If you’re a java junkie like me, anything but the best cup of joe just won’t cut it.
And that perfectly balanced brew, whether espresso, drip, or pour-over, always starts with the right beans – and the best coffee grinder.
With that knowledge, we set out to explain the different types of coffee grinders out there, so you can avoid the confusion and overwhelm with all the grinder choices on the market.
We’ve reviewed the top grinders in as many categories as we could, so you’ll never have to ruin as many beans as we did to achieve that vibrantly delicious cup of joe!
The jury’s in and we have lined up and picked our preferred and best burr coffee grinders for you, however, there’s one this you should know but we’ll touch on that later…
- Our Top Pick: The Baratza Encore Burr Grinder
- Best Budget Burr Grinder
- Our Top 13 Burr Grinders
- Things To Consider When Looking For The Best Coffee Grinder
- Best Professional Coffee Grinder
- Which Is The Best Commercial Coffee Grinder?
- Best Coffee Grinder For Espresso
- Best Electric Burr Grinder
- Best Burr Coffee Grinder For French Press
- Which Is The Best Coffee Grinder for Pour Over and Chemex?
- Best Home Coffee Grinder
- Our Best Burr Grinder Reviews:
- To Wrap-Up
- Our Overall Recommendation:
- Frequently Asked Questions
Our Top Pick: The Baratza Encore Burr Grinder
For ease of use, delightfully consistent grind and simplistic design and price, this is absolutely the best entry-level for home use, as it’s easy to use out of the box and doesn’t take up much counter space.
“We love its ability to produce a high-quality coarse and fine grind for both espresso and slow coffee maker.”
With 40 grind settings, you can pick the exact coarseness or fineness you prefer for your cup of joe, producing a reliable grind each and every time.
Something this powerful should cost more than it does. We consider the Baratza Encore to be a total steal for the value and endless cups of great brew you’ll enjoy.
Easily our pick for one of the best burr coffee grinder out there for a wide variety of uses.
Best Budget Burr Grinder
If you’re looking for the best affordable and cheap coffee burr grinder, we have just the one for you – the Capresso 560 easily outperforms its price tag in terms of consistency and ease of use.
Before we get into it though, a quick word on buying an uber-cheap coffee grinder: just don’t do it.
We ruined bags of quality beans in $30 grinders that produced a splintered mess of uneven grounds and terrible-tasting coffee.
That being said, it is possible to pick up a great espresso bean grinder without breaking the bank – we just encourage you to see this as a worthwhile investment for the quality you crave.
Back to the Capresso 560: sturdy and compact, it’s by far the best affordable coffee mill we found if you’re really not looking to spend a lot.
While it has slightly less versatility than the Encore (it’s better at producing finer grounds than coarser), we were still happy with the end result.
It takes a bit more effort to clean the Capresso than the Baratza, but overall, we have no complaints about the price as the best cheap coffee grinder
Our Top 13 Burr Grinders
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Professional Pick  |
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For Coffee Enthusiasts  |
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Cafe Grade Quality  |
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Super Cheap Option  |
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Things To Consider When Looking For The Best Coffee Grinder
Burr vs Blade Grinder
So you’re ready to go shopping – and immediately overwhelmed by all of the options and decisions to make.
Burr vs blade? Ceramic or steel? Conical or flat? This section will break it all down so you can purchase the best mill for your coffee machine. [1]
The first important factor when it comes to selecting an espresso grinder is to understand the differences between burr vs blade grinders, as they will produce a very different quality of grind and taste.
Blade Grinder
These are generally cheaper, using a high-speed spinning metal blade to chop the beans into smaller pieces.
While this might seem efficient, it’s actually not great for the quality of your grounds.
Blade grinders can’t be set to produce any particular size of grounds; they simply chop until the beans are past a certain point.
Because of this, you end up with different size grounds – from large particles called “boulders,” down to dusty particles called “fines.”
So what’s the big deal with having different sized coffee grounds?
Plenty, when it comes to taste and quality. Large boulder particles slow down the extraction, producing a weaker cup of coffee, while the dusty fine particles will create bitterness from over-extraction.
So if you can avoid it, we’d recommend skipping the blade grinders completely.
Burr Grinder
These are made of two abrasive surfaces which revolve against one another to grind beans into a consistent size of grounds.
A burr grinder gives you complete control over the size of your grounds, which is important depending on what type of coffee machine you’re using.
The best machine offer options for everything from coarser grounds for a French press, to the finer grounds needed for a great shot of espresso.
As you can probably tell, we’d recommend the burr coffee grinder over blade grinders.
The cheap, uneven quality of grounds you get from a blade grinder just isn’t worth the money you’d save – and we’ve found a ton of affordable options for home use, so you can count on great brew without breaking the bank!
Ceramic Vs Steel Burr Grinder
Okay, so you’ve settled on what you want to buy. The next thing you’ll find is that burr grinders come in two materials: ceramic and stainless steel.
So what’s the difference between these, and which is right for you?
Essentially, a ceramic burr grinder is more durable and expensive to produce, and more commonly used in home grinders.
The steel ones are cheaper (but may not last as long), and are more commonly used in commercial or industrial machines.
Ceramic coffee grinders also tend to result in a slightly higher quality of coffee because they run cooler than steel ones.
This cooler temperature means that the grinder won’t burn off some of the natural oils present in the beans the way that a stainless steel grinder might.
Steel grinders tend to be cheaper, but are actually a bit safer when it comes to dealing with any foreign objects that might be found in the beans, as these could potentially crack a ceramic burr.
Ceramic Burr
- More durable material which tends to last longer than steel.
- More expensive to produce
- Runs a bit cooler than steel, because they are less thermally conductive
- Rarely need to be sharpened
- Prone to chipping if they come into contact with a foreign object
- Tend to be quieter than steel
- Often used in home coffee grinders
Steel Burr
- Cheaper to produce and replace, makes them more affordable.
- May not last as long as ceramic
- Less prone to chipping or cracking from foreign objects
- May be susceptible to blunting, need to be sharpened more often
- Often used in commercial machines
Conical vs Flat Grinder
Here’s more big distinction to make before we can dive more into the grinders themselves!
The burrs come in two shapes: flat or conical burrs. Each of these has a different purpose, and produces different types of ground particles.
A flat grinder will produce very uniform particles, while a conical grinder produces both larger and smaller particles.
You might not be able to tell the difference with a naked eye, but the uniform vs. dual-sized grounds definitely result in a very different kind of coffee.
While you may be tempted to assume the flat grinder with its uniform grounds is superior, think again!
The bimodal grounds produced by a conical burr grinder are actually much more ideal for an espresso machine.
The smaller particles restrict water flow during the shot pull, so the larger particles can be more greatly saturated.
To pull espresso with a flat grinder, you’d need to grind a bit finer or pull longer shots to achieve an ideal flavor.
Flat Burr
- Produces uniform particles
- Most ideal for drip or French press coffee
Conical Burr
- Produces bimodal particles (large and small)
- More versatile than flat.
- Most ideal for espresso grounds, but also works for drip and French press.
Overall, we’d recommend a conical coffee grinder for its versatility and quality. And again, we have to mention the Encore as a superior pick, rating it as the best in this category!
You just can’t go wrong for the price tag, durability, and consistency of quality grounds that come from this machine.
Best Professional Coffee Grinder
A professional or industrial grinder is used to produce high volumes of coffee.
You can think of this as a large capacity coffee grinder – something you might see in a restaurant or busy coffee shop.
For these purposes, you’ll want a machine that can handle a high volume while producing highly consistent results each time.
Here are some things to look:
- Airtight bean hopper for your coffee beans.
- Settings for a consistent grind
- Larger burr size. Because you’ll be grinding a higher volume of roasted beans, you want a grinder that can handle that without overheating the grounds and ruining the flavor.
For heavy-duty yet quality industrial use, the Mahlkonig EK43 is by far our top pick.
This powerhouse delivers unparalleled consistency in particle size, nearly a full two-horsepower motor, and quick and easy versatility for any coffee type.
Which Is The Best Commercial Coffee Grinder?
A commercial grade coffee grinder may or may not be interchangeable with an industrial one.
This is what you’ll see in coffee shops, restaurants, or anywhere that’s producing lots of coffee each day.
The qualities you want are essentially the same as those for an industrial grinder.
- Consistency – Does the grinder have the ability to produce a consistent grind each time?
- Capacity – What volume of coffee beans can the grinder handle at once?
- Durability – Will this grinder be able to stand the test of time and large volumes of grinding?
Again, we’re going to point you to the Mahlkonig EK43 for commercial use, as its power and performance are simply unmatched. [2]
Best Coffee Grinder For Espresso
As mentioned before, the best grinder for espresso will have burrs that are conical and can produce two different sizes of grounds.
This allows the water to saturate the grounds longer for a richer flavor.
You also want an espresso coffee bean grinder with the ability to produce the finer grounds needed for pulling a fine espresso shot.
The Baratza Sette 30 burr grinder is one of our top picks for espresso enthusiasts on a budget.
With 30 grind settings and a reputation for excellence and durability, we can definitely recommend this for a consistently great espresso shot.
It even comes with a digital timer doser to dispense the grounds right into an espresso portafilter for even greater convenience.
Best Electric Burr Grinder
Unless you’re wanting to manually grind your coffee each day, you’ll want to opt for an electric burr grinder for power and convenience purposes.
Electric grinders efficiently grind your beans in a consistent way that you might not achieve manually.
At the risk of sounding redundant, the Encore and Virtuoso are our top picks for the best electric grinder.
They simply top the class in overall reliability, usability, and ability to produce a quality grind each and every time.
Best Burr Coffee Grinder For French Press
If French press is your style, you’ll want one that can produce a consistent, coarser ground than what you’d use for drip or espresso.
If we’re looking at a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the finest grind and 10 being the coarsest, the ideal grind for this is around a 7.
But because each model is different, you’ll need to experiment to find the ideal grind size. Again, we’re going to go with the Encore for this category.
We’ve simply found this grinder to produce the most consistent results with its 40 grind settings, so once you discover the ideal consistency, you can count on a great cup of joe every time.
Our second pick for this purpose is the Capresso 565 Infinity SS grinder, an affordable option with a wide range of options and a sturdy, simple finish.
We love the consistency of this grinder’s texture, and its ability to produce a perfectly coarse grind.
Bonus: this grinder produces an especially excellent fine ground for lovers of Turkish coffee. [3]
Which Is The Best Coffee Grinder for Pour Over and Chemex?
If you crave a smooth and rich coffee experience without the expense of investing in an espresso machine, the pour-over method may be for you!
Pour-over coffee, and the Chemex method in particular, is a beautiful and easy-to-use technique that creates a uniquely full-bodied cup of coffee.
So what types of coffee grounds are used in a Chemex, and which is the best option?
A medium-coarse grind is the best option for the Chemex or pour-over method.
Too large particles will cause the water to flow through too fast, producing a weak coffee.
And too fine particles will cause the water to become trapped and sludgy. The ideal grounds will resemble sea salt in texture.
The best coffee grinder for Chemex or pour-over coffee will be able to produce the medium-coarse grounds needed for this method.
The Baratza Encore and Capresso Infinity are the two options we’ve found to produce the most consistent results in this area. [4]
Best Home Coffee Grinder
When selecting a unit to use at home, you’ll want to consider the type of coffee you’re making, and the price point you’re willing to invest in a quality grinder.
There is such a huge range of home coffee grinders out there – but by now, you’re well educated in the different options, and have some idea of what you particularly need!
If you’re grinding beans for drip coffee, a flat grinder may be the best option.
These tend to be cheaper and produce grinds of uniform consistency.
For espresso, however, we’d recommend going with a conical burr grinder.
These tend to be higher quality, and while a bit more expensive, are a good investment if you want to produce quality shots.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The Baratza Encore does it all if you’re looking for a powerful, best home burr grinder that won’t break the bank.
Our Best Burr Grinder Reviews:
Baratza Virtuoso
The professional-grade Baratza Virtuoso does a great job of keeping beans cool, improving the quality of the espresso.
Sleek and functional, we love the Virtuoso for its powerhouse grind time, grind size, consistency, and classy image on the kitchen counter.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
If you’re ready to take things to the next level with a more professional-grade machine, then this grinder is sleek and precise.
With a higher capacity of 18 ounces of coffee beans, the Smart Grinder is great if you’re looking to produce more coffee than a single cup in the morning.
60 precise settings and a helpful electronic display screen round out this powerhouse for still under $200.
Check out our Breville Smart Grinder Pro review for more information on this machine.
Baratza Vario 886
For professional level coffee lovers, you can’t go wrong with this grinder.
Its 230 precise settings give you complete control of your coffee grounds to produce the ultimate perfect cup of java.
The durable, 54mm flat ceramic burrs will stay sharp and produce quality coffee time after time, beyond your average machine.
For more information, you can read our detailed review of Baratza Vario 886.
Rancilio SD Rocky
We love the powerhouse Rancilio SD Rocky for its ability to grind up to 7.7 pounds of coffee beans per hour.
Perfect for commercial use, this grinder is surprisingly quiet and grinds directly into a convenient portafilter.
Recommended for commercial or high-quality home use!
Bellemain Coffee Grinder
A solid and flexible pick, the Bellemain can handle beans for up to 14 cups of coffee and its 17 settings have you covered for everything from espresso to AeroPress.
Another great pick for the budget burr category.
Oxo Burr Grinder
What sets this machine apart is its handy integrated scale, which helps you measure the grounds by weight instead of time.
This results in a more accurate shot pull and overall better quality coffee.
We love the precision and accuracy of this Oxo grinder, all at a very reasonable price. Perfect for the ultimate espresso connoisseur.
Krups GX5000
While we don’t normally recommend super cheap grinders, the Krups GX5000 coffee grinder was a surprising standout in the budget category.
17 settings and a 2-year warranty make this super-affordable little grinder a worthy pick if you’re looking to spend under $50.
Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Grinder
Another budget option, the Mr. Coffee gets the job done with 18 grind settings and a surprisingly solid burr mechanism for the price.
This cheap coffee grinder sits well on the counter and holds up to half a pound of coffee beans, perfect for a simple daily cup of joe.
Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Grinder
An automatic stop function ensures that your beans are ground consistently in this Cuisinart DBM 8.
While the grounds aren’t nearly the quality that you’d find in something in a higher price point like the Encore, we were still happy enough with the results and the price can’t be beaten.
Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder
This attractive Bodum Bistro looks great on the counter, and for under $100 produces great results.
A pre-set timer lets you choose the precise time for grinding, and 14 settings will have you set for your finer to coarser grounds. A solid pick in the under $100 category.
Proctor Silex Grinder
We’ll be honest: this stainless steel coffee grinder is cheap, but it gets the job done if you’re looking to grind up your beans quickly and efficiently with very little monetary investment.
Simply insert beans, press the button, and go.
The steel blades grind coffee differently than a burr grinder, but this Proctor Silex unit is perfect for simple slow coffee, or even grinding up spices.
Kitchenaid Grinder
Another great pick for the mid-range category, the Kitchenaid burr coffee grinder covers its bases with 15 grind settings and a sleek design.
The stainless steel burrs rotate at a rapid 450 rpm, which actually helps to reduce the heat buildup that so often happens with stainless steel grinders, preserving the flavor of the grounds.
Gaggia 8002 MDF Burr Grinder
We loved this machine for producing great espresso-ready grounds.
34 grinding settings allow you to choose the exact consistency you’re looking for, and the quiet 120-watt motor is both reliable and powerful.
But what sets the Gaggia 8002 MDF apart for us in the espresso category is the way it deposits the grounds directly into a convenient portafilter holder, saving you one extra step on the way to the espresso machine.
To Wrap-Up
By now, you should be well-versed in the in’s and out’s of coffee grinders, and the best coffee grinders you can buy in each category!
While the amount of information about coffee grinders can be daunting, we hope this has minimized overwhelm and helped you to narrow in on the best rated coffee grinder to add to your kitchen and help bring that great cup of java into your morning routine!
Our Overall Recommendation:
We really like the Encore for many reasons, mostly we love the ability to produce a high-quality coarse and fine grind for both espresso and drip coffee maker.
We consider it to be a steal for the value and will be a great tool for coffee aficionados alike. Easily our pick for the best burr coffee grinder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a burr coffee grinder?
These grinders are made up of two revolving jagged surfaces (called burrs), these could be flat or conical. In between these surfaces, coffee is ground, a few beans at a time. Coffee aficionados tend to choose burr grinders over blade is because beans are ground in a uniform size, giving you a better coffee brew extraction than you do with a blade grinder.
Are Burr coffee grinders better?
The main advantage of a burr grinder is that it beans grind to a consistent and uniform size of particles (or powder). This makes for a better cup of coffee, tastier brew extraction, avoids clogging problems, and gives you the flexibility to grind beans to the coarseness or fineness that best suits the kind of coffee or espresso maker you are using.
What’s the difference between a burr grinder and blade grinder?
There’s a significant difference between a burr and a blade grinder. Blade grinders have rotating blades, like a blender, that slice up the beans into grounds, leaving the grind size inconsistent. Burr grinders are more precise pieces of equipment. Two burrs, either conical or flat, grind the beans into even particles, making a better brew extraction and better cup of coffee.
How important is coffee grinder?
Generally speaking, the grind is just as important as the coffee. When it comes to making the perfect coffee, the grind plays an integral role. A good grinder ensures the ground coffee doesn’t clump together, keeps the beans cool while grinding and helps maintain an even grind for your coffee brewing method.
What is the best coffee grinder for home use?
Our choice: Baratza Encore Coffee Bean Grinder.
It has 40 precise-grind settings from the finest espresso to a coarse grind for French Press and everything in between. With it’s ease of use, you’ll always have exactly the right grind for your beans for the home.
References
1. https://www.thekitchn.com/coffee-tools-what-kind-of-grinder-should-i-use-204496
2. https://www.mahlkoenig.de/en/node/31
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_coffee
4. https://downshiftology.com/chemex-coffee-brewing/