Updated on Dec. 16, 2024
Whether you're a French press person or a drip coffee devotee, we found you the best coffee grinder to add fresh grounds to your morning ritual.
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Coffee-loving folks often find themselves caught up in debates about drip coffee vs. pour-overs or Keurig vs. Nespresso. However, when it comes down to it, coffee brands and brew equipment are only half of the equation. The best coffee grinder is one of the most vital coffee products for becoming your own barista, and it makes all the difference in overall taste. Sure, pre-ground coffee is about as convenient as it gets, but nothing tickles the morning senses quite like getting a whiff of that freshly ground aroma.
Coffee expert and Founder of Uncharted Coffee Jasmine Neveles notes that grinding your own coffee beans elevates the coffee experience by ensuring maximum freshness and flavor. “Grinding your own beans offers control over grind size, making it easy to tailor your brew to different methods like espresso or French press,” she says. “When choosing a coffee grinder, consistency and grind control are key.”
Our expert product testing team tested 21 coffee grinders, performing roughly 11 tests on each. After 120 hours (and several dozen cups of coffee), we finally reached the promised land for every java aficionado and identified the best coffee grinder for each and every budding barista.
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The Breville Smart coffee grinder may be a bit on the pricey side. But for true coffee enthusiasts who enjoy using different brew methods, it’s a must-have. This do-it-all option offers 60 grind settings, so expect perfectly ground beans for French press, pour-over coffee, espresso or anything in between. An attractive display screen makes customization simple, and its “dosing IQ” automatically gives a precise grind every time you use it. This grinder is the ideal coffee gift—for friends or yourself—right next to the Breville Bambino Plus espresso machine.
Whether you’re a fan of bougie pour-overs or efficient single-serve coffee makers, this easy-to-use machine offers settings for almost any brew method imaginable. Even better, the grinds are incredibly consistent.
The pull-out container has measurement lines indicating quantities for espresso, French press/plunger and percolator/drip filter, while the lid has a convenient pull tab for easy opening. It takes less than 20 seconds for a fine grind—nice and quick! It’s also rather muffled at only 90 decibels, so there’s no need to worry about waking up the rest of your house for your early morning cup of caffeine. Speaking of cups, this grinder provides a bold, strong flavor with a little bit of a bitter aftertaste, which we found ideal for our practiced palates.
It automatically functions once you choose your brew style, so it’s easy for even a beginner to use. Plus, there’s the option to manually control the machine, which is a plus in our book. The grounds land directly in the container for zero mess, and despite its powerful grind, it doesn’t move or bounce thanks to secure rubber feet beneath. As for the espresso? Former barista and editorial coordinator Sydney Manning notes that her fourth pull on the 7 grind size was nearly perfect.
“The portafilter is great and allows for grounds to be administered properly,” she says. “This machine also has a diagram on the side by the dial that assists with troubleshooting. It indicates if your grounds need to be finer or coarser, depending on how fast your shot pulled. This is helpful because I personally forget which is which and usually have to Google every time I’m trying to troubleshoot.”
The cord is a bit short, so if you’re keeping it on the counter, plan to pop it in its own dedicated area next to an outlet. With a one-year warranty and an abundance of replacement parts available, we foresee this as a long-lasting appliance for coffee fiends.
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Whether you’re a beginner or a coffee connoisseur, the Encore Baratza is the coffee grinder for pour-overs. Its design is simple and user friendly, and its quality makes it the machine of choice for industry professionals. The 40-millimeter conical burrs grind coffee beans evenly for optimal flavor. Additionally, 40 different grind settings allow you to make a variety of coffee recipes, from espresso martinis to tiramisu or a traditional cuppa.
This is a machine built for the long haul, and you can buy pretty much every single part separately for easy replacing. There are 34 pieces available in the brand store, ranging from the hopper containers to the power boards. This is one area our testing team found very impressive and thorough.
While it has some kickback when you pull out the chamber—meaning some grounds spew out—it feels durable and well made. It’s also nice and compact, which is perfect for small kitchens.
That said, a common issue seems to be hopper insertion, which is something we struggled with. While a bit annoying, the manual has a section just for troubleshooting hopper insertion, and there are a lot of online videos available, as well. This is just about the only component that’s removable, so it’s not too much of an issue. It’s worth noting, however, that the team couldn’t go up to the highest grind size because the hopper would pop off and the machine wouldn’t start.
Pair it with this coffee scoop clip, and you will have everything you need to start brewing. If you’re still not convinced, read our review to see why it’s worth it.
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Another Baratza that impressed our testing team was the Encore ESP, our top pick for grinding up espresso beans. Like the original Encore, this straightforward espresso grinder offers 40 different grind settings and a large 300-gram hopper size. It’s simple to operate, with only one push button, an on/off toggle and built-in hopper adjustment.
Unlike the original Encore, this slightly costlier cousin doesn’t experience issues with hopper insertion. It’s easy and quick to snap each piece into place, and there’s no kickback to cause spills. The noise level peaks at 96 decibels, which is a bit higher than the Breville but still quieter than the original Encore by about two decibels. A slim build offers tons of additional room on your coffee cart for espresso accessories, too.
While it only takes around 20 seconds for a fine grind, it doesn’t have any sort of self-timer or automation when grinding like other models we’re testing. That means it’s important to be mindful of the amount of beans you put in the hopper. The hopper also wobbles a bit while grinding, though we didn’t notice any toppling issues.
Additionally, Sydney says its simpler build doesn’t affect its performance. After a little experimentation, this is her top pick for a near flawless espresso.
“The first time, I did a fine grind, and it pulled too long and was very bitter. It didn’t output as much as I wanted it to either (only one of the two spouts of the espresso machine dispensed liquid),” says Sydney. “The second time, I ground the beans coarser, and the shot pulled quicker (closer to 25 seconds), but it still wasn’t consistently pulling from that second spout. The third time, I turned the dial to 10, even coarser, and the shot pulled through both spouts and took close to 25 seconds. It was pulling like honey and had good crema on top. This was the best-tasting shot of the three grind levels.”
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This Oxo brew grinder features 15 settings and 40-millimeter conical burrs that create evenly ground coffee, which gives you the best possible flavor extraction. This supports any type of coffee maker, but will especially highlight flavor in brew methods like French press coffee.
This grinder requires you to set a timer manually or go to “manual” mode. The default is 10 seconds, so that’s what we used for most grinds. It has grind adjustment settings like all the others, as well as a second knob for a 30-second timer. Not setting this timer is essentially a manual mode that allows you to choose when the machine stops grinding. We think the timer may be a bit unintuitive for coffee novices, though connoisseurs might not mind this knob.
The OXO is skinny, tall and lightweight, making it incredibly easy to move around. It features a see-through hopper for storing your beans so you can see when you need to replenish your coffee. The hopper is also UV-tinted, giving it an edge on freshness preservation. It has the capacity to hold enough coffee grounds for 12 cups of coffee. Plop this easy-carry conical burr grinder on a coffee cart or stash it away in a cupboard when not in use. Either way, the unit takes up so little room that it’s ideal for smaller spaces.
One area we’d love to see some improvement in is the availability of replacement parts. Only the hopper, grounds container and upper burr are removable, with only the upper burr being replaceable. That said, for a less expensive (and much smaller) machine, this is pretty expected.
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The Fellow Opus is an excellent pick, whether you’re a pro barista searching for the best coffee grinder for flawless espresso shots or a casual coffee drinker looking to fill your favorite coffee tumbler for the morning commute. This simple-yet-effective burr grinder offers a sleek design, included dosing cup and a consistent grind.
A magnetic catch cup and portafilter transfer offer additional bells and whistles for the at-home coffee bar. Even despite the high-torque motor, it’s quieter than our coveted top performer at only 89 decibels. It’s also the most intuitive burr grinder of the entire batch. There’s only one knob for grind adjustment size—and nothing else.
The underside of the hopper lid has instructions for which settings work best for each type of coffee brewing method, which is a nice touch. More than 41 grind settings mean plenty of room for experimentation with grind size. In fact, the Fellow performed so well it even gave Sydney’s espresso machine a run for its money!
While it performs almost as well as the Breville, our testing team noticed a lot of retention with this grinder. Grounds got everywhere and were always falling out, especially on the finer grind settings. The team notes that grounds continued cascading out during each test, so definitely set this one on a mat or plan on a good counter wipe down after prepping your beans.
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Whether you’re a fan of flavored coffee, organic coffee or both, nothing kills the morning vibe quite like a loud coffee grinder. This is especially so if you’re an early riser in a household of folks who covet their sleep. The Krups Silent Vortex Grinder might be a humble electric blade grinder, but it still offers simple operation—and at only 80 decibels, it’s almost spooky quiet.
While it only offers two settings—low and high—and the grinds aren’t all that customizable, the lightweight feel and easily transportable chamber make it a great option for taking along on a trip or to the office. You can also remove the top portion to easily dump out the grounds. Bonus: No one will hear you lining up your next coffee fix in the next cubicle!
Unlike with other options, you can submerge the blade chamber and lid in water or toss them in the dishwasher for cleanup. The machine also has cord management and the ability to remove the basket, which we love for a great user experience. Additionally, there’s zero mess apart from some grounds stuck to the top of the chamber via static.
Sure, it’s a bit pricey for a blade grinder. But if you’re looking for a simple machine that costs under $100 and offers a near silent grind, it’s the best option we found.
The type of grinder you invest in affects the quality of your coffee’s taste. In general, we suggest investing in a burr grinder as opposed to one with a blade. Burr grinders grind coffee beans precisely into a uniform size, which makes the coffee grounds consistent and the coffee taste balanced without overheating. We should note that burr grinders are best for espresso or pour-over brews and require more maintenance than blade grinders.
It’s also important to consider how you brew coffee at home, since some grinders come with options for lots of different types of coffee whereas others do not. Manual options are affordable, effective and provide precise grinding. Though, some users find that these models are a lot more work and less precise than more expensive electric models. When choosing between electric and manual models, try and balance cost and convenience to find what works best for you.
Here are a few other things to look out for when looking for a grinder:
“Look for models with adjustable grind settings to accommodate various brewing methods, from espresso to French press,” notes Founder of Uncharted Coffee Jasmine Neveles.
“Durability and ease of cleaning are also important, with materials like stainless steel or ceramic offering long-lasting performance. Lower-speed grinders prevent heat buildup, which can affect flavor, while quieter models are ideal for shared spaces. Ultimately, choose a grinder that balances features, quality, and price for your needs.”
No matter the type of grinder you get, many seasoned users suggest cleaning the machine once a month to remove coffee oil buildup and limescale. This can extend the lifespan of the grinder and maintain the coffee’s flavor. We recommend the Urnex Grindz Grinder Cleaning Tablets for routine cleaning.
Much like freshly ground peppercorn or freshly chopped herbs, grinding your own coffee beans makes your brew taste most flavorful and fresh. Plus, the fragrance is irresistible.
When coffee beans are ground up, the compounds that give them flavor are instantly released and exposed to oxygen. So grinding coffee beans immediately before brewing coffee is the best way to capture the flavor. It adds only a minute to your coffee-making routine, but the difference in taste is immeasurable. Plus, pre-ground coffee comes in one size only, and different coffee recipes call for different grind sizes, so it’s helpful to customize your grind size. Need some inspiration? Check out these coffee subscription boxes to discover your new favorite beans.
Emily Way has tested dozens of foods and drinks for Taste of Home, informing pieces like the best coffee concentrates and the best gift of the month clubs. Not only is she Taste of Home’s resident food and drinks expert, she is also a total java junkie. Sure, she likes looking at roasts, regional sources and aromas. But at the heart of things, she just really loves a good cup of coffee.
Our product testing team also has over a decade of combine experience testing and evaluating kitchen products, consumables and beyond.
To inform this piece, we spoke to coffee expert and Founder of Uncharted Coffee Jasmine Neveles, who offered additional insight on what to look for in the best coffee grinder.
Alexandra Mantella, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, also updated and contributed research to this piece. She has over five years of experience in product testing, research and commerce writing. Previously, she served as a commerce content update editor at Bob Vila.
For this piece, our expert product testing team spent over 120 hours collecting roughly 600 data points on 21 coffee grinders. We began by researching the most well-reviewed and popular models, sourcing as many as possible. From there, our testing team ground beans on three different settings to truly give each a good shot.
To brew each cup of coffee, we used the Hario V60, Melitta filters, a gooseneck kettle and roughly 12 grams of coffee grounds. Former barista and product tester Sydney Manning conducted the espresso tests on her personal Breville Bambino. She dialed in 3 to 4 times and pulled the same number of shots until she yielded an espresso she was satisfied with. She did this test on the top three most technical burr grinders: Fellow, Breville and Baratza ESP.
To separate the different sizes of the grounds, we used the Kruve Sifter. We inserted the 500- and 800-micron mesh. Grounds larger than 800 microns were considered coarse, grounds between 500 and 800 microns were considered medium and grounds smaller than 500 microns were considered fine.
We conducted approximately 11 tests on each coffee grinder, including:
When it comes to finding the best coffee grinder, there are a few different options: conical burr grinders, flat burr grinders and blade grinders. These grinders come in manual and electric options, but the big difference between the two is the type of blade used to ground coffee. Burr grinders grind with pressure rather than simply chopping like a manual blade.
A conical burr is best for those who don’t love a super fine result, as it produces an uneven mixture. A flat burr grinder is preferred for espresso since it evenly grinds beans. Lastly, the blade grinder is the most affordable of the three (and easiest to use) and offers a consistent grind size at the cost of more effort.
A burr grinder tends to be the preferred option among true coffee baristas. While more expensive than a blade grinder, it offers a more robust coffee ground, which can be important depending on the coffee taste you’re going for. Both are solid options for grinding beans at home—it just comes down to overall budget and preference.
First, unplug the coffee grinder and remove any coffee beans. Remove all the pieces and scrub them with a brush, making sure to thoroughly wipe the pieces down with a dry cloth. Then, clean the coffee chute with water and set aside to dry.
Ground consistency is essential to achieving the perfect coffee, whether it is espresso, French press or Aeropress. Grinders such as the Baratza Sette 270 are great for their fine grinding style, whereas the Baratza Encore is better for both fine and coarse grounds.
The length of time you’ll want to take to grind coffee is also important and depends on what kind of coffee you’re making. For drip coffee, you can get away with a chunkier, larger grind. For traditional espresso, stick with a very, very fine grind—almost like a powder.
