Drew Brew Coffee Maker Review: Is the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Coffee Maker Any Good?

I’ll be upfront with you: the Drew Brew coffee maker is definitely not for the coffee connoisseur out there. If you’re the type who spends hours perfecting pour over technique and has a premium hand grinder for that perfect grind consistency, this isn’t the drip machine for you. The Drew Barrymore coffee maker is convenient, sure, but the focus is clearly not on extracting every last bit of flavor and nuance from your coffee beans.

But that doesn’t mean this machine doesn’t serve a purpose and have a place on some kitchen counters. It’s affordable, looks amazing, and allows you to wake up to freshly ground and brewed coffee with almost zero effort…and it’s more affordable than any other machine like it on the market. For the right person with the right expectations, it could be a dream machine.

In this review, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the Drew Brew coffee maker: the good, the bad, and everything in between. By the end, you’ll know if this is the drip machine for you.

Quick Drew Brew Coffee Maker Review

The Drew Brew coffee maker is an interesting little machine. On one hand, it offers something truly unique in its price range by grinding your coffee fresh and then brewing it right away in an all-in-one automatic process. Kind of amazing. The convenience factor is huge, and you just can’t find much else out there that handles both grinding and brewing for around $200.

But make no mistake: the core functions of grinding and brewing leave a lot to be desired from a true coffee quality perspective. The built-in grinder is honestly terrible, using a subpar false burr design that produces wildly inconsistent grind sizes ranging from dust to giant chunks. This completely ruins the extraction process and leads to some burnt and sour flavors.

The brewing capability itself is also fairly mediocre. Though the machine heats up fairly quickly, it struggles to reach the optimal brewing temperature for coffee of 195 to 205 degrees (F). And the showerhead disperses the water over the grounds unevenly, with all the water hitting one side of the filter rather than saturating the entire bed evenly.

But hey, the thing looks fantastic! Drew definitely nailed the aesthetic with attractive curved lines, a minimalist yet bold design, and premium-looking matte finishes. This is one good-looking machine that would look striking on most kitchen counters. And the convenience is out of this world.

At the end of the day, the coffee quality just isn’t there with the Drew Brew coffee maker. But for people who just want something super convenient that takes up minimal space and counts design as a high priority, it delivers. Just don’t expect coffee shop taste from this drip brewer.

Who the Drew Brew Coffee Maker Is For

The Drew Brew coffee machine is decidedly not for coffee snobs or enthusiasts seeking the ultimate in flavor extraction and nuanced, terroir-driven coffee experiences. This machine simply cannot deliver that level of coffee quality. If you’re somebody who meticulously weighs out specific coffee-to-water ratios, obsesses about minute grind size differences, and tries to nail the perfect brew temperature every time, just move along.

The Drew Brew is also likely not for you if you actually enjoy the ritual of making coffee itself. By fully automating the grind and brew process, there’s little to no user involvement required. For some, that process of manually grinding fresh beans and carefully monitoring pour rates and timing is a big part of the joy and satisfaction of coffee brewing.

So if we’re being clear about who this coffee maker is NOT ideal for, then who is the Drew Barrymore coffee maker best suited for? A few potential use cases come to mind:

• People seeking ultimate convenience and simplicity in their coffee routine. Just load it up, press a button, and fresh coffee awaits you in the morning. The hands-off operation and integrated grinder make this about as easy as it gets.
• Those in small apartments or homes with limited counter space. The compact footprint and streamlined design allow it to fit neatly in any kitchen.
• Design-conscious consumers. Let’s be real: this is one seriously attractive and sleek appliance. If prioritizing aesthetics in your kitchen is important, the Drew Brew delivers major style points.
• Coffee drinkers on a tighter budget. At under $200, you simply won’t find much else on the market that automatically grinds fresh beans and then brews the grounds for you. It’s a tremendous value for the functionality.

And more specifically, if you currently own a Keurig machine, you’ll likely find this to be a decent upgrade that maintains the same convenience delivered by single-serve coffee makers.

Drew Brew Coffee Machine Pros and Cons

Drew Brew Coffee Maker Review

Now that you have the quick overview, let’s dive deeper into the various factors and performance aspects to consider with the Drew Brew coffee maker.

Coffee Quality

On a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 is a $20 Mr. Coffee drip machine and 10 is the best drip coffee maker I’ve used—the Breville Precision Brewer—I’d put the Drew Brew at around a 3 in terms of coffee quality.

There are a few reasons for this. It’s marginally better than a low-end budget machine because it grinds your coffee fresh, but it uses a false burr grinder that produces a massive range of coffee particle sizes, which leads to off flavors and imbalance.

It also doesn’t reach the ideal temperature for brewing coffee, so a lot of the flavor is left on the table because the heat isn’t high enough to reach full extraction.

The grinder also spits out grounds into the reusable filter with hilarious speed and at a horizontal angle, so you get a giant mound of coffee grounds on one side of the filter, leading to uneven extraction. The manufacturer decided to block off one half of the bottom of the filter to compensate…but it doesn’t really work as well as I’m sure they had hoped.

All in all, this is going to produce better coffee than an entry-level drip machine, but for $200, I really can’t say it’s worth it if you’re prioritizing coffee quality.

With all of that being said, there’s really no other drip machine even close to the price range of the Drew Barrymore coffee maker that grinds your coffee and then brews it automatically. The closest one I would even consider recommending is the De’Longhi True Brew drip coffee maker, and that’s twice the price.

Convenience

Convenience is the #1 reason you should consider buying the Drew Brew coffee maker. This thing is designed from the ground up to make your morning coffee routine basically 100% hands-off.

It’s stupid easy to use. Just load it up with whole beans and water before you go to bed, set the programmable timer, and you’ll be greeted by piping hot, freshly ground, freshly brewed coffee as soon as you stumble out of bed. That’s about as streamlined as it gets.

While a premium drip coffee maker offers way more control and fine-tuning ability, there’s really no denying the extreme convenience factor of the Drew Brew’s all-in-one grind and brew process. About the only thing it doesn’t do is actually drink the coffee for you…which you wouldn’t want anyway, right?

With the Drew Barrymore coffee maker, you’re getting fresh, great-smelling coffee with almost zero effort beyond some evening prep the night before. For the convenience alone, this could be the ideal machine for lots of busy households.

Appearance

One thing you absolutely cannot fault the Drew Brew coffee maker on is its appearance. This machine is downright gorgeous and would be a stunner on any kitchen countertop or coffee bar.

The overall aesthetic is sleek, modern, and decidedly upscale, despite the affordable price point. Clean lines, gentle curves, and a two-tone color scheme give it a distinctly premium look and feel.

The body has a matte finish that looks elegant and minimalist. While available color options may vary, the one I tested had a crisp green main body accented by gold. Gorgeous.

Measuring just 12 inches deep and 5 inches wide, the compact design has a remarkably small footprint for an all-in-one grind and brew machine. It will fit easily on even cramped counters.

The water reservoir is smartly incorporated into the main body rather than protruding out the side or back, which helps maximize the space-saving design. It has a decently large 45oz capacity despite the small size.

The reusable filter slides out smoothly from the front, adding to the modern feel. All the buttons, dials, and operational elements have a premium soft-touch feel rather than cheap plastic clunkiness, and the LED icons make it feel even more upscale.

While it’s subjective, I would argue that the Drew Brew is legitimately one of the most attractive and upscale-looking drip coffee makers in this price range based on my experience. It legitimately looks like it could cost twice as much as it actually does.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is clearly a central focus of the Drew Brew coffee maker’s design, and it succeeds wildly in this area. If you want a machine that requires almost zero learning curve or complex operation, this drip brewer delivers.

Using the Drew Brew is literally as simple as just adding whole beans, filling the water reservoir, and hitting the brew button. That’s really all there is to it for basic operability. It’s ideal for those who want a fresh cup of coffee in the morning without any hassle or fussing with settings.

If you do want to take advantage of the programmable brew timer, that’s easy too. Just spin the dial to the “Auto” setting, hit the button, and use the hour/minute buttons to set your preferred brew start time for the next morning. That’s perfect for people who want to wake up to fresh coffee without any effort in the morning.

While the Drew Brew doesn’t offer much in the way of customization beyond brew size, that simplicity is part of its charm and its advantage over complicated drip machines with endless settings to adjust. It’s just point-and-shoot, easy operation that even complete novices can navigate.

Counter Space and Footprint

Despite its all-in-one grind and brew capabilities, the Drew Brew coffee maker has an incredibly compact and space-saving design that gives it a minimal counter footprint.

The overall dimensions come in at just 12 inches deep by 5 inches wide by 15 inches tall. That makes it significantly more compact than most traditional drip coffee makers on the market.

So not only does the Drew Brew manage to incorporate a grinder along with the brew capacity, it does so in a footprint smaller than many standard drip machines without grinders. The streamlined design and storage of the water reservoir within the body is a big space-saver.

If you have limited counter space in a cramped kitchen or tiny apartment, the Drew Brew is sized to fit just about anywhere while still providing the full grind-and-brew experience. It’s one of the most compact all-in-one machines in this category.

Brewing Options

In terms of brewing flexibility, the Drew Brew coffee maker is quite limited compared to more premium drip brew options. It’s really designed solely for one purpose: making pots of hot, darker roasted drip coffee.

You can choose between three batch sizes (5oz, 10oz, or full carafe) using the dial on the front panel. But beyond that, there’s no ability to adjust any brew settings or experiment with different parameters.

The built-in grinder also appears to be optimized for darker roast coffee in the medium-coarse grind range. There’s no grind adjustment whatsoever, so adjusting finer for lighter roasts isn’t possible.

So in the end, what you get is a very straightforward machine for simply making pots of hot drip coffee in the morning. That’s really about the extent of the brewing capabilities and options.

Price

The Drew Brew coffee maker occupies a rather strange pricing position that makes it both a remarkable value and also somewhat overpriced, depending on your perspective.

At an MSRP of around $199, it’s certainly on the higher end of the pricing spectrum for a basic drip coffee maker without any sort of grinder integration. Something like the Cuisinart Coffee Plus 12-cup programmable drip brewer can often be found for under $100.

And if you want a truly premium drip machine designed for quality like the Breville Precision Brewer or the Technivorm Moccamaster, you’re looking at $300+. From that vantage point, $200 for the Drew Brew seems quite steep considering its limitations in terms of brew quality and lack of brew customizations.

However, Drew Barrymore’s coffee maker really can’t be properly compared to other standard drip brewers since it adds the huge convenience factor of an integrated grinder for fresh whole bean brewing. And in that light, its price point becomes an absolute steal.

I’m not aware of any other grind-and-brew drip coffee maker on the market even remotely close to the $200 price tag. Most combo grind and brew machines start at around $300 to $400 like the De’Longhi Magnifica or the Breville Grind Control. To get that all-in-one fresh grinding convenience at $199 is pretty remarkable value.

So it really puts the Drew Brew coffee maker in an interesting position where it seems overpriced for what it is as just a drip machine, but also an insane bargain if you value having those grind and brew functions integrated into one compact unit.

Ultimately, I think for most people seeking ultimate convenience of fresh whole bean brewing, the Drew Brew makes a lot of sense if you have a budget under $300. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better option at that price point.

Quality

Despite its very reasonable price tag, the Drew Brew coffee maker doesn’t feel cheap or low-quality when you get your hands on it. While it’s constructed mostly from plastic, Drew Barrymore’s brand clearly went for a more premium feel and look with this machine.

The plastic used for the main body and housing has a dense, solid feel without any hollow cheapness or flex. It’s a thicker, high-quality plastic reminiscent of what you might find in higher-end drip brewers or coffee gear.

The finishes are also quite nice, with a soft matte texture that has an almost rubberized grip. It’s a huge upgrade from the shiny, hollow, thin plastic builds that cheaper coffee machines often utilize.

All the control buttons, dials, and lids have a weighted, robust feel to their operation. Nothing feels flimsy, loose, or at risk of breaking even with repeated use. The bean hopper, brew basket, and carafe all fit tightly into the machine without any wiggle or play.

While it’s certainly no industrial-grade brewer built like a tank, the Drew Brew punches well above its weight class in terms of overall quality and manufacturing for its affordable price point.

Provided you treat it reasonably well and don’t go throwing it around, this coffee maker seems plenty durable and well-constructed enough to easily provide several years of reliable daily use before anything starts wearing down.

Warranty

The warranty coverage for the Drew Brew coffee maker is about standard for the drip machine category, but perhaps a tad lighter than ideal given the integrated grinder component.

Drew Barrymore’s brand provides a limited 1-year warranty that covers defects in materials or workmanship. If any issues arise due to manufacturing problems in that first year of ownership, they’ll repair or replace the unit.

That 1-year warranty duration is extremely common among basic drip coffee makers. You’ll find the same from brands like Cuisinart, Mr. Coffee, Black+Decker and others in the affordable drip brewer space.

However, many higher-end drip machines that cost $200+ tend to come with extended 2-year or even 3-year warranties to account for their premium pricing. The Breville Precision Brewer, for instance, has a 2-year limited warranty, and the Technivorm Moccamaster has a 5-year warranty.

So in that respect, the Drew Brew’s warranty is perhaps a tad on the lean side for covering that built-in grinder long-term. Most people would probably want more than just 1 year of coverage for the grinder mechanism that’s so core to the machine’s functionality.

Water Reservoir

With a generously-sized 45oz water reservoir, the Drew Brew coffee maker allows you to brew quite a few cups between refills compared to typical single-serve machines. That’s a nice perk for busy mornings or households with multiple coffee drinkers.

For perspective, most single-cup brewers like those from Keurig or Nespresso top out at around 10oz to 16oz reservoir capacities. That’s enough for just one travel mug before you’re having to refill.

The Drew Brew’s 45oz capacity gives you enough water to brew the full 40oz maximum carafe with a bit of wiggle room left over. Or you can make multiple smaller batches back-to-back without fussing with refilling it.

In the grand scheme of typical drip coffee makers, the 45oz reservoir on the Drew Brew is actually on the smaller side of average. Many standard 12-cup drip brewers will have 60oz reservoirs or larger. But the advantage of the Drew Brew’s tank is that you can customize your brew amount rather than just filling it all the way and letting the machine brew until it’s empty.

Wrapping Up: Do I Recommend the Drew Brew Coffee Maker?

On the downside, the Drew Brew coffee maker is simply not a great machine if your top priority is extracting the richest, most flavorful coffee possible from your beans. The grinder is wildly inconsistent, the brew temperatures are below optimal, and the extracted coffee ends up tasting quite imbalanced and subpar compared to even decent drip coffee makers.

But… the Drew Brew makes up for those shortcomings in other areas. It’s incredibly convenient and easy to use, making the process completely hands-off from whole beans to freshly brewed coffee. Just an unbeatable experience for busy people who want piping hot coffee ready at the push of a button.

It also totally nails the visual aesthetic and design, packing a sleek, upscale look into a very compact footprint that will save on precious counter space. For the design-conscious consumer, few other drip coffee makers can match its head-turning curves and premium finishes.

For coffee aficionados and those who value nuanced flavor above all else, look elsewhere and budget for a higher quality brewer. But for everyone else who loves the concept of the Drew Brew, I say it’s well worth considering if the pitfalls I outlined don’t bother you too much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the coffee from the Drew Brew actually fresh since it uses a grinder?

Yes, the coffee will be fresher than pre-ground thanks to the integrated grinder. However, the grinder itself is not great quality, using false burrs that create wildly inconsistent grind particle sizes. This affects extraction and leads to imbalanced flavors. So while the ability to grind whole beans immediately before brewing is convenient and produces a fresher baseline cup than pre-ground, the coffee still won’t reach its full flavor potential due to the grinder’s shortcomings.

How easy is it to clean the Drew Brew coffee maker?

Cleaning the Drew Brew is mercifully simple. The reusable filter lifts out for easy rinsing, while the brew basket can be removed completely. The grind chute and hopper are integrated, minimizing scattered grinds. Most components are top-rack dishwasher safe as well. Just be sure to deep clean the grinder itself periodically and descale the machine’s internals per the instruction manual. All in all, clean up duty with this machine is pretty painless.

Can you use the Drew Brew coffee maker to make other coffee drinks like cappuccinos or lattes?

No, the Drew Brew is designed solely for making standard drip-style coffee. It does not have any steaming or milk frothing capabilities. Nor can it produce true espresso, as the built-in grinder cannot adjust fine enough for espresso grinds. This machine is truly single-purpose for basic fresh pots of drip coffee only. More specialty milk-based drinks or other preparations are not possible.