While it is possible to pick up pre-ground coffee, true coffee lovers will instantly notice the difference when grinding their beans at home. Coffee starts to degrade 15 minutes after you put it through the grinder, so if you want to enjoy specialist coffee at its very best, this is the one investment that will bring out all the delicious flavors of every bean you try. We tested these coffee makers alongside some of the best coffee makers on the market, including drip coffee makers and espresso machines.
Best coffee grinder: the top 8, ranked
The Fellow Ode is the most expensive option in this guide, but in our taste-testing, it came out on top in a big way. As the only grinder in this lineup with flat burrs, it’s designed to give a brighter flavor, but won’t always deliver a rich, full-bodied brew. This weighty coffee grinder is impressively compact. It’s designed to grind single servings at a time, so the hopper is on the small side. Grinding was whisper-quiet and pretty speedy, and with only half-gram retention we experienced minimal loss of our specialist beans. There is also a clearance trigger that will shift any excess grounds stuck inside the unit of the grinder, which is a really nice touch. Since our initial testing, Fellow has released its Gen 2 (opens in new tab), with increased grind capacity (100 grams) making it more useful for those of us who brew several cups at once, a new bin-loading design, new anti-static technology for less grind mess, and of course, upgrade burr grinders. As the only non-electric grinder in our panel testing, the 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder does have the disadvantage of requiring a little arm strength to get it going, especially if you’re making espresso-ready grounds. Because it grinds a lot slower than electrical alternatives, there is very little heat created in this grinding process, which means your coffee won’t be degraded as it’s processed. It’s a compact option, so if you lack counter space this hand-burr grinder will work well in your home. When we sifted our ground coffee we were struck by the consistency of this grind, with no major boulders and few fine pieces. You can also use it anywhere, whether that’s in the office or on vacation. Our coffee had excellent long-lasting complexity and worked particularly well for drip coffee. Not well-known among coffee enthusiasts, this KitchenAid Coffee Grinder was a really big surprise. It comes out on top for user experience, with micro-steps that are numbered for easy repeatability, and a user-friendly dial that will guide you when choosing the right setting depending on what coffee you’re making. We enjoyed the spring-loaded base which held the receptacle flat against the dispenser, resulting in absolutely no spillage. Static was also low, meaning we had no trouble working with our finished grounds. We found that this coffee echoed the notes we would expect from a flat burr grinder, and had an impressive grind consistency when we sifted it. Breville is known for making brilliant espresso, but the Dose Control Pro also gave us distinct flavor in our pour-over testing. It comes with a portafilter holder, but no receptacle for other ground types which is a big shame as it resulted in quite a messy process. The dial on the front has a timer for pre-set doses, and it had just over a half of a gram’s retention which was impressive. In testing we defaulted for the middle setting and adjusted depending on how fine our grind was. This one was a lot finer than the other grinders we tested, suggesting it’s set up to make espresso. If you want to make homemade espresso this one is speedy, quiet, and not too static. With the lovable retro design we expect from Smeg, we did wonder if this model puts style before substance. A few of the features have a distinctly plastic finish, and the grounds container does wobble slightly when in the base of the grinder. When it came to our testing though, there is no denying that this grinder was a delight to use. We experienced no popcorning, no mess, and very little static. We had a couple of boulders, but overall the grind consistency was good. The taste? A well-rounded coffee that really brought out the fruity flavors of our bean. We expected to be more impressed with the Baratza Encore, a grinder that’s a well-known option for entry-level coffee enthusiasts. The settings go from 0 to 40, so there is no lack of precise options, but we did wish that there was more guidance on which way increased and decreased the grind size. However, once you get past that hurdle, we were able to get the settings we wanted. This grinder had a very low grind retention, only 0.3 grams, and very little static. It wasn’t the quietest of the day though, and we had some popcorning which meant it took longer to grind single doses. The flavor was a little flat, but we got some brighter middle notes. Our sample was supplied by Coffee Friend (opens in new tab), in the UK, and it is widely available in the US. The BODUM was quite noisy in our testing, but this neat little grinder performed very well for the price point. We found it best to err on the larger side of medium to get a good pour-over grind, because we had a lot of very fine grounds when we went for the true medium setting. This muddied the overall flavor profile, but the coffee was still very drinkable with a fresh taste and light consistency. We enjoyed the neat dimensions in this grinder, which still came with a generous hopper for batch grinding. The grinder also included a glass receptacle which kept the process quite mess-free. When we weighed our grounds after grinding though, we had over a gram of retention. The Cuisinart is the least expensive of the grinders in our testing, so it did come in with a disadvantage. In the case of this burr mill though, we found that you do get what you pay for. The finish was not sturdy to the touch, with a plastic feel that we didn’t enjoy using. It’s also a noisy grinder, with quite a lot of static. We experienced some popcorning in this grinder, which is because we single-dosed our testing. It would be best suited to batch grinding. The container slips neatly into the unit which means you’ll not experience much mess with this grinder. It does lack a lid though, so if you do the batch grind, have an airtight container handy.
How we review coffee grinders
We take coffee very, very seriously, so when deciding on the best coffee grinder we decided to compare all of the models we tested in a side-by-side test. There are so many factors that can go into making an amazing cup of joe, so we tried to control as many of these as possible in order to make sure that all of the grinders we tested were on a level footing. You can find out more about how we tested the best coffee grinders, and about how Homes & Gardens reviews. In our guide, we were keen to feature a wide variety of grinders, but we did stick to burr grinders. This is because burr grinders will always be the best bet when it comes to grinding quality coffee, and some of the models in this guide will cost the same as a high-level blade grinder. The price of the grinders in this guide ranges from around $60 to over $300, but we were sure to test them fairly and without bias. We carried out a blind taste test for each of the coffees we made in these grinders and found that a few of the grinders we expected to come out on top actually fell below some less-expected options. We considered the quality of the coffee, the user experience including noise levels and the feel of the product, and the mess and retention that came with each model.
How to choose a coffee grinder
A range of the equipment and coffee beans we used for our review process were provided by Coffee Friend (opens in new tab) and Barista & Co. We spoke to Aurimas Vainauskas, the CEO of Coffee Friend, and James Gray, Founder and Coffee Expert at Barista & Co, about how to choose the best coffee grinder for you. Millie tested these coffee grinders side-by-side in our test kitchen, but she also used them for a period of time before our official testing day to familiarize herself with each machine and its setup, and consider ease of use. She loves a good cup of coffee but thinks that even the best brew is not worth a counter covered in coffee grounds. Philip mostly drinks black coffee which he prepares with an aero press and a hand grinder from 1Zpresso - the JX pro. He also enjoys Mokka pot and Clever dripper. For weekends flat whites are on the menu courtesy of a Sage Dual Boiler and a Niche grinder. Philip also owns grinders from MaCap and Santos and previously Eureka, Mazzer and Anfim. Manual coffee grinders vs electric coffee grinders. Manual coffee grinders are particularly compact, lightweight and mobile. They’re as convenient to use at home as they are to take with you on a trip. Manual tools are perfect for producing small amounts of ground coffee for various coffee makers or ceramic filters. Not to mention that grinding your beans manually can turn into a beloved daily ritual—and that manual grinders are much cheaper than electric ones! Still, if you’re a sworn fan of espresso, an electric coffee grinder is definitely your best bet. Manual grinders aren’t really suited for grinding beans that finely. Using a manual grinding tool, you won’t be able to grind beans straight into a portafilter either, so your coffee won’t be as fresh as it could be. An electric grinder is a much better solution for those who tend to brew larger amounts of coffee too. It’s suited perfectly for espresso makers and coffee machines, as well as various other brewing tools. Blade grinders vs burr grinders. Even though blade grinders are still popular nowadays due to their compactness and price, they aren’t really capable of grinding coffee properly. To obtain a consistent grind (and a consistent grind is crucial for a truly delicious, well-balanced brew), you’ll need a burr grinder. There’s no need to throw your old blade grinder out though: use it to grind spices instead! Grinders with flat burrs vs grinders with conical burrs. When it comes to burr grinders, they’re divided into two further categories: there are those with flat burrs and those with conical burrs. We can’t really say that one of them is better than the other though. What they do is they unveil different flavors: conical burrs are suited better for traditional espresso (strong and full-bodied), while flat burrs are ideal for the modern take on the classic drink, which is focused on ensuring purity of flavor. Grinders with ceramic burrs vs grinders with steel burrs. There’s lots of discussion as to which material is better when it comes to burrs, but, again, there’s no right answer. Just like in the case of conical and flat burrs, what this comes down to is subtle differences in flavor. It’s thought that ceramic burrs produce more coffee dust, which endows the brew with a fuller body and ends up “masking” separate flavors. Steel burrs, on the other hand, result in a more consistent grind and a “cleaner” taste. This is why some people believe that ceramic burrs are suited better for traditional espresso and coffee blends, while steel burrs are perfect for modern espresso, filter coffee and specialty coffee varieties.'
Why is grind size important
Grind size can influence the quality of your entire brew. In short, the size of the grind affects brewing speed, which influences flavor extraction. Finer grounds extract flavor fast in contact with water for a shorter time, while coarser grounds extract flavors slower and need to be in contact with water for longer. If the grounds are too coarse, but you’re brewing with drip, or super-fast espresso methods, you’ll be left with a weak, flavorless coffee. There are two types of burr grinders: flat burr and conical. Flat burr grinders operate by grinding coffee beans between two serrated flat rings. The serrated edges of the rings face each other and rotate in different directions to generate the motion necessary to grind. Conical burr grinders work in a similar way but with cone-shaped burrs. Once the coffee bean is inserted into the top of the grinder, it falls into the downward position of the cone whilst ground against a stationary and moving burr.’ ‘However, to maximize the quality and consistency of the grind, we do recommend buying a separate, standalone coffee grinder when possible. This will provide you with complete control over your coffee, enabling the grinder to fully compliment your style of brewing. It is important to do your research surrounding the types of grinders available. A standalone grinder will keep the beans cool during grinding. If coffee beans get hot, they begin to lose flavor; this is common with built-in grinders located too close to the boiler.’ Aurimas Vainauskas from Coffee Friend had the same to say. ‘Thermal stability is key to a delicious cup of coffee, and a grinder located next to the brew group is bound to disrupt it. There’s a third argument here as well: if your in-built grinder breaks down, you’ll probably need to get a new espresso machine, but if this happens to a grinder you’ve bought separately, replacing the grinder will be enough.’ We also got on with the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder, appreciating its user-friendly design, digital display, and overall great grind consistency.
