As any coffee connoisseur knows, the quality of the bean and the roast are only two of the factors influencing a coffee’s taste.
The type of bean is important as well: Arabica and Robusta are most common.
But equally important is the grind. As studies on grinding coffee have shown, it serves several important purposes that all affects how your coffee tastes.
Grinding produces more surface area to come in contact with the hot water, thereby affecting how many of the compounds in a roasted coffee bean are extracted into a brew.
A coarser grind yields a lighter extraction, though too coarse of a grind can produce a sour flavor. By contrast, a finer grind yields a heavier extraction, though too fine of a grind can produce a bitter flavor.
Given these facts, the grinder used is essential to predictably produce the desired flavor for each individual coffee drinker.
Below, we have hand-selected the top 10 best coffee grinders to meet all your coffee needs.
Disclaimer: Article contains affiliate links*
Best Overall Coffee Grinder
OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder
Get power and precision at an incredible value with this sturdy grinder. The OXO Brew features 40 mm conical burrs and offers 15 different grind sizes, including for espresso, Turkish, cold brew and even Aeropresses. The OXO Brew is easy to operate, and even has a one-touch timer that recalls your previous setting. The unit is also easy to clean, with a stainless-steel anti-static grounds container and detachable, dishwasher-safe UV-blocking hopper.
Color: Silver
Dimensions: 7.4 x 12 x 16 inches
Best Value Coffee Grinder
Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Electric Coffee Grinder
You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy fine coffee. With the Hamilton Bean Fresh Grind coffee grinder, you can get the versatility and consistency of grind from a more expensive conical burr grinder in a more economical blade grinder. Operated much like a food processor, this compact one-pound unit can quickly and easily grind up to nine tablespoons of beans with one press of a button.
Color: Silver
Dimensions: 5 x 9 x 6.63 inches
Safest Coffee Grinder
KitchenAid Burr Coffee Bean Grinder
If you live in an accident-prone household, this unique coffee grinder from KitchenAid offers a sturdy design akin to a KitchenAid stand mixer that avoids tipping or spilling with a hopper that seals up tightly. It also offers remarkable consistency in particle size nearing that of a commercial grinder. The KitchenAid Burr grinder features 15 grind settings, including a fine grind that makes a perfect espresso.
Color: Contour Silver, Onyx Black, Empire Red
Dimensions: 5.9 x 10 x 9.8 inches
Best Espresso and Pour-over Coffee Grinder
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
If you prefer the pour-over method of brewing coffee, then the Breville the Smart Grinder Pro is the one to beat. It offers a consistent grind in a unit that’s easy to both use and clean. Its 60 grind settings are easy to control thanks to a convenient and well-formatted LCD screen display. You can even save your grind preferences for later. Don’t think the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is only good for espresso and pour-overs, though. It features a Dosing IQ program that provides the perfect grind and measurements for any brewing method.
Color: Brushed Stainless Steel, Cranberry Red, Sesame Black
Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 15.5 inches
Best French Press and Cold Brew Coffee Grinder
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Offering 18 distinct grinds, the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill has a 1/2-pound bean capacity and preset settings for four to 18 cups. The unit is easy to operate without making a mess and it’s easy to clean, with a well-designed grounds container and an included scoop and brush.
Color: Stainless Steel, Cream
Dimensions: 10.75 x 7.13 x 6 inches
Best Coffee Grinder with a Built-in Scale
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Integrated Scale
Take all the benefits of the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder and add an intelligent integrated scale, and you have this unit. Get the perfect grind every time by just entering in your preferred coarseness and number of cups and letting the machine do all the rest.
Color: Silver
Dimensions: 1.1 x 7.3 x 16.4 inches
Quietest Coffee Grinder (Burr Style)
Capresso Infinity Plus Conical Burr Grinder
Whichever of its 16 settings you choose, the Capresso Infinity Plus operates at a low hum. The unit has an 11-ounce capacity and settings for up to 12 cups. It features an ergonomically-designed container you can pull out for cleaning with one hand, and a wide, static-free mouth for adding beans.
Color: Black, Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 6.7 x 13.7 x 9.1 inches
Quietest Coffee Grinder (Blade Style)
Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder
While this blade grinder does make a bit of knocking getting started, once it’s humming it’s undoubtedly one of the quietest coffee grinders you’ve ever heard, the only sound barely a muffle. The Krups Silent Vortex boasts a 12-tablespoon capacity packed into a conveniently compact unit.
Color: Black
Dimensions: 4.33 x 4.02 x 8.46 inches
Simplest Coffee Grinder to Use
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Controlling the Baratza Encore couldn’t be easier. You simply put the on/off switch in the “on” position and press the manual pulse button to grind the beans to your satisfaction. The Baratza Encore is also capable of automatically grinding coffee beans into 40 precise consistencies ranging from the coarsest to the finest. It features commercial-grade 40 mm conical burrs packed into a space-saving 13.8″ x 4.7″ x 6.3″.
Color: White, Black
Dimensions: 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 inches
Best Hand-operated Coffee Grinder
Porlex Mini Stainless-steel Coffee Grinder
The Porlex Mini grinder uses conical burrs like the most powerful electric grinders, only you operate it manually. This compact grinder is perfect for travel or simply for saving money on electricity or saving space in a small apartment.
Color: Silver
Dimensions: 6 x 2.3 x 1.8 inches
*Products in our Buyer’s Guide section are carefully chosen and we recommend only the best for our loyal audience. Bear in mind that this article contains affiliate links and if you purchase via our links – Old News Club will earn a commission.