Best Coffee Grinders

The best coffee grinders transform coffee beans into consistent and even grounds.

Brewing a good cup of coffee consists of many factors that can make or break the flavor. Ground consistency is one of the largest factors.

Being a former coffee barista and a lifetime coffee enthusiast, I researched the best coffee grinders to help you get closer to your ideal flavor of coffee.

And I found that the Baratza Encore the best coffee grinder and not to mention, it’s also our favorite and personal grinder.

Continue reading for our other favorites.

The 4 Best Coffee Grinders

• Our Favorite: Baratza Encore
• Upgrade Pick: Baratza Virtuoso+
• Budget Pick: Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
• Best Manual Grinder: Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill

The 4 Best Coffee Grinders – Reviewed

The coffee grinders mentioned in this list all meet the standard of a good quality grinder. Check them out!

The Baratza Encore

This grinder has all the features you need for an excellent brew every morning. We gave this grinder a 10/10 when it comes to grind consistency. This results in a more accurate, full-tasting coffee. 

The grinder also comes with 40 steps of grind adjustment. This allows you to grind coffee from a range of fine to coarse, giving you flexibility on what kind of brew you’re feeling. Whether you need to grind for espresso or french press, you have the choice. 

The 40mm steel conical burr is the key when it comes to a quality grind. Compared to a blade, a burr produces significantly more consistent grounds. 

Heavy coffee owners appreciate the 8 ounce hopper. However, most coffee enthusiasts would advise against keeping your beans in the hopper at all, due increased staling.

---

The Baratza Virtuoso+

If you like the Encore and want something more stylish and has more bells and whistles, the Baratza Virtuoso+ is a great choice. Compared to the Encore, the Virtuoso has a more “luxurious” feel to it, with its inclusion of metal materials to the top and the base.

With a grind rate of 1.5g/sec to 2.4g/sec the Virtuoso is also faster at producing grounds. Faster grounds equals faster coffee. 

The Virtuoso+ keeps the same 40 steps of grind adjustment and the same 40mm steel conical burr as the Encore, which is known to produce consistent grounds. 

With an LED backlit ground bin, you get a visual cue of when your beans are done grinding. While it is aesthetically pleasing, some users find this feature unnecessary. 

---

Bodum Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder

Though we consider this grinder an 8/10 for consistency rating, it is still better than a majority of the grinders out there, especially at this price point.

With 12 steps of grind adjustment, this grinder has simplicity in mind. You won’t have to tinker with too many different grind sizes to find the one that fits your needs.

With a steel conical burr size at 35mm, it is smaller than the two Bartza’s we listed above. However, it actually rotates faster at 750 RPM compared to 550 RPM of the Encore and Virtuoso+. This means faster coffee grounds.

The Bodum is also made with a rubber outer housing. Some owners like this due to its non-slippery nature. Though, it does make it appear less expensive.

---

Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill Original

The Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill does a great job producing consistent grounds, especially for a manual one. 

The grinder uses a ceramic conical burr instead of a steel one found in most electric grinders. Ceramic burrs do not transfer heat. Without heat transfer, your beans will retain their most authentic flavor. 

Additionally, ceramic burrs do not rust. This means the manual grinder will last a longer time than steel grinders.

The only downfall to this grinder, and most manual grinders for that matter, is that it can only grind small amounts at a time. The trade off is that you get a grinder that’s easy to bring with you anywhere you go.

---

What Makes a Grinder Good?

When choosing a grinder, there are several factors you need to consider for a better cup of coffee.

Grind Consistency

The number one factor that determines if a coffee grinder is good or not is whether or not it can produce consistent grounds. Consistent grounds equates to better tasting coffee.

Grind Settings

Grind settings give you the option you grind your coffee beans fine or coarse. While having a large range of grind size options is good, the way you select the size is equally as important.

Stepped and Stepless

A grinder with stepped grinder sizes means that the sizes are made at fixed intervals. For example, 1-2-3-4-5. A grinder with stepless means that the sizes are not fixed. This allows you to really get really accurate with your size. However, this just makes things more difficult. Ideally, you’d want a stepped system. 

Build quality

What is The Bur Made Out Of?

The two most common burr materials are steel and ceramic. Steel burrs tend to be sharper but do not last as long. On the other hand, ceramic burrs are not as sharp but last a lot longer. 

Modularity

Is the burr easy to access? Easy access to the burr makes it easier to clean.

Quality Motor

A quality motor means that the grinder will last long after many grind sessions.

Ease of Set Up

Is the grinder easy to set up? You don’t want to be sitting there, reading a manual for hours before being able to grind your coffee.

Is It Loud?

Grinders will never be absolutely quiet. However, we don’t want to wake our neighbors every morning. 

Dosage Measurements

Some grinders have built in dosage measurements, allowing you to grind the same amount of coffee every time. However, these tend to be more pricey. Other grinders have timed grind sessions. This will work if you leave all your beans in the bank. However, most would advise against doing this due to freshness. 

Maintenance and Repairs

Having the ability to access the burr chamber is important, especially with darker coffee beans as they leave residues and oils. Easily removable parts also means that you’re able to replace the burr when it gets dull.

Price

Most good grinders will set you off at least $100. However, we also don’t want to be spending thousands, especially if you’re not running a coffee shop!

Why You Need a Good Grinder – Consistency!

A quality burr grinder will significantly improve your brew’s flavor simply due to a more consistent grind, especially if you’re coming from a budget blade grinder. 

You’ll notice a difference in almost every nuance of coffee: complexities of flavors, enhanced aromatics, a more pronounced sweetness and acidity, and even differences of texture and body.

To put simply, consistency in your coffee grounds is super important.

FAQ

Blade vs. Burr – What’s the difference?

A blade grinder works like a blender and does not suffice for making consistent coffee. Blades are prone to producing uneven texture. It basically chops up the beans, leaving grounds that are not uniform. 

Burr grinders crushes the coffee between two grooved surfaces. This is the best choice independent of which brewing method you use.

Grind by Time vs. Grind by Weight –  Which one is better?

Always best to grind by weight. You’ll be more accurate with ratios.

Grinding by time might work if you test it by weighing each dosage.

The Verdict

A good coffee grinder needs to produce coffee grounds that are consistent. If the coffee grounds aren’t consistent, the coffee isn’t going to be good. 

Good coffee is the whole point!

Every coffee grinder out there comes with different settings, consistency ratings, and prices. However, The Baratza Encore is a fantastic option that offers a good number of grind settings, consistent grinding, and a competitive price.