Fresh homemade coffee grounds offer more than an affordable way to have coffee. The flavor from freshly ground coffee can be fuller and more distinct. The aromas released from grinding can waft through an entire house. Grinding at home is also a way to keep coffee tasting fresher for longer.
While there are a myriad of reasons why someone may grind coffee beans at home, it is not so clear which type of coffee grinder is best equipped for this job. Some coffee purists may have certain preferences, while others may stump for the most convenient option. We have pored over some of the top options available for customers right now. This is what we learned:
Editor’s Choice
JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
Pros:
- 18 settings. This coffee grinder offers eighteen different options for how fine the granules of coffee is ground down to. This allows a high degree of customization to your tastes.
- Less noise. This manual coffee grinder, aside from not necessitating power and having any wires, is usually rather quiet compared to electric grinders.
Cons:
- Settings can be unclear. This coffee grinder relies on a audial click system. It can be hard to keep track of what setting the coffee grinder is on.
- Time. It can take several minutes to grind enough beans for a cup of coffee or two. Some people may not have that level of patience.
The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder features a sleek design with a stainless steel housing and a ceramic burr to grind the coffee.
The Contender
OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Pros:
- Memory. This electric coffee grinder has an intuitive system wherein you can have their previous settings used the next time you grind coffee with just one touch to start.
- Easy knob. To manipulate the grind settings on this machine, simply turn a large knob on the front of the device. This process is clear and easy, so there will be no confusion as to what fineness of grounds are being made.
- Microsettings. This device not only has 15 grind settings, but there are two notches between each level of fineness that allow extra customization. Connoisseurs who have an exact coarseness they are after will delight in this capacity.
Cons:
- Coffee beans get stuck. While the process is totally automatic, the beans don’t all fall into the grinder from the hopper. You may have to shake or gently bump the machine to get them to fall.
- Container can move while grinding. The container where the ground coffee falls does not lock into place, so it can move slightly while the machine is operating and is liable to be nudged accidentally. This can cause a bit of a mess.
The OXO BREW electric coffee grinder uses stainless steel burrs to grind coffee to dozens of different levels of coarseness. It employs a one-touch system that maintains the previous settings used on the machine.
Best Bargain
KRUPS Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder
Pros:
- Strong blades. Due to the stainless steel blades this grinder uses, it is OK to grind other types of hard food products, such as nuts, seeds, and herbs.
- Safety. This coffee grinder has a mechanism that prevents the blades from spinning unless the hopper is closed. This is great for those with children who might be curious about a new contraption in the kitchen.
- Value. Considering the functionality, this product is priced very competitively. Some orders at coffee shops can be higher.
Cons:
- Storage. It is difficult to store the ground coffee in the grinder due to the locking lid and the way the container is designed. You may need to get a separate container for the ground coffee.
- Difficult to clean. Some customers may find this device hard to clean. The finely ground coffee dust can get caked along the edges and some elements are hard to remove for cleaning.
KRUPS Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder uses stainless steel blades to grind not only coffee but nuts, seeds, and other dry goods. It has a safe operation mechanism and can be purchased at a bargain rate.
Best for Bulk Grinding
Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Pros:
- 32 cup capacity. This Cuisinart coffee grinder can hold up to 32 cups of ground coffee in its grind chamber. This is more than double some of its nearest competitors.
- 2-in1 scoop and brush. Anyone purchasing this coffee grinder will get a handy scooper spoon with a cleaning brush on the handle. Use of the machine and the cleaning of it are easier when the right tools are being used.
- Automatic stop feature. This machine is designed to automatically shut off when the beans are ground to the desired consistency. This is wonderful for those who are grinding beans while getting ready for the day..
Cons:
- Loud. This is not the most quiet coffee grinder. Those with family members or roommates living with them should grind ahead of time so as not to wake them up.
- Sizing suggestion not to everyone’s tastes. While it is nice that this coffee grinder demarcates its sizing per cup of brewed coffee, this may not make a brew that everyone is happy with. You will need to experiment to find their preferred amount of grounds.
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill has a large capacity of beans it can grind and store. It features an automatic stop function and comes with a helpful scoop and brush device.
Best Countertop Grinder
Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Mill
Pros:
- Small footprint. This device measures 6” x 4” x 8. 75”, meaning it does not take up that much space on a countertop. While other machines may need to be put in storage when not used, this one can have a home next to a coffee maker.
- Cup control. The Secura electric coffee grinder can be adjusted to output anywhere from two to twelve cups of grounds. This is great for making exactly what is needed and keeping the rest of the beans fresh.
- Rubber feet. This machine has four rubber feet that give even more reason to let it rest on a countertop near all the action of a kitchen. You will need to worry less about it being knocked over while grinding due to the stability the feet provide.
Cons:
- Small bean capacity. You cannot grind a lot of coffee beans at once to store when compared to other units. This machine is more for daily grinding.
- Lightweight. This product is relatively light weight (a little over 3 pound) and sometimes when it is grinding the lid pops open and stops the grind. You should pay attention while grinding.
This offering from Secura is a lightweight and sleek option for any sized kitchen. With its customizable cup control and seventeen different grind options, this grinder can satisfy lots of different needs.
How We Picked
Coffee grinders can make a great addition to a kitchen arsenel. While every has its benefits and its drawbacks, not all qualifiers should be considered equal. When weighing our picks, here are the aspects we considered most important:
User-friendliness
Coffee grinders can be built to be small, efficient devices for making a few cups of coffee at home. Some, however, resemble more industrial-style contraptions. The more complex a coffee grinder, the more difficult it can be to quickly operate.
The smaller, one-touch style coffee grinders tend to have less options and can be harder to clean. The larger devices can typically grind more beans and allow more choice in the amount and coarseness of the beans. These larger ones may be overall higher quality machines, but they also will cost more.
Home-friendliness
Coffee grinders are not silent operators. The electronic ones tend to make quite a bit of noise while grinding. The hand-held devices can also make a moderate racket during operation. If the customer will be needing to grind beans early in the morning and not wanting to wake up housemates, it is better to get a smaller device or even handheld, as they will at least make less noise than some of the larger offerings.
The large devices also take up quite a bit of space in the kitchen compared to smaller ones. Clean-up can be an issue as well. Some coffee grinders don’t have much space to contain ground beans or have an awkward process for getting the ground out of the machine. These traits may make for more coffee dust spread around the kitchen counter.
Customization
One of the main reasons to purchase a coffee grinder is to get the beans ground down to a fineness that works best for a particular type of coffee making. Those using a french press or pour over coffee may have different needs than someone using a paper or copper filter in a coffee maker
Coffee grinders can allow users not only to choose the size of the coffee granules but some can also let users choose how much is ground at a time. Having freshly ground coffee can be very important to some coffee-drinkers, as they may prefer the taste and aromas right after the beans are ground. Having to grind a bunch of beans at once and store the grounds somewhat defeats the purpose.
Tips
Not sure which coffee grinder is right for you? We’ve compiled some suggestions to consider before making your final choice:
- What type of coffee maker do you have?
- If you already have a coffee maker at home, you should do some research and find out what type of ground coffee works best for that device
- If you don’t own the coffee maker, it is smart to find a compatible product to match the capabilities of whatever coffee grinder you end up choosing.
- Do you live with anyone?
- The noises emitted from a coffee grinder can be rather intrusive, especially in the early morning when there aren’t other sounds to compete with.
- If sound really is an issue in your living space, a hand-held product might be best. Smaller electronic grinders are louder but not as loud as the larger industrial-style ones.
