A good coffee grinder buying guide will not only show you how to choose a coffee grinder, but it’ll help you understand how a good one works and what features are worth it (or not). That’s because how well you grind your coffee beans can dramatically affect the taste of your cup.
We’ll look at the most common types of grinders, key features to look for, and which type best suits the cup of joe you want to make.
What is a coffee grinder?
A coffee grinder is the tool you need actually to be able to extract flavor from your coffee beans. Coffee beans are great, but their hard exterior isn’t super permeable so if you were to try and brew coffee with whole beans only, you’d end up with a weak, flavorless cup of brown water. When you grind the beans, there’s more surface area that can interact with the water, which pulls in more flavor and makes your cup of coffee more delicious.
The grinder breaks up the roasted beans to your desired size ground, which might be coarse or fine. Coarsely ground beans are best for French presses because there’s no paper filter to keep the grinds out of your finished cup, and thus they need to be a little larger to be appropriately trapped by the mesh strainer. Finely ground coffee is best for most types of machines and methods from pour-over to simple drip and it’s what’s available in the pregound bags of coffee you’ll find at the grocery store. You’ll want to use extra-fine coffee in espresso machines and stovetop espresso makers.
What types of coffee grinders are there?
There are two main types of grinders: blade and burr grinders. They each have their benefits and drawbacks, but in general, a burr grinder is what you’ll want.
Blade coffee grinders
You might have seen the ubiquitous small, push-top grinder or even have one on your countertop. When you take off their cap and look inside, you’ll see a small blade that whips around the basket to grind your beans.
There are no fancy settings, usually no automation, and they’re generally the most economical, which is why they’re so popular. You can pick one up for around $20 and start grinding beans in no time, which is great for the first-timer.
That said, the spinning blades chop coffee into uneven particles, which leads to inconsistent grind size and ultimately, an inconsistent brew. The common push-button operation style — where you simply hold the button down for however many seconds you’d like to grind for until you reach your desired consistency — also leads to inconsistencies. It’s much harder to gauge when to stop and to make sure you’re holding it for the same amount of time every time you grind. There’s simply too much room for error!
If you’re looking to get more serious about your morning coffee or you want to be able to fine-tune it more easily, then blade grinders are not for you. Instead, head to the section below to learn more about burr grinders.
Burr coffee grinders
Burr coffee grinders are what the pros use. They differ from blade grinders because they use two cutting discs instead of a spinning blade. One spins against the other, and the distance between those two discs determines the grind's size. This type of setup is actually a flat burr grinder, but you can also find conical burr grinders. The conical shape means a larger cutting surface so you can grind more coffee at once. Both options, though, are excellent at providing more consistent grind sizes.
Cheaper burr grinders use ceramic blades, which don’t cut as cleanly and do wear down more quickly. So, for longevity, definitely opt for metal blades. This can knock the price up quite a bit, but then you’ll have something that will more or less last forever. You can also choose between manual and electric burr grinders — both work great. That said, manual grinders are only worth investing in if you truly enjoy the process. If it feels like an annoying chore, then go ahead and go electric!
Electric vs. manual coffee grinders – which is better?
So, what are the nitty-gritty details about electric vs. manual grinders? Yes, both work well, but if you’re not sure which one is right for you, how do you choose? We’ll break down the pros and cons of each so you can make the right choice for your setup.
Pros & cons of electric coffee grinders
Electric grinders have a lot of benefits. They’re quick, efficient, and are literally built to keep your grind size as consistent as possible. Depending on how much coffee you’re grinding at once, you can have the grounds ready for your morning joe in seconds. That said, all those perks come with a cost. Even mid-tier electric grinders will likely run you around $100 a pop. And if you’re looking to go truly high-end? Then, you can expect to pay upwards of $200. That’s a lot of investment if you’re new to grinding at home!
There are some cheap electric burr grinders that you can find for around $50, but expect a pretty serious dip in quality. Instead of going for a cheap new grinder, the best way to save some bucks is to look for something used or refurbished. Electric grinders are also much noisier, which might be worth considering if a quiet morning is a must.
Pros and cons of manual coffee grinders
Manual coffee grinders are just as good as electric at creating a consistent grind for your morning coffee. But it should come as no small surprise that much more effort is required to get there. Their grind adjusters can be a little fiddly than electric ones, and hand-cranking a ton of beans is no easy task. Their small capacity makes them impractical in cafe settings and for anyone regularly brewing large pots.
That said, they’re often much cheaper than electric burr grinders making them a great entry-level option for someone not ready to drop $150 on an electric. They’re also highly portable, making them great for travel or camping. They’re efficient and quiet and an excellent choice for pour-over lovers.
Features to look for on coffee grinders
Coffee grinders have an array of important features to remember when you’re shopping for one. Let’s run down a list of the essentials so you can make the best decision for your space and budget.
Grind Settings
Check how many grind sizes are offered and what method you use to adjust the grind. The more control you have over the grind size, the more finely tuned your cup of coffee. The fewer grind options, the less control you have and the more uneven your coffee grounds, leading to over- or under-extraction and a much worse-tasting brew. It also means it’ll be more challenging to correct for such errors.
This is partly why blade grinders are so inefficient — they often don’t have any way to adjust grind size beyond how long you turn them on for. Burr grinders may have several settings or use a screw (as is the case on hand grinders) that gives you precise control over the grind.
Capacity
How many beans can your grinder hold at once? You’ll notice that hand grinders can’t hold very many beans at a time, so they’re best for people only making a cup or so at a time. In other grinders, check how big the hopper (where the beans are held) is. If you’re regularly brewing a big pot at once or multiple pots during the day, you’ll want to ensure the hopper is big enough to hold it all.
You’ll also want to check the bin size. The bin is where the grounds fall after grinding, and you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t overflow. In blade grinders, this can be especially important if you like your coffee strong. The cheap ones usually have fairly small containers, which could mean you need to grind in batches.
Speed
The speed of your grinder can actually affect the taste of your coffee! That’s because high-speed grinders generate more heat the faster they spin, and that heat can start altering the actual flavor of your coffee. So when you check the speed, which you can do by checking the RPMs, look to see if it’s over 800 RPM. If it is, then see if the machine has good ventilation to disperse any heat it creates.
Faster isn’t necessarily best here, either. A great grinder will likely have a range of speeds from 200–1400 RPM, allowing you the most control over your grind. But a grinder that’s set always to grind the fastest can leave you with finer, more uneven grounds, which negatively impacts the taste of your coffee.
Material
Grinders are an investment, which means paying close attention to what they’re made of. Plastic parts are standard no matter what kind of model you’re buying, but which parts are made of plastic is the key. If the hopper and the bin are plastic, there’s likely nothing to worry about! That’s perfectly normal. But if the grinder itself is anything other than stainless steel, you’re in trouble.
A steel burr is what will ensure long-term performance. They’re less likely to break, dull, or wear out so when you drop $100 or more on your grinder, you’ll be sure it’ll last a long time. Ceramic burrs and blades aren’t horrible, but they’re guaranteed to wear out faster and produce more inconsistent grind than metal ones.
Coffee grinder recommendations
Now that you understand what to look for, take a peek at our recs, depending on what kind of coffee brewer you are!
Coffee grinder for everyday coffee drinkers
For your average daily coffee drinker, you’ll want to do a mid-range conical burr coffee grinder like this one from OXO. You’re looking for something in the $75-100 range. Anything cheaper than that is likely to decrease in quality dramatically. But for your money, you can easily find something that’s not super high-end but still has all the features you’d want. A large hopper for storing beans, plenty of settings to refine your grind, and a sturdy metal burr should all be easy to get in this price range. If drop and french press are your go-tos, a grinder like this should be perfect.
Coffee grinder for experienced and professional baristas
If you’re really looking to level up, particularly if you have an espresso machine, then you’ll be looking for a burr grinder in the $150-250 range. You’ll likely want to look for more professional coffee brands like Baratza and La Marzocco.
These grinders will have everything the mid-range grinders have and then some. They might feature built-in timers, super strong cutting discs, bin lights, and even more grind options so you can further fine-tune your brew. The most expensive models (which can run you $1,000 and are mostly meant for professional settings) even boast quieter operation so you’re not waking the whole house every time you grind.
Manual coffee grinder recommendation
The best manual coffee grinders will likely be a bit more expensive than the cheapest options, but they should still cost under $100. If your kitchen is short on space, you make coffee infrequently and enjoy the process, or you need something you can take on the go, then a manual grinder is for you. Choose one with metal cutting discs (not ceramic) for a grinder that can withstand time.
Brew the perfect espresso with Pesado
This coffee grinder guide should help you find the perfect grinder for your home setup, but if you’re upgrading, why not go all the way? Pesado’s collection of professional-quality espresso and coffee accessories is made from high-quality materials and top-of-the-line design.
You can get tampers and distribution tools to help pack the perfect espresso puck and a tamping station to store everything. Everything Pesado makes is made with coffee obsessives in mind.
