Its precision machined SS burrs deliver consistent and precise size for optimum flavour. The brushed stainless steel exterior will suit your kitchen.
Its precision machined SS burrs deliver consistent and precise size for optimum flavour. The brushed stainless steel exterior will suit your kitchen.
in 3 offers
The lowest price for Breville Bdc650bss Grind Control Silver right now is $55.98 at eBay.com.au, compared across 3 retailers.
The all-time low was $55.52 on 4 June 2026 — today's price is 1% above the lowest ever. This is at or near its all-time low — a good time to buy.
Prices last updated 9 June 2026.
Breville Bdc650bss Grind Control Silver
Its precision machined SS burrs deliver consistent and precise size for optimum flavour. The brushed stainless steel exterior will suit your kitchen.
Its precision machined SS burrs deliver consistent and precise size for optimum flavour. The brushed stainless steel exterior will suit your kitchen.
Last updated at 09/06/2026 04:46:59
Breville BDC650BSS The Grind Control Drip Coffee Maker
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Breville BDC650BSS Grind Control Coffee Maker With Grinder, Brushed Stainless Steel, Thermal Carafe
Delivery between 13–17 June $15.52
BDC650BSS Grind Control Coffee Maker With Grinder, Brushed Stainless Steel, Thermal Carafe
Delivery between 15–18 June $29
originally posted on breville.com
I bought this coffee machine 18 months ago, and it is used​ almost daily. As someone who is very picky with their coffee, I thought this would be the perfect machine for me as I would be able to have complete control of the grind size and the amount of coffee used.​ I was very excited about this machine at first, but 18 months out I am not​ at all satisfied with my purchase, and here are the pros and cons​ in my opinion:Pro:- Makes great-tasting coffee.Cons:- It's quite bulky (which is normal I guess for a combo with a grinder) so expect to use a significant amount of counter space for your machine.​- The bean container is very flat, forcing me to guide the beans by hand into the grinder every time I use the coffee machine, to make sure the beans get into ... MoreI bought this coffee machine 18 months ago, and it is used​ almost daily. As someone who is very picky with their coffee, I thought this would be the perfect machine for me as I would be able to have complete control of the grind size and the amount of coffee used.​ I was very excited about this machine at first, but 18 months out I am not​ at all satisfied with my purchase, and here are the pros and cons​ in my opinion:Pro:- Makes great-tasting coffee.Cons:- It's quite bulky (which is normal I guess for a combo with a grinder) so expect to use a significant amount of counter space for your machine.​- The bean container is very flat, forcing me to guide the beans by hand into the grinder every time I use the coffee machine, to make sure the beans get into the grinder​ at a regular pace during the whole grinding process. This prevents me from being able to use the programmed brew function as I need to be next to the machine while I use it to do that, otherwise, the grinder stops being fed beans and the coffee is very weak.- The amount of cleaning required to get the machine working is very substantial - I need to clean the grinder at least twice a week​ (sometimes more) to prevent the ground coffee from getting stuck before it gets to the filter.- The filter holder needs to get cleaned and dried before every use, otherwise, the ground coffee gets stuck under the lid​ and clogs the grinder.- The electronics broke and the dial that sets the number of cups now only goes down, no matter which way I turn it. This happened 14 months after I bought it, which was very frustrating. Now, if I want to increase the number of cups, I need to fill the water to the top and unplug the machine so it gets to 12​ when I plug it back on, and then dial down to the number of cups I want. Very disappointing for an expensive machine.- The thermos' top is ​very flat (bad design), which makes me have to turn it completely upside down to get all the coffee out, which often results in a mess. If I don't, I leave half a cup in the thermos​ every time.Reflecting on 18 months of use, had I known these issues beforehand, I wouldn't have invested in this machine due to its numerous flaws. A disappointing experience.
originally posted on ecscoffee.com
I have owned this coffee maker for 8 years (repaired one time) and if it died today i would most likely buy it again. I love the coffee it makes, good temperature, fresh grind. I Love that i can set a timer and have the pot ready when i come done in the morning.If you like to use whole beans but are time crunched in the morning and like to make a pot instead of a cups or don’t want to spend the $1000+ on an super auto espresso machine than this machine is for you.All that being said it does have a few things that need to be managed1. Use lighter to medium roasted beans. It does not love dark oily beans. That’s not to say you can’t put a bag of dark roast in, it just tends to clog the grind shoot mor frequently and required more cleaning.2. Clean it frequently. ... MoreI have owned this coffee maker for 8 years (repaired one time) and if it died today i would most likely buy it again. I love the coffee it makes, good temperature, fresh grind. I Love that i can set a timer and have the pot ready when i come done in the morning.If you like to use whole beans but are time crunched in the morning and like to make a pot instead of a cups or don’t want to spend the $1000+ on an super auto espresso machine than this machine is for you.All that being said it does have a few things that need to be managed1. Use lighter to medium roasted beans. It does not love dark oily beans. That’s not to say you can’t put a bag of dark roast in, it just tends to clog the grind shoot mor frequently and required more cleaning.2. Clean it frequently. The coffee shoot and rotating discs at the back (behind the filter) get grimed up with coffee over time unless you diligently clean it daily after every use (who has time for that). I try and descale it monthly (with vinegar) not because it needs a descale but because i find that combined with running water though it after helps clean behind the disc (which can’t be removed). Cleaning the shoot is straight forward and monthly is fine if you are using low oil beans.3. I no longer make single cups. This is what broke the machine the first time (after about 2 years) which after some haggling, Breville repaired at their cost, I paid shipping. The reason i don’t make a single cup is fear of breaking it again and i think it is because disc and mechanism that lifts the spring that opens the bottom of the filter gets stuck and the machine faults which can’t be cleared and the disc is stuck. Brewing a pot is a simpler operation for the machine (fewer movements of parts) since the pot itself lifts the spring in the brew basket.4. It is noisy. If everyone gets up at the same time its a nice alarm in the morning but if you have single early riser it can wake others up when making that first pot. I have mine in the basement now.All that being said I would still buy this again. It’s a nice looking machine and makes a great pot.
originally posted on breville.com
I, probably like you, spent the extra cash and settled for this Breville since it was one of very few options that had automatic grinding and brewing. And hey, it’s a nicer brand so it will perform at high quality, right? Unfortunately as 1000+ reviews have stated, not so.The good though: When it works, it’s the dream we spent $300+ on! Fresh grind and brew at your set time every morning without needing to do anything! Carafe does a decent job keeping the coffee warm for about an hour, but honestly the thermal carafes from $60 Mr Coffees from Target do much better. Setting up the automatic stuff is easy and the use interface is pretty easy to get used to.Bad: Jams constantly, cheap seals and hinges wear out, and strength control literally does nothing - yes ... MoreI, probably like you, spent the extra cash and settled for this Breville since it was one of very few options that had automatic grinding and brewing. And hey, it’s a nicer brand so it will perform at high quality, right? Unfortunately as 1000+ reviews have stated, not so.The good though: When it works, it’s the dream we spent $300+ on! Fresh grind and brew at your set time every morning without needing to do anything! Carafe does a decent job keeping the coffee warm for about an hour, but honestly the thermal carafes from $60 Mr Coffees from Target do much better. Setting up the automatic stuff is easy and the use interface is pretty easy to get used to.Bad: Jams constantly, cheap seals and hinges wear out, and strength control literally does nothing - yes literally, not figuratively.The grinder jams a lot. It does not like coated beans, which is…okay I guess? If you’re grinding beans you probably want to be getting true roasted beans anyway, without the slippery spray coating that cheap beans use to infuse fake flavors. (Even some Starbucks beans do this). But, for $300+, this grinder should be able to handle these, too. It doesn’t even handle the bigger dry beans it is recommended to use. Like a record player turning off, the grinder slows to a low pitch halt at least once per week, no matter how much I clean the inside and out of the hopper and funnel - which is a whole other pain. When it works it’s convenient, sure, but you’re going to be babying this fragile piece of equipment a LOT to pay for it so buckle up.The filter is nice! But dang the hinges on the door to swing out fail easily with normal usage. The plastic catch on the water tank fails easily, leaving the door to pop open constantly.And the strength control does absolutely nothing. No matter of it’s set to 1 or all the way up to 8, it’s the same volume of grounds and the same grind size. Seriously.So when it works it’s fine at delivering the basic promise. But the finicky and fragile moving parts and straight up non-working features make this hard to recommend, but luckily for Breville, it’s one of only a couple options on the market, but I hope they still choose to improve this machine regardless, as the price is a bit ridiculous for how cheap it all feels.
Breville BDC650BSS The Grind Control Drip Coffee Maker
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Breville BDC650BSS Grind Control Coffee Maker With Grinder, Brushed Stainless Steel, Thermal Carafe
Delivery between 13–17 June $15.52
BDC650BSS Grind Control Coffee Maker With Grinder, Brushed Stainless Steel, Thermal Carafe
Delivery between 15–18 June $29
I bought this coffee machine 18 months ago, and it is used​ almost daily. As someone who is very picky with their coffee, I thought this would be the perfect machine for me as I would be able to have complete control of the grind size and the amount of coffee used.​ I was very excited about this machine at first, but 18 months out I am not​ at all satisfied with my purchase, and here are the pros and cons​ in my opinion:Pro:- Makes great-tasting coffee.Cons:- It's quite bulky (which is normal I guess for a combo with a grinder) so expect to use a significant amount of counter space for your machine.​- The bean container is very flat, forcing me to guide the beans by hand into the grinder every time I use the coffee machine, to make sure the beans get into ... MoreI bought this coffee machine 18 months ago, and it is used​ almost daily. As someone who is very picky with their coffee, I thought this would be the perfect machine for me as I would be able to have complete control of the grind size and the amount of coffee used.​ I was very excited about this machine at first, but 18 months out I am not​ at all satisfied with my purchase, and here are the pros and cons​ in my opinion:Pro:- Makes great-tasting coffee.Cons:- It's quite bulky (which is normal I guess for a combo with a grinder) so expect to use a significant amount of counter space for your machine.​- The bean container is very flat, forcing me to guide the beans by hand into the grinder every time I use the coffee machine, to make sure the beans get into the grinder​ at a regular pace during the whole grinding process. This prevents me from being able to use the programmed brew function as I need to be next to the machine while I use it to do that, otherwise, the grinder stops being fed beans and the coffee is very weak.- The amount of cleaning required to get the machine working is very substantial - I need to clean the grinder at least twice a week​ (sometimes more) to prevent the ground coffee from getting stuck before it gets to the filter.- The filter holder needs to get cleaned and dried before every use, otherwise, the ground coffee gets stuck under the lid​ and clogs the grinder.- The electronics broke and the dial that sets the number of cups now only goes down, no matter which way I turn it. This happened 14 months after I bought it, which was very frustrating. Now, if I want to increase the number of cups, I need to fill the water to the top and unplug the machine so it gets to 12​ when I plug it back on, and then dial down to the number of cups I want. Very disappointing for an expensive machine.- The thermos' top is ​very flat (bad design), which makes me have to turn it completely upside down to get all the coffee out, which often results in a mess. If I don't, I leave half a cup in the thermos​ every time.Reflecting on 18 months of use, had I known these issues beforehand, I wouldn't have invested in this machine due to its numerous flaws. A disappointing experience.
I have owned this coffee maker for 8 years (repaired one time) and if it died today i would most likely buy it again. I love the coffee it makes, good temperature, fresh grind. I Love that i can set a timer and have the pot ready when i come done in the morning.If you like to use whole beans but are time crunched in the morning and like to make a pot instead of a cups or don’t want to spend the $1000+ on an super auto espresso machine than this machine is for you.All that being said it does have a few things that need to be managed1. Use lighter to medium roasted beans. It does not love dark oily beans. That’s not to say you can’t put a bag of dark roast in, it just tends to clog the grind shoot mor frequently and required more cleaning.2. Clean it frequently. ... MoreI have owned this coffee maker for 8 years (repaired one time) and if it died today i would most likely buy it again. I love the coffee it makes, good temperature, fresh grind. I Love that i can set a timer and have the pot ready when i come done in the morning.If you like to use whole beans but are time crunched in the morning and like to make a pot instead of a cups or don’t want to spend the $1000+ on an super auto espresso machine than this machine is for you.All that being said it does have a few things that need to be managed1. Use lighter to medium roasted beans. It does not love dark oily beans. That’s not to say you can’t put a bag of dark roast in, it just tends to clog the grind shoot mor frequently and required more cleaning.2. Clean it frequently. The coffee shoot and rotating discs at the back (behind the filter) get grimed up with coffee over time unless you diligently clean it daily after every use (who has time for that). I try and descale it monthly (with vinegar) not because it needs a descale but because i find that combined with running water though it after helps clean behind the disc (which can’t be removed). Cleaning the shoot is straight forward and monthly is fine if you are using low oil beans.3. I no longer make single cups. This is what broke the machine the first time (after about 2 years) which after some haggling, Breville repaired at their cost, I paid shipping. The reason i don’t make a single cup is fear of breaking it again and i think it is because disc and mechanism that lifts the spring that opens the bottom of the filter gets stuck and the machine faults which can’t be cleared and the disc is stuck. Brewing a pot is a simpler operation for the machine (fewer movements of parts) since the pot itself lifts the spring in the brew basket.4. It is noisy. If everyone gets up at the same time its a nice alarm in the morning but if you have single early riser it can wake others up when making that first pot. I have mine in the basement now.All that being said I would still buy this again. It’s a nice looking machine and makes a great pot.
I, probably like you, spent the extra cash and settled for this Breville since it was one of very few options that had automatic grinding and brewing. And hey, it’s a nicer brand so it will perform at high quality, right? Unfortunately as 1000+ reviews have stated, not so.The good though: When it works, it’s the dream we spent $300+ on! Fresh grind and brew at your set time every morning without needing to do anything! Carafe does a decent job keeping the coffee warm for about an hour, but honestly the thermal carafes from $60 Mr Coffees from Target do much better. Setting up the automatic stuff is easy and the use interface is pretty easy to get used to.Bad: Jams constantly, cheap seals and hinges wear out, and strength control literally does nothing - yes ... MoreI, probably like you, spent the extra cash and settled for this Breville since it was one of very few options that had automatic grinding and brewing. And hey, it’s a nicer brand so it will perform at high quality, right? Unfortunately as 1000+ reviews have stated, not so.The good though: When it works, it’s the dream we spent $300+ on! Fresh grind and brew at your set time every morning without needing to do anything! Carafe does a decent job keeping the coffee warm for about an hour, but honestly the thermal carafes from $60 Mr Coffees from Target do much better. Setting up the automatic stuff is easy and the use interface is pretty easy to get used to.Bad: Jams constantly, cheap seals and hinges wear out, and strength control literally does nothing - yes literally, not figuratively.The grinder jams a lot. It does not like coated beans, which is…okay I guess? If you’re grinding beans you probably want to be getting true roasted beans anyway, without the slippery spray coating that cheap beans use to infuse fake flavors. (Even some Starbucks beans do this). But, for $300+, this grinder should be able to handle these, too. It doesn’t even handle the bigger dry beans it is recommended to use. Like a record player turning off, the grinder slows to a low pitch halt at least once per week, no matter how much I clean the inside and out of the hopper and funnel - which is a whole other pain. When it works it’s convenient, sure, but you’re going to be babying this fragile piece of equipment a LOT to pay for it so buckle up.The filter is nice! But dang the hinges on the door to swing out fail easily with normal usage. The plastic catch on the water tank fails easily, leaving the door to pop open constantly.And the strength control does absolutely nothing. No matter of it’s set to 1 or all the way up to 8, it’s the same volume of grounds and the same grind size. Seriously.So when it works it’s fine at delivering the basic promise. But the finicky and fragile moving parts and straight up non-working features make this hard to recommend, but luckily for Breville, it’s one of only a couple options on the market, but I hope they still choose to improve this machine regardless, as the price is a bit ridiculous for how cheap it all feels.
We received the Breville Grind Control 12 cup Coffee Maker as a gift about a year ago. The carafe and filter basket are very poorly designed. Every time I pour coffee, I shake my head in disgust/amazement that product engineers were paid to intentionally designed the carafe so horribly. You need to turn the carafe on an almost 270 degree angle to get the last of the coffee out. Typically resulting in coffee dribbling all over your mug and counter. Honestly the filter basket is even worse. As with any drip coffee maker, you need to empty the filter basket after each use, which is expected. What is beyond burdensome to me is when you rinse the filter basket the top falls off and does not snap on or securely fit. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong. I ... MoreWe received the Breville Grind Control 12 cup Coffee Maker as a gift about a year ago. The carafe and filter basket are very poorly designed. Every time I pour coffee, I shake my head in disgust/amazement that product engineers were paid to intentionally designed the carafe so horribly. You need to turn the carafe on an almost 270 degree angle to get the last of the coffee out. Typically resulting in coffee dribbling all over your mug and counter. Honestly the filter basket is even worse. As with any drip coffee maker, you need to empty the filter basket after each use, which is expected. What is beyond burdensome to me is when you rinse the filter basket the top falls off and does not snap on or securely fit. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong. I looked online and saw all the other comments from customers who equally hate this poor filter basket design. When I called Breville Customer Care, I was met extremely long hold times, one hang up, and another person who was blaming me for not using the product correctly. I was told there was nothing Breville could do, nor would do. I asked several times if I could simply get a replacement filter basket thinking mine was broken. Instead, I was offered 20% another Breville coffee maker as a “one time” kindness from Breville. We have several other Breville products including the Smart Burr Grinder Pro, Hand Mixer, 4 slice toaster, and Smart Oven Pro. All of which have been great to use and the quality and design I have come to expect from the Breville name. None of these products are not inexpensive, but I believe in buying quality. The lack of support, and or resolution from Breville has really soured my opinion on the brand. We will NEVER purchase another Breville product again. Do yourself a HUGE favor and DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. As you can see from the lackluster reviews, I am not the only person who finds great fault with this product. We now find ourselves using a french press and pour over for daily use. There are many other great drip coffee makers out there. Do your homework and investigate the options. Breville has failed their customers in design, but even more importantly in customer care. Shame on you Breville, your brand is tarnished.
Nearly all of my kitchen appliances are Breville and I was very excited to come across this coffee maker when I was in the market for a new one. However there are serious design flaws that I wish I'd known before purchasing. I would NOT recommend this unit.The machine has many unique features that I think are wonderful, the amount of control you have over volume of coffee, strength of brew, and types of bean. However, the machine does not have a mechanism to heat the carafe once the coffee is brewed to keep your coffee warm. Additionally, the insulated carafe does a poor job of keeping the contents hot beyond your first cup. The second major flaw is the design of the pour-spout of the carafe. You need to tip the entire carafe upside down in order to pour the ... MoreNearly all of my kitchen appliances are Breville and I was very excited to come across this coffee maker when I was in the market for a new one. However there are serious design flaws that I wish I'd known before purchasing. I would NOT recommend this unit.The machine has many unique features that I think are wonderful, the amount of control you have over volume of coffee, strength of brew, and types of bean. However, the machine does not have a mechanism to heat the carafe once the coffee is brewed to keep your coffee warm. Additionally, the insulated carafe does a poor job of keeping the contents hot beyond your first cup. The second major flaw is the design of the pour-spout of the carafe. You need to tip the entire carafe upside down in order to pour the contents in the final 1/3 of the container. It is almost comical to watch anyone try to pour their final cups of coffee out of this thing. This also makes the carafe very difficult to clean and dry.Speaking of cleaning and drying, this machine requires a LOT of cleanup compared to comparable models. So many moving internal parts that all get gummed up in the grinding and brewing process. Most of them are easy to access, but be prepared to spend much time disassembling and cleaning your unit.All in all, the high level of control and quality cups of coffee do not outweigh the flaws of the machine.
My Breville Grind Control OdysseyLike a moth to the flame, my love for a good cup of coffee led me down the treacherous path of owning not one, not two, but three Breville Grind Controls. Yes, three. Each one was a siren, luring me in with promises of a perfectly brewed cup, only to dash my hopes against the rocky shores of malfunction and despair.Our first dalliance with Breville was promising, like a summer fling. It lasted about a year before the basket started shedding parts like a dog in spring. The grinder, no matter how much we pampered it with cleaning, became as stubborn as a teenager refusing to do chores. Yet, we were seduced by its sleek look and the convenience of grind-and-brew all in one.Undeterred, we waded back into the waters of Breville, ... MoreMy Breville Grind Control OdysseyLike a moth to the flame, my love for a good cup of coffee led me down the treacherous path of owning not one, not two, but three Breville Grind Controls. Yes, three. Each one was a siren, luring me in with promises of a perfectly brewed cup, only to dash my hopes against the rocky shores of malfunction and despair.Our first dalliance with Breville was promising, like a summer fling. It lasted about a year before the basket started shedding parts like a dog in spring. The grinder, no matter how much we pampered it with cleaning, became as stubborn as a teenager refusing to do chores. Yet, we were seduced by its sleek look and the convenience of grind-and-brew all in one.Undeterred, we waded back into the waters of Breville, buoyed by the belief that surely, this one would be different. Alas, it was not. The second one succumbed to the same ailments before it could even celebrate its first birthday. Breville, perhaps sensing our impending betrayal, sent us a replacement unit. It, too, died a slow, agonizing death, with the grinder grinding to a halt and parts falling off like a poorly made costume at a school play.Still, we clung to hope, as one does to a dysfunctional relationship, because we had other Breville kitchen items. We liked the idea of a matching set, a cohesive narrative in our culinary life. So, we gave it one final shot. Purchased in February, by June it was déjà vu all over again. The grinder was on strike and the basket was a disaster zone.Breville’s customer service suggested we return the unit for inspection and possible repair. The audacity! Were we expected to endure the coffee-less limbo while they tinkered with our machine? NOPE. We marched to a competitor, betrayal in our hearts, and began plotting the slow replacement of our other overpriced Breville gadgets.In the end, I must implore you, dear reader, do yourself a favor and steer clear of this money pit. Let my tale of woe be a cautionary one: don’t waste your money on the Breville Grind Control.
This is a frickin’ cool piece of brushed stainless steel to complement your counter top. It is large so check the dimensions.I've owned 2 of these for 2 years or so; one for my wife’s coffee and one for my stronger oily coffee. I have removed the bean hopper, (which opens the grinding chamber’s large silver plate to clean out or vacuum the shute) removed the top cutter to brush it off and brush out the bottom cutters every now and then, and even used a small vacuum nozzle, but all of this only occasionally. Usually, after a really oily basket, all I do is remove the hopper and brush out the cutters for the next brew. This machine, especially after an accurate calibration, makes great coffee with the right temperature and the right water to coffee ratio. I am ... MoreThis is a frickin’ cool piece of brushed stainless steel to complement your counter top. It is large so check the dimensions.I've owned 2 of these for 2 years or so; one for my wife’s coffee and one for my stronger oily coffee. I have removed the bean hopper, (which opens the grinding chamber’s large silver plate to clean out or vacuum the shute) removed the top cutter to brush it off and brush out the bottom cutters every now and then, and even used a small vacuum nozzle, but all of this only occasionally. Usually, after a really oily basket, all I do is remove the hopper and brush out the cutters for the next brew. This machine, especially after an accurate calibration, makes great coffee with the right temperature and the right water to coffee ratio. I am buying another after I finish this.Why? Because the one that makes my oily coffee stopped grinding at full speed, and went knees up. Not because of a clogged grinder, but maybe an issue with the motors in mine and other peoples machines. No harm though, because I bought the insurance and got credit on the return immediately from Amazon. The other machine is still as great as new.To get a better bean coffee maker with the kind of superior looks and performance jumps to the next level at $700+. Nice things require more effort to maintain so I don’t understand the complaints about keeping it clean. It’s not that tough.Buy the insurance and replace the machine if it goes bad. There is no other coffee maker at this price that comes close to its appeal.
I purchased my Breville Grind Control in February 2024 and after five continuous months of use I'm compelled to write a review. I'm a 61yo retired tech executive who just wants a good cup of coffee in the morning. I'm not a coffee snob but I do have high expectations for my morning cup. Additionally I want to enjoy the experience of making it and trying different brands and roasts. Overall I'm pleased with this coffee maker with the exception of one defect I’ll get to later. Here's my thoughts:* The GC is easy to use. I did go through a few weeks of "optimization", experimenting with the various bean grinds and strengths you can choose from, both of which are fairly intuitive on the machine. I've now determined the settings which make a consistent cup to my ... MoreI purchased my Breville Grind Control in February 2024 and after five continuous months of use I'm compelled to write a review. I'm a 61yo retired tech executive who just wants a good cup of coffee in the morning. I'm not a coffee snob but I do have high expectations for my morning cup. Additionally I want to enjoy the experience of making it and trying different brands and roasts. Overall I'm pleased with this coffee maker with the exception of one defect I’ll get to later. Here's my thoughts:* The GC is easy to use. I did go through a few weeks of "optimization", experimenting with the various bean grinds and strengths you can choose from, both of which are fairly intuitive on the machine. I've now determined the settings which make a consistent cup to my liking. If I’m out of beans, the machine allows me to use pre-ground coffee and bypass the grinder.* I drink two normal sized mugs in the morning so I make 7-cups of the 12-cup carafe capacity. I'm the only coffee drinker in my family so it's plenty, however if you need more you're going to be brewing another pot or two. The machine has a convenient countdown clock once I press START...it takes 7mins to grind and brew my coffee. I've never used the timer feature to start the process automatically before I wake up…just haven’t had the need.* Many reviews point to the amount of maintenance required to keep the GC working well. In my experience there is both daily and monthly maintenance, however I drive a Porsche so I'm accepting of the fact that high-performing mechanical devices require some keeping up with. I wash both the removable coffee basket and carafe daily by hand in the sink with dish soap and a sponge, allowing the coffee basket to thoroughly dry before I reinstall it the next morning. I've been using a Colombian Medium/Dark Roast bean which I buy at Costco proving my earlier non-coffee-snob admission...give it a try. The beans are “oily" which when ground tend to clog the chute between the grinder and coffee basket after 3 or 4 weeks. Cleaning the machine really well takes me about 15 minutes. There are some good videos out there which I watched to get started but I now have the routine down. Full disclosure, I use the nozzle attachment on our vacuum cleaner to get it really clean. I've begun to actually enjoy cleaning it which I hope will add to its lifespan and have found that a newly-cleaned machine makes superior coffee.* My only complaint is with the carafe. It keeps the coffee plenty hot and it's sturdy and easy to handle. However, the lid design prevents all of the coffee from being poured out. In fact it's impossible to empty it without removing the lid and turning the carafe completely upside-down, unfortunately in the kitchen sink and not in my cup. It's a considerable amount that's left over and pretty wasteful. I'm baffled by this engineering miss.* The GC is attractive, made of high quality materials, contains just the right amount of tech, and I believe is fairly priced. We also have a Breville Toaster and a Breville Mini-Oven, both of which we’ve had good success with.
We were given this for a Christmas present so we’ve had a bit of time to put it to use. Our experience:Maintenance is a chore for a few reasons:The disc is not only hard to reach for cleaning, but even after a few uses, very fine grounds harden on the surface and must be chipped away. I try to use a moist cloth to soften them, but that just gets the disc wet (and I am sure water gets on the back side of the disc surface I can’t get to).The space itself is small and tucked away and you need three hands (one to hold a flashlight) to ensure the grind chamber is cleaned.The carafe is very difficult to clean. I cannot fit my hand into the top to scrub it well, so there is built up a layer of coffee stain. To add to this, the male portions of the lid locking ... MoreWe were given this for a Christmas present so we’ve had a bit of time to put it to use. Our experience:Maintenance is a chore for a few reasons:The disc is not only hard to reach for cleaning, but even after a few uses, very fine grounds harden on the surface and must be chipped away. I try to use a moist cloth to soften them, but that just gets the disc wet (and I am sure water gets on the back side of the disc surface I can’t get to).The space itself is small and tucked away and you need three hands (one to hold a flashlight) to ensure the grind chamber is cleaned.The carafe is very difficult to clean. I cannot fit my hand into the top to scrub it well, so there is built up a layer of coffee stain. To add to this, the male portions of the lid locking mechanism on the carafe are around the opening and scratch your hand if it gets anywhere close to them. I toss in a sponge and go at it with the handle of a wooden spoon, but it never gets fully cleaned and smells like old coffee.The filter holder has a lot of places for grounds to stick to so you must invest a good amount of time cleaning it to avoid buildup.The Carafe:As mentioned above, it is hard to clean. As a matter of fact, I just broke the top of the lid when I was trying to clean all the nooks and crannies on it.The carafe also has a few other issues:It is heavy and impossible to tell how much coffee is left.The inner surface on the inside surrounding the opening is slightly dished, so it’s nearly impossible to get every drop out of the carafe - you have to kind of shake it to get it out.The carafe is also not heated (surely a $300++ system will keep coffee well hot for the time it takes to empty the pot?) - so you better be first to the pot for the best coffee of the morning.Use:It doesn’t take all that much to use the system, and the single-cup brewing is nice - but my it seems to go through a mighty amount of coffee. Since breaking the lid we have reverted to our old stand-by and are not using near as much coffee for the same tasting results.Overall, it is made from quality materials, but I can’t perceive any improvement in maintenance or taste compared to the old stand-by. If it were possible to return, I would.
I wanted to buy a barista impress but I couldn't afford it so I went with the grind control as I heard this was a good trusted brand. So I got it home and the first few days it was amazing and made great coffee. Then on the 4th day it started to brew the strongest coffee imaginable I would Brew five cups at strength level 5 and it would fill the gold filter all the way to the top. So I read the instructions and I did a calibration and it didn't change anything. So I thought maybe I should take the hopper out and clean the grinder out in case something's jammed in it. Go to take the hopper out and it is jammed solid and no matter what I do it would not come out. So I took it back to the store and exchanged it and bought a 2-year warranty just in case. I just took it ... MoreI wanted to buy a barista impress but I couldn't afford it so I went with the grind control as I heard this was a good trusted brand. So I got it home and the first few days it was amazing and made great coffee. Then on the 4th day it started to brew the strongest coffee imaginable I would Brew five cups at strength level 5 and it would fill the gold filter all the way to the top. So I read the instructions and I did a calibration and it didn't change anything. So I thought maybe I should take the hopper out and clean the grinder out in case something's jammed in it. Go to take the hopper out and it is jammed solid and no matter what I do it would not come out. So I took it back to the store and exchanged it and bought a 2-year warranty just in case. I just took it home opened it up washed everything filled the tank and initially tried to brew a single cup it grinded the beans but no water came out. So then I put the carafe in and set it to pre-ground and emptied the basket and tried to just run a full carafe through in case it needed to Prime. Only a third of the carafe filled with water while Steam came out of every crack in this machine including through the buttons. The entire outside of the machine was super hot and wet at the end and the timer stopped but it kept trying to brew because there was still six cups of water in the tank. I will be returning this to the store (Best Buy) tomorrow hopefully I can get all of my money back for the warranty etc. I wasted about $20 worth of beans trying to get these two machines to work and I am very disappointed in Breville I will be hesitant to buy anything from them again.
