Beautiful Coffee Maker Review

About the Beautiful Coffee Maker

This coffee maker has a slim build, at just five inches wide, 12 inches long, and 12.5 inches tall.

The control panel is a glowing touchscreen that lights up when the machine turned on. This reveals several customization options—including size options ranging from six to 16 ounces, extra-bold and over-ice strength settings, and the option between fresh beans or pre-ground coffee.

There's also a programmable setting, which allows you to schedule your morning cup ahead of time.

The removable water tank comes with a replaceable charcoal filter, and it houses 64 ounces of water at a time. The machine also comes with a 2-in-1 cleaning brush and measuring scoop for ground coffee.

This machine retails for just $99, which is a competitive price compared to other single-serve coffee machines with built-in grinders we've tested.

What we like

It boasts the convenience of a built-in grinder

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Freshly ground coffee just tastes better. But investing in a separate coffee grinder—which will take up precious counter space and add time to your morning coffee routine—isn't for everyone.

That's why a coffee maker with a built-in grinder is so attractive; especially one as customizable and intuitive as the Beautiful Perfect Grind.

This machine includes a built-in burr grinder that automatically adjusts grind settings to suit the selected coffee order, including stronger options, like "Bold" and "Over Ice." So even coffee newbies can benefit from a flavorful cup of joe without having to learn about grind settings or dosages.

Don't have whole beans on hand? (Or need to make a one-off cup of decaf?) This machine also has a pre-ground setting, where you skip the grinding step and insert the grounds directly into the reusable filter.

There are a variety of built-in customization options

Beyond the ability to choose between whole beans and pre-ground, this machine also offers plenty of customization options when brewing a cup of joe.

There are a whopping six brew sizes to choose from: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 ounces. That means anything from a small afternoon pick-me-up to a large travel mug for a long day ahead is fair game. The built-in drip tray is even removable, allowing ample space for large mugs and glasses.

Our favorite settings were the "Bold" and "Over Ice" features, which both brew an extra strong cup. We selected the "Bold" setting whenever we were brewing a regular hot cup of coffee, because the regular setting was a little weak tasting for our preferences.

So we were surprised to find that the "Over Ice'' setting didn't taste watered down at all—even when over a cup filled to the brim with ice. The machine accounts for significant ice melting and delivers a full-bodied cup that rivals what you would order at a café.

It has a stylish and slim design

Finding space on your countertop for new appliances can be daunting—especially when it comes to a coffee maker, which will likely become a permanent fixture.

That's why the slim design of the Beautiful Perfect Grind is so attractive. At just under five inches wide, this machine is easy to slip between other countertop mainstays.

We also love the stylish design of this machine, which is in line with Beautiful by Drew's other attractive appliances. It comes in several trendy colorways, including White Icing, Sage Green, Cornflower Blue, and Black Sesame. And the gold details and white glow-up touch screen add a stylish touch that stands out from competitors.

The spacious water tank means infrequent refills

One thing we noticed while testing this machine over the course of a couple of weeks: We didn't have to refill the water tank very often.

Of course, this will experience vary depending on how large your brews are (we mainly brewed 8- and 10-ounce cups). But, regardless, the 64-ounce water tank is definitely spacious. And refilling it is a breeze; it can easily be removed and brought over to your sink, thanks to its lightweight design.

What we don’t like

The brewing process is slow

Perhaps the only major downside we found with this machine is its noticeably slow brewing process.

Of course, machines with built-in grinders require a little extra time to brew, given that they need to actually grind the beans before brewing the coffee. But the Beautiful was noticeably slow—it took almost five full minutes to brew an 8-ounce cup. Compare that to our winning coffee maker, which can brew a full 32-ounce pot in just six minutes.

We found ourselves pressing the brew button, leaving the room to go back to work, and returning when the cup was ready. Luckily, the machine will beep a few times to let you know when it's done brewing (so you don't have to stand by and babysit).

Clean-up can be tedious

Since each single-serve cup is brewed with freshly ground beans, you'll have to empty and clean the waste basket after each use. In fact, the machine won't allow you to brew a second cup of coffee in a row (which we found to be a helpful reminder, in case we ever forgot the used grounds in there).

This part can be tedious, especially if you're used to using a Keurig or Nespresso machine, which automatically dispenses used pods and doesn't come with much upkeep.

However, we found that giving the waste basket and housing container a quick rinse or wash between brews doesn't take long. Once you get used to it, it becomes part of the routine.

Should you buy the Beautiful Coffee Maker?

Yes! Especially if you're looking for a grind-and-brew coffee maker with a low price tag

The Beautiful Perfect Grind is a no-brainer for anyone looking for a low-effort and budget-friendly coffee machine that also delivers a quality brew.

We were surprised by how well this machine can churn out tasty cups of both hot and iced coffee, and it requires no learning on the user's end. The built-in grinder works well to achieve fragrant and fresh coffee, and the design is slim and stylish enough to suit any kitchen—even a somewhat crowded one.

But if the slow brewing times turn you away, and you're willing to stretch your budget and counter space, the De'Longhi TrueBrew is another great single-serve (and carafe) coffee maker with a built-in grinder.