If you’re a caffeine lover, chances are that you’ve tried out a lot of ways to brew your java. We’ve experimented with more than a dozen, from the classic French press to Chemex, Aeropress to single-cup options. And while just about all of them offer distinct advantages and disadvantages, there are no easy replacements for the morning drip pot of coffee, fresh and hot, with enough to serve several cups, made from your beans of choice. The best results, though, come from grinding as close to the time you make your brew.
Which is exactly why the Capresso CoffeeTEAM Pro Glass exists, a grind-and-brew coffeemaker that might become your new favorite appliance. We’ve seen plenty of Capresso gear over the years, like their espresso makers and interesting combination single-cup/pot brewer. And while one of our favorite recent brewers is the iCoffee, it requires investment in a decent separate grinder. If you already have a burr grinder that you love, and don’t mind adding a couple of minutes (and some noise) to your morning routine, then you probably don’t need this model from Capresso. For everyone else though, take a look at the 12-cup glass carafe, large bean hopper, fairly compact design, and permanent filter that work together to make your life a little easier.
We threw in some of our favorite dark roast whole bean, set the timer, filled the water tank, and waited. The conical burr grinder moves slowly, to avoid damaging your precious beans with heat, and you can adjust the grind to some degree (three settings, primarily intended for modifying the coarseness for dark/oily beans). The company claims that the grinder is cleaned each cycle, which is more than your local coffee shop is doing. And the built-in charcoal water filter helps improve taste, as does the keep-warm function which prevents you from having to microwave that third or fourth cup. We did have a couple of issues- it can be difficult to clean manually, and we did encounter some clogs (likely due to humidity) when using over the course of our testing. You’ll also possibly need some practice batches to help fine tune the amount of beans, since the automatic feeder might not grind enough (or try to grind too much).
We liked the matte stainless steel exterior, easy to clean and not a fingerprint magnet. The carafe is dishwasher safe and pours nicely, but an insulated one might have been a nice touch. Overall, the Capresso CoffeeTEAM Pro Glass is a solid, handy drip coffee brewer that offers way better results than your average coffeemaker. The built-in grinder is pretty easy to use, but we’d suggest keeping it out from underneath a cabinet for easy cleaning and access. Available now, for around $220.
