Black & Decker 12-Cup Mill+Brew Coffee Maker

Why I switched to a grind-and-brew machine

I like the ritual of coffee, but on busy mornings I don’t love juggling a separate grinder and drip machine—or sweeping up stray grounds. That’s what drew me to the Mill & Brew: a single unit that mills beans and brews into a 12-cup glass carafe with a programmable timer, brew-strength control, and a simple panel that doesn’t require an owner’s manual every time you use it. After several weeks of daily use, it’s become an easy, predictable way to get fresh-ground coffee without complicating my morning routine.

Design and footprint

The Mill & Brew is a countertop machine with a straightforward, slightly utilitarian look. It’s about 15.5 inches tall, so it fits under standard kitchen cabinets, though I typically slide it forward to open the lid for beans and water. The body feels sturdier than the price would suggest, with enough weight to stay put when you remove the carafe. The glass carafe is light, pours cleanly, and the clear water-level window on the machine makes it easy to avoid overfilling.

The grinder and filter live together in a removable top basket. It’s a blade grinder—not a burr—so expectations should align accordingly. The bronze-tone permanent filter is attached to that basket, which keeps the workflow neat and eliminates the usual back-and-forth between a separate grinder and brew basket.

Setup and daily workflow

Using the Mill & Brew is refreshingly quick:
- Lift the lid, add whole beans to the basket, and pour water into the reservoir.
- Choose your brew strength (regular, strong, etc.).
- Hit brew or rely on the 24-hour programmable timer for an auto start.

There’s also a grinder-off option if you want to use pre-ground coffee; in that mode it behaves like a normal drip machine. The backlit display is easy to read, and the “QuickTouch” programming really is simple—set the clock, set an auto-brew time, and forget it. The keep-warm plate is nonstick and wipes clean with a damp cloth.

Grinder performance and flavor

Blade grinders get a bad rap, but in a drip context they can absolutely produce a tasty, aromatic pot. With medium and medium-dark roasts, I consistently got a full-bodied cup with good sweetness. The strong setting extends the brew cycle and increases extraction for a richer cup; it’s bold, bordering on punchy, but still clearly drip coffee—not a substitute for espresso.

As with most blade-grind systems, there’s more fines in the basket than you’d see with a burr grinder. That can translate to a bit more body and the occasional silt at the bottom of the cup, particularly if you grind and brew at the strongest setting. If you prefer an ultra-clean cup with paper-filter clarity, drop a #4 paper cone inside the permanent filter. It nests well, catches fines, and you still get the convenience of the integrated grinder without the sediment.

One quirk I noticed: every so often a stray bean or two doesn’t get fully chopped. It’s rare and has a negligible effect on the pot, but it’s a reminder this is a pragmatic system built for convenience more than micro-precision.

Brew temperature, speed, and noise

The machine brews on the hotter side for a consumer drip, and the resulting coffee feels appropriately hot in the cup without tasting scorched. A full 12-cup pot takes around 10–12 minutes in my kitchen; the strong mode adds a few minutes. The grinder makes a burst of noise, as you’d expect, but it’s brief and less grating than many standalone grinders I’ve used. Once grinding finishes, the brew cycle itself is quiet.

The Sneak-A-Cup pause feature works as advertised. Pulling the carafe mid-brew for a quick pour doesn’t result in a mess, and flow resumes cleanly when you replace the carafe. Handy when you’re impatient.

Controls and programmability

The charm here is how low-friction the controls are. The panel has large, labeled buttons for strength selection, programming, and start/cancel. The backlit display is bright enough for early mornings but not obnoxious at night. Setting the auto-brew time is quick, and the machine reliably starts on schedule—important if you’re timing a brew with your morning routine. The grinder-off toggle is clearly indicated, so you won’t accidentally double-dose pre-ground coffee.

Cleaning and maintenance

The combined grinder/filter basket lifts out as a single piece. Most days, I tap the spent grounds into the bin and give the basket a rinse. A weekly wash with warm, soapy water keeps the bronze-tone filter from discoloring and helps control oils that can dull flavor. Because the grinder sits inside this basket, cleanup is contained; there’s less scatter compared with separate gear. The nonstick warming plate wipes clean easily, and the carafe doesn’t hold onto odors.

Plan on descaling every few weeks to a couple of months depending on your water hardness—just run a standard vinegar or descaling cycle to keep flow and temperature consistent. It’s routine drip-machine maintenance, but it matters if you want flavor to stay as good as day one.

Build quality and quirks

At this price, the materials are mostly plastic, but tolerances are good enough that the parts align without fuss. The grinder lid and basket latch require a firm, deliberate click to seat correctly; if they’re not properly latched, the machine won’t start the cycle. It’s a sensible safety interlock, but the first week I did need to retrain my muscle memory to make sure everything was seated.

The carafe lid snaps on securely and pours with minimal dribble. The handle stays cool, and the carafe feels sturdy for glass, though I always recommend a gentle hand when placing it back on the warming plate. The weight of the machine helps stability—there’s no wobble when you slide the carafe in and out.

Taste notes and dialing in

For a 12-cup pot (roughly 60 ounces), my sweet spot is 60–72 grams of beans on regular strength. On strong, I back off slightly—about 55–65 grams—since the longer contact time boosts extraction. If you’re new to grind-and-brew, start with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio and adjust by taste. Lighter roasts benefit from the strong setting; darker roasts often do best on regular to avoid over-extraction bitterness. If you want a cleaner cup, use a paper filter inside the permanent filter; if you enjoy a more robust, French-press-adjacent body, stick with the metal filter alone.

Who it’s for (and who it isn’t)

The Mill & Brew is ideal if you want the freshness of grinding with the simplicity of a single, programmable machine. It’s a kitchen workhorse for families or heavy coffee drinkers who appreciate a 12-cup capacity and set-it-and-forget-it scheduling. If you prize absolute grind uniformity, want zero sediment, or you’re chasing café-level precision, a separate burr grinder paired with a high-end drip maker will outperform this. But it will also cost and complicate more.

Value and warranty

As an all-in-one, the value is strong. You’re getting fresh-ground convenience, a permanent filter, a functional timer, and a 12-cup carafe without straying into premium pricing. The two-year limited warranty is a welcome assurance in a category where many machines only carry one year.

The bottom line

The Mill & Brew nails the everyday essentials: it grinds, it brews hot, it’s programmable, and it’s easy to clean. The blade grinder and metal filter lean the cup profile toward fuller body with a touch more sediment than paper-only drip brewers; a paper filter insert solves that when you want clarity. The controls are straightforward, the pause-to-pour works, and the machine feels stable and predictable after you learn the lid latch’s firm click.

Recommendation: I recommend the Mill & Brew to anyone looking for a convenient, budget-friendly grind-and-brew that prioritizes fresh flavor and simple operation over boutique precision. If you’re particular about grind consistency or demand a crystal-clear cup without any fines, pair a burr grinder with a traditional brewer instead. For most households, though, this is an easy upgrade from a basic drip machine, with the bonus of waking up to freshly ground coffee on your schedule.