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Best Coffee Grinder Reviews 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

Finding the best coffee grinder can seem overwhelming at first. Too many of them are designed for what we call “countertop appeal” while others can have complicated specs for ground size and more.

But don’t fret. It’s actually all pretty simple, and finding the best grinder for your tastes is worth the effort when you’re sipping a perfect cup of coffee, morning after morning.

At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Coffee Grinders

Our reviewers, writers, and coffee-loving researchers have tested a wide selection of the best grinders and boiled them down to the 12 most effective for a whole range of needs and budgets.

Coffee grinding is a broad category though–with many different styles depending on your needs. So to keep it simple, we’ll  categorize them for you so you can see at a glance which would be the best for your particular needs. Whether you’re a home hobbyist or a coffee shop owner, a lover of espresso or cold brew, there’s something here for everyone.

 

Our Pick: Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder | The Best Coffee Grinder

If you’re looking for a budget-conscious starter grinder, the Baratza Encore is the perfect choice. This conical burr grinder is ideal for multiple brew methods. This grinder has everything that you need and nothing that you don’t.

At A Glance:Our Top 5 Picks for Coffee Grinders

Our reviewers, writers, and coffee-loving researchers have tested a wide selection of the best grinders and boiled them down to the 12 most effective for a whole range of needs and budgets.

Coffee grinding is a broad category though–with many different styles depending on your needs. So to keep it simple, we’ll  categorize them for you so you can see at a glance which would be the best for your particular needs. Whether you’re a home hobbyist or a coffee shop owner, a lover of espresso or cold brew, there’s something here for everyone.

Our Pick: Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder | The Best Coffee Grinder

If you’re looking for a budget-conscious starter grinder, the Baratza Encore is the perfect choice. This conical burr grinder is ideal for multiple brew methods. This grinder has everything that you need and nothing that you don’t.

Alongside these reviews, we’ll give you all the information you need to make the best cup of coffee every single time. Before that, why use a grinder in the first place?

What’s The Point of a Coffee Grinder?

The secret to a wonderful, lip-smacking cup of coffee is freshly ground beans.

Buying your own grinder means that you can take full control of the freshness factor while also enjoying a much wider scope of grinds than buying pre-ground coffee.

So, if you don’t make taking a little extra time and devoting some effort to the job, grinding your own coffee will result in the freshest and most aromatic brew without you needing to hit the coffee shop on a daily basis.

To help you every step of the way, we’ll kick off with a brief snapshot of 12 of the very best coffee grinders…

I. Coffee Grinder Comparison Table

Editor’s Rating: 5.0

Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky

Our top pick for the best overall coffee grinder. Rancilio serves up a doserless espresso grinder that’s powerful but extremely quiet for a double-win.

Best Suited For: Espresso fiends with money to spare

Editor’s Rating: 4.8

Breville BCG820BSSXL The Smart Grinder Pro

The Breville offers unbeatable flexibility and the perfect grind for espresso without costing the earth.

Best Suited For: Budget-conscious espresso fans

Editor’s Rating: 4.8

Baratza Encore | The Best for Cold Brew and Pour Over

If you’re looking for a budget-conscious starter grinder, the Baratza Encore is the perfect choice. This conical burr grinder is ideal for multiple brew methods. This grinder has everything that you need and nothing that you don’t.

Best Suited For: Bargain hunters not prepared to compromise on quality.

Our #1 Recommended

Editor’s Rating: 4.8

Baratza Virtuoso | The Best for Drip Coffee

As the name suggests, this pro-grade coffee grinder excels across the board. You’ll get consistently ground coffee every time. From the striking aesthetics to the highly efficient motor, the Virtuoso is a superb conical burr grinder from a brand you can trust.

Best Suited For: Coffee connoisseurs with an eye for design.

Read More: Best Drip Coffee Maker

Editor’s Rating: 4.8

Capresso 560.01 Infinity

The Capresso Infinity is an awesome lightweight but durable conical burr grinder at a highly affordable price. Check one out today and enjoy fresh coffee tomorrow!

Best Suited For: Anyone looking for a cheap conical burr grinder

Editor’s Rating: 4.8

KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder

For a blade grinder from a brand you can trust, check out the KRUPS F203. Easy to clean and a dream to use, what’s not to like?

Best Suited For: Espresso lovers looking for a bargain

Editor’s Rating: 4.6

KRUPS Electric | The Best Budget Coffee Grinder

For an extremely cost-effective electric grinder ideal for use at home or on the road, you can’t beat this KRUPS. With 9 grind levels for the ideal espresso through to French press, you get versatility and affordability in one neat bundle.

Best Suited For: Caffeine hounds with a taste for different styles of coffee.

Editor’s Rating: 4.6

JavaPresse Manual Grinder

A quiet, back-to-basics manual grinder offering plenty of bang for your buck, this conical burr has 18 settings offering a great range of grinds.

Best Suited For: Purists who need a quiet grinder

Editor’s Rating: 4.6

OXO On, Conical Burr with Integrated Scale

OXO offer a heavy-duty but portable conical burr grinder with a built-in scale for a first-class grinding experience.

Best Suited For: Tech-lovers hunting for a conical burr grinder

Editor’s Rating: 4.5

Bodum BISTRO, Electronic Grinder

For a user-friendly and ultra-quick way to grind coffee for your French press, the Bodum BISTRO is hard to beat.

Best Suited For: French press fans grinding lots of beans

Editor’s Rating: 4.5

KitchenAid KCG0702OB

If you want to grind lots of beans for a wide range of coffee makers, this burr coffee grinder is a faultless choice.

Best Suited For: Home enthusiasts with multiple coffee makers

Editor’s Rating: 4.5

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind (Automatic Burr Mill)

For a cheap burr grinder that punches above its weight, check out the Cuisinart DBM-8. With a generous capacity and 18 settings, you can’t go wrong!

Best Suited For: Those who want great ground coffee on a budget

Editor’s Rating: 4.8

Baratza Forte BG (Brew Grinder) – Flat Steel Burr Commercial Grade

For a highly capable commercial coffee grinder offering a combination of speed, consistency and performance, the Baratza Forte is the go-to grinder.

Best Suited For: Coffee shop owners

II. Coffee Ground Size: Quick Guide

Here are some simple principles for how to select the most appropriate coffee ground size for you.

One of the most common errors you can make brewing your very best coffee is to overlook the importance of ensuring you get the right size of grounds for your preferred brewing method. It’s obviously pointless trying to enjoy espresso made from a coarse grind, and of course a fine grind results in poor cold-brewed coffee. But there are other considerations you should keep in mind, so check out our guide below.

Principles of How to Select Coffee Ground Size

There are 3 main things to consider when you’re thinking about the size of your coffee grounds:

  • Contact Time
  • Pressure
  • Temperature

For brew methods with a short contact time, you’ll need a fine coffee grind. If the contact time is too high, you risk over-extracted and bitter coffee. When the contact time is too short, the brew will be weak and insipid.

With the majority of brewing methods operating between 90.6 degrees and 96.1 degrees Celsius, temperature can play a part along with pressure but by far the most crucial balance to strike involves the contact time.

7 Levels of Coffee Ground Size

We’ll give you a handy breakdown now of the 7 varying levels of coffee ground size from extra coarse right on through to super-fine.

With this handy guide, you can make sure you get the right size grind for your preferred coffee the easy way…