6 Best Coffee Grinders (This Year’s Reviews)

Once you acquire a taste for coffee, you’ll realize that the key to exceptional coffee lies in top-quality beans. These beans must undergo precise roasting to bring out their finest flavors, and their grinding consistency should match your coffee maker – be it espresso-fine or French press-coarse.

It’s essential to emphasize the freshness of the grind, as once coffee is ground, oxidation diminishes its taste and aroma. Therefore, owning a grinder becomes indispensable.

How To Choose The Right Coffee Grinder For You

Selecting the best coffee grinder involves considering several key factors to ensure you find the perfect match for your brewing preferences. Here’s a guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Grind Type:
   • Identify the type of coffee you prefer (espresso, drip, French press) and choose a grinder that offers the appropriate grind settings for your desired brewing method.
2. Grind Consistency:
   • Look for a grinder known for producing uniform grinds. Consistency is crucial for a balanced extraction and optimal flavor in your coffee.
3. Burr vs. Blade Grinders:
   • Burr grinders are generally preferred over blade grinders as they provide more control over the grind size and generate less heat, preserving the coffee’s flavor.
4. Grinder Size:
   • Consider the size of the grinder, especially if you have limited kitchen space. Some grinders are compact and suitable for smaller kitchens.
5. Capacity:
   • Evaluate the grinder’s capacity based on your coffee consumption. If you brew large batches or entertain guests frequently, a grinder with a larger capacity may be beneficial.
6. Ease of Cleaning:
   • Opt for a grinder that is easy to disassemble and clean. Coffee oils can build up over time, affecting the taste, so regular cleaning is essential.
7. Durability:
   • Check the build quality and materials used in the grinder. A durable grinder will withstand regular use and provide long-lasting performance.
8. Price:
   • Set a budget based on your preferences and needs. There are quality grinders available at various price points, so finding one that fits your budget is possible.
9. Brand Reputation:
   • Research reputable brands known for producing high-quality coffee grinders. Reviews and recommendations can offer insights into the performance and durability of specific models.
10. Additional Features:
    • Some grinders come with extra features like a timer, digital display, or adjustable settings. Consider these features based on your convenience and preferences.
11. Noise Level:
    • If noise is a concern, look for grinders designed to operate quietly, especially if you’ll be using it early in the morning or late at night.

By carefully considering these factors, you can find the best coffee grinder that aligns with your brewing style and enhances your overall coffee experience.

If you are in the market for a new grinder, continue reading for our curated selection of the best coffee grinders to suit your preferences.

TOP PICK

The Baratza Virtuoso+ takes the crown as our top choice for the ultimate coffee grinder. Its unparalleled performance and ingenious features set it head and shoulders above the competition. Whether you’re aiming for a fine or coarse grind, this grinder consistently produces outstanding results. With a plethora of user-friendly features, it makes the entire grinding process a breeze, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience.

My Best Coffee Grinder Reviews

Product	Key Features
Best Overall	Baratza Virtuouso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Electric conical burr grinder Hopper Capacity: 8oz 40 grind settings 40-second digital timer LED-backlit grounds bin Thermal cut-off	Check Amazon
Best For Most People	Baratza Encore Hardened alloy steel commercial grade burrs 40 grind sizes 300g hopper capacity Designed for repairability World Class Support and Warranty	Check Amazon
	Breville Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder Stainless steel conical burrs 60 precise grind settings Adjust grind time in 0.2 second increments for fine tuning dose 18-ounce hopper LCD display Dosing iQ	Check Amazon
Best Value	OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Stainless steel conical burrs One-touch start remembers your last setting 38 grind settings 3/4 lb/12 oz capacity UV-blocking tint shield Timer	Check Amazon
	Fellow Ode Brew Grinder – Burr Coffee Grinder Electric Electric flat burr grinder 31 grind settings 2.8-oz hopper Auto-stop Single-dose grinding	Check Amazon
Best Manual Grinder	TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder Solid Construction Stainless steel conical burrs Noiseless operation Grinds enough for 2 cups Grinds coffee for up to two cups at a time Anti-slip design	Check Amazon

1.Baratza Virtuoso+ Coffee Grinder

Small but mighty! That’s how I’d sum up this Baratza grinder. It’s for good reason that the Virtuoso+ has approval from the Specialty Coffee Association and coffee connoisseurs. It grinds to perfection no matter the level you choose, leaving you with consistent uniform coffee grounds.

Virtuoso+’s 40mm conical stainless steel burrs can grind beans for almost all brewing methods except cold brew and Turkish coffee. A 550 RPM motor powers it, ensuring faster grinding with no extra heat and static build-up to deal with.

The digital display and timer make brewing easier. Dial in the setting of your choice from the 40 options available, set a grinding time (between 40 seconds and 1/10th of a second), and let the machine work its magic. An LED light illuminates the bin, making it possible for you to tell the batch size and whether the grounds are of good quality.

The best part is that this machine is built to last and you will definitely get your money’s worth. Baratza designed their grinders to be maintained like commercial grinders, to maximize value. They will last for years. If the burrs become too dull over the years, instead of having to throw it out and invest in another expensive machine, you can send it to Baratza for repair or they also offer low cost replacement parts and instructions if you want to DIY. A win for you and the environment!

Pros

• Enough grind settings for almost all brewing styles and to experiment with
• Easy to operate even for newbies
• Quiet enough not to distract or wake everyone else up
• Thermal cut-off helps to protect the motor in case it starts to overheat
• Large hopper for serving several people
• Can be maintained the same way as commercial grinders to lengthen its lifespan

Cons

• The hopper is made of thin plastic, so handle it with care

Baratza Virtuoso+ has been around for a long time, yet it remains the best-rated coffee grinder. It is an almost perfect grinder for the adventurous coffee user who wants to understand how to grind and is eager to experiment with various brewing styles.

Check Amazon

2. Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder

The Baratza Encore shares many features with the Baratza Virtuoso+, delivering impressive performance with one exception – it doesn’t grind finely enough for espressos. Since I have a preference for espresso and espresso-based drinks, the inability to grind for espresso is a crucial factor that led to it not being my overall choice.

Baratza, a trusted brand, is synonymous with reliability and quality. While the price reflects the superior product and exceptional support, what sets the brand apart is its commitment to creating repairable products, demonstrating a genuine concern for the environment. The assurance that my grinder can be repaired in the future is a significant plus.

This grinder is straightforward to use and excels in precision and durability, ensuring long-lasting performance. With stainless steel burrs rated for 500 pounds of coffee grinding, they maintain sharpness for several years, depending on your coffee consumption. The DC motor keeps beans cool, and gear speed reducers minimize noise while facilitating smoother bean feeding.

Pros

• Sturdy Build
• Relatively quiet
• Grind settings for most coffee drinkers
• Low Static
• Precise grinds
• Easy to use and clean

Cons

• Doesn’t grind well for espresso

If you’re a fellow espresso enthusiast like myself, this might not be the ideal choice as it doesn’t excel in producing fine espresso grinds. If you’re seeking a Baratza grinder with the capability for espresso but are hesitant about the price tag of the Virtuoso+, consider exploring the Baratza Encore ESP.

Check Amazon

3. Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder

Of all the great things about the grinder, its settings tower over the rest. There are settings to suit all the brewing styles in the coffee world, including Turkish coffee, and as the name suggests, the grinder is intelligent enough to grind the beans without you being heavily involved in the process.

Dosing iQ, the grinder’s most clever feature, gives you absolute control over the dosing and grind time, making it easier for you to find the most perfect grind for your brewing style.

The stainless steel conical burrs in this grinder can grind your coffee beans to a super-fine texture or make it as coarse as sea salt. Whatever brewing method you want to try, count on the machine to have a setting for it between its 60 options.

Even better, the grinder has presets for methods such as French press and espresso, but you may have to familiarize yourself with the rest of the settings before using them confidently.

A 450 RPM motor minimizes grinding heat while making sure the process is fast and smooth. As the machine does its job, you can have the grounds collected in a portafilter, gold-tone filter, sealable grinds container, or paper filter.

Pros

• An LCD screen and clearly labeled dials make the grinder easy to use
• Plenty of control over the grinding process
• Tons of grind settings to experiment with for the eager coffee user
• More than one option to grind your beans directly into makes the grinder versatile

Cons

• The controls take time to get used to but it’s nothing you can’t handle

Breville is no stranger to the coffee world. They make lots of coffee appliances that are just as great as this smart grinder. If you would love a well-equipped burr grinder that’s reasonably priced and an ultimate value for the money, look no further.

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4. OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

The OXO Brew stands out as an excellent, budget-friendly option, perfect for those new to coffee grinding or the average coffee drinker. Positioned at a reasonable price point, it delivers commendable performance. What makes it particularly appealing is its sleek, clean, and user-friendly design, ensuring effortless operation and maintenance.

Featuring 15 settings with additional micro-settings, totaling 38 grind sizes, the OXO Brew offers versatility with a consistent grind. If you’re in the market for a budget blade grinder, investing a bit more in this high-performing grinder is a wise choice, given its noteworthy performance.

The simplicity of operation is impressive – just set the desired size, push the start button, and let the OXO Brew produce impeccably ground coffee. The added convenience of a timer and one-touch start button further enhances the user experience, as the machine remembers your recent settings for future use.

I like that it has an easily removable hopper for swapping or removing beans. And the hopper has a UV-blocking coating so your beans will be protected if you decide you want to leave them in there for future use.

Pros

• Intuitive design
• Relatively affordable
• Easy to adjust the settings and grind
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Timer

Cons

• Static
• Not good for finer grinds

It excels in grinding at a medium size range, making it perfect for drip coffee and pour-overs. However, if you often prefer finer grinds for espresso, it’s advisable to invest in a grinder specifically designed for that purpose.

Check Amazon

5. Fellow Ode Brew Grinder

Fellow Ode sets itself apart from other grinders in many ways, from using flat burrs and a boxy compact stylish design to having a single dose hopper for bean freshness. It may not be as digitized as the first two options, but it gets the job done to the user’s satisfaction with ease.

Fellow Ode’s 64mm flat burrs can produce ground for a variety of brewing styles, from French press and Aeropress to pour over and cold brew. Since the 31 grind settings are limited to medium and coarse levels, though, it is less versatile. For instance, it’s unable to produce the finer grounds required for espresso or Turkish coffee.

The hopper on this machine may be small, but that is because you will grind the exact amount of beans you need for brewing. Your brew will therefore be fresh as opposed to making more than enough and having to use stale grounds thereafter.

Just like the other grinders, operating this grinder is as simple as loading the coffee beans and pressing the grind button.

Pros

• Built from solid metal to give it a longer lifespan
• Compact enough to fit in tight kitchen spaces
• Stylish design makes it a perfect fit for most interiors
• Easy to operate for all kinds of users
• Relatively quiet grinding makes it convenient to use at home in the morning
• A grinder knocker button helps you knock grounds that have spilled over back into the bin

Cons

• Cannot produce grinds fine enough for espresso but you have a host of other options to choose from

The Fellow Ode Grinder’s minimalist design makes it a favorite for users in need of a simple grinder calibrated for standard brewing methods.

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6. TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder

Introducing a grinder that breaks away from the electric crowd, the Timemore Chestnut C2 offers a unique manual experience without compromising on performance. While manual effort is required, the results rival those of more expensive electric counterparts. What sets it apart is the complete control it affords you in the grinding process, perfect for those eager to experiment with diverse brewing styles.

The Timemore Chestnut C2 exudes durability and a delightful tactile feel. Meticulously and beautifully crafted, I get excited to use it. With its anti-slip design, handling becomes a breeze, adding to the overall convenience and enjoyment of the grinding process. Unlike some cheaper manual grinders demanding well over a hundred turns, this one accomplishes the task in about a dozen.

For the on-the-go coffee enthusiast, this grinder is a perfect companion. Lightweight, compact, and sturdy, it easily fits into your travel plans, withstanding the bumps and jostles of your journeys.

Pros

• Consistent grinds
• Enough grind settings to cover the majority of brewing methods
• Easy to operate for all kinds of users
• Portable enough to be carried around
• Easy to clean because the parts can be disassembled
• Lightweight
• Fast for a manual grinder

Cons

• Smaller capacity makes it unsuitable for serving a large number of people
• Relatively expensive

While the TimeMore Chestnut C2 may come with a slightly higher price tag compared to some other budget-friendly manual grinders, it justifies the cost with its solid and meticulously designed construction. Its performance is noteworthy, cranking out beautifully uniform grinds.

Check Amazon

More In-depth Considerations For Selecting The Appropriate Grinder

Even if you’ve got a good brand of coffee beans, beautifully roasted, you still won’t get that blissful brew if can’t extract it with the appropriate grind. Here are some more in-depth things to consider.

Type of Grinder

Two common grinder types you will see often are blade and burr. One is celebrated, and justifiably so, while the other has been on the receiving end of criticism from coffee connoisseurs and baristas.

Blade Grinders

These grinders have a rotating blade that spins to crush your beans. It works the same way a blender does, but it’s not as effective when it comes to coffee beans. Blades cannot produce a uniform consistent grind.

Some of your coffee grounds will be fine while others are coarse, and this will lead to uneven extraction, eventually causing your brew to be unbalanced, bitter, or too flat. You will also need to sharpen blade grinders at some point. Even though they are the cheapest grinders, this is the trade-off. Also, the heat produced by the blades could burn the beans which will cause your coffee to have unpleasant bitterness.

I would personally just use this type of grinder to grind spices.

You could get one if you cannot afford a burr grinder but sooner or later, go for an upgrade in order to experience balanced, delicious coffee.

Burr Grinders

Burr grinders have two revolving sharp abrasive surfaces that chop the beans into pieces to produce the grind you desire. Two kinds are available: conical and flat burrs.

Conical grinders have a v-shaped base that fits into a ring with angled edges. Beans are crushed in between them to your desired grind level.

Flat burr grinders, on the other hand, have rings that face each other and lie horizontally. Beans drop between the rings where they are ground before being released into a hopper.

Even though experts argue that the two have varying levels of effectiveness, the bottom line is that both make consistent uniform grounds, no matter the level. They may be big and loud, but that’s the price you have to pay for great-tasting coffee.

It’s therefore not surprising to see that burr grinders generally cost more than their conical counterparts. You may be paying more but the quality of grind compensates for that.

Check out our roundup of our favorite burr grinders here.

Manual vs Electric

Manual grinders are hands-on, meaning you need to face them when you have time on your hands and are full of energy. The majority resemble a pepper grinder, most often with a protruding arm on the top that has to be rotated to grind your beans.

Their biggest advantages are that they are cheaper, portable, and give you plenty of control over the grinding.

Electric grinders come in many forms. The level of control, functionality, and size varies from model to model. Have in mind your desired brewing method and preferences before settling on one.

If you’re interested in a coffee maker with a built in grinder, check out our article here.

Grinder Settings

Coffee burr grinders have settings and micro-settings, but they vary from model to model. Some only have settings for the standard brewing styles while others have way more than that, catering to all brewing methods.

You have to make sure that the grinder has a setting(s) for your preferred brewing method(s). For example, espresso needs very fine grounds while other methods such as cold brew or French press work best with a coarser grind.

Blade grinders unfortunately lack grind settings. Processing your beans for longer gives you a finer grind and vice versa. It takes time and effort to fully understand how to get your desired grind.

Hopper Size

Only burr grinders have a hopper. The options on our list can accommodate between 2.8 and 18 ounces.

A larger hopper would be convenient if you have a family, coffee shop, or find yourself in situations that require you to serve more than a couple of people. Smaller hoppers, on the other hand, are great for people living alone or not anticipating circumstances where they may need to serve several people at once.

Some models will have a portafilter holder, saving you the trouble of having to delicately transfer grounds from a container into a portafilter.

Extras

Coffee grinders work in different ways.

Some have a pulse button that you have to press and hold to grind the beans. Auto-grind options are the simplest. You only press a button and the grinder works its magic. Timed grinding is the other kind that is simple. Set the time and the machine will do the rest.

Other extras include a safety lock, programmable grinding, LCD display, and touch screens, just to name a few.

All these additional features often influence the cost of the unit, so you will want to weigh available options to determine which has the most value to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you really need an expensive coffee grinder?

Expensive doesn’t always mean great; however, there are some expensive models that offer a better grinding experience than their cheaper rivals. From more grind settings and digitized selection to faster grinding and stylish design.

Most of the cheaper grinders operate manually and use a blade grinder, which isn’t as effective at producing top-quality coffee grounds. They also take a bit longer to complete the grinding.

How long do burr grinders last?

How long the burrs in your grinder last will depend on two things: One, how well you take care of and clean the grinder, and two, how often you use it. Generally, ceramic burrs last longer than steel burrs because they are harder. Assuming you grind regularly, the former should be able to last up to 7 years while the former can serve you for around 5 years.

When should I replace my burr coffee grinder?

It’s not recommended that you sit and wait for 5 or 7 years to elapse before you replace your grinder. There are several factors that could fast-track their lifespan and force an earlier replacement. Here are the signs that you should replace the burrs in your grinder:

• The edges feel dull
• Your machine struggling to grind
• Coffee coming out more slowly
• Inconsistent coffee grounds
• Grounds coming out in clumps

Final Word on Coffee Grinders

Even though it costs more, the Baratza Virtuoso+ is worth every penny. Like the rest of the options, it uses burr grinders and has enough settings to match the requirements of most brewing methods. What sets it apart is the huge hopper capacity, digitized operations, and extras that elevate your brewing experience.

Before you settle on it as your ultimate choice, remember to put into consideration the factors I mentioned to you earlier. Each of the other grinders is equally capable but suited for different circumstances. For instance, the TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 or OXO Brew would suit you well if you are a newbie on a budget but curious to explore various brewing styles.

All the best in your search!