If you cannot imagine not waking up to the smell of a freshly brewed cup of coffee, you’re in the right place.
If you ever tasted the perfect cup, you’ll want to have more.
That’s why more and more people are grinding their own coffee beans at home.
Freshly and evenly ground coffee plays a major role in the flavour of your cup, so it’s crucial to know which grinder is the best coffee grinder for you and what you’re doing with it.
Most people are surprised to hear this, but grinding is as important as finding the best fresh coffee beans.
You need to grind your beans evenly and at the right size for the type of coffee you’re brewing for better extraction.
That’s why we’ve listed the basics of coffee grinding, tips for choosing the best coffee grinder, and a detailed review of some options available for you.
See Our Best Coffee Grinders
| # | PREVIEW | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
 Buy On AO Show other buying options |
|
| 2 |
|
Buy On AO Show other buying options |
|
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
| 4
Best For Higher Budgets
4Sage The Dose BCG600SIL Coffee Grinder
|
|
Buy On AO Show other buying options |
|
| 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
| 6
Best For Low Budgets
6Sboly Coffee Grinder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
| 7
Best Overall
7Smeg 50's Retro CGF01BLUK Coffee Grinder
|
|
Buy On AO Show other buying options |
|
| 8 |
|
Buy On AO Show other buying options |
|
1. Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Burr Mill
- 18 grind settings.
- Elegant style.
- Burr grinder.
- 250g capacity.
Cuisinart DBM-8 coffee grinder has a simple but elegant, modern industrial style that’ll match with silver appliances perfectly.
It looks sleek, stylish and robust.
This automatic coffee mill has a burr grinding mechanism perfect to produce uniform grounds and achieve optimum flavour.
It has 18 grind settings, ranging from ultra-fine to coarse. It has a removable, dishwasher-safe plastic bean hopper with a 250g capacity and fully sealed lid.
It keeps beans fresh and preserves the aroma.
You can also set the number of cups you want to make, from 4 to 18, which is great.
The Grind Burr Mill is built to fit the North American Electrical Standards Capacity and starts grinding with the press of a button.
Specifications
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Removable, dishwasher-safe ground chamber.
- Reliable manufacturer.
- Easy to adjust the grind.
Cons
- A bit noisy.
- Not great for heavy-duty.
2. Krups GVX231 Coffee Grinder
- Safety lid.
- Cups selector.
- 17 settings.
- Slim design.
Krups GVX2 burr grinder has 17 settings to adjust the distance between the two burrs for a fine or coarse result.
With a 225-gram capacity bean hopper, it allows you to grind beans for 2-12 cups of coffee at a time with its cups selector.
You can switch the grinder off manually, or it will switch itself off upon grinding the previously set desired quantity.
You can adjust burr positions to grind coffee from fine to coarse.
Seventeen settings will allow you to make everything from espresso to drip coffee or French press.
The dual stainless steel burr grinder promises to deliver a precise and uniform grind while preserving maximum aroma and flavour.
The grinder has a blue on/off LED, a removable upper burr and a ground coffee container. It has a safety lid to avoid accidents and messy spills.
The container is also airtight to preserve the flavour and aroma of the beans.
The durable brushed stainless steel fascia with black plastic housing is easy to wipe clean as well.
Specifications
Pros
- 225-gram capacity.
- 2-12 cups.
- Has an on/off LED.
- Automatic switch-off.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a strong design.
- On/off button not so durable.
3. DevaCurl OXO Coffee Grinder
- One-touch timer.
- Keeps your last setting.
- Mess-free hopper.
- Steel grounds container.
DevaCurl OXO Coffee Grinder has 15 grind size settings and additional microsettings for the best coffee experience.
The numbers printed for the size settings are easy to read.
The process is easy too: add beans, choose from 15 grind size settings, turn the dial to select the grinding time and push to start.
The one-touch timer keeps your last setting, so you don’t have to reset it every time.
This tall device is not the most stylish option available, but it stands out with its stainless steel grounds container.
It also has a mess-free, large-capacity hopper with UV-blocking tint.
This is a steel conical burr grinder, which is great for consistency.
The beans feed very well, even for single dosing, and that it’s easy to clean.
Specifications
Pros
- 15 grind settings.
- Additional micro settings.
- UV-blocking tint.
- Conical burr grinder.
Cons
- A tad tall.
- Requires a 110v power adapter.
4. Sage The Dose BCG600SIL Coffee Grinder
- Automatic Thermal Safety Shut Off.
- Removable and Adjustable Upper Burr.
- Comes with a Razor™ Dose Trimming Tool.
- 340-gram bean hopper capacity.
What sets the Sage Dose Control Pro apart is that it is more on the professional use side of the list.
It looks more complicated but still not too hard to use.
It lets you grind directly into the portafilter, gold-tone filter basket or paper filter.
It has 60 precise grind settings allowing you to grind fine enough for espresso or coarse enough for French Press.
This grinder has a precision electronic timer to perfectly control the dose for any brew size.
The removable, mess-free, bean hopper with locking system has a large capacity as well.
You can store 340 grams of beans in this tall machine.
The stainless steel conical burrs claim to minimise grind heat and protect essential oils where fresh coffee flavour resides.
You can even remove the top burr and calibrate it yourself for a perfect grind setting.
It comes with two cradles for different sizes, so regardless of your coffee machine, the grinder will suit your needs.
It also has a Razor™ Dose Trimming Tool in the removable tray for over grinds. This tool trims the puck to the right level for consistent extraction.
Specifications
Pros
- Has two cradles for different sizes.
- Suits to any coffee machine.
- Has 60 precise grind settings.
- Grinds directly into the portafilter.
Cons
- A bit pricey.
- Looks a bit complicated for home use.
5. Hario Hand Coffee Grinder
- Anti-Slip cover.
- Ceramic burr.
- Heatproof glass container.
- Stainless steel parts.
This is a simple, old-school hand coffee grinder that doesn’t depend on electricity. It’s easy to operate and has an ergonomic design.
It’s made of the healthiest materials: a dishwasher-safe glass container and a ceramic burr grinder. Ceramic burrs are highly-recommended for aroma and flavor.
You can reach the adjustment nut by removing the locking screw, the handle and the stopper. Then you can adjust your desired grind level.
Hario warns the user to grind slowly to achieve the best result.
All parts can be removed and washed separately with water, then reassembled.
All in all, this grinder is not the best choice if you want to use it for multiple grinding levels daily.
But if you want to have a simple grinder at home for a single type of brew, then this hand grinder might serve you well.
Specifications
Pros
- Made from healthy materials.
- Easy to use.
- All parts can be washed.
- Has adjustable grind levels.
Cons
- Dismantling needed for adjustment.
- Slower compared to electric grinders.
6. Sboly Coffee Grinder
- Less than 62dBA noise.
- Burr cleaning brush included.
- Compact design.
- 19 precise grind settings.
The Sboly electric burr mill offers a one-button operation and a 12 cup capacity.
As it is a lower-rpm grinder, you’ll hear less working noise (up to 62dBA, far below the usual 85dBA. It also prevents overheating.
The customized grinding texture of this grinder and the resealable dust-proof lid ensure that the beans don’t lose their aroma and flavour by preventing their essential oils from being lost through oxidation.
This stainless steel conical burr has 19 precise grind settings.
You can also adjust the grinding amount between 1-12 cups. The design is compact and sleek and ready to fit in any kitchen.
The materials used are durable with FDA and ETL Certificates.
It’s equipped with a powerful motor, safety lock, a coffee powder container, a spoon, a removable and easy to clean upper conical burr, a cleaning brush, and a blue light completion indicator.
Overall, Sboly grinder is a competitive alternative for those who are looking for a sturdy and functional automatic grinder for a lower budget.
Specifications
Pros
- The safety lock.
- 12 grind amount settings.
- Automatic shut down.
- Blue light indicator.
Cons
- Plastic container.
- Static.
7. Smeg 50's Retro CGF01BLUK Coffee Grinder
- Unique retro design.
- Tritan bean and ground containers.
- 30 grind levels.
- Pre-set functions.
SMEG coffee grinder is definitely unique with its iconic 50’s retro design.
The black die-cast aluminium body looks sleek and fashionable, while the level indicators printed on the Tritan ground container are practical.
The CGF01 is equipped with removable conical stainless steel grinders for a consistent, homogeneous grind for many brewing options from espresso machines, Moka stovetop pots, American coffee makers to French presses.
There are 30 grinding sectors with 2 functions for fine grinding and 6 for medium to coarse.
The Smeg grinder has a 450 RPM, 350 gr bean hopper capacity and 130 gr ground container capacity.
It’s easy to clean and has a twist and lock safety system to prevent the grinder from accidentally being turned on.
Accessories include a cleaning brush, and centring filter support.
The coffee can either be ground in the Tritan™ container provided or directly in the filter holder of your coffee machine.
The Smeg grinder is great for those with a sense of style and love for coffee.
Specifications
Pros
- Antistatic system.
- Removable conical burr.
- 6 functions for medium-coarse grinding.
- 2 functions for fine grinding.
Cons
- A bit tall.
- Quite large.
8. Melitta 6766579 Coffee Grinder
- Built-in scale.
- 39 grind settings.
- 375g bean capacity.
- Electronic weight display.
The Melitta® Calibra® is unique in the sense that it has an integrated weighing scale with a digital indicator, so it measures coffee beans precisely to the gram.
It uses a professional steel conical burr grinder for the best results in all types of coffee.
It’s got 39 grind settings – from fine to coarse. The bean hopper has a 375g capacity.
Grind levels 1 – 5 provide a finer result perfect for espresso machines, while grind levels 6 – 26 produce medium-coarse coffee for the filter coffee machines.
Levels 27-39 create coarse grounds perfect for cafetière (French press).
The Calibra coffee grinder has three adjustable grind modes: number of Cups, weight, and manual.
So, if you know what you need, the grinder helps you obtain it.
Specifications
Pros
- Great for smaller amounts.
- Removable collection container.
- Very light machine.
- Works very quickly.
Cons
- Plastic containers.
- Static.
Coffee Bean Grinder Buying Guide
Type
There are electric and manual coffee grinder options available, although more and more people are using automatic electric grinders for practicality these days.
There are also options for home use and professional use, the latter requiring more bean capacity, better bean and aroma preservation and more power and durability for heavy-duty.
Electric
Automatic electric grinders are everywhere with a lot of options, so you can find one that’ll suit your needs even if you’re looking for something simple and compact to use at home.
They’re fast, practical, easy to use and they offer up to 60 grinding sizes.
Manual
Manual grinders are still used by people who are after a more traditional taste.
They have lower capacity, perfect for singles, require manual force, but they are less noisy than electric ones.
You can also opt for ceramic burrs in manual grinders for a more refined coffee drinking experience.
Blade Grinders
Ground consistency and certain other qualities like retention, and temperature are affected by the type of grinder used.
That’s why blade grinders, flat burr grinders and conical burr grinders produce different results.
Blade grinders are often used in all-automatic coffee machines, but they are not recommended for individual coffee grinders.
Blade grinders chop the beans and they don’t achieve the consistency or evenness that burr grinders produce.
As ground consistency is crucial for an elevated coffee drinking experience, you should avoid blade grinders.
Flat Burr Grinders
Flat burrs are composed of two rings lying flat on each other.
Generally, the rings are horizontally aligned and have angled teeth.
The size is determined by the distance between the two rings.
Achieving the homogeneity of the particle size is easier in this type of grinder as having parallel rings is enough to do the job.
In this aspect, they usually outperform conical burrs.
However, flat burrs tend to heat up more than the conical ones.
You might have problems with heat retention and noise with flat burr grinders as they require more mechanical power.
Flat burr grinders also have a higher risk of coffee retention and contamination, so the technical skills of the manufacturer, the quality of the materials and the power used are significant in preventing these problems.
Bean to cup coffee machines use burr grinders too.
Conical Burr Grinders
Conical burrs grind coffee beans vertically.
This means that they have a lower risk of retention since they require less mechanical force than flat ones, with gravity helping the grains to feed through.
They also produce less noise.
In a conical setup, one burr sits inside the outer burr, which is a circular, hollow ring with angled teeth.
The inner burr is conical, has smaller angled teeth and a larger base. It also has channels to help the beans funnel through.
Conical burrs must achieve perfect parallelism and concentricity to produce homogeneous sized particles, which is usually impossible.
So, expect inconsistencies in the grind size.
Coffee Grind Type
The key to making great coffee is having perfect coffee grounds.
How you grind the beans ultimately determines the flavour and the strength and speed that beans will extract into the water.
You’ll have a sour, acidic and salty taste if your beans are under-extracted and a bitter or hollow (flavourless) taste if they are over-extracted.
Extra Coarse grind has the largest particles and is mostly used for cold-brew. Coarse grind is best for brew methods that involve immersion in water, like French Press.
Medium-Coarse grind is slightly smoother but still has fairly large coffee particles ideal to use with pour-over brewers.
Medium grind has a sandy-texture perfect for drip brewing coffee makers and Aeropress. Medium-Fine grind is silkier but doesn’t stick together, so it’s great for most pour-over brewers.
Fine grind is a silky grind that’s finer than table salt, and it’s perfect for espresso machines.
You can also have Extra Fine grind best for Turkish coffee.
Espresso Grinding
Fine grinding is used for espresso brewing, with or without a machine. Pre-ground coffee is usually a fine grind size.
It’s somewhere between table salt and powdered sugar in terms of consistency.
As consistency is what affects the flavour and taste of espresso the most, you’ll want to use a flat or conical burr grinder for the best results.
If you like espresso, then you may be interested in our review for best espresso machines.
Power
The power of your grinder surely affects the grinding quality, as obtaining even and consistent grounds depend on motor power.
So make sure your grinder has enough power, but also consider the working noise that’ll come with power.
Another important thing to consider is preventing overheating with powerful motors.
Some grinders have automatic shut-off features to achieve this.
Size
Size matters! Especially for home use.
If you’re looking for a small, compact coffee grinder to use at home for one or two persons, there are now many options you can choose from.
The bean hopper and ground container capacity makes a grinder bigger or smaller, but stylistic features also affect the size.
You can go for a bigger machine for more professional use or a more crowded family.
The smallest options available are manual grinders.
They’re perfect for single person use at home if you’re willing to do the grinding yourself.
Material
The quality of the materials in a grinder is crucial in terms of both durability and longevity and grinding quality.
Most automatic grinders use stainless steel burrs or blades as they don’t break easily.
But ceramic burrs might actually be a better option for high-strength, longevity, finer grinding (especially for espresso) and flavour preservation.
Ceramic blades aren’t as sharp as steel blades in the beginning; however, they retain their original sharpness almost indefinitely.
Also, you don’t have to worry about overheating the beans as ceramic doesn’t conduct heat, and your coffee will have a distinct, traditional taste.
That being said, ceramic grinders are mostly used in manual grinding.
Pricing Range
The price range of coffee grinders is incredibly wide; you can find one as cheap as £30 or go for one that’s worth £1,700.
The range is wide because there are grinders for both home use and professional use.
The quality of the materials used, the container capacity, the accessories that come with the grinder and the longevity and high performance of the machine will surely affect the price as well.
You can spend more if you’re a connoisseur or an enthusiast, but an automatic grinder around £100-£200 will do the job for home use.
You can spend even less if you want to grind for a single type of brew and don’t need many grinding options.
But don’t go for the cheapest option as it will break, stop working or lose its precision after some time.
Our Verdict
Most people can’t start the day without a nice cup of coffee.
Grinding your own coffee is a step up to obtain the best-personalized coffee drinking experience, and hopefully, this list has helped you take the first step.
Here we talked about the grind types and in what ways coffee grinders differ.
In the end, we recommend avoiding blade grinders and choosing a ceramic burr for hand grinding.
From that point onward, the best coffee grinder for you can be determined based on your needs, the quantity of grounds you need daily, and your coffee drinking habits.
We hope you’ve found every information you need to choose the best option for you.
