A good coffee grinder is one of the best kitchen investments you can make. It’s a tool that dramatically impacts the taste of your coffee and can be easily changed to suit different beans or brewing methods.
A burr grinder uses two textured surfaces to grind the beans into an even size. This method is better for espresso than blade-style grinders.
Bodum Bistro Premium Burr Grinder
The Bodum Bistro electric burr grinder is a fantastic option for those who want to enjoy the benefits of fresh ground coffee without breaking the bank. The grinder uses a set of stainless steel burrs to grind the beans which are crushed rather than sliced which helps to preserve the integrity and flavor of the bean. The grinder also has a built in timer and adjustable grind settings to give you the perfect amount of consistency for any type of brew.
This grinder is the best budget burr grinder on the market and offers a far better experience than the ultra-cheap blade grinders. However, the grinder doesn’t do well grinding espresso or Turkish coffee and it has a less durable build than the higher-end models.
The main downside is that the grinder can have trouble discharging static from the grounds which can make it frustrating to use. This is particularly noticeable with fine and medium grounds which tend to clump together and can lead to watery or sour coffee if not broken apart.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
This coffee grinder by Oxo is a reliable piece of machinery that is well-crafted and professionally built. It is designed with quality stainless steel to ensure longevity and has an attractive, sleek design. Its 40mm stainless steel burr set helps create uniform grounds that excel in flavor extraction and preservation. It also has an adjustable collar that allows for coarser or finer grinds.
Load up the hopper with your preferred beans, and then select the desired grinding time using the rotary dial. Once you’ve done that, press the button and let it do its work. This grinder is ideal for drip, pour over and French press brewing.
It offers 15 stepped grind size settings, from fine for espresso to coarse for French press. Its powerful DC motor and stainless steel burr set help make this grinder a solid option for all your brewing needs. It can also be programmed to grind based on weight, which is a major benefit for anyone who has previously relied on scoops and eyeball estimates.
Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Whether you’re looking for the best coffee grinder for espresso, drip or French press, Baratza’s Virtuoso+ delivers. The 40 individual gradations provide you with the right grind particle size for your brewing method of choice. This allows for consistent extraction with balanced flavor notes in every cup.
This workhorse is a favorite for many home baristas with its easy-to-use LCD interface and controls up front. It’s also a great addition for office break rooms, large households and other situations where you need to grind large amounts of coffee.
Its 40 mm high-carbon steel conical burrs grind consistently with a distinct lack of fines, making it a great grinder for espresso and manual brewing methods. Plus, it’s durable and will last for years to come. The efficient direct drive gear reduction transmission moves power to the burrs and the thermal overload cutout prevents overheating. It’s easy to clean, and the hopper holds up to 400 grams of beans. Plus, its LED-backlit grounds bin illuminates the entire process and makes it easy to find the right grind.
Fellow Ode Electric Brew Grinder
If you’re a coffee snob, chances are you’ve heard of Fellow or seen one of their sleek products. Their Ode Grinder 1 and Ode Gen 2 grinders have become popular and would look right at home on any aesthete’s counter.
The original Ode was a Kickstarter project that went viral and raked in more than 1.2 million dollars, largely due to its cool-looking sci-fi design. The company followed up with the Ode Grinder 2, which is more of a spherical counterpart to its predecessor.
Both grinders boast a host of user-friendly features, including a magnetically aligned catch and grinds knocker to reduce grounds retention. They also offer a range of grinding settings designed for specific brew methods, as well as a clear grind size indicator on the adjustment dial.
While the company touts these features, they’re not without issues. For example, our testers have noticed that the Ode’s auto-stop feature can fail if it shares an outlet with other high-voltage appliances. This is most likely due to static that builds up as beans pass through the burrs.
1Zpresso Q2 Manual Coffee Grinder
This manual grinder from 1Zpresso features a hopper with a capacity of 15-20 grams and a glass jar that functions as the base to catch grounds. It uses two bearings to provide a smooth grinding experience and has up to 30 different levels of grind settings. The grinder is made from high-quality materials including aluminium alloy combined with stainless steel and wood.
This lightweight, portable hand grinder from 1Zpresso is ideal for coffee lovers who enjoy alternative brewing methods. Its 38mm heptagonal stainless steel burrs and internal adjustment design cater for many brewing styles including drip, French press, Mokka pot and cold brew. The grinder also features a dual-bearing shaft for stability and a stepped grind adjustment system with 30 numerical clicks per rotation.
The small size of the Q2 S grinder makes it the perfect travel companion and fits snugly inside an Aeropress, making it ideal for camping trips or hikes. Despite being small, the grinder is sturdy and durable and has an impressively large capacity for its size. The coffee grind size chart tutorial provided by the manufacturer helps users understand and adjust the internal, top, and external adjustment designs.
Breville The Smart Grinder Pro
Designed to deliver a premium aesthetic with durable construction, the Smart Grinder Pro is a high-performing and user-friendly grinder that’s suitable for both novice and experienced coffee enthusiasts. This machine boasts a range of customizable settings, including 60 different grind sizes. The stainless steel burrs are efficient and designed to minimize grinding heat, preserving the natural oils in your beans. It also features an intelligent dosing system called Dosing IQ, which automates the process of measuring a precise dose every time you use your grinder.
Its interface is clear and easy to read, with a large LCD screen that displays your selected settings. The buttons let you control the number of cups or shots, and the programmable grind time adjusts in 0.2-second increments for precision. It is also able to pause and resume grinding. It is bundled with two portafilter cradles for small (58mm) and large (54-58mm) espresso portafilters, a storage container, and a cleaning brush. The only drawback is its price tag, which may be too much for some coffee lovers.
KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder
How the beans are ground strongly influences the flavor of your coffee and this grinder allows you to control exactly how fine or coarse the grounds will be. You can also control the amount of air in the resulting grounds which affects the strength and aroma.
You can finally enjoy a peaceful morning cup without the deafening noise of traditional grinders. This model from Krups is whisper-quiet and uses patented technology to ensure that your favorite beverage remains undisturbed.
Not only can this grinder grind whole bean coffee for up to 12 cups, it also effortlessly handles robust spices and dried herbs. In fact, this kitchen essential is your ally in any culinary endeavor and will elevate everything from soups to steak and rib rubs.
Always unplug the appliance when not in use, especially before cleaning or handling the blades. You should also wait until the grinding process is completed before removing the lid to prevent any accidental contact with the moving blades. It’s also important to wipe down the lid with a damp cloth after each use to remove any residue or food particles that may accumulate.
Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder
The Fellow Opus delivers a lot of features for a very reasonable price. It uses a conical burr set and is designed for espresso, pour over, French press and AeroPress. It also comes with a transparent 110-gram hopper and no-tool calibration.
Fellow took the criticism of their Ode Gen 2 grinder to heart and reworked it into this new model. Among the most significant changes was swapping out the flat burrs for conical ones, which are better suited for espresso. It also moved the adjustment ring to a more central position on the top of the grinder, which makes it easier for people with smaller hands to use.
The outer adjustment ring has hash marks that go from 1 to 11, but inside is another ring with a micro adjustment that’s more subtle. It’s great for dialing in your grind, especially when you want a little more fineness than the outer ring allows. The Fellow Opus has 41 stepped adjustments, so you’ll be able to find your perfect setting for any brew method.