Black & Decker 12-Cup Mill+Brew Coffee Maker

First impressions and setup

The promise of grinding and brewing in one footprint is what drew me to the Mill & Brew. I wanted fresh-ground flavor without juggling a separate grinder at 6 a.m. Out of the box, the process is straightforward: beans go into the integrated grinder basket, water in the tank, choose brew strength, and hit brew or program it for the morning. The control panel is clear, with large buttons and a simple clock. After a quick read of the manual, I had no trouble moving from setup to the first pot.

Physically, this is a substantial machine. At roughly 15.5 inches tall and 10 by 13.5 inches across the counter, it needs a bit of clearance under cabinets, and the 12.1-pound weight makes it feel steadier than many plastic drip machines. The DuraLife glass carafe holds the usual “12 cups” (think 5-ounce servings), and the water window on the side is easy to read as you fill.

Design details that matter

• Integrated grinder and bronze-tone permanent filter: The grinder lid opens to a filter basket that houses both the grinding chamber and a reusable metal filter. It’s a tidy design that encourages daily rinsing instead of piling up paper filters.
• Grinder-off option: If you have preground coffee or want to brew a decaf pot in the evening, you can bypass grinding entirely.
• Brew-strength selector: Regular and strong modes noticeably change extraction. Strong mode extends contact time, giving a fuller cup without tasting over-extracted when dosed sensibly.
• 24-hour auto-brew: Set it the night before and wake up to fresh coffee. The programming flow is intuitive and doesn’t require multiple button gymnastics.
• Sneak-A-Cup: The pause feature lets you grab a quick cup mid-brew. It works as advertised, though I try not to keep it paused for long to avoid cooling and uneven extraction.
• Keep-warm plate: Nonstick and easy to wipe. Heat retention is adequate for typical breakfast timing; I don’t leave coffee sitting for hours, but it stays drinkable during a leisurely morning.

Brewing performance and cup quality

With fresh beans, the Mill & Brew produces a robust, aromatic pot that benefits from the metal filter. A metal filter allows more oils to pass through than paper, which lends a fuller body and a slightly richer mouthfeel. If you prefer a cleaner cup with less sediment, you can still use a paper filter nested inside (I tested this with standard basket papers), but I mostly enjoyed the permanent filter performance for the convenience and taste.

Brew strength differences are not cosmetic. In Regular mode, the cup is balanced, especially with medium roast beans. Strong mode layers on a bit more sweetness and body. I found Strong helpful for light roasts or when cutting the ratio slightly to make smaller batches. Either way, using fresh beans right before brewing does more for flavor than almost any other variable this machine offers.

Grinder notes: convenience with a few trade-offs

An integrated grinder changes the morning routine. Load whole beans into the grinder basket, close the lid, and it handles grinding immediately before brewing. It’s loud—like any countertop grinder—so if you share a thin-walled apartment, the early-morning noise will be noticeable. The grind quality is appropriate for drip brewing. It’s not adjustable like a dedicated standalone grinder, so if you’re chasing hyper-specific grind sizes for single-origin light roasts, you’ll bump into its limits. For daily, family-sized drip coffee, it’s perfectly competent.

Because the grinder lives above a hot brew chamber, steam can migrate into the grinding area. That’s true of most all-in-ones, and it means a bit of coffee dust can cling to surfaces after brewing. The design helps by making the grinder/filter assembly removable. I make it part of the routine: knock out the grounds, rinse the filter and grinder parts, and give them a quick dry. A small brush lives next to the machine for the occasional sweep of fines from crevices.

As for capacity, the grinder basket holds enough beans for a full pot. I typically weigh beans for consistency, but you can get by with volume scoops once you know your preference.

Daily use: small conveniences add up

• The clear water window makes it simple to fill to the exact level, and markings are accurate for 5-ounce “cups.”
• The carafe pours cleanly with a controlled spout; I didn’t encounter dribbles if I kept the lid aligned and poured at a moderate angle.
• The QuickTouch programming is simple. Set time, set brew time, set strength, and it remembers your choices.
• Sneak-A-Cup is handy, but I try to use it sparingly; long pauses can cool the grounds bed and stall flow.

Brew time is in line with other 12-cup machines, and I didn’t notice channeling or uneven saturation in the grounds bed. The brew head distributes water adequately for this class.

Cleaning and maintenance

• After each brew: Remove the grinder/filter assembly, knock out the grounds, rinse the bronze filter and grinder bowl, and wipe the keep-warm plate if any drips landed during Sneak-A-Cup.
• Weekly: A more thorough rinse and dry of the grinder parts. I also wipe the underside of the grinder lid where condensation can collect.
• Monthly or as needed: Run a descaling cycle if you have hard water. The machine doesn’t nag you about this, so put a reminder in your phone.

The removable parts make cleaning less of a chore than some all-in-one designs, and the nonstick plate truly does wipe clean. I avoid dishwashers for the bronze filter and grinder components to preserve their finishes and fit.

What I like

• True one-button convenience with a real flavor bump from grinding right before brewing
• Strong/Regular selector that has a meaningful impact on taste
• A permanent filter that saves on paper and yields a fuller-bodied cup
• Clear water window and an easy-to-read control panel
• Grinder-off mode for preground coffee or late-night decaf
• Solid stability on the counter and a 2-year limited warranty for peace of mind

What could be better

• Grinder noise is pronounced. That’s normal, but early risers should consider household noise tolerance.
• No granular control over grind size. If you want to fine-tune extraction across a range of beans and roasts, a separate burr grinder still wins.
• The grinder area needs daily attention. It’s not difficult, but skipping cleaning will show up quickly in stale flavors and caked fines.
• The overall height can be tight under low cabinets; you may need to pull it forward to fill.

Who it’s for

• Households that want a fresh-ground pot without managing multiple appliances
• People who value a fuller, oil-rich cup from a metal filter
• Anyone who appreciates “set it and forget it” scheduling for hectic mornings

Who should look elsewhere? If you prefer the clarity of paper-filtered pour-over or want granular control over grind size for light-roast single origins, a separate grinder and a manual brewer or a higher-spec drip machine will give you more control. Similarly, if silence is a must, an all-in-one grinder will always be the noisiest step in your routine.

Final thoughts and recommendation

After several weeks of daily use, the Mill & Brew has proven to be a reliable, convenient way to get better-tasting drip coffee with minimal fuss. The integrated grinder genuinely improves flavor compared to preground coffee, the brew-strength control is useful, and the permanent filter produces a satisfying, full-bodied cup. The trade-offs—noise, basic grind control, and routine cleaning—are inherent to the all-in-one category, not unique shortcomings here, and Black & Decker’s implementation is practical and user-friendly.

I recommend this brewer to anyone who wants the freshness of ground-to-brew coffee in a single machine, values a richer cup from a metal filter, and appreciates the simplicity of 24-hour programming. It’s not a tinker’s machine, but as a dependable daily driver that lifts the quality of your morning pot, it hits the mark.