Black and Decker Mill and Brew review: a fresh cup of coffee with a neat coffee grinder week after week, day after day

Why choose Black and Decker Mill and Brew coffee maker over others?

We’d like to emphasize what differentiates this coffee maker from others in the Black and Decker Mill and Brew review.

While we can find similar features in other coffee makers, Black and Decker Mill and Brew truly stands out with the in-built coffee grinder and retail price. Rarely do we encounter drip coffee makers in a $$ price point with fairly reliable in-built coffee grinders. Black and Decker Mill and Brew seems to be able to accomplish this.

With this, we can brew delicious coffee with freshly ground coffee beans.

Who is Black and Decker Mill and Brew coffee maker perfect for?

As we were testing the product for this Black and Decker Mill and Brew review, we really wanted to understand who would most likely fall in love with this product.

It became apparent that Mill and Brew 12-cup coffee maker can be an ideal choice for budget-conscious coffee lovers who value convenience and fresh coffee.

We feel that Mill and Brew coffee maker can be a compelling choice for those who are looking for:

✓ Affordable but solid coffee maker

✓ Trustworthy and reliable brand that sells quality and durable products

✓ Fresh and delicious coffee with freshly ground coffee

✓ Ability to program the brew 24-hours in advance (so you can sleep in a little longer!)

✓ Extended warranty for 2 years

Who is Black and Decker Mill and Brew NOT perfect for?

Just like with other coffee maker reviews, we would love to remain honest in this Black & Decker Mill & Brew coffee maker review. We think that there are a couple of examples where where Mill and Brew might not be a perfect choice:

✗ A sturdy and plastic-free coffee maker

✗ A coffee machine that will make you feel like a barista

✗ Desire to brew different types of specialty drinks

✗ A coffee machine that yields jaw-dropping results

✗ A machine that uses coffee capules such as nespresso or k-cups

✗ An advanced machine that allows freedom and flexibility in coffee brewing

✗ No need for an in-built coffee grinder (because you have a separate grinder, or do not need grinder at all)

Black and Decker Mill and Brew Review and Evaluation 🕵️

→ Appearance

When we first received the coffee maker, we were very pumped to begin testing it for this Black and Decker Mill and Brew review. The coffee maker is available in 4 different colors, and is made primarily with plastic. We were not thrilled with the quality of plastic, but it was survivable. We selected the most affordable color version, black. However, there are other color versions:

• Black
• Red
• White
• Gray

Black and Decker Mill and Brew coffee maker is a bit larger than other Black and Decker machines. However, the real difference is in brew basket. Unlike other coffee makers, the brew basket is also a grinder that we were able to program to grind coffee beans just before the brew.

The brew basket and grinder sit on the right side of the machine, which makes this appliance a bit wider than others.

The control panel, which is available right above the carafe, appears a bit crowded at first glimpse. However, with just a minute of examining, the control panel was very easy to understand and follow. It did have a backlit display that showed selected features as well as the time. Here are some other controls:

• On/off button (to switch the appliance on and off),
• Hour and Min (minutes) button (to set hours and minutes on the digital clock); this is also used to cycle through different “keep warm” settings for the carafe,
• Program button: to program the auto brew, I had to press and release the button once; to program the carafe hot plate “keep warm” period, I had to press and hold it,
• Auto button (to confirm the settings for the next automatic brew), and
• Grind button: to cycle through optimal grind settings (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-cups); also to turn on/off the grinder,
• Strong button: to select the strength of the brew; there are 3 levels to choose from: regular (default), strong and bold.

The machine also has a non-removable water tank in the back. The water reservoir has a window with clear level markings that allow me to see exactly how much water I put in the machine.

→ Features and technical specs

Voltage: Black and Decker Mill and Brew is made for 120V, and can be used in Canada and the US only. The warranty becomes void in case any defects or damages happen while using a converter for non-US/non-Canadian power outlets.

Basket size: Black and Decker Mill and Brew has a brew basket large enough to hold coffee grounds for 12 cups of coffee. The manufacture recommends using one tablespoon of ground coffee for each cup.

The brew basket is also a blade grinder. When used as a grinder, the manufacturer recommends adding to the basket one tablespoon of coffee beans for each cup of coffee that I want to brew.

The brew basket comes with its reusable, permanent bronze mesh filter. If I do not plan to use the grinding feature before brewing, and just use pre-ground coffee, I can also add a paper filter to the basket. The brew basket/ grinder can be accessed by lifting its lid located on top of the machine.

Beverage size: Similarly to other manufacturers, Black and Decker’s cup measurement is 5oz of coffee per cup. The maximum quantity I can brew using this machine is 12 cups. Therefore, as long as I brew less than 12 cups, I can adjust the quantities of coffee grounds and water in order to brew lower volumes of coffee.

Weight: Because of the in-built coffee grinder, Black and Decker Mill and Brew weighs about 9.5 pounds. This is a bit more than other 12-cup coffee makers from this brand.

Unit size: Black and Decker’s Mill and Brew coffee maker is a bit larger than other 12-cup coffee makers from the brand, but is still quite compact. It can fit right into some of the smaller spaces such as apartments, townhouses, offices and dorm rooms. The Mill and Brew is 9.25 inches deep, 13 inches wide, and 11.25 inches tall.

Water reservoir: Unfortunately, the water reservoir is not removable. It can accommodate about 12 cups of water (or 60oz). We were able to access the reservoir by lifting the lid on the top of the machine. The water tank has a water level indicator window that shows how many cups of water are already in it. The quantity of water that is added to the water tank determines the quantity of coffee that will come out.

Carafe: Black and Decker Mill and Brew comes with a simple glass carafe. The carafe appeared rather fragile, so we were extra cautious with it.

Additional perks: To be fair, we were so excited for this Black and Decker Mill and Brew Review. Though overall very simple (understandable given the price point), the coffee maker has a couple of standard features which makes brewing even easier and more pleasant.

✓ Fresh coffee with your desired grind size. Mill and Brew coffee maker comes with an in-built coffee grinder. The feature is activated and controlled with the “Grind” button on the control panel. I can cycle through optimal grind settings (4, 6, 8, 10, 12 cups), or turns the grinder OFF when I want to brew pre-ground coffee.

✓ Wake up to the aroma of brewing coffee every morning with 24-hour programmability. The QuickTouch programming allows me to easily and quickly program my next brewing. The 24-hour auto brew feature was created so that I could wake up to a fresh pot of coffee.

✓ Enjoy a cup of coffee before the brewing is complete. As we were preparing this Black and Decker Mill and Brewreview, we really enjoyed that we could enjoy a cup of coffee well before the full carafe was filled with coffee. All I need to do is to remove the carafe, and brewing is paused. The carafe must be placed back on the carafe plate in 30 seconds to prevent overflow, at which moment brewing begins again.

✓ Adjustable auto shut off with a keep-hot carafe plate. Like many machines, Black and Decker Mill and Brew comes with a safety feature to shut off the machine. However, unlike other coffee makers, we were able to program the auto-shut off time between 0 to 2 hours, in 30 minutes increments. Within the specified time, the machine has a non-stick warming plate to keep coffee warm.

✓ Easy storage with cord storage. The power cord stores in the back of the unit, which helps removing the clutter from the countertop.

✓ More eco-friendly with permanent filter. The high-performance bronze tone permanent filter eliminates the need for paper filters and minimizes any coffee staining appearance.

→ Performance

Brewing time: Black and Decker Mill and Brew takes about 1 minute of brewing per cup (up to about 12 minutes in total). However, when a coffee grinder is put in use, it takes about 15-16 minutes. This is a bit longer than we desired. However, we were able to program the machine in advance to minimize the wait time.

Flavor: Black and Decker Mill and Brew coffee machine still yields fairly good coffee. Obviously, coffee connoisseurs may be disappointed, but this machine is great for users with slightly lower expectations.

Temperature: Similar to other Black and Decker’s coffee makers in this price point, the Mill and Brew does not have a way to adjust temperature. We were not able to reach the perfect temperature of 195 – 205 F degrees. Instead, we reached about 175-180 degrees.

Noise levels: There were no remarkable noises coming out of the machine. In fact, we were quite happy. The Mill and Brew has a regular, pumping noise that we have seen and heard in other drip coffee makers. However, things are different when a coffee grinder is in use. It yields a louder crushing noise.

Cleaning: We could not finish the Black and Decker Mill and Brew review without covering cleaning. We are happy to report that the machine is very easy to clean. With a damp cloth, we wiped the body of the coffee maker, the heating plate and the inside of the water tank regularly. We washed the removable brew basket and the glass carafe in warm soapy water. We could also opt to wash those in a dishwasher, but we opted not to do it.

The removable shower head and the 2-in-1 Grinder and permanent filer basket need to be washed only by hand, in warm soapy water.

With regular use, minerals and hard water can clog the coffee maker. Therefore, we recommend a full cleaning with vinegar about once a month.

Customer-reported technical issues

As we were preparing this Black and Decker Mill and Brew review, we did not encounter any breakdowns while testing and using the product. The only thing we did not like was the plastic.

The customers give very good reviews to the coffee machine. They particularly like the grinder, noting its durability and effectiveness.

Unfortunately, there were also some negative comments:

• Stopped working after a couple of months
• Leaking
• Long time to brew (25 minutes to one hour to brew a 12-cup carafe)
• Difficult to replace broken / flawed parts

Many buyers reported that they could not find any replacements for their broken carafes, and that it also took a long time for Black+Decker to send them a new one.

The use and care manual is located here (note that clicking on the link will download a PDF from Black and Decker website).

→ Health and safety

In regards to transparency, we wish Black and Decker did a much better job.

The product is made with plastic, among some other materials. There are no easily available statements regarding BPA-/BPS-/BPF- status of the plastics.

In fact, Black and Decker provides a rather convoluted statement regarding BPA-free status. They end the 3-paragraph long statement with the following:

For products that do not claim to be BPA-Free, we have insufficient information to support a BPA-Free claim at this time.

Therefore, it appears that the Mill and Brew coffee maker might be made with BPA plastics.

As our readers are aware, we are typically very concerned about using products in which boiling water touches plastic.

The BPA-free status is helpful to know, but it typically does not guarantee that there are no other potentially dangerous substitutes used in the production process.

Reports show that many manufacturers replace BPA with other types of plastic. These types include but are not limited to BHPF (fluorene-9-bisphenol), TPP (triphenyl phosphate), and bisphenol S (BPS). The exact health effects of the BPA substitutes, such as BHPF, TPP and BPS, are unknown at this point.

→ Price to value: is Black and Decker Mill and Brew worth the money?

Black and Decker Mill and Brew is a very affordable machine. When preparing this review, the machine was $20 less expensive on Amazon than on Black and Decker website.

In our opinion, the price-point is more than fair. The machine is affordable, but comes with a coffee grinder, the ability to select grind size, strength control and programmability.

Furthermore, this coffee maker also comes with a 2-year warranty for the US- and Canada-based shoppers. However, it might be cheaper to buy a new coffee maker in case this one breaks. There are costs associated with shipping, etc.

Should I buy Black & Decker Mill and Brew? Owly’s verdict! 🔨

As we attempted to show in this Black and Decker Mill and Brew review, this is a coffee maker that balances affordability with neat features.

This coffee maker does not only brew my coffee, but it can nicely grind coffee beans prior to brewing. Further, the machine appears to be slightly more advanced than CM1160B. It comes with programmability, strength control, auto-off control, and grind size control. These features make Black and Decker Mill and Brew coffee maker an appealing choice.

However, we do not love that the manufacturer is not able to confirm BPA-free plastics in the machine. We also do not love that the carafe seems fragile, and the replacement parts are hard to come by.

The coffee maker comes with a 2-year warranty, but it might be easier to get a new coffee maker at the store.

Will you get Black and Decker Mill and Brew coffee maker? What was your experience with Mill and Brew? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, under this Black & Decker Mill and Brew review!