Best Coffee Grinders for Home

Coffee grinders can make or break your Java. In this buying guide, Here are tips and information to help you pick the best coffee grinders for home

Best coffee grinders for home
This post will take you to various factors you need to consider before buying the best coffee grinder

Are you looking for the best coffee grinder for home? The best coffee experience starts with grinding your coffee beans. So, it doesn’t take a professional barista to understand the importance of a good coffee grinder. You have two options when buying a grinder – you can either waste a bunch of money trying all sorts entry-level of products, or use this article to just buy one of the best grinders out there!

This post will take you through the various factors you need to consider before buying the best coffee grinder. It will also give you the top picks with their features, pros, and cons. Check out our coffee grinder vs. grain mill guide.

The Importance of a Good Coffee Grinder

A good coffee grinder is very important if you’re ultra-picky about how you like your coffee. The flavor of your coffee comes from the oils released when the beans are ground. 

Having a good coffee grinder at home allows you to grind beans fresh before you brew. A good grinder also allows you to change the size of the grounds from espresso grind to French press easily.

What To Look for In Coffee Grinders for Home

Coffee grinders are one of the most essential pieces of equipment for exponentially enhancing the way you enjoy a cup of joe, regardless of the technique used for coffee making. This also holds equally true for espresso shots.

Here are the important factors to consider when looking for the best coffee grinders:

·Burrs vs Blades

·Conical vs flat burrs

·Manual or Electric

·Stainless steel or Ceramic Burrs

·Auto Grinding ability

·Grind Setting/ Precision

·Bean Hopper Size

·Customer Reviews

·Warranty

Burrs vs Blades

A blade grinder comes with a blade in the center, and it looks more like a propeller, just like the one you can see in a blender. A burr grinder, on the other hand, comprises two revolving sharp surfaces and the beans are placed for grinding in between them. The change in grind size may be due to the distance between these two surfaces.

The reason why high-end coffee lovers choose burr grinders over blades is that the coffee beans offer more consistent results. When you grind with a burr, you have more control over the grinding process and brewing method.

Conical vs Flat Burrs

You will find two options here – conical and flat. They both do the same thing and both have a similar price point. The only difference is the way the coffee beans enter the grinder.

Conical burr grinders have a larger surface area that helps in eliminating heat while grinding. You will find conical burrs on grinders at every price range.

 The flat burrs, on the other hand, come with a flat disk used for grinding and they are mostly found in the medium range to the high-end grinders. They have a larger diameter than the conical burrs and are good at shedding heat.

Manual or Electric

Manual coffee grinder
Manual grinders have no motor and require you to literally crank a lever manually to grind the beans

The manual or hand grinder takes more time and effort, but it is a relatively cheaper and quieter option. It is also more durable and travel-friendly. Manual grinders have no motor and require you to literally crank a lever manually to grind the beans, which can be a bit time-consuming.

If you wish to grind beans for more cups at a time, an electric grinder may be a good option. Electric coffee grinders either chop or crush the beans while collecting the coffee grounds in a tidy container. Generally, using an electric grinder takes only a few minutes to get nicely ground beans.

The electric version also delivers a more consistent grind than the manual counterparts.

Stainless Steel or Ceramic Burrs

The coffee grinders are typically made of high-quality stainless-steel material that comes in different grades suitable for budget as well as high-end users. 

The steel burrs have a shorter lifespan, and they are reasonably priced, so they are cheaper to replace. The ceramic burrs are durable, and they work great when it comes to brewing French press.

Auto Grinding

Some entry-level equipment comes with a button, and when you push the button, the coffee beans start grinding. You let go of the button and grinding stops. Some people find it annoying to push the button and stand during the grinding process.

Other grinders come with a wheel or switch that can be turned on and off. You can put the coffee beans inside and let the device grind automatically while you do your other tasks. I prefer grinders that come with both functionalities.

Grind Setting/ Precision

The good quality grinders come with more settings that enable you to have more control and achieve a higher level of precision. For the best ground coffee, look for grinders that come with 20 settings. You can find grinders that have 40-50 grinder settings.

However, these are mostly used in restaurants or coffee shops. Anything is better than pre-ground coffee.

Bean Hopper Size

I would suggest that you look for a larger hopper size that can accommodate more coffee beans for more convenience. Keep in mind that you do not want the beans to be sitting in the hopper for too long before it is used. So, choose a suitable product based on your requirements and what is more important for you – convenience or freshness?

Customer Reviews

Make sure you check the customer reviews before buying a coffee grinder online. Customer reviews allow you to learn from other coffee drinker’s mistakes and experiences. Spend some time reading the customer reviews and finding out whether the grinder is right for you.

Warranty

The manufacturer warranty is another important factor that you need to consider when buying a coffee grinder. Most brands offer a one-year warranty. Some of the high-end coffee grinders may be backed by a 3-year manufacturer warranty.

Make sure you check and compare the guarantee/ warranty covers to find the product that works best for you.

Other features

Today’s coffee grinders come with a plethora of extra features. Look for added extras, including safety locks, electric timers, automatic shut-offs, stainless steel styling, programmable grinding, hide-away cord storage, LCD display, borosilicate glass container, LED indicator,  and stainless-steel blades. 

How To Pick The Best Coffee Grinders for Home

The best coffee grinder for home use typically depends on a few elements. When shopping for a bean grinder, you want to take a few factors into consideration that will make a huge difference in your coffee-making experience.

Price

The first thing you should consider is the price. Simple, blade grinders can start under $20.  Burr grinders with lots of features can cost several hundred dollars. 

For some people, a basic model is sufficient. If you are committed to the best coffee experience you may want to consider a slightly more expensive option with more features.

Type

There are two types of coffee grinders that you will find; burr grinders and blade grinders.

Most coffee aficionados prefer a burr grinder. Burr grinders crush the beans instead of chopping them, which gives a better flavor to your brewed coffee. However, burr grinders are typically a bit more expensive than blade grinders.

Storage

Finally, you want to think about storage when purchasing a coffee grinder for home use. Manual grinders are a great choice if you have a limited budget or are short on counter space. 

If you have plenty of space on your countertop, you might be more interested in a bigger model that looks sleek when paired with a newer model espresso machine or coffee maker.

Coffee Crusher

Many people are surprised to learn that their kitchen already has tools for grinding your coffee. One of the simplest tools you can use to grind coffee is a pepper mill. These are basically small-sized burr grinders. Just make sure that you clean the grinder well before using it for coffee or you are in for a tasty surprise.

If you don’t want to work that hard, you can also grind beans in your blender. Blade grinders are just a smaller-sized blender. This is a good option if you need to grind enough beans for your drip coffee maker.    

Large Coffee Grinders

If you have the space, a larger-sized coffee grinder is a nice investment. You will find that larger grinders, both burr, and blade offer you some additional levels of convenience. If your kitchen is small, you may not have the counter space for a large grinder. 

This doesn’t mean that you are stuck with an entry product. You just may have to pay a bit more for a smaller grinder with better options.

Speed

Speed really is something to consider when you are shopping for a coffee grinder. Automatic coffee grinders and those with a larger capacity usually work faster. This is a great feature if you need to make coffee in a hurry, or you don’t want to spend time hand-grinding your beans.

Manual hand grinders obviously work slower. However, a high-quality manual grinder with sharp burrs can grind beans surprisingly quickly and efficiently.   

Quantity

There are two quantity considerations when you are looking at coffee grinders, and they both make a big difference in your coffee-making experience.

First, you need to consider the quantity of whole beans that your grinder can hold. Countertop burr grinders tend to come with a bean hopper that holds close to a full bag of beans. Electric blade grinders usually only hold enough beans for a small pot of drip coffee.

The other quantity consideration is how much ground coffee your grinder holds. Larger grinders may hold enough grounds for a large coffee maker, or a couple of days worth of pour-over coffee. 

Quality

When it comes to coffee grinders, quality refers to the consistency of the ground coffee and the materials that the grinder is made from. If you want a grinder that will last a long time, you need to consider both of these factors.

To get a consistent grind, you will want to invest in a grinder that has a good quality burr or blade. Stainless steel burrs and blades are great. The better option for burr grinders is ceramic.

These stay sharp, create a uniform grind, and don’t create heat.

Construction-wise, look for options that are made from stainless steel and BPA-free plastic. These materials are long-lasting and will look great on your countertop. 

15 Best Coffee Grinders for Home

Choosing the best type of coffee grinder really comes down to personal preference. Of course, what would an information list about home coffee grinders be without a few suggestions?

Our team has researched some of the best grinders on the market. These 15 grinders are the top picks that we think perform best and offer a great ground coffee.

1. Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Digital Timer Display

This Baratza Virtuoso features a handy digital timer and over 40 different grind settings to ensure you’re getting the right one each time. It’s also a Specialty Coffee Association award winner.

Pros

  • Offers 40 grind settings
  • Weighs your grinds for the perfect amount of coffee
  • Best grind consistency
  • One of the faster grinders on the market

Cons

  • Plastic grounds bin gets staticy.
  • One of the higher price point grinders    
Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
$249.95
  • DIGITAL TIMER and BACKLIT GROUNDS BIN - a 40-second digital timer, adjustable to a tenth of a second, and an LED backlit grounds bin to dose ground coffee accurately and consistently.
  • 40 GRIND SETTINGS - With enhanced commercial-grade conical burrs to help you explore an extensive range of brew methods (espresso, Aeropress, Hario V60, Chemex, French Press, and automatic brewers).


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03/07/2024 07:45 pm GMT

2. The Baratza Encore

The Baratza Encore is one of the more compact coffee grinders from Baratza. If you are a coffee aficionado who loves to make consistent and precise grounds without shelling out a lot of money, this is a good choice. The Baratza Encore comes with an auto-grind function for added convenience.

It also includes a removable bean hopper, which makes it easy to clean and maintain the device.

Pros

  • Simple controls for easy operation
  • A good quality grinder at a reasonable price point
  • Offers 40 grind size settings
  • Not as staticey as other grinders    

Cons

  • Fine grind setting isn’t all that fine
  • The plastic construction isn’t very attractive
  • This grinder has a high noise level
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03/08/2024 02:15 am GMT

3. Breville Smart Grinder Pro

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a great product if you are looking for good quality, fine grind for the best espresso. This grinder is made with espresso lovers in mind but also does a great job at grinding beans for a variety of specialty coffee styles. 

The Smart Grinder Pro features stainless steel, conical burrs that adjust for 60 different grind settings. The grinder deposits grounds in a nicely sized hopper. Or use the included attachments to fill your espresso machine portafilter directly.

The stainless steel construction and simple styling make this a great grinder for any kitchen. The one feature of this grinder that we don’t love is the small opening on the ground container. It is pretty small, and if the bin gets bumped from the proper position, you’ll end up with ground all over your countertop.

Pros

  • Grinds directly into your espresso machine portafilter
  • Reasonable price tag for a good quality product
  • Ease of use  is high

Cons

  • Grinder is really best at making fine grinds. Coarse grinds aren’t as consistent.
  • The stainless steel burrs get hot really fast
  • Grounds container has a very small opening
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03/08/2024 04:09 am GMT

4. Quiseen One-Touch Electric Coffee Grinder

The Quiseen is one of the best one-touch electric coffee grinders. It can hold up to 70 grams of coffee beans and makes enough ground beans for seven cups of delicious coffee. The stainless-steel blades are sturdy, and they feature a resilient motor.

The grinder comes with a safety lock that is handy if you have kids at home.

Pros

  • Low price point
  • Efficient grinding
  • One-touch controls
  • Non-slip grip
  • Large grinding capacity
  • Durable and sturdy

Cons

  • No LCD display
  • No grinding settings
Quiseen One-Touch Electric Coffee Grinder
$16.99

Grinds Coffee Beans, Spices, Nuts and Grains - Durable Stainless Steel Blades (Black)

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03/07/2024 07:15 pm GMT

5. Mr. Coffee Electric Coffee Grinder

You can rest easy knowing that Mr. Coffee is one of the most recognizable names in the business. This grinder offers three grind settings, coarse, medium, and fine, for all different kinds of brews. There’s no waste as you can grind exactly the right amount of coffee up to twelve cups.

You don’t need to worry about pesky grounds ruining your device as the Chamber Maid cleaning system helps to clean up after brewing.

Pros

  • Built-in cleaning system
  • Multiple grind options
  • Large capacity 
  • One-year warranty

Cons

  • Loud   
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03/07/2024 09:00 am GMT

6. Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

If you prefer a wide range of grind settings, this model is a good choice. There are many features that make the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr grinder one of the more advanced coffee grinders in the market. It houses a 100-watt conical motor and 16 grind settings to help you achieve a complete spectrum of flavors.

There are optional speeds available for Turkish grinds, espresso grinds, French press coffee, and others.

Pros

  • Built-in timer
  • Large capacity
  • Quiet operation
  • Customizable grind setting
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Limited warranty
  • Pricey
  • Some people may not find it simple to use
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03/08/2024 05:35 am GMT

7. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

Javapresse manual coffee grinder
Ceramic burrs are five times more durable than stainless steel blades

Our best manual coffee grinder works on a hand-crank mechanism, and the ceramic combo burrs are highly reliable. Ceramic burrs are five times more durable than stainless steel blades. It takes about 2-5 minutes to grind one to two cups of coffee at a time.

For coffee lovers looking for a traditional and portable method to grind coffee, the JavaPresse with 18 grinding settings fits the bill with ease making it our best manual coffee grinder.

Pros

  • It requires less effort
  • No batteries or power cords needed
  • Includes a built-in window
  • Easy to clean
  • Highly portable

Cons

  • Lid is often tough to take off
  • May not get consistent results with grinds
  • Not fast grind time
JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
$39.95
  • Built-in Adjustable Grind Selector
  • Convenient, Portable & Easy to Use
  • Quality Tested
  • 100% money-back guarantee.
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03/07/2024 03:34 am GMT

8. Junoesque Manual Burr Coffee Grinder

Sometimes, you just want a great hand grinder, and this is an excellent option. A basic crank function allows you to get the right grind consistency fast and easily without a need for a power source.

Pros

  • Great hand grinder
  • Features high-quality materials and construction
  • Highly portable  

Cons

  • Higher price point than other manual grinders
  • Grind size is not consistent
JUNOESQUE Manual Burr Coffee Grinder ACE48 Series Titanium-Coated Carbon Steel Hexagon Conical Burr with Fine Adjustable Selector, Consistency Grinding and Efficient for Espresso, Black
  • ★ GRINDING FAST AND CONSISTENCY - Manual coffee grinder upgrades 1.9in large hexagon conical burr, double bearing with unique spline, horizontal ball design, four layers of fixed central shaft, make the burr stable and not offset, you can get the smoother and faster grinding, finer consistency powder, which brings you more pure flavor of Espresso
  • ★ DIAL IN YOUR PREFERRED GRIND SIZE - built-in adjustable grind Selector with over 18 click settings ensures you have 100% precision control over the coarseness of your Pour-over, Drip, Cold Brew, French press, Especially perfect for Espresso, perfect grind every time
  • ★ HARDER AND MORE DURABLE - The manual burr coffee grinder upgraded a large burr with titanium-coated process. It is hard, sharp, durable, and grinds quickly. You can quickly taste a cup of delicious coffee and it can last for many years
  • ★ PORTABLE TO CARRY-The cover is separated from the crank to prevent the bean from spilling when you take it out. Load your favorite coffee beans and share your refined coffee with your friends anywhere, it's also a good choice for travel and camping
  • ★ QUICK DISASSEMBLY, EASY TO CLEAN - The arc design of the inner bottom of the powder cup makes it easier to clean the powder cup and solves the problem of residual powder embedded in the right angle gap of the ordinary powder cup. The grinder can be quickly disassembled and cleaned with brush. Use the included electric drill bit, you can easily turn your grinder into an electric grinder

9. KRUPS Electric Grinder

This electric grinder by KRUPS deserves a mention in the top 15 best coffee grinders for its versatility and great speed. Apart from coffee beans, it can also grind seeds, herbs, nuts, and spices. This small and compact device can hold up to 3 ounces of beans that can make 12 cups of coffee.

It features stainless steel blades that can chop beans into a consistent and fine ground. It is powered by a 200-watt motor that grinds beans quickly and works best for busy mornings.

Pros

  • Works with speed and precision
  • Can grind other materials too
  • Sturdy blades help to cut finely

Cons

  • Noise level is higher
  • Limited amount of coffee capacity

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10. Sboly Electric Burr Coffee Grinder

Eighteen settings make this affordable coffee grinder a great option for your home coffee machine, including cup size adjustable quantity, grind size, and a compact footprint ideal for small kitchens.

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • Good range of settings
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Not as powerful
  • Not widely available

11. OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

The OXO Brew conical burr coffee grinder is one of our favorite budget coffee grinders. This reasonably priced grinder allows you to completely customize the amount and size of the coffee grounds you need. One of the standout features of the OXO Brew is its stainless steel construction.

Besides the styling of this grinder, the OXO allows you to select from 15 different grind settings and holds enough grounds for up to 12 cups of coffee.  

Pros

  • Affordable price for a great product
  • Attractive stainless steel styling
  • Stainless steel grounds bin doesn’t get staticy.
  • Tinted bean hopper reduces exposure to light   

Cons

  • Coarser grind settings are not much different
  • Fine grind is not the best for espresso portafilters  
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03/07/2024 10:05 am GMT

12. Fellow Ode Coffee Grinder

The Fellow Ode grinder is one of the more unique-looking grinders on the market. If you are looking for an option that has a more industrial feel, this is the grinder for you. Inside this grinder, you’ll find flat burrs that are adjustable to 31 different grind settings.

The grounds bin is held in place with a strong magnet so it won’t make a mess. This is also a super quiet grinder.

Pros

  • Unique styling
  • Flat burrs are strong and sharp
  • Very quiet motor
  • User-friendly controls   

Cons

  • Fine grounds aren’t good enough for espresso
  • Only comes in matte black
  • Bean hopper is kind of small   
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03/08/2024 10:55 am GMT

13. Kitchenaid Burr Coffee Grinder

If you are looking for a grinder from a well-known and reliable appliance maker, the KitchenAid Burr grinder is a good option. Though a bit more expensive than other options, this KitchenAid grinder works really well and has a number of nice convenience features. We like the digital controls that give you 70 different settings for quantity and grind size.

This is another grinder that allows you to grind into the grounds container or directly into your espresso machine portafilter.      

Pros

  • Very user-friendly
  • One of the most consistent grind results
  • Grinds directly into a portafilter     

Cons

  • Plastic grind bin is challenging to clean
  • Higher price tag than other KitchenAid grinders    
KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder - KCG8433 - Empire Red, 10 Oz
  • Our grinder automatically produces the ideal amount and consistency of grounds for every drink selection with Smart Dosing Technology.
  • Getting consistent grind size means delicious brewing every time. Achieve consistent grind sizes for all brew methods from French Press to Espresso with the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder.
  • Discover your perfect grind, for every kind of brew. With 70 precise settings for a wide variety of grind sizes - from coarse for Cold Brew and French Press, to fine for Espresso and espresso drinks.
  • Commercial-grade, stainless steel conical burrs provide superior grinding precision, producing uniformly-sized grounds for optimal flavor extraction.
  • No need to flip your machine upside down—simply twist and lift the removable bean hopper to empty, exchange or refill with fresh beans between brews.

14. Smeg Coffee Grinder

We love the looks and performance of the SMEG grinder. This attractive grinder featuring shiny black and chrome styling is great for grinding beans for a range of brewing styles. This grinder is able to hold a full 12-ounce bag of beans and adjusts to make grounds for two to twelve cups of coffee.

The TRITAN plastic grounds bin is better at resisting static, so this grinder is less messy than others.  

Pros

  • Great looking coffee grinder
  • Has a consistent grind product
  • Low noise level   

Cons

  • Grind quantity based on time not weight
  • More expensive than other options     

15. Hario Skerton Pro

This is one of our favorite entry-level manual grinders. The Hario Skerton has a fun, retro look, but is also really great at grinding coffee. The Hario Skerton Pro uses high-quality ceramic burrs for grinding your coffee.

The bean hopper holds 70 grams of beans, which can make up to 10 cups of coffee. The glass grind bin is awesome at resisting static, so there’s less mess with the Hario Skerton Pro.

Pros

  • Good price tag for a great product
  • Super easy to clean and maintain
  • Compact and portable     

Cons

  • Glass grinds bin will break if dropped
  • Not as easy to adjust the grind size     
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03/07/2024 06:10 pm GMT

Testing Criteria

We take testing products seriously. To narrow our list down to 15 great products, we ground a lot of coffee. For each grinder, we tested the grind size and quantity adjustment, and the brewed coffee with the grounds. 

Our assessment of the quality is based on the quality of the grinds and the quality of the coffee made with those grounds.

We also took the time to read other coffee lover’s reviews for each product. If other users had issues with the product that we didn’t see, even if we loved the grinder, it is not included on our list. 

Why You Can Trust Me

Over the last few years, my coffee brewing has grown from a morning routine to a passion for the perfect cup of coffee. I brew everything from French press to pour over coffee. I love making coffee in a variety of styles, and appreciate tools that work well and are accessible to all budgets and brewing styles.

Author

  • Jason Gass

    Jason Gass is a Colorado based freelance writer and blogger whose goal is to share a good cup of coffee and great stories around a campfire with close friends. When he’s not working, he spends most of his time traveling, searching for the best breweries, and road-tripping in his teardrop trailer with his wife, daughter, and two dogs. Find Jason on LinkedIn.