Do you enjoy freshly ground coffee at your local coffee shop or restaurant and wondered how you can make such great coffee at home? You can by investing in a coffee grinder. A top quality coffee grinder will grind those tiny beans into perfect coffee grounds, and once they have been poured into your Espresso machine, French Press or Drip Percolator, you will be able to enjoy a delicious aromatic brew in the comfort of your own home. Have we captured your interest? Well, here are some tips and reviews that will help you to choose the best coffee grinder.
| Image | Product Name | Nr of Settings | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder | 18 settings | $ |
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KitchenAid Blade Onyx Black Coffee Grinder | 1 setting | $ |
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Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder | 50 settings | $$$$ |
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Capresso 565 Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder | 16 settings | $$$ |
 |
Breville The Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder | 60 settings | $$$ |
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Mazzer Mini Espresso Doser Coffee Grinder | Highly adjustable | $$$$$ |
Our Top Pick for The Best Coffee Grinder
Our top pick for the best coffee grinder is the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder. The Rancilio coffee grinder is a perfect grinder for all coffee connoisseurs. With a commercial grade design and 50 different settings that allow the Rocky grinder to deliver a powerful coffee grinding performance, you can create delicious tasting restaurant quality coffee that is just bursting with rich flavors and aromas.
How to Choose the Best Coffee Grinder
All coffee lovers have a coffee style preference. Some people like their coffee full bodied with a full crema, other people like extra strong Turkish coffee, while other people like their coffee will less body and less intensity like a cafe latte.
Maybe you are looking for a coffee grinder that can grind enough beans for one or two people or a larger commercial type model that can make a lot of coffee for guests at a dinner party or barbecue.
As well as thinking about your coffee needs, there are other pertinent questions to be asked like:
- What types of coffee grinders are available: manual or electric?
- What specific grinding process do they use: blades or burrs?
- What types of settings do they have: simple operations or more complex settings that allow you to grind the beans in a lot of different ways?
- Do they feature a stepped or step-less grind system?
- Is the grinder very noisy when it grinds the beans?
- Does the grinder come in a small compact size or is it bulky?
- Does the grinder have removable parts, which makes it easy to clean?
Thinking about how you like your coffee and who you will prepare it, and by asking the above questions, will start you on your journey to finding just the right type of coffee grinder.
Manual Coffee Grinders
Manual grinders are definitely the cheaper option, and although they may take longer to achieve the final grind that you desire, they are very easy to use. A manual coffee grinder can achieve a coarser grind but it may take longer to grind coffee into a finer consistency that you will need for an espresso style coffee. So if you like the sound of a “hands-on approach” to coffee grinding, a manual coffee grinder is certainly a great choice for making small amounts of coffee.
One of the best things about a manual coffee grinder is its high-level portability, like the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder, which looks just like a salt or pepper grinder. It can deliver a consistent grind and it is very easy to use plus you can even use it for grinding spices. Even though it is simple to use, the JavaPresse has 18 grind settings so that you can grind your coffee according to your personal preference.
A manual coffee grinder is just perfect for backpackers or travelers who want to grind their own coffee into a French press or a traveling mug or flask, or for people who want better quality coffee at work, or for camping. But if you want to have more control over your coffee grinding, to get the right consistency and texture to your coffee grounds, choose an electric coffee grinder.
Electric Coffee Grinders
If you drink a lot of coffee and host a lot of parties or barbecues where your guests also love restaurant quality coffee, you need an electric coffee grinder. Electric coffee grinders can range in price depending on whether they have a simple operating system or a fully automated system that provides you with a wide range of grind settings and a large container or hopper capacity for processing a lot of coffee beans.
Some low-range coffee grinders like the KitchenAid BCG111OB Blade Coffee Grinder is very affordable. It has no super deluxe grind settings or timers, but it features a simple modus operandi, where you just simply press the top of the grinder for the length of time required and the result is still great tasting coffee.
More expensive grinders have fully automated grinding systems and they give you more grinding options. If you are a coffee connoisseur, an electric coffee grinder is a perfect grinder for you. How many settings a coffee grinder has is very important as it allows you to get the exact grind consistency, final flavor, and aroma you want.
Settings can range depending on the manufacturer. The Capresso Infinity Grinder has 16 settings, the Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder has 50 settings, and the Breville The Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder has a whopping amount of 60 settings. Electric coffee grinders allow you to grind coffee at just the press of a button, and they are faster, but they may be noisy in their operation and as they have more moving parts, they are hard to keep clean.
Settings
Besides the style and operating specifications, one of the most important parts of a coffee grinder is its settings, or what options it gives you for grinding the beans. However you like your coffee, flat white, cappuccino, macchiato, the quality of the coffee will all depend on the grinding process, i.e. how the beans are ground in the coffee grinder: coarse, medium-coarse, medium, medium-fine, fine or extra fine. Here are some things to consider in relation to grinding levels:
- Over grinding or under grinding the beans will result in coffee that is too bitter or coffee that does not have enough flavor.
- If the grind is too fine, the water will stay in contact with the coffee which can result in coffee that is too strong or bitter. If the grind is too coarse, the water will have trouble permeating through the coffee grounds which can result in weak tasteless coffee.
Operating Features
Manual and electric coffee grinders can either use a blade or a burr, which is also called a disc, to grind the beans.
Blade Grinders versus Burr Grinders
Blade coffee grinders grind the beans by using a propeller-like flat blade but this type of grinder can be quite noisy, and the final coffee grounds may have an uneven texture and at high speeds, the beans can be scorched.
Although the blade grinders may not always produce a consistent level of grind for Espresso-type coffee or Turkish coffee, this type of grinder does quite well as grinding beans for a French press or percolator coffee machine. But that is not to say that a blade grinder cannot deliver the coffee style you like. There are simple things you can do to get just the right consistency and final grind from the machine. The manufacturer's instructions can give you some tips on how to get the best results from the grinder and there are plenty of videos on Youtube that can help you to become an expert coffee grinder.
High-end electric coffee grinders use two burrs or discs to grind the beans and the burrs can either be stainless steel or ceramic and flat or conical. If you want to learn more about conical and flat burrs click here.
Burr coffee grinders work so much better than blade grinders as they grind the beans to a better consistency. The Capresso 565 Infinity Coffee Grinder has two commercial grade solid steel conical burrs that deliver high precision grinding. Capresso has specially designed these burrs to work at a slower grinding speed as opposed to flat burrs, they create less friction and heat build up which preserves maximum aroma and retains flavor in any grind setting.
There are advantages and disadvantages to stainless-steel and ceramic burrs.
The advantages of stainless steel burrs are that they are generally cheaper to manufacture and replace and they are ideal for making pour over, automatic drip, siphon, French press style coffee. If a rock or a foreign object gets into the hopper, it can cause some damage, but the grinder can still continue to function. The disadvantages of steel burrs are that they do not last as long as a ceramic burr.
Ceramic burrs last twice as long as steel burrs and they can produce the right texture that is needed for espresso coffee and they are not as messy as steel burrs. The downside of ceramic burrs is that they can shatter if they hit a rock or foreign object which can render the machine unusable until it has been fixed.
Doser Grinders versus Doserless Grinders
A coffee grinder that has a doser dispenses the coffee grounds into a staging area or container which holds the coffee grounds and then doses the appropriate amount of coffee grounds into a portafilter basket. A doserless model, like the Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder, allows you to load the grounds directly into the portafilter that is held by a retaining fork. A doserless grinder allows you more versatility as you can remove the retaining fork and place a brew basket or French Press under the spout to catch the coffee grounds.
Other User-friendly Features
Electric coffee grinders may have other features that make your coffee grinding experience easier and faster. Some grinders like the Breville Smart Grinder has an LCD screen control panel that allows you to choose and monitor just the right amount of shots per cup and the level of grind. The Breville grinder also takes coffee grinding to a new level as there is an activation switch that is located beneath the chute and as soon as you position the portafilter, the grinding process automatically begins.
Other high-end, commercial style coffee grinders like the Mazzer Mini Espresso Grinder, which has a step-less micro-metrical grind adjustment, allows you to fine tune your coffee grounds.
While electric grinders give you absolute control over the final grind, whether it is a coarse grind, medium-fine or fine grind in under one minute, these bigger machines can be noisy and messy until you learn how to master them. Here is a video on how to get the right grind when using an electric coffee grinder.
Best Coffee Grinder Reviews
1. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
If you prefer a more hands-on approach to grinding your coffee beans, or you would like to to have freshly ground coffee while you are on a camping trip or while you backpacking around the world, the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder is the perfect coffee grinder for you. You can even use it for herbs and spices.
The coffee grinder looks just like a salt or pepper grinder and as it is made out of strong, brushed stainless steel so it will make an attractive addition to your kitchen and its sleek design means it can easily fit into your backpack or suitcase.
With a simple but very effective grinding process, the JavaPresse coffee grinder is very easy to use. Select your favorite coffee beans, unscrew the top of the grinder and add 17.5 grams of coffee beans into the hopper (the hopper's capacity is 100ml which will make one to two cups of coffee). Screw the top back onto the main body of the grinder. The body of the grinder comes apart in two pieces, so underneath the top section, there is a built-in adjustable grind selector with over 18 click settings which ensure you have 100% precision control over the coarseness of your coffee beans to suit your coffee preference. Here is a video that will teach you how to use the JavaPresse.
The grinder uses ceramic conical burrs which have been thoroughly tested and are guaranteed to last 5-times longer than stainless steel blades and will give you a more consistent grind. The hand crank mechanism consistently eliminates over 90% of the noise that most electric grinders produce, so you can prepare coffee in the early hours of the morning without disturbing your family members, camp mates or workmates. As the JavaPresse does not need batteries, power, or long plastic cords to operate, it is the ideal coffee making travel buddy, and it is extremely easy to take apart for cleaning. JavaPresse offers a lifetime warranty for the grinder.
Pros
- High-quality manual coffee grinder
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for one or two people
- Sleek design
- Attractive brushed stainless steel surface
- Convenient removable hand crank mechanism
- Built-in adjustable grind selector with over 18 click settings
- Durable conical ceramic burrs
- Ideal for traveling and camping
- Very quiet operation
- Built-in viewing window
- Very easy to use and hold
- Provides a very good consistent grind
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Has trouble grinding fine coffee grounds
- Cannot make more than 2 cups of coffee
- Ceramic burr can get damaged
- Slow grinding process
2. KitchenAid BCG111OB Blade Onyx Black Coffee Grinder
With a quick and simple approach to making a stellar cup of coffee, the KitchenAid BCG111OB Coffee Grinder is great value for money. The KitchenAid grinder features a one-touch operation so that you can start to grind your coffee beans at just the touch of a button, press down on the cover to begin the grinding process and release to stop the machine. The clear cover/hopper allows you check the consistency of the coffee grounds and the grinder can make up to 12 cups of coffee and it works very well at making coffee grounds for Turkish-style coffee, drip filter or French press coffee.
The strong stainless-steel blade offers a powerful grinding performance and the removable 4-oz. stainless steel bowl has measurement markings on the inside, so can accurately measure out the coffee beans that you need to make 2, 4 8, 10 or 12 cups of coffee and the bowl lifts out, which makes it very easy to transfer the grinds to the coffee maker.
A highly versatile coffee grinder, the KitchenAid grinder also doubles as a spice grinder, with a spice grinder accessory kit (that is included with the Model BCG211 or can be purchased separately).
The coffee grinder features a sleek design, a heavy-duty motor housing and an attractive silver and black onyx design, and one of the best things about this little dynamo is that it has a quiet grinding operation. Kitchenaid offers a 1-year limited hassle-free replacement warranty, and the grinder also comes in a funky Empire Red color.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Very good quality
- Simple one-touch control
- Strong and durable stainless-steel blade
- Clear top hopper
- Powerful performance
- Removable bowl with measurement markings on the inside
- Can make up to 12 cups of coffee
- Quiet operation
- Spice grinder accessory kit available
- Sleek design
- Attractive silver and black Onyx design
- Available in Empire Red
Cons
- Messy
- Grounds can be uneven
- No grind settings
3. Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
An excellent quality coffee grinder, the doserless Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder is the perfect coffee grinder for all coffee lovers. The Rancilio coffee grinder is made in Italy, the home of delicious tasting coffee, and it guarantees a top grinding performance due to its powerful 166-watt direct drive quiet operation motor. The 50mm commercial grade grinding flat burrs can grind up to 7.7 pounds per hour and it is capable of spinning at 1725 RPMs without making a lot of noise.
So you can enjoy top quality barista made coffee right in the comfort of your home without having to spend exorbitant amounts of money on an expensive and bulky coffee grinder. The grinder is very stylish with a black tinted hopper and a brushed stainless steel housing and there are loads of features to help you the grind your beans to perfection: the grinder has a whopping 56 settings and the hopper has a 0.65lb capacity.
The grinder is very stylish with a black tinted hopper and a brushed stainless steel housing and there are loads of features to help you the grind your beans to perfection: the grinder has a whopping 50 settings and the hopper has a 0.65lb capacity. The main power switch is located on the right of the machine and there is another “push and hold” switch on the front of the grinder which is used to start and stop the grind and the catch tray collects any excess coffee grounds. You can quickly change the grind setting by pressing the “push and hold” switch and move the bean hopper to the setting you desire and the machine can grind coffee to a fine powder for a Turkish coffee or a courser grind in seconds.
The removable fork allows you directly place your portafilter under the spout so that the coffee grounds go straight into the porta filter and you can re-attach the filter to your coffee machine or empty in into your French Press. If the beans get clogged, there is a removable fork to help you guide the beans for a smooth grinding process.
Whether you enjoy an espresso, drip filter or French press style coffee, this sturdy but compact grinder can be relied on to consistently deliver great tasting coffee on demand. If you find coffee bean dust lurking in the machine, do not worry, as it is a testimony to Rancilio's dedication to maintaining the quality and working performance of their coffee grinders, as they factory test all of their units before they are shipped out to you.
Make sure you read the instructions or watch Rancilio's demonstration to become familiar with the machine, as under grinding can result in grounds being left behind, or the grounds can be clumpy.
Rancilio offers a 30-day guarantee on all repairs and the grinder is covered by a 1-year warranty. The Rocky coffee grinder is also available in a doser model.
Pros
- High-quality coffee grinder
- Excellent value for money
- 50mm commercial grade grinding burrs
- Powerful grinding performance
- 5o settings
- Durable
- Easy to clean the grinders
- Consistent grinds
- Very good at grinding beans for Turkish-style coffee
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Expensive
- Tends to stall with very heavy usage
- Changing the grind settings can take some getting used to
4. Capresso 565 Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
If you drink a lot of coffee and would like more control over the final grind, aroma, and taste of your coffee beans, invest in the Capresso 565 Infinity Coffee Grinder. The Capresso coffee grinder has two commercial grade solid steel conical burrs that feature an advanced cutting design and are hand assembled in Switzerland for a precise fit. This special attention to detail means the grinder delivers high precision grinding and as the burrs work at a slower grinding speed as opposed to flat burrs, they create less friction and heat build up which preserves maximum aroma and retains flavor in any grind setting.
By giving you that much-needed control over how the beans are ground, you will enjoy a better level of grind consistency. So whether you prefer to make your coffee with an Espresso machine, a drip filter percolator, pour-over brewer or a French press, the Infinity grinder allows you to grind the beans exactly how you want them, from coarse to finely ground coffee.
The coffee grinder is made out of strong die-cast stainless steel and it is very easy to use. You load your coffee beans into the see-through hopper which can contain up to 8.8 oz of beans, choose your level of grind from the 16 different settings which are clearly marked on the front of the machine: such as extra fine, fine, regular or coarse, and turn the dial to the appropriate setting, turn the timer on and the grinding starts instantly. You can watch the grounds fill up in the see-through tightly fitted coffee container which can hold up to 4 oz of ground coffee.
There is a very handy timer that can be set to grind from 5 to 60 seconds and there is an extra pulse grinding setting that you can use for that extra final level of precision grinding. Capresso also includes a innovate safety lock system where the grinder switches to auto off when the bean container is not locked, which provides you with a safer level of operation during and after use, and the rubber feet keep the grinder securely on the countertop.
The unit is very easy to clean and the upper conical burr can be removed for cleaning and there is an extra brush to clean off excess coffee grounds. Capresso offers a 1-year limited warranty for Household Use. Capresso also offers a bag of Grand Aroma Whole Bean Coffee (8.8oz) Swiss Roast Regular and a Coffee Measure.
Pros
- High-performance coffee grinder
- Grinds consistent coffee grounds
- Very effective at fine and coarsely ground coffee
- Quiet operation
- Well designed
- Superior commercial grade solid conical steel burrs
- 16 grind settings
- Rubber feet at the bottom helps it remain steady
- Does not overheat
- Very sturdy
- Very easy to use
Cons
- Needs to be cleaned after each use
- Produces some static
5. Breville BCG820BSSXL The Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder
With 60 different grind settings, a precision electronic timer, an easy to read LED control panel, and an ability to deliver the final coffee grounds straight into your porta filter or gold tone filter basket, The Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder is the perfect choice for all coffee lovers. Whether you are upgrading from your old coffee grinder or you are a newbie to the delightful world of grinding your own coffee beans, The Smart Grinder gives you everything you need for a perfect coffee grind every time.
The Breville grinder has undergone a major upgrade with a host of new features that allow you to grind coffee the way you like it. Instead of 25 settings, there are now 60 precise grind settings that give you the option to choose from the finest Espresso to the coarsest French Press grind, and the large see-through bean hopper has a 16oz bean capacity and features a locking system for easy removal, storage, and transfer. The grinder has a brushed stainless steel housing and an airtight plastic hopper that seals in the freshness of the coffee beans until you are ready to start grinding them and the grinder's compact, slim-line design means it will not take up a lot of space in your kitchen.
The doserless stainless steel upper conical burr grinder can also be adjusted to further accommodate that perfect grind that other grinders may struggle to deliver. By utilizing the latest technology, Breville has taken coffee grinding design to a whole new level with their innovative Precision Digital Timer, which allows you to adjust your level of coffee grind in 0.2 sec increments. At just the press of a button, you can choose the level of coffee grind, choose how many shots or cups you prefer and the large sized intuitive LCD screen displays all the information.
One of the highlights of this super smart coffee grinder is its hands-free operation. There is an activation switch that is located beneath the chute and when you place and then press the portafilter into the chute the grinding process automatically begins. If you need to pause the grinder to adjust you setting or shots, simply press the Start/Pause/Cancel button to stop the dose and resettle your grounds and press start and the machine will automatically finish the grinding process. The grinder is also available in Cranberry Red and Sesame Black and Breville also offers a certified refurbished brushed stainless-steel coffee grinder at a reduced price.
The Smart Grinder Pro is protected by Breville’s 1-year limited product warranty.
Pros
- Very good value for money
- Upgraded slimline design and operating system
- High coffee grinding performance
- 60 precise settings
- Large 16oz bean capacity
- Easy to read intuitive programmable LCD screen
- Innovative grinding system
- Precision Digital Time and dosing system
- Porta-filter chute has an activation switch
- Grind directly into a portafilter
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Grinder can jam
- Messy
6. Mazzer Mini Espresso Doser Coffee Grinder
It may be small, but the Mazzer Mini Espresso Doser Grinder is a power-packed coffee grinder. Mazzer is a leading company for the manufacture of coffee grinders, grinder-dosers, and accessories, so you are guaranteed of a top quality coffee grinder that is excellent value for money. Although the Mazzer mini espresso grinder is a commercial-grade grinder that is designed for use in a cafe or restaurant, it is the ideal choice for home-use especially if you love high-end espresso coffee.
The grinder is designed to last a lifetime as it is made from strong brushed stainless steel and weighs 22.5-lbs. It has a powerful 250-watt motor and the Swedish made hardened 58mm steel burrs are specially designed to operate at a low blade speed of 1600 RPM so that you can grind your beans without scorching them. The step-less micro-metrical grind adjustment allows you to tweak your coffee grounds to just the right grind. The end result is delicious espresso coffee that is just bursting with flavor and has that desirable rich coffee aroma.
Even though is called a mini grinder, it can process a lot of coffee beans, as the hopper has a 1.3-pound capacity, so you will have no problems supplying in-demand high quality, full bodied coffee to your guests at your next barbecue or dinner party. You can set the timer and shot dosage or press the button to control the level of grind manually, and the special adjustment handle lets you fine-tune coffee grinds to a higher precision for expertly made coffee.
There is a doser to collect the coffee grounds and the dosing levels can be adjusted from 5.5-9 grams to achieve the perfect level of coffee grounds consistency and there is a holding fork to rest a portafilter on. The grinder takes a while to clean and it is quite noisy, but there is a sliding trap door for you to store the hopper for easy storage.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- High-quality design and construction
- Delivers a superior level of grind consistency
- Professional style machine
- Makes excellent espresso coffee
- Adjustable doser
- Patented step-less micro-metrical grind adjustment
- Extra large 1.3-pound capacity capacity
- Modern sleek design
Cons
- Difficult to clean
- Portafilter is too far away from the doser
- Can be messy
- Noisy
- Expensive
Our Top Pick for The Best Coffee Grinder
Our top pick for the best coffee grinder is the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder. The Rancilio coffee grinder is a perfect grinder for all coffee connoisseurs. With a commercial grade design and 50 different settings that allow the Rocky grinder to deliver a powerful coffee grinding performance, you can create delicious tasting restaurant quality coffee that is just bursting with rich flavors and aromas.
