Upgrade Your Coffee’s Flavor and Aroma Using the Best Coffee Grinder
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Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder -
Rancilio Rocky HSD-ROC-SS Coffee Grinder -
Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder -
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Coffee Grinder -
Buyer's Guide
The three main types of coffee grinders are blade, flat plate, and conical. Conical burr grinders are the original type of grinders and use burrs placed at a near vertical orientation which spin at a low speed so there’s no burn taste. These provide the most consistent coarse grounds used in French press or pour over coffee but will also make good medium to fine grinds as well.
Next, you have blade grinders which use sharp cutting blades spinning at very high speeds to cut and chop coffee beans to grounds. The least expensive option, they work best for medium type grounds ideal for drip machines and percolators. Because of their operating speed, they can sometimes burn the beans and slightly alter the taste of your coffee. Unless you grind beans very infrequently, we recommend skipping this type of grinder altogether.
Lastly, you have flat plate burr grinders which turn slower than blade grinders so there’s less of a chance the coffee will burn. They use horizontal burrs on a flat plate (hence the name) which do a credible grinding job for all coffee grinds, but they excel at finer grinds like espresso and Turkish blends.
We've listed the best coffee grinders in 2022 as we’re concentrating on electrically powered grinders because they grind larger quantities of beans faster and easier, especially when you’re making more than one cup of coffee. Every one of these grinders will be easy to take apart and clean which is helpful if a bean gets caught in the mechanism, the blades gum up from very oily or flavored beans, or if a foreign object accidentally gets into the grinder.
Compare The Best Coffee Grinder Of 2022
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder - Best Coffee Grinder Overall
The Baratza Encore is the closest thing to a commercial-style grinder for your home, and it's incredibly reasonably priced as well. Though it may be the entry-level model in Baratza's grinder lineup, it comes with all the hardware needed to provide the most consistently ground coffee you’ve ever had - even espresso blends. The Encore doesn't have the LCD screen or various timers or sensors found in the higher-end models; instead, it's as easy to use as a vacuum cleaner.
Simply fill the hopper, choose how much coffee to be ground using the grind settings, and adjust the fineness of the grind size by turning the hopper. There's a simple rotary on/off switch to control the operation, and the design of the grinder itself ensures that all of the ground beans make their way into the bin. The hopper holds eight ounces of beans and the bin holds five ounces of ground coffee.
This also one of the best grinders designed to limit your ground from clinging to the bin due to static electricity. There are certainly more expensive options available that offer varying degrees of extra control, but we feel that the Baratza Encore performs well enough to make it difficult to justify the pricier grinders.
Rancilio Rocky HSD-ROC-SS Coffee Grinder - Honorable Mention
Grinding coffee for espresso is a notoriously finicky process, as many of the more inexpensive units on the market simply cannot produce the fine grinds required with any degree of consistency. Though the other grinders we recommend can turn out espresso-grade results, frequent espresso drinkers would be better served by a grinder that can accommodate espresso-specific tasks. The Rancilio Rocky is notable for its excellent grind consistency of the grind, thanks to commercial-grade burrs and a 140-watt direct drive motor. Despite the powerful motor, it is one of the more quiet-running grinders here. The hopper holds up to half-pound of beans, and this grinder features a doser that can fill an espresso filter with just the right amount of ground coffee with minimal effort. Weighing in at nearly 20 pounds, it's certainly not going to go anywhere when you’re grinding coffee. It's expensive, but as any espresso enthusiast knows, there's always a premium worth paying for a quality product.
Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder - Consider
If you are a fan of conical burr grinders, and demand complete consistency in every batch of grounds that you make, the Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is up to the challenge. The adjustable motor spins the burrs very slowly between 405 RPM to 495 RPM, which assures you won’t have any burned grounds on your hands prior to brewing. This pick uses a relatively quiet transmission that transfers the power to the blades and it also has an auto-stop function if something falls into the hopper and begins to jam up the burrs.
This grinder will hold eight ounces of coffee in the hopper, but there’s an optional nine ounce addition which can be attached. There’s also a pulse function so you can manually grind beans as long as you want, and it comes with 40 different grind selections. The Baratza Virtuoso stands out among other coffee grinding appliances for its functionality and grind quality, so if you want the best conical burr grinder you've just found it.
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Coffee Grinder - Best Value
If you want a capable burr grinder that uses the flat burr technique, the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill should suit your needs. Using flat discs used to grind the beans and an 18 position grind selecting twist dial, you'll find the grind you need for virtually any type of coffee you want to brew. The bean hopper holds eight ounces, but the grind bin holds a staggering 32 cups worth of ground beans. No matter how large your coffee maker is, you'll have enough grounds available after they’ve been ground. This burr grinder has a pulse button and an auto-shut off once the desired amount of beans have been ground. At about half the price of a typical espresso grinder, the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill will perform remarkably well for all but the finest ground beans. This burr grinder comes covered by an 18 month warranty.
Buyer's Guide
Coffee is America's favorite drink, which is why coffee grinders are a must-have item in kitchens across the country. Besides saving you frequent trips to the café, having a grinder also ensures that each cup you brew is teeming with freshness and flavor. To achieve this level of perfection, though, you’ll need the perfect grinder. Wondering how you can make sure you pick a quality grinder? That’s easy: keep the following in mind while shopping for a coffee grinder in 2022.
Types of Coffee Grinders
Blade grinders
Blade grinders feature a blade in the center that resembles a propeller. As a result, this type of coffee grinder is quite similar to a blender. Both electric and manual grinders can have blades, and these grinders tend to be cheaper than other options.
Blade grinders can grind spices as well as coffee beans, but they won’t be able to deliver consistent results if they’re made with lower quality materials. This means that whatever you grind will end up partially coarse and partially powdered. As an aside, we don't recommend grinding spices with your coffee grinder because the flavors can transfer over.
Poorly made blades also run the risk of burning your coffee and ruining its taste. If you've decided to go with a blade grinder, high-quality blades are essential if you want to retain the flavor and aroma of your favorite beans.
Burr grinders
Burr grinders feature two sharp revolving surfaces in place of a blade. The coffee beans are placed between these surfaces for grinding, and the distance between these two surfaces determines the grind size.
Most coffee aficionados swear by burr grinders’ ability to provide a finer grind. Burr grinders also deliver uniform consistency, and when it comes to flavor, the right consistency can make all the difference.
Types of Burr Coffee Grinders
Conical burr grinders
When it comes to burr grinders, conical grinders are the industry standard. These are quieter than other types of grinders, and they’re also relatively affordable. They have a cone-shaped center burr and a serrated outer burr, which help produce well-ground coffee every time. This type of burr grinder is also heat-resistant and energy-efficient, making it an excellent choice for home and professional baristas.
Despite being favored by professionals, the conical burr grinder is outperformed in terms of grind consistency by flat burr grinders. With that said, you’ll only notice this if you examine the grounds under a microscope, and having different-sized grounds won’t affect your coffee’s overall flavor.
Flat burr grinders
Flat burr grinders feature two donut-shaped burrs with sharp edges that face each other. Because of this design, coffee beans will stay between the burrs until they’re ground consistently, which, in turn, ensures consistent flavor.
Although flat burrs are more expensive, they’re better at producing consistent particle sizes. Compared to conical burrs, flat ones are noisier, and they also produce more heat and consume more energy while grinding beans.
What To Look for When Buying a Coffee Grinder
Burr or blade material
Most coffee grinder blades and burrs are made with premium stainless steel. Stainless steel comes in different grades, which means you can find both budget-friendly and high-end options. Besides steel burrs, you can also find ceramic ones that are more durable and last longer than steel does.
Ceramic burrs can last two to five years when used regularly, but if you only use them occasionally, you can expect them to last around 10 years. In other words, while steel burrs can grind 500 to 1,000 pounds of coffee, ceramic ones can grind up to 1,500 pounds of beans.
Manual or electric
Both manual and electric grinders are well-loved by coffee fans. A hand-operated/manual grinder is a relatively affordable grinding option that’s also quieter and more travel-friendly than an electric one. With that being said, a manual grinder doesn’t deliver the most consistent grounds.
An electric grinder will be more expensive than a manual one, but it will deliver a consistent grind and allow you to decide the exact grind size according to your coffee choice. Electric grinders are also a lot more convenient to use, as you won’t have to put any effort in to achieve a delicious cup of joe: simply press a button and the grinder will get to work.
Particle size and consistency
When it comes to choosing a coffee grinder, you also have to consider the particle size and consistency of the grind. This is because both of these factors are crucial for retaining the aroma and freshness of the grounds.
Although bean quality plays a big role, having a grinder that delivers a fine, consistent grind is essential.
Auto-grinding ability
Some coffee grinders feature a system that requires you to push their power button to start grinding; however, the grinding will stop as soon as you let the button go. While it typically doesn’t take too long to grind the coffee beans, you can still be more efficient in the morning or in between meetings if you have an auto-grinding feature. Grab your coffee mug, put toast in the toaster, or answer a work message while the grinder works its magic all by itself.
Grind setting/Precision
Coffee grinders offer a variety of grind settings, and the more settings a particular grinder has, the more control you have and the more precision you’ll be able to achieve. Grinders with 20 settings are perfect for at-home grinding, but you can also find options that boast up to 40 or 50 settings for commercial use.
Bean hopper size
You’ll want to look for a coffee grinder with a large bean hopper. Why? Because larger hoppers accommodate more coffee beans, allowing you to grind more in a single batch. That said, you don’t want your beans sitting in the hopper for too long, or else they’ll go stale. Don’t use the extra space to pre-grind your beans for the entire week.
What Else Should You Know About Coffee Grinders?
Noise level
Grinders of any kind are known to be noisy, and coffee grinders are no different. If noisy appliances are a pet peeve or you live in a household that doesn't exactly like waking up to the sound of beans being crushed, you’ll want to find a coffee grinder with a quiet motor. Burr grinders are usually quieter than blade grinders, and when it comes to burr grinders, conical burrs are quieter than flat ones.
Speed
Coffee grinders with high-speed motors tend to produce more heat. This can burn the coffee, which in turn can ruin its aroma and flavor. Coffee machines that grind at a lower speed are called direct drive grinders, and they’re generally better at grinding coffee beans. They don’t overheat, which helps preserve the freshness and flavor of the beans. It might take a bit longer, but you still shouldn’t expect it to take much more than 60 seconds to grind your beans.
Heat
The amount of heat your grinder produces directly influences the taste of your coffee. The flavor of the coffee bean is strongly influenced by its roast, so it makes sense that imparting any additional heat to a roasted bean can alter its flavor profile. Burr grinders produce less heat by design.
Ease of use and cleaning
If you want to enjoy the process of grinding your coffee beans, look for a grinder that’s simple to use and clean. Some grinders are extremely complicated, requiring you to follow multiple steps before you can get a nice cup of coffee. Similarly, some grinders have small nooks and crannies which can be frustrating to clean. Take a look at a grinder’s customer reviews section to see what people are saying about how easy a particular grinder is to use and clean before finalizing your purchase.
People Also Asked
Which is better: blade or burr coffee grinders?
While blade grinders operate a lot like blenders, burr coffee grinders grind up beans between two revolving surfaces. Both options brew fine coffee, but most coffee aficionados prefer burr grinders.
The reason is that burr grinders provide a more consistent grind size. Additionally, this type of coffee grinder offers more control over the grinding process and produces less heat while grinding, helping to prevent your brew from burning.
Can I use a regular coffee grinder for espresso?
Espresso is created by the the process of forcing heated water through finely ground coffee beans, so you'll need a grinder that is capable of grinding your beans down to the correct consistency. This pretty much rules out all blade grinders, so your best option is to select a burr grinder within your price range.
How do I know if my coffee grinder needs to be replaced?
You should consider replacing your coffee grinder if it's making weird noises. Increasingly inconsistent grounds are also a tell-tale sign of a faulty coffee grinder.
Can you grind your coffee too much?
Yes, as a grind that’s too fine will lead to a bitter brew. On the other hand, a grind that’s too coarse will result in a weak cup of coffee.
