Pros
- Smallest listed footprint here
- Lowest weight among the models here with a stated weight
- Manual wand for buyers who want to steam themselves
Cons
- No auto milk on this version
- Tank called “under-dimensioned” for the Mini Plus by Tom’s Coffee Corner
- Specs rest on one independent source
Good fit if
- You want a built-in grinder in a tight space
- You are comfortable steaming manually
Skip if
- You want automatic milk
- You want cold drinks
Verdict: A sensible compact all-in-one if your listing confirms these figures.
Who Should Not Buy a Built-In Grinder Machine
- Anyone likely to upgrade to a dedicated espresso grinder soon. A separate-grinder setup, covered in our mid-range espresso machine guide, avoids paying for a grinder you will abandon.
- Anyone who needs one-touch drinks with no portafilter.
- Buyers hoping to keep a machine running after the grinder fails. Repairs on these combined machines go through the maker or a service center, and we do not advise opening one yourself.
Related Guides
More guides are in our Espresso Machines section.
More guides in this section: Espresso Machine Buying Guides.
Where the Numbers Come From
Breville BES870 and BES880 pages with U.S. instruction books (BES870, BES880); De’Longhi EC9455M; P.C. Richard & Son for ES601 dimensions, power and warranty; Barista Life for the 70 oz ES601 tank figure. Independent notes are credited inline. Articles are drafted with AI tools, key specifications are checked against their sources, and the site owner is responsible for what is published.