The 8 Best Coffee Grinders: The Easiest Way to Up Your Coffee Game

Coffee fans might not see eye to eye on everything, but we all know one truth: a top-notch coffee grinder is a must-have. Why? Because grinding your beans is key to a great brew. No matter how you make your coffee, having your own grinder means fresh, perfectly tailored flavors every time.

Transforming from a casual coffee drinker to a coffee expert is an exciting journey. The best upgrade you can make? Investing in a coffee grinder.

Dive into the world of coffee grinders with this guide! Discover essential features, decide between manual or electric, and more. Learn why fresh ground coffee is a game-changer for coffee enthusiasts. You’ll soon understand the hype!

Quick Answer: Best Coffee grinders

Why Not Just Buy Pre-ground Coffee?

Coffee freshness is key. Once coffee is roasted, it begins to lose its magic, becoming stale and less flavorful. This happens because oxygen starts to break down the beans. That’s why you’ll see some companies vacuum-seal their coffee, to keep it fresh and tasty.

Not all containers can keep coffee fresh forever, but some tips can help. A key point is how much of the coffee touches air. Ground coffee has more surface area than whole beans, making it go stale quicker. If you won’t use your coffee within a couple of days, it’s best to grind your beans right before brewing, rather than buying coffee that’s already ground.

Types of Grinds

Coffee grinding isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal! The size of the grind matters a lot, depending on how you’re making your coffee. For slow brews like cold brew, go for bigger, chunkier grinds. But if you’re whipping up an espresso, you’ll want those grinds fine and powdery.

Coarse grind

For a perfect brew in a percolator or French press, opt for a coarse grind. Its particles are big, almost like bread crumbs, giving your coffee the right flavor and texture.

Medium grind

After a coarse grind, we find the medium grind – it’s as chunky as granulated sugar. Ideal for vacuum and some drip coffee makers, it’s the jack-of-all-trades in the coffee grind world. You can use it in almost any coffee maker or brewing style. However, it’s not the best choice for making espresso. Keep it versatile, but know its limits!

Fine grind (espresso grind)

A fine grind, often known as espresso grind, is perfect for making espresso because it’s powdery, almost like flour. While it’s mainly for espresso machines, you can also use it in electric drip and filter coffee makers. But, steer clear of using it in a French press – it’s too fine and will end up leaving a lot of gritty bits at the bottom of your cup.

Extra-fine grind (pulverized)

The super fine grind looks a lot like flour and is mainly used for Turkish coffee. This special coffee blend often includes sugar and spices. However, be aware that most coffee grinders can’t achieve this ultra-fine texture.

Types of Coffee Grinders: Blade vs Burr Grinders

Choosing the right coffee grinder is key. You should know the ups and downs of each kind. There are two main types: blade grinders and burr grinders. Let’s dive into what makes them different.

Blade grinders

Blade grinders are like mini blenders for your coffee beans! Imagine a tiny, powerful machine with spinning blades that whirl at lightning speed. These blades chop the beans into smaller pieces, getting them ready for your morning brew. Think of it as a quick, efficient way to kick-start your coffee-making process.

Blade grinders are the budget-friendly choice for grinding coffee and work quickly. But, they’re not perfect. They struggle to grind beans evenly. So, even with top-notch blade grinders, expect a mix in your coffee grounds – some fine, some medium, and maybe even some coarse bits. It’s a bit of a mix-and-match situation with these grinders.

Even a few wrong-sized grounds can ruin your coffee, so skip the blade grinders and go for a better option.

Can you grind coffee beans in a blender?

Wondering if you can use a blender to grind coffee beans? Technically, yes, but it’s not the best idea. Blenders can’t give you the even grind that coffee deserves and struggle to go beyond a coarse grind. They might do in a pinch, but for a truly good cup of coffee, they’re not the way to go. Stick to a proper grinder for the best results.

Burr grinders

Burrs are like textured plates that move against each other, squishing the coffee beans in between. This method truly grinds the beans, unlike blade grinders that just chop them up.

Burr grinders crush coffee beans evenly, giving you consistent grounds. This matters for all brewing methods, but it’s super important for French press and espresso. If your coffee grounds aren’t the right size, your coffee won’t taste as good. Burr grinders help you avoid that problem.

Choose a burr grinder over a blade one for a better coffee grind.

Conical vs flat burr grinders

Discover the world of burr grinders: conical and flat. The key lies in the burr’s shape, but everything we’ve shared fits both types. Dive in!

Conical burr grinders use a cool method to grind your coffee. They have a solid cone inside a hollow one. Your coffee beans drop straight down between these cones, getting perfectly crushed on their way to the container waiting below.

Flat burr grinders use two flat plates, one on top and one below. Beans drop straight down between them and get crushed evenly as they’re forced out to the sides. It’s a smooth way to grind coffee!

Flat burr grinders are a bit noisier than conical ones because they spin faster, needing a bigger, louder motor. However, they give you more evenly ground coffee. While flat and conical burr grinders both beat blade grinders by a mile, the difference between them isn’t huge. It’s all about the consistency of your coffee grounds.

Manual Coffee Grinders vs Electric Coffee Grinders 

Luckily, you can have the best of both worlds! There are amazing manual and electric coffee grinders that offer convenience without compromising on quality.

Manual grinders are usually more compact than electric ones, perfect if you’re short on space or love to take your coffee gear on the go. They’re easy to handle (you don’t need to be super strong!), and you’ll quickly get the hang of producing a great grind with a manual burr grinder. But, be warned, grinding beans for multiple cups can become a bit of a workout.

Electric grinders can really differ in quality. The best electric burr grinders give you evenly sized coffee grounds that are hard to beat. However, cheaper electric grinders don’t perform as well as manual ones. Be wary of low-end electric grinders with “false burrs” – they’re more like blunt blades than real burrs.

Manual coffee grinders last longer than electric ones because they’re simpler, with no fancy electronics. Plus, they’re quieter. While electric grinders offer more grind sizes, you’ll likely only need 3-4 options. So, whether you pick manual or electric, getting the right grind size for your brew is key.

Best Coffee Grinders

Best coffee grinder: Oxo Brew conical burr coffee grinder

You don’t have to break the bank for a good coffee grinder, and you shouldn’t settle for the cheapest ones either. Oxo offers a sweet spot for coffee fans, blending quality and ease of use at a price that won’t make your wallet cry, unlike those pricey high-end grinders.

The Oxo coffee grinder lets you turn your beans into anything from super fine to really coarse grounds. With 15 main settings and an extra 3 tiny tweaks for each, you have 45 ways to find your ideal coffee grind. Perfect for beginners exploring their taste!

Adjusting the grind timer, which can be set from 0 to 30 seconds, lets you control how much coffee you grind. This method is more reliable than selecting a grind size, which can vary a lot. With a timer, you have better control and can easily learn to grind the perfect amount of coffee for your taste. This way, you’re in charge of your coffee’s strength and flavor.

The stainless steel bin can store grounds for up to 12 cups of coffee, and the bean hopper fits 3/4 lbs of beans. Its tinted design protects beans from light damage, which is common in clear containers. This keeps your coffee fresh and tasty.

Best premium coffee grinder: Baratza Vario flat ceramic burr grinder

If you’re not put off by the cost, this grinder has loads to offer. It uses flat burrs, which means your coffee beans get ground very evenly. You get to play with 10 main grind settings, and each of those has 20 smaller adjustments, adding up to 230 unique settings! So, no matter how you like to brew your coffee, this machine ensures you always get the perfect, even grind every time.

The digital timer on this coffee grinder is super precise, timing your grind down to 0.1-second increments. This means you can grind exactly the amount of coffee you need, cutting down on waste. It comes with an 8 oz bean hopper that’s tinted to protect your beans from light, which can make them go stale. Plus, the 6.3 oz grounds bin is tinted too and big enough for a large pot of coffee. Perfect for your morning brew!

One awesome thing about this grinder is its portafilter holder. What’s a portafilter? It’s the metal cup with a handle, used in espresso machines to hold coffee grounds. With this grinder, you can attach the portafilter directly, skipping the step of moving grounds around. It makes the whole process smoother and cleaner.

This grinder comes with grind time presets, allowing you to switch between up to three grind sizes quickly with just a press of a button. It’s designed to boost both quality and convenience in your coffee-making journey.

Best grinder with digital display: Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro

I love a sleek digital display, and Breville’s coffee grinder nails it for those craving a touch of the future in their kitchen. It’s perfect for anyone looking to pair it with a smart coffee maker, blending modern tech with the art of coffee making.

First up, this machine’s brushed stainless steel look is super sleek. Plus, it boasts a wide digital screen that tells you everything – from your grind setting and time to how many cups or shots it’s prepping for you.

This coffee grinder, similar to the Baratza, comes with handy features like a portafilter holder and a shaded grounds container, making it perfect for brewing both filter coffee and espresso. It boasts a large 18 oz bean hopper, one of the largest available, and it’s tinted to protect your coffee beans from light damage, ensuring they stay fresh longer if left in the hopper.

The Breville grinder offers 60 settings, letting you perfectly match your coffee maker’s needs. Its stainless steel conical burrs ensure a consistent grind, something blade machines just can’t achieve. Perfect for crafting your favorite brew!

Best manual coffee grinder: 1Zpresso Q2 manual coffee grinder

This coffee grinder is built to last, with no need to fix or replace parts. It stands out with over 60 ways to grind your beans, making it super versatile. That’s way more options than the popular JavaPresse manual grinder, which only offers about 20 grind settings.

This compact machine is perfect for coffee lovers on the go! It’s super easy to clean and maintain. Looking for a top-notch travel grinder? This one’s hard to beat. Plus, its ball handle makes hand-grinding beans way more comfortable than other grinders out there.

The biggest drawback of this grinder? It’s not for big batches. The 1Zpresso can only take enough beans for 1-2 cups. But, if you’re brewing a lot of coffee at once, you’re likely not reaching for a manual grinder anyway.

Best cheap coffee grinder: Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind automatic burr mill

This simple coffee grinder may not have all the bells and whistles, but it gets the job done right. It can handle enough coffee for 32 cups, letting you grind anywhere from 4 to 18 cups at a time. With 18 different grind settings, you can easily adjust the coarseness of your coffee, making it a great choice for those on a budget looking for precision. Check it out for a quality budget coffee grinder.

Many find this grinder noisy, but its low price is hard to beat. Paired with a cost-effective coffee maker, you can get a full coffee station for less than $100. It’s a budget-friendly choice for beginners eager to explore home brewing.

Even cheaper: Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind electric coffee grinder

Absolutely, this gadget is a blade grinder. And yes, my view on blade grinders hasn’t shifted—they’re not great. However, they do have one advantage: affordability. When hunting for a budget-friendly coffee grinder, you’ll find that the most wallet-friendly choices typically come with blades, not burrs.

This coffee grinder shines in its category! While it doesn’t match a burr grinder’s consistency, it’s super quiet and user-friendly. Cleaning is effortless thanks to the detachable grinding chamber. Plus, the cord neatly tucks away, making storage a snap.

A blade grinder like this doesn’t have settings. The longer it runs, the finer your coffee grounds become. Simple!

Best budget manual coffee grinder: Kona manual coffee grinder with ceramic burrs

Ideal for casual coffee lovers, this grinder perfectly grinds beans for up to 3 cups. Not the best pick for those who can’t live without their coffee fix.

The Kona coffee grinder comes with 18 different settings to grind your beans. For those who love to fine-tune their coffee grind, this might feel limited. However, it’s a step up from using a basic blade grinder. What you lose in customization, you gain in convenience. The Kona is small and perfect for taking on trips. Plus, it’s super quiet, making it ideal for quiet mornings or places where loud noises are a no-go.

This grinder is a breeze to clean, making your life easier. While there have been some rare concerns about the handle’s quality, they’re not common. Plus, the customer support team is fantastic at resolving any issues.

Quietest coffee grinder: Krups Silent Vortex electric grinder

I’ve made an exception to include another blade grinder in our roundup. Normally, blade grinders don’t get much love because of their quality, but this one stands out. It might just be the quietest coffee grinder out there. While even top-notch burr grinders can be pretty loud, this blade grinder is impressively quiet. It’s not completely silent, but it’s as close as you can get. Perfect for those early mornings!

Discover the ease of making coffee for a crowd with the Krups Silent Vortex. It grinds enough for 12 cups! Cleanup’s a breeze too, thanks to its dishwasher-safe bowl. Just remember, it’s a blade grinder – the longer you press, the finer your coffee. Perfect for beginners!

Final Verdict

If you love coffee, forget about pre-ground beans. Fresh is best! Mastering the art of grinding beans is a game-changer, almost as cool as roasting them yourself. Now that you’ve got the grind down, you’re on your way to brewing the most amazing coffee ever. Dive in and elevate your coffee experience!