Looking to derive more enjoyment from your morning coffee? Virtually every java expert agrees that the single best thing you can invest in is a good coffee grinder. Just as much as the beans themselves, the quality of your grinder will dictate the quality of your coffee; after all, even the world's finest beans will taste subpar if not properly prepared.
With so many grinders to choose from, however, coffee enthusiasts have their work cut out for them in selecting the best model. We'll help you cut to the chase. The ACTIVE Reviews Team has tested countless coffee bean grinders, including grinders spanning every price point. Here are the ones we think are most worthy of your attention.
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The Best Coffee Grinders - Our Top Picks
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- Best Coffee Grinder Overall: OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Best Manual Coffee Grinder: 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder
- Best Budget Coffee Grinder: Black+Decker One Touch Grinder
- Best Small Coffee Grinder: COSORI Coffee Grinder
- Best Electric Coffee Grinder: Breville Smart Grinder Pro
- Best Coffee Grinder for French Press: Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
- Best Coffee Grinder for Pour Over: Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Manual Coffee Grinder
- Best Portable Coffee Grinder: 1Zpresso K-Max Manual Coffee Grinder
- Best Espresso Coffee Grinder: Beguko Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Best Quality Coffee Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Grinder
Best Overall - OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 12.8" x 7.75" x 5.3"
Our pick for best overall coffee bean grinder is the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. Although it's not the cheapest product on our list, we think it offers major value and more than justifies its roughly $80 price point. Made from durable stainless steel, it's a grinder that will look great on your kitchen counter and serve you well through many years of daily use. The grounds container can hold enough beans for about 12 cups of coffee and the conical burr style means uniform, consistent quality every time. Plus, you can pick from 38 different micro-settings, adjusting your grinder preferences to suit your exact tastes.
What We Like
- Durable quality that's made to last
- A lot of options to adjust your grind preferences
- Narrow profile is well-suited for smaller kitchen counters
What We Don't Like
- Higher end of the price range
- May be too tall to fit under cabinets
BUY: OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Best Manual Coffee Grinder - 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 7.7" x 2.5" x 7.1"
Some coffee buffs prefer to hand-grind their beans, ensuring maximum control over their results. If that's you, check out the 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder. While it's a little pricey, it offers a dial design to customize your grind preferences. Even with hand-grinding, you can get your beans ground pretty quickly, usually in no more than a couple of minutes. The whole apparatus comes apart for quick, simple, and easy cleaning and the sturdy aluminum design ensures long-lasting performance.
What We Like
- Dial setting offers tons of adjustability
- Sturdy, long-lasting design
- Works pretty quickly
- Easy to clean
What We Don't Like
- Very high price point
- If you're new to coffee grinding, the manual approach may not be for you
BUY: 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder
Best Budget Coffee Grinder - Black+Decker One Touch Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 3.5" x 3.4" x 7.28"
Great-tasting, finely ground coffee doesn't have to break the bank, as evidenced by the Black+Decker One Touch Grinder. Made with stainless steel blades and a durable grinding bowl, it's made to last a long time, despite its bargain price point. A one-touch button makes it quick, easy, and intuitive to use, yet there's also a dial setting that allows for some grind customization. A lid-locking system helps prevent spills and messes.
What We Like
- Modest price point
- Simple, intuitive, one-touch design
- Lid-lock system to prevent spills
What We Don't Like
- Blade-style grinder isn't quite as fine or consistent as burr grinders
- Not quite as much customization as other coffee grinders
BUY: Black+Decker One Touch Grinder
Best Small Coffee Grinder - COSORI Coffee Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 3.55" x 3.55" x 7.49"
Having a small-footprint coffee grinder can be handy, both to travel with but also to save space in your kitchen. The COSORI Coffee Grinder is small in size and modest in price, yet it offers a high level of bean-grinding power and quality. This stainless steel grinder uses blades to make quick work of your beans, giving you a smooth grind in just a few seconds. Additional selling points include a mess-resistant lid-lock design and an overall durable construction. This makes a great addition to your kitchen, but also a great gift idea!
What We Like
- Modest price point
- Small footprint
- Durable stainless steel design
What We Don't Like
- Blade-style grinder isn't quite as fine or consistent as burr grinders
- Not quite as much customization as other coffee grinders
Best Electric Coffee Grinder - Breville Smart Grinder Pro
SPECS
- Size: 8.5" x 6" x 15.5"
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a high-end electric grinder in the burr style and while its price point may seem steep to novices, coffee enthusiasts will find much to appreciate here. Beyond its elegant look and long-lasting design, this coffee bean grinder boasts an incredible 60 settings, ensuring real precision and ample customization. A precision timer is included to help you automate your coffee-making experience, while the lid-locking system helps prevent messes and spills.
What We Like
- Ample options for precision and customization
- Electric timer
- Durable stainless steel design
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
- May be a little too tall to fit under cabinets
BUY: Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Best Coffee Grinder for French Press - Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 14.6" x 9.6" x 7.8"
There are a number of coffee styles and preferences to choose from and it's important to select a grinder that accommodates your preferred java. The Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder is an excellent pick for those who want a wide range of grinding options, including a setting for French press brewing. A large bean capacity, easy-to-clean design, and solid steel burrs just sweeten the deal. Though this is a slightly higher price point, you will get plenty of bang for your buck.
What We Like
- High bean capacity
- Wide grinding range
- Easy to clean
- Durable stainless steel design
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
- Plastic components may not be quite as sturdy
BUY: Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
Best Coffee Grinder for Pour Over - Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Manual Coffee Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 6.58” x 3.74” x 7.68”
If you prefer your coffee as a pour-over, you'll want a grinder that comes with a built-in drip. The Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Manual Coffee Grinder is our top recommendation in this regard, offering you an easy way to make a cup of coffee from freshly ground beans. Its compact ceramic design is both convenient and durable, while the manual crank is made to be efficient and ergonomic. The burr-style grinder ensures fine, consistent results every time and there's also remarkable pour control.
What We Like
- Drip and pour control
- Manual crank and burr-style grinders offer consistent results
- Compact design with small footprint
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
- Not as much customization as other grinders
BUY: Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Manual Coffee Grinder
Best Portable Coffee Grinder - 1Zpresso K-Max Manual Coffee Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 7.8" x 2.4" x 7.7"
Looking for something that fits nicely in your suitcase or carry-on bag? The 1Zpresso K-Max Manual Coffee Grinder is tiny in size but big on features. In fact, the dial offers you 90 degrees of control over your grind, allowing for real customization and precision. The aluminum construction is made for longevity, while the burr-style grinding action offers real consistency. Also note that, at only 1.59 pounds, this grinder isn't going to weigh you down on your travels.
What We Like
- 90 degrees of customization
- Compact and lightweight
- Sturdy aluminum construction
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
- Can be tricky to calibrate
BUY: 1Zpresso K-Max Manual Coffee Grinder
Best Espresso Coffee Grinder - Beguko Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 7.2" x 4.7" x 12.5"
Made with stainless steel and premium burrs, the Beguko Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is our bean grinder of choice for espresso drinkers. With 31 grind settings, you'll have lots of room to adjust your preferences. The one-touch digital timer works intuitively, while the grinder itself helps preserve flavor and aroma by reducing grinding heat. There's also anti-static technology, which makes the grinder a bit easier to clean.
What We Like
- Plenty of room to customize
- Preserves bean aroma and flavor
- One-touch timer
- Reasonable price point
What We Don't Like
- A little on the loud side
- Takes time to balance settings to your preferences
BUY: Beguko Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Best Quality Coffee Grinder - Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Grinder
SPECS
- Size: 6.69" x 6.69" x 12.6"
If you're willing to pay a few extra bucks for a truly high-end product, the Baratza Virtuoso+ is our top recommendation. From a design team that's won serious awards in the coffee-grinding world, this machine is made with robust metal and offers one of the highest-quality grinds we've experienced anywhere. You'll savor each cup that you prepare with this grinder, which also comes with a digital timer, an easy-to-read LCD screen, 40 grind settings, and an altogether stylish presentation.
What We Like
- Excellent grind quality
- Digital timer
- Stylish
- Lots of options to customize
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
- 1-year warranty is pretty short compared to similar products
BUY: Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Grinder
How to Choose a Coffee Grinder
There are a number of factors to consider as you seek the best coffee grinder, starting with the grinder type. Many experts believe that your best bet is a conical burr grinder, which employs two rings of burrs to crush and grind your coffee beans. This is the best option for a fine and consistent grind.
Alternatively, you may look into flat burr grinders, which include multiple rows of burrs laid on top of each other. These grinders offer quality and consistency that equals what you'd get from a conical burr grinder, but they also tend to be pricier. By contrast, blade grinders, which use a series of blades to chop up your coffee beans, tend to be less expensive, but the results are usually much less consistent.
Some additional factors to consider include:
- Size, weight, and ease of portability (if you plan on taking your grinder with you when you travel)
- Footprint (an especially major concern for smaller kitchen spaces)
- Price point
FAQs About Coffee Grinders
Does a coffee grinder really make a difference?
Getting a good coffee bean grinder can be transformative for your entire coffee experience. Switching from pre-ground to whole bean coffee will significantly increase the flavor in each cup while upgrading from a so-so grinder to a nicer model can result in improved consistency for your grinds.
How much should I spend on a coffee grinder?
The average price for a decent coffee grinder spans $20 to $70, though some really premium models might be pricier.
How long do coffee grinders last?
A good coffee bean grinder that sees regular use should last anywhere from 5 to 10 years.