The Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS is a drip coffee maker with a built-in burr grinder, a 12-cup thermal carafe and eight strength settings. Breville sells it for $399.95, which makes it one of the most expensive grind-and-brew machines you can buy for the counter.
What is the Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS?
It is a combination grinder and brewer. You fill a bean hopper that holds up to 1/2 lb of coffee beans, pick a strength, and the machine grinds right before it brews. Breville says this captures the freshness and essential oils from the beans. The bean hopper has a locking system, so you can remove it for storage and transfer.
The machine brews into a 12 cup dual wall stainless steel thermal carafe, or straight into a tall cup or travel mug. Breville calls this Steep and Release technology and says it gives an equal balance and flavor profile when filling a large carafe or a single cup. A Gold Tone filter and a cleaning brush come in the box.
Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS specs
| Model | BDC650BSS |
|---|---|
| Grinder | Integrated and adjustable, stainless steel burrs |
| Bean hopper | 1/2 lb, with locking system |
| Water tank | 60 oz / 12 cup |
| Carafe | 12 cup dual wall stainless steel thermal |
| Strength | 8 settings, or a pre-ground coffee option |
| Timer | Programmable auto start, with an LCD display |
| Size (W x D x H) | 16.7 x 9.1 x 12.5 inches |
| Weight | 16.09 lbs / 7.3 kg |
| Power | 1100 watts, 110 to 120 volts |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
| Price | $399.95 |
The accessories listed are a Gold Tone filter, the thermal carafe and a cleaning brush. Breville's page does not say whether the carafe or filter basket is dishwasher safe, so check the manual before you wash anything in the machine.
How the built-in grinder and Steep and Release work
The grinder uses stainless steel burrs. Breville says burrs deliver consistent and precise particle size for optimum flavor potential, and the grinder output is adjustable so you can match the bean and the roast. The page names beans from Brazil, Colombia and Sumatra as the sort of range the grind adjustment is meant to cover. An LCD screen shows the grind setting, the grind time and the number of cups you have selected.
Steep and Release is the brewing side. Breville says it lets you brew directly into a large carafe, tall cup or travel mug with equal balance and flavor profile, so one machine can fill a big carafe or a single travel mug. Nobody here has tasted a cup from this machine, so that remains the maker's claim.
For days when you want to use pre-ground coffee, there is a pre-ground option alongside the eight strength settings, and the auto start function lets you set the time you want coffee ready so the machine begins the process on its own.
Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS vs Cuisinart DGB-400NAS
The Cuisinart Automatic Grind & Brew 12-Cup Coffee Maker DGB-400NAS is the mainstream grind-and-brew rival at $119.95. It has a glass carafe, a stainless steel blade grinder, a 24-hour timer, a 1 to 4 cup setting and a 3 year warranty, but no strength control.
The Breville costs $280.00 more. For that, the maker lists a burr grinder instead of a blade, eight strength settings, a thermal carafe instead of glass with a warming plate, and a hopper that locks and lifts out. On the other side, the Cuisinart has the longer warranty, 3 years against 1 year, and is far less expensive if the grinder is the only thing you need.
Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS vs Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS
The Breville Precision Brewer BDC400BSS is Breville's non-grinding brewer. It has a 60 oz glass carafe, PID temperature control, six brew modes (Gold, Fast, Strong, Iced, Cold Brew and My Brew) and adjustable bloom time. It does not grind, and Breville does not publish a price on the page we hold.
These are different jobs. The Precision Brewer is for people who want to adjust temperature, bloom and flow rate on pre-ground coffee. The Grind Control is for people who want whole beans handled in one machine. If you already own a grinder you like, the Precision Brewer's controls may matter more than the Grind Control's built-in one.
Is the Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS worth it?
At $399.95 the answer depends on how much you value one-machine convenience. The price buys a burr grinder, a thermal carafe, eight strength settings and a programmable start. Buying a separate burr grinder and a good drip brewer could cost less, but it takes more counter space and a second plug.
The page also includes a promotion at the time we read it: 25% off fresh beans from certain roasters and two free bags of coffee with purchase. Promotions change, so check the current terms. Breville gives a 1 year limited warranty, shorter than some cheaper machines, and the machine is large at about 17 inches wide and 16 pounds. Nobody has tested how consistent the grind is, how loud it is or how long it lasts.
Who should buy the Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS (and who should not)
Buy it if you want fresh-ground coffee at the push of a button, prefer whole beans, brew for a household or into a travel mug, and want the coffee ready when you wake up. It also suits someone who wants to adjust strength without opening a second device.
Skip it if budget matters and the $119.95 Cuisinart would do, if you need to brew less than a mug-sized batch regularly, if counter or cabinet height is tight, or if you want the longest warranty. If you only want a good drip brewer without a grinder, the Precision Brewer above is the better lead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Breville Grind Control have a built-in grinder?
Yes. It has an integrated, adjustable grinder with stainless steel burrs, fed from a bean hopper that holds 1/2 lb of beans.
Can I use pre-ground coffee?
Yes. Breville lists a pre-ground coffee option alongside its eight strength settings.
Can I set it to brew automatically?
Yes. It has programmable auto start. You set the time you want the coffee, and the machine begins the grind and brew process by itself.
How big is the carafe?
It is a 12 cup dual wall stainless steel thermal carafe, and the water tank holds 60 oz. Breville also says you can brew directly into a tall cup or a travel mug.
How long is the warranty?
Breville lists a 1 year limited warranty.
How big is the machine?
Breville lists 16.7 x 9.1 x 12.5 inches (W x D x H) and 16.09 lbs, or 7.3 kg, so give it room on the counter and check the height under your cabinets.
