Best Grinders Under $100
The best coffee grinder under $100 depends on how you brew, because a grinder that suits a French press can fall short for espresso. The choice comes down to burr or blade, hand or electric, and how many grind settings you get. This page ranks every grinder under $100 on the same criteria, with a comparison of conical and flat burrs, hand and electric models, and what each budget band buys.
How this list is ordered
Ranked by arithmetic, not opinion. Every score is worked out from the specifications each maker publishes, so you can open the working on any product page. Anything commercial is labelled and sits outside that order, and how we score explains what each criterion measures.
Grinders Under $100, ranked by score
scored on what the maker publishesOpen a row for the score working1
HomtoneConical Burr Coffee GrinderFrom $87.797.2How it scored
Grind Consistency7.0Grind Range & Adjustment8.0Build Quality & Durability7.0Cleaning, Retention & Mess7.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow6.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noiseweakest link5.0carries 8 of the 91.4 points scored2
TIMEMOREChestnut C3S Manual Coffee GrinderFrom $897.0How it scored
Grind Consistency6.0Grind Range & Adjustment8.0Build Quality & Durability6.0Cleaning, Retention & Mess10.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow6.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noiseweakest link5.0carries 8 of the 91.4 points scoredPrice from$89Score7.0Manual or ElectricManualRead the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3S Manual Coffee Grinder review →3
OllygrinConical Burr Coffee Grinder 30 SettingsFrom $79.996.9How it scored
Grind Consistency8.0Grind Range & Adjustment7.0Build Quality & Durabilityweakest link5.0carries 16 of the 91.4 points scoredCleaning, Retention & Mess5.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow6.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noise6.9Price from$79.99Score6.9Burr TypeConicalManual or ElectricElectricRead the Ollygrin Conical Burr Coffee Grinder 30 Settings review →4
CuisinartSupreme Grind Automatic Burr MillFrom $74.956.8How it scored
Grind Consistencyweakest link5.0carries 24 of the 91.4 points scoredGrind Range & Adjustment6.0Build Quality & Durability7.5Cleaning, Retention & Mess7.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow8.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noise6.9Price from$74.95Score6.8Manual or ElectricElectricRead the Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill review →5
HarioMini Slim Plus Ceramic Coffee MillFrom $406.5How it scored
Grind Consistency6.5Grind Range & Adjustment5.0Build Quality & Durability6.5Cleaning, Retention & Mess10.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflowweakest link4.0carries 12 of the 91.4 points scoredValue for Money10.0Speed & Noise5.0Price from$40Score6.5Burr TypeConicalManual or ElectricManualRead the Hario Mini Slim Plus Ceramic Coffee Mill review →6
Hamilton BeachElectric Burr Coffee Grinder 16ozFrom $39.956.4How it scored
Grind Consistencyweakest link5.0carries 24 of the 91.4 points scoredGrind Range & Adjustment5.5Build Quality & Durability7.0Cleaning, Retention & Mess7.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow6.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noise6.9Price from$39.95Score6.4Manual or ElectricElectricRead the Hamilton Beach Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 16oz review →7
JavaPresseManual Coffee GrinderFrom $39.996.4How it scored
Grind Consistency6.5Grind Range & Adjustment5.5Build Quality & Durability6.5Cleaning, Retention & Mess7.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflowweakest link5.0carries 12 of the 93 points scoredValue for Money10.0Speed & Noise5.0Price from$39.99Score6.4Burr TypeConicalManual or ElectricManualRead the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder review →8
SHARDORElectric Burr Coffee Grinder 2.0From $39.996.4How it scored
Grind Consistency7.0Grind Range & Adjustment5.5Build Quality & Durabilityweakest link5.0carries 16 of the 91.4 points scoredCleaning, Retention & Mess5.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow6.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noise6.9Price from$39.99Score6.4Burr TypeFlatManual or ElectricElectricRead the SHARDOR Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 2.0 review →9
TIMEMOREChestnut C2 Manual Coffee GrinderFrom $79.996.2How it scored
Grind Consistency7.0Grind Range & Adjustment5.5Build Quality & Durability6.0Cleaning, Retention & Mess7.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflowweakest link3.0carries 12 of the 91.4 points scoredValue for Money10.0Speed & Noise5.0Price from$79.99Score6.2Burr TypeConicalManual or ElectricManualRead the TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder review →10
HarioSkerton Pro Ceramic Coffee MillFrom $58.505.9How it scored
Grind Consistency6.5Grind Range & Adjustment6.5Build Quality & Durability4.5Cleaning, Retention & Mess5.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflowweakest link3.5carries 12 of the 91.4 points scoredValue for Money10.0Speed & Noise5.0Price from$58.50Score5.9Burr TypeConicalManual or ElectricManualRead the Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Coffee Mill review →11
1ZpressoQ Air Manual Coffee GrinderFrom $695.5How it scored
Grind Consistency5.0Grind Range & Adjustment5.5Build Quality & Durabilityweakest link4.5carries 16 of the 91.4 points scoredCleaning, Retention & Mess5.0retention not publishedDosing & Workflow5.0Value for Money10.0Speed & Noise5.0
What to know about Grinders Under $100
A cheap coffee grinder is the upgrade that changes the cup most. Beans ground just before brewing taste better than pre-ground coffee that has gone stale in the bag, and a modest burr grinder does that job well. The eight grinders on this page all cost under $100, and they split evenly into four electric machines and four hand grinders. That split decides more about daily use than any figure on the box. Our coffee grinder category holds every grinder we have reviewed, including the ones above this price.
Burr vs blade coffee grinder: why every grinder here has burrs
A burr grinder crushes beans between two surfaces set a fixed distance apart, so the pieces come out close to one size. A blade grinder chops at random. All eight grinders on this page use burrs.
Grind size is the lever that controls extraction. Even particles dissolve at the same rate, so the cup tastes balanced. A blade leaves a mix of powder and large chunks, and the powder over-extracts into bitterness while the chunks under-extract into sour, thin coffee. Our guide to burr vs blade grinders explains the difference in more depth,.
Conical vs flat burr coffee grinder at this price
Six of the eight grinders use conical burrs, one uses flat burrs and one does not say. At under $100 the burr shape matters less than the quality of the steel or ceramic and how firmly the burrs are held in line.
Conical burrs
The Homtone, Ollygrin, both Hario mills, the JavaPresse and the TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 are all conical. A cone-shaped burr sits inside a ring, and beans fall through by gravity. Conical designs are forgiving and are the usual choice in budget and hand grinders. The Homtone and the Ollygrin both state a 40mm burr, which is large for the money.
Flat burrs
The SHARDOR Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 2.0 is the only flat burr here, a metal pair with 16 settings. Flat burrs are usually found on dearer grinders, and many people describe the cup as cleaner and more distinct. The Hamilton Beach says its top burr unscrews for cleaning but does not state the burr shape.
Material counts as much as shape. Hario uses ceramic burrs in both its mills, and so does JavaPresse. Ceramic does not corrode and can be washed, though it can chip if a stone gets into the beans. The Ollygrin uses stainless steel, and the TIMEMORE goes furthest: 420 stainless steel, hardened to 55 to 58 HRC, five-axis CNC cut, held on a double bearing axis that keeps the burrs aligned under load.
Manual vs electric coffee grinder under $100
Choose a hand grinder if you brew one or two cups at a time and want quiet, portability and metal or ceramic burrs for the money. Choose an electric grinder if you grind a lot, brew for a household, or want espresso fine enough that a hand crank turns into a workout.
Where hand grinders win
They are light, quiet and need no outlet. The Hario Mini Slim Plus and the JavaPresse both weigh about 300g and suit travel, camping and a desk drawer. The TIMEMORE adds a metal body at 590g. The Hario Skerton Pro has a 100g glass bowl, the biggest hand hopper here.
Where hand grinders fall short
The hoppers are tiny. The Hario Mini Slim Plus holds 24g and the TIMEMORE 25g, so it is one dose at a time, and a full household pot means several rounds of cranking. Fine espresso settings take real effort. The Skerton Pro has a plastic and glass body where hand grinders at this price are usually metal.
Where electric grinders win
Speed and volume. The Hamilton Beach has a 454g hopper and a 2 to 14 cup selector, and the Ollygrin holds 283g. The SHARDOR has a dial that grinds for 2 to 14 cups and stops on its own. The Homtone has a timer from 1 to 60 seconds in 0.1-second steps, so you can repeat the same dose every morning.
Where electric grinders fall short
Weight and noise. The Homtone is the heaviest grinder here at 2.94kg, and the Ollygrin is 2kg, so both want a permanent spot on the counter. Makers rarely publish motor power or speed at this price. Ollygrin says its gear reduction motor grinds slowly and makes less friction heat.
How many grind settings does a coffee grinder under $100 need?
For a French press or pour over, 15 to 30 settings are plenty. For espresso, more is better, because one step finer can change shot time by several seconds. The Homtone has the most steps here by a distance.
French press
Ollygrin, Hamilton Beach, SHARDOR and TIMEMORE are listed as French press capable, and Hario names it for the Skerton Pro and JavaPresse for its own grinder. Any of these reaches the coarse end without trouble.
Pour over and drip
Every grinder on the page can handle filter coffee. The Hario Mini Slim Plus is aimed squarely at pour over and other filter methods, and Hario does not claim espresso for it.
Espresso
Homtone, Ollygrin, Hamilton Beach, SHARDOR, JavaPresse and the Skerton Pro are listed as espresso capable. TIMEMORE does not name espresso, so treat it as a filter and press grinder.
Settings counts are where the price shows. The Homtone gives 51 steps, the Ollygrin 30, the Hamilton Beach 18, the SHARDOR 16 and the JavaPresse more than 15. The Hamilton Beach count is coarse-grained next to the 40 to 100 steps on grinders further up. Hario does not state a count for either mill, and the TIMEMORE adjusts with an internal knob, so you count clicks rather than read a dial. "Espresso capable" on a cheap grinder means it can reach the fine range, not that it will match a grinder built for the job. If espresso is the goal, see our guide to grinders for espresso and our grind size guide for what each setting looks like.
Coffee grinder retention, cleaning and dishwasher-safe parts
Retention is the ground coffee that stays inside the grinder after a dose. It goes stale and mixes into the next batch. None of these makers publishes a retention figure, so the design is the best guide.
Hand grinders hold little, because the beans pass straight through a small burr chamber, and you tip the grounds out. Electric grinders with a hopper and a chute hold more, and the old grounds mix with fresh beans on the next run. This matters most for espresso. If you switch between roasts or dose carefully, look at single-dose grinders, which are built to purge cleanly.
Cleaning is easier than you might expect on some models. The Hamilton Beach has a top burr that unscrews and comes with a brush, and its containers and lids go in the dishwasher. Ceramic burrs on the Hario mills can be washed.
Coffee grinders under $50 vs under $100
Under $50 you get a working burr grinder in either hand or electric form. Between $50 and $100 you get larger burrs, more settings and better metal.
| Budget | Grinders | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Under $50 | Hamilton Beach Electric Burr 16oz, SHARDOR Electric Burr 2.0, JavaPresse Manual, Hario Mini Slim Plus | Two electric grinders with 16 to 18 settings and two ceramic hand grinders. |
| $50 to $100 | Hario Skerton Pro, Ollygrin 30 Settings, TIMEMORE Chestnut C2, Homtone Conical Burr | A 40mm conical burr with 30 or 51 steps, the best-built hand grinder here, and the biggest hand hopper. This is where espresso becomes realistic. |
Which coffee grinder under $100 should you buy?
Match the grinder to the brew method first. Espresso points to the Homtone. Filter coffee and travel point to a hand grinder, and the TIMEMORE is the one to buy first. A big household on a small budget points to the Hamilton Beach.
For espresso on a budget
The Homtone Conical Burr Coffee Grinder has 51 settings on 40mm conical burrs, a stainless steel housing and a precise timer. It is the nearest thing to an espresso-capable grinder under $100. The Ollygrin is the cheaper alternative with a 40mm burr and 30 settings, but with fewer steps at the fine end.
For a first hand grinder
The TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 has hardened steel burrs and a metal body, so it is built to hold up. TIMEMORE does not name espresso, so it suits French press and pour over. Expect to count clicks on the internal knob.
For travel and pour over
The Hario Mini Slim Plus is a compact ceramic grinder with a 24g capacity, built for filter coffee on the move. The JavaPresse is about the same weight and names both espresso and French press, with a six-month warranty. Pick Hario for pour over, JavaPresse for range.
For a household that grinds once a week
The Hamilton Beach Electric Burr 16oz has the largest hopper at 454g, dishwasher-safe parts and one of the lowest prices here. The SHARDOR is the choice if you want a flat burr and a timer dial for the same money.
For a bigger hand hopper
The Hario Skerton Pro holds 100g in a glass bowl and names both espresso and French press, but the plastic and glass body and a 90-day warranty make it a niche pick next to the JavaPresse.
Cheap coffee grinder problems to know before you buy
The failures at this price are rarely about the grind. They are about support, missing specs and settings that stop short of what the box implies.
Short or missing warranties
Hario covers its non-electric mills for 90 days and JavaPresse gives six months. Homtone, Ollygrin, Hamilton Beach, SHARDOR and TIMEMORE do not state a warranty term at all, so check the retailer's return window before you buy.
Numbers left out
Motor power, speed, burr size and retention are often missing. Burr size is stated only for the Homtone and the Ollygrin. You cannot compare the grinders on them.
Coarse steps
A grinder with 16 or 18 steps jumps further between settings than one with 50. That is fine for a press and frustrating for espresso, where you are chasing a few seconds of shot time.
The machine that follows
A grinder is only half of an espresso setup. Our guide to espresso machines under $500 covers the machines these grinders pair with, and our manual coffee grinders page covers more hand grinders.
Grinders Under $100 FAQ
What is the best coffee grinder under $100?
It depends on how you brew. For espresso, a conical burr grinder with many settings, such as the Homtone with 51 steps, gets closest. For French press and pour over, a hand grinder with hardened burrs like the TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 is a strong choice. For a large household, an electric model with a big hopper makes more sense.
Is a burr grinder worth it over a blade grinder?
Yes. A burr grinder crushes beans between two fixed surfaces and gives particles of similar size, so extraction is even and the cup tastes balanced. A blade grinder chops unevenly and leaves a mix of powder and chunks, which produces bitter and sour flavors in the same cup. Every grinder on this page uses burrs.
Can you make espresso with a coffee grinder under $100?
You can, with limits. Several grinders here are listed as espresso capable, including the Homtone, Ollygrin and Hamilton Beach. The problem is adjustment: models with 16 to 18 settings step too coarsely for fine tuning. More settings and a 40mm burr give you more control over shot time.
Are hand grinders better than electric grinders under $100?
Hand grinders put more of the budget into the burrs, so a good one can outgrind a cheap electric model. They are also quiet and portable. Electric grinders are faster and hold more beans. Pick a hand grinder for one or two cups at a time and an electric one for a household.
Conical or flat burrs: which is better in a cheap grinder?
At this price neither has a clear edge. Conical burrs are the more common and forgiving choice, found on six of the eight grinders here. Flat burrs, such as the SHARDOR, are often described as giving a cleaner cup. Steel quality and burr alignment matter more than shape.
How many grind settings do I need?
For French press and pour over, 15 to 30 settings is plenty. For espresso, more is better because small changes in grind size move shot time a lot. Dearer grinders offer 40 to 100 steps. Under $100, the Homtone with 51 steps leads the electric models.
Do I need to clean a coffee grinder?
Yes, regularly. Old grounds and oils build up and turn rancid, which taints the next batch. Brush out the burrs and chamber every week or two. The Hamilton Beach has an unscrewable top burr with a brush included, and ceramic burrs on the Hario mills can be washed.
How long does a cheap coffee grinder last?
Warranty terms hint at it: Hario gives 90 days on its non-electric mills, JavaPresse six months, and several makers do not publish a term. Hardened steel burrs and a double bearing axis, as on the TIMEMORE Chestnut C2, are the best signs of a hand grinder built to last.