Experts will say that a separate quality grinder is better as most espresso machines with built-in grinders do not offer the same number of grind sizes, or intricate grind settings. And why is the grind important? As coffee lovers will tell you – the grind can be the difference between a great coffee and one that is too bitter to drink. It's also handy to have a separate coffee grinder if you have other methods to making coffee, such as french press, percolator or a batch brew, which all call for different grind settings.

However many espresso machines offer built-in grinders and for most people who are not moonlighting as baristas, these two-in-one appliances offer space-saving convenience and all the grind options they will ever need.