There are many different types of coffee grinders out there, but making sure you choose the right one for you can be tough if you don’t know what to look for. Deciding what type of coffee grinder is best for your setup and lifestyle requires a little research. We’ll help familiarize you with the most common types, how they work, and when to use them.
Getting a breakdown with our coffee grinder guide can help you whether you’re a casual coffee drinker, new to to the coffee enthusiast world, or an espresso fanatic. Whatever you are, the right grinder can elevate your morning cup beyond expectations.
What is a coffee grinder?
Let’s start with the basics: a coffee grinder is the tool you’ll need to grind your coffee beans fresh before brewing. It’s essential if you’re looking to move away from preground coffee, which is already losing its freshness by the time it hits the shelf at the supermarket. You can use it to grind your beans to different sizes so they’re perfect for a drip machine, french press, espresso machine, or however you brew your coffee.
The better your coffee grinder, the better your grind, and ultimately, the better your cup of coffee or espresso. That’s because achieving a consistent grind size it what allows the grounds to be properly saturated and to extract flavor correctly for your brew method. Inconsistent grind can lead to all sorts of issues from channeling to a weak, tasteless brew.
Types of coffee grinders
There are two main types of coffee grinders: manual and electric. But of the electric grinders, there are also blade and burr grinders. Most people will opt for an electric grinder, but manual grinders still have their place and dedicated fanbase. So how do coffee grinders work? Basically, they use a blade, metal plates, or a cone design to crush the coffee beans and break them apart until you achieve your desired consistency.
Either type can be useful in certain circumstances, but to better understand the differences, let’s take a closer look.
How do burr grinders work?
Burr grinders work by using two abrasive surfaces, usually made of metal, that can be adjusted to a set distance apart. The coffee beans fit between the open space and as the abrasive surfaces turn, they crush the beans to a consistent grind size. There are two different types of burr grinders: conical and flat. Both do a fantastic job at grinding, though. In fact, burr grinders in general are considered the gold standard for coffee enthusiasts. Anyone with a mind for precision-focused gear and making their coffee taste the absolute best possible needs a burr grinder in their kitchen.
Flat burr grinders
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How they work: Flat burr grinders feature two flat discs with abrasive, gear-like ridges. When the burr grinder is operated, the discs spin against each other and the coffee that fits between them is crushed. How far apart the discs are set determines how finely the coffee is ground. The closer together they are, the finer the grind.
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Pros: The produce a very consistent grind making them ideal for espresso.
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Cons: They’re louder, retain more grounds, and are often more expensive.
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Best for: high-end home espresso setups and professionals
Conical burr grinders
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How they work: Conical burr grinders feature a cone-shaped burr with abrasive, gear-like ridge inside a ring. When the burr grinder is operated, the beans are funneled into the cone and as it spins, the coffee that fits between the burr and ring is crushed. How far apart the discs are set determines how finely the coffee is ground. The closer together they are, the finer the grind.
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Pros: They produce a quality, consistent grind.
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Cons: They’re slightly less consistent than flat burrs at times, depending on the brand. They’re also noisy and emit some heat when operating.
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Best for: home brewers wanting quality without full barista setup
Blade Grinders
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How they work: A metal bin is outfitted with blades in the center. You pour your beans into the bin, put the lid on, and turn it on. The blades spin, roughly chopping your beans. The only way to control consistency is the length of time you choose to grind for. Less time means a coarser grind, while grinding for longer will produce a finer grind.
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Pros: Of all the coffee grinder types, blade grinders are the most prevalent and among the most inexpensive.
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Cons: The produce and incredibly inconsistent grind, create a lot of excess dust, and can heat beans. If you want to elevate your brew, then these are not the grinders for you.
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Best for: Beginners who are just learning to grind their own beans and primarily make drip coffee. They’re for people who haven’t decided if they want to invest much time or effort into enhancing their coffee setup yet.
Manual coffee grinders
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How they work: Manual coffee grinders are essentially just non-electric burr grinders. They typically feature a conical design, which means they have a cone-shaped burr with abrasive, gear-like ridge inside a ring. A hand crank turns the burr, which crushes the beans. Manual adjustments can change how finely the coffee is ground.
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Pros: Manual grinders are super portable, very affordable, and there’s no electricity needed.
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Cons: They require much more effort, they’re slower, and their limited capacity means they’re not great for a crowd or making multiple large pots in a day.
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Best for: Travelers, campers, minimalist setups, or slow brew lovers
Coffee grinder features to look for
Now that your familiar with the types of grinders out there, let’s take a closer look at what kinds of features you should be on the lookout for before you buy. With blade grinders, they’re often pretty no-frills. The most common design features a simple push-top button that you have to hold down to turn the machine on and no other adjustments can be made. That said, you can keep an eye on the size of the hopper (where the beans go) to make sure it will hold enough for the amount you typically like to grind at once.
For burr grinders (manual and electric) there’s much more to be on the lookout for including:
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Grind size adjustment: Stepless adjustments mean you can have more nuance to you adjustments, while stepped means there are set sizes you can grind to and it’s not possible to adjust it outside of that.
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Motor speed: The faster the motor, the faster you’ll get your grounds, but it may also mean more heat, which can affect the taste of your beans.
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Hopper size: The bigger the hopper, the more beans you can fit so if making coffee for a crowd is your concern, pay close attention.
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Ease of cleaning: Electric grinders can be difficult to take apart if they come apart at all, so do a little research beforehand if you think you’ll find cleaning tedious.
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Build materials: Always, always look for your burr (or blades) to be made of metal not ceramic.
Not all grinders are equal — choose high-quality tools for high-quality espresso
With all the different types of coffee grinders out there, it’s clear that some will rise above the rest! If you’re committed to making great coffee everyday, understanding the pros and cons of what’s on the market can go a long way to helping you make the right purchase. After you find the right grinder, you can look to Pesado’s collection of high-quality coffee gear to round out your setup. From tampers and portafilters for espresso lovers to milk jugs for your latte art, everything Pesado makes is made with coffee lovers in mind.
