Investing in an effective coffee grinder is exactly that—an investment. If you’re an avid coffee drinker who prides themselves in their collection of coffee gadgets, such as a French press, milk frother, espresso machine, and so on, then you’ll likely get plenty of use out of your coffee grinder. You will also need to decide if you want a burr grinder like the Baratza Encore, or a blade grinder like the KitchenAid Blade. Both won out as our top picks in the end, but are completely different in price and consistency. To help you determine what best suits your taste, here are the best coffee grinders currently on the market. What We Don’t Love: Pricey, portafilter holder is not included The Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is our top pick, and experts seem to agree. Award-winning and backed by coffee professionals, it’s an entry-level option, but users of all experience levels opt for this grinder. With 40 different brew settings, this machine can grind coffee beans for all types of coffee: French press, espresso, AeroPress, drip, and more. Its 40-millimeter hardened conical burrs consistently achieve a variety of consistencies from very fine to very coarse. If you have multiple coffee drinkers in the household, this all-purpose grinder will meet everyone’s needs. Unlike some complicated machines, this coffee grinder is user-friendly. Select your setting and toggle the on/off switch, or use the pulse button for quick bursts. Its 8-ounce capacity is on the larger side for coffee grinders, yet the space-saving design results in a smaller footprint than other models. Price at time of publish: $170 Type: Burr | Dimensions (LxWxH): 6.3 x 4.7 x 13.8 inches | Capacity: 8 ounces | Weight: 6.8 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder, cleaning brush What We Don’t Love: No grind settings Many coffee experts agree that burr grinders are superior to blade grinders in terms of consistency and taste. However, some would argue that blade grinders come out on top as far as affordability, speed, and convenience are concerned. If you’re looking for a coffee grinder that is budget-friendly, fast, and easy to use, a blade grinder like the one by KitchenAid may be exactly what you need to enter the world of at-home coffee grinding.  This model couldn’t be easier to use. It has a clear top, so you can view the consistency of the grounds while in use. The interior stainless-steel bowl comes with measurement markings and is removable for placing fresh grinds in your coffee maker. To operate, push down on the cover and release to stop. This can make it difficult to achieve the right consistency without preset settings, but the one-touch control is preferred by those looking for an easy-to-use option. Price at time of publish: $40 Type: Blade | Dimensions (LxWxH): 4 x 4.25 x 8.75 inches | Capacity: 4 ounces | Weight: 2 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder What We Don’t Love: Cleaning brush is not included, no grind settings This affordable coffee grinder is powered by two long-lasting, stainless-steel blades. They are durable enough to grind fine, medium, and coarse consistencies with minimal noise. Conical burr grinders are recommended for consistency, but this blade grinder is known for its ability to yield precise grounds. Since this model is stylishly compact, it is easy to store and looks attractive on countertops. Though the design is space-saving, one of the advantages of this coffee grinder is its large capacity that can be used to ground coffee beans, spices, herbs, nuts, rice flour, and more. For a versatile, multi-use appliance that doesn’t take up a lot of space, this is a worthwhile option. Price at time of publish: $24 Type: Blade | Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.4 x 4.3 x 7.6 inches | Weight: 1.4 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder What We Don’t Love: Difficult to achieve consistent coarse grinds, small capacity One downside of automatic coffee grinders is that they are not quiet machines. An alternative is a manual coffee grinder, which can reduce the noise by up to 90 percent. This manual coffee grinder is equipped with 18 adjustable settings, allowing for precision over the coarseness of your coffee beans. Though the JavaPresse is only 7.5 inches in height, it can hold enough whole beans for two cups of coffee. It is also made with ceramic burrs that may last five times longer than stainless steel blades. Other advantages of manual coffee grinders include the easy-to-use directions and travel-friendly design. The manual crank, though, may be a downside to some who don’t look forward to the time-consuming manual cranking. Price at time of publish: $46 Type: Burr | Dimensions (LxWxH): 1.8 x 1.8 x 7.5 inches | Weight: 9.4 ounces | What’s Included: Coffee grinder, replacement coil What We Don’t Love: No grind settings Many coffee enthusiasts wonder if you can grind your coffee beans quietly without a manual crank. The answer is yes, with this Krups silent grinder. The unique design and patent-pending technology pull coffee beans into the blades for fast and efficient grinding. In fact, this model is five times quieter than Krups’ other coffee grinders. The large capacity of this coffee grinder makes it ideal for large households or people who drink several cups per day. The removable stainless-steel grinding bowl can hold enough coffee beans for up to 12 cups of brewed coffee. Both the grinding bowl and lid are dishwasher-safe, which makes them easy to clean. With powerful stainless-steel blades, coffee grounds are ready within 15 seconds, excellent timing for busy mornings. It is also designed to reduce messes when grinding coffee beans, spices, or herbs. The one-touch operation makes this a user-friendly model, though the lack of coarse settings is a drawback to others. Price at time of publish: $44 Type: Blade | Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.3 x 4 x 8.4 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder, removable bowl What We Don’t Love: On the larger size, pricey If your dream kitchen is a modern one equipped with the latest technologies, then a smart coffee grinder will fit well with your aesthetic. With an LCD screen interface, the Breville Smart Coffee Grinder Pro looks attractive and operates just as well. Use the screen to select grind setting, number of espresso shots or cups of coffee, and grind time. The conical burrs are made with stainless steel to minimize heat and protect the coffee bean oils without sacrificing flavor. You can also adjust the timer in 0.2-second increments for precise grinding time. What sets this coffee grinder apart from the others is that it’s fully programmable with 60 different grind settings. The removable hopper is airtight, so your beans stay fresh. Price at time of publish: $350 Type: Burr | Dimensions (LxWxH): 8.5 x 6.25 x 15.25 inches | Capacity: 1 pound | Weight: 6.5 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder, cleaning brush, two portafilters What We Don’t Love: On the larger size, prone to static cling From ultra-fine to extra-coarse, this Cuisinart burr grinder offers 18 levels to select the best coarseness for your preferred type of coffee. The burrs also yield a uniform grind to the right grade, yielding the best balance of oils, aromas, and flavors in each cup of coffee. The removable coffee bean hopper has a large 8-ounce capacity, which holds enough coffee grounds to produce up to 32 cups of coffee. Coffee grounds are stored in the removable chamber with a convenient scoop and cleaning brush. Though the design takes up more space than other options, it has a stainless steel exterior that looks attractive on countertops. When not in use or when the grind cycle is complete, the electric timer automatically shuts off the unit for safety purposes. Price at time of publish: $60 Type: Burr | Dimensions (LxWxH): 7.1 x 6 x 10.75 inches | Capacity: 1 pound | Weight: 4.5 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder, scoop, cleaning brush What We Don’t Love: Pricey, cleaning brush not included Known for its sleek and stylish kitchen tools, OXO’s conical burr coffee grinder is popular among coffee drinkers. It has many of the same features as premium models with a more reasonable price tag. This grinder’s durable 40-millimeter conical burrs create uniform grinds, which is recommended for maximum flavor. Achieve the right grind size with 15 grind settings from fine to coarse as well as micro settings to make further adjustments. Load the coffee bean hopper with up to 0.75 pounds of ingredients, which grind directly into the grounds storage container. To use, simply select the grind setting of your choice, set the timer, and press the one-touch start button. The timer keeps your last setting, so daily use is quick, easy, and convenient. Price at time of publish: $100 Type: Burr | Dimensions (LxWxH): 7.5 x 5.25 x 12.5 inches | Capacity: 12 ounces | Weight: 5.6 pounds | What’s Included: Coffee grinder

What to Look for in a Coffee Grinder

Hopper Size

A coffee bean hopper stores whole beans before you grind them. This additional storage allows you to keep coffee beans nearby, so you don’t have to look for them when you are ready to brew. Most hoppers have a lid to minimize oxygen exposure and maximize freshness. Hopper size capacity can range from 4 and 18 ounces. The sweet spot for you depends on the number of coffee grounds you need regularly and how often you want to fill up the hopper.

Grind Options

The ideal grind size for various types of coffee can vary, so having multiple grind options makes a coffee grinder more versatile and easy to use. Some coffee grinders, such as an electric blade or manual grinders, may not have any grind options. This requires the user to use their best judgment when grinding beans, which may result in inconsistent grind size. Many conical burr grinders have multiple grind settings for maximum precision and versatility. 

Maintenance

You likely won’t have to clean your coffee grinder too often since once every month or two is fine with more frequent cleanings for espresso. During those rare occasions, you’ll want a model that is easy to clean. Some grinders include a cleaning brush and instructions to make maintenance a breeze.

How do you clean a coffee grinder? 

Follow the cleaning instructions for your model. Some coffee grinders should not get wet while others have dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. Before cleaning electric models, remember to turn off the power and unplug it. Use a cleaning brush or soft cloth, which is included in some models, to gently remove the remaining grounds, beans, and other particles from the blades.

How long should you grind coffee?

If your coffee grinder includes a user manual, refer to the chart to see how long to grind coffee beans. This can range from 5 to 30 seconds depending on the grind size. Some models include a timer that depends on the grind size setting you choose, so you always grind your coffee for the appropriate amount of time.

Why Trust Simply Recipes?

Lacey Muinos is a health and wellness writer with a specialty in food- and drink-related topics and a passion for kitchen gadgets. She has an impressive collection of small kitchen appliances and tools, and she can’t start her day without a cup of coffee. Read Next: The Best Immersion Blenders