Grinders
Hand grinders and electric burr grinders, compared on grind consistency, burr size and how much coffee they hold onto.
How we rate grinders — the 7 criteria behind every score on this page.
Our pick
· research-based, chosen for a reason, not a rating
Espresso-capable grinding for well under what espresso-capable usually costs
Scores 10.0 of 10 on Grind Consistency, the heaviest criterion in this category at 24 of 100.
The best grinders, ranked
scored on what the maker publishes · open a row for the working1
Homtone Conical Burr Coffee Grinder7.2- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 8.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Speed & Noise — 5.0 of 10, carrying 8 of the 91.4 points scored here.
2
MOKKOM 64mm Flat Burr Coffee Grinder7.1- Grind Consistency
- 10.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 9.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 4.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money
- 5.1
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 4.5 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
3
Kingrinder K66.9- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 8.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 6.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 10.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 4.0
- Value for Money
- 8.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 4.0 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
4
Ollygrin Conical Burr Coffee Grinder 30 Settings6.9- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 7.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 5.0 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
5
1Zpresso K-Ultra Manual Coffee Grinder6.8- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 9.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 10.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money
- 3.5
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Value for Money — 3.5 of 10, carrying 10 of the 91.4 points scored here.
6
DF64 Gen 2 Single Dose Coffee Grinder6.8- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 7.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 8.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 7.5
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 5.0 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
7
Baratza Sette 270Wi6.6- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 8.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 7.0
- Value for Money
- 1.5
- Speed & Noise
- 8.1
Weakest link: Value for Money — 1.5 of 10, carrying 10 of the 91.4 points scored here.
8
Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Coffee Mill6.6- Grind Consistency
- 6.5
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 6.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 3.5
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 3.5 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
9
Breville Dose Control Pro BCG600SIL6.5- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 8.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 4.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 8.0
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 4.0 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
10
Hario Mini Slim Plus Ceramic Coffee Mill6.5- Grind Consistency
- 6.5
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 6.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 10.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 4.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 4.0 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
11
OutIn Fino Portable Electric Coffee Grinder6.5- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 7.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 5.0 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
12
Baratza Encore ZCG485BLK6.4- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 7.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 5.5
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published) — 5.0 of 10, carrying 14 of the 91.4 points scored here.
13
Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade6.4- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 8.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 10.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 4.5
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 4.5 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
14
Hamilton Beach Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 16oz6.4- Grind Consistency
- 5.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Grind Consistency — 5.0 of 10, carrying 24 of the 91.4 points scored here.
15
JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder6.4- Grind Consistency
- 6.5
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 6.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 5.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 5.0 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
16
SHARDOR Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 2.06.4- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 5.0 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
17
TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder6.4- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 3.0
- Value for Money
- 10.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 3.0 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
18
Baratza Sette 306.3- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 6.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 7.0
- Value for Money
- 2.8
- Speed & Noise
- 8.1
Weakest link: Value for Money — 2.8 of 10, carrying 10 of the 91.4 points scored here.
19
TIMEMORE Whirly 01S Portable Electric Burr Grinder6.3- Grind Consistency
- 6.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 7.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 5.5
- Value for Money
- 4.8
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Value for Money — 4.8 of 10, carrying 10 of the 91.4 points scored here.
20
Baratza Virtuoso+6.1- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.5
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 7.0
- Value for Money
- 3.2
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Value for Money — 3.2 of 10, carrying 10 of the 91.4 points scored here.
21
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder 12oz6.0- Grind Consistency
- 8.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 5.0
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Build Quality & Durability — 5.0 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
22
OXO Brew Compact Conical Burr Coffee Grinder 50g5.4- Grind Consistency
- 7.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 4.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 4.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 5.5
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Grind Range & Adjustment — 4.0 of 10, carrying 16 of the 91.4 points scored here.
23
Akirakoki Manual Wooden Coffee Grinder4.7- Grind Consistency
- 6.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 3.5
- Build Quality & Durability
- 5.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 5.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 3.0
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 5.0
Weakest link: Dosing & Workflow — 3.0 of 10, carrying 12 of the 91.4 points scored here.
24
BLACK+DECKER One-Touch Coffee & Spice Grinder4.5- Grind Consistency
- 0.0
- Grind Range & Adjustment
- 5.0
- Build Quality & Durability
- 7.0
- Cleaning, Retention & Mess (retention not published)
- 7.0
- Dosing & Workflow
- 6.0
- Value for Money (no price published)
- 5.0
- Speed & Noise
- 6.9
Weakest link: Grind Consistency — 0.0 of 10, carrying 24 of the 91.4 points scored here.
More grinders guides
How to choose a grinder
The grinder decides more about the cup than the brewer does. Water temperature and time you can control on almost any machine. Particle size you cannot fix afterwards, so it is worth spending here before you spend anywhere else.
Grind consistency is nearly a quarter of the score, and here is why
We weight consistency at 24 points out of 100, more than any other criterion in the category. Uneven grounds extract unevenly: the fines over-extract and turn bitter while the boulders under-extract and taste sour, in the same cup, at the same time. That is the flat, muddled taste people usually blame on their beans.
Three published specs move this number:
Burr type. Conical and flat burrs both work. Blade grinders are not grinders, they are choppers, and no amount of technique rescues one. Flat burrs tend to produce a tighter particle spread, which suits espresso; conical burrs are more forgiving and usually quieter and cheaper.
Burr size. Bigger burrs cut each bean fewer times to reach the same size, which generates less heat and fewer fines. 40mm is the common home size, 64mm and up is where the enthusiast machines start.
Burr material. Steel holds an edge longer and is what most electric grinders use. Ceramic stays sharp a long time but chips if a stone gets in. Neither is a mistake. A maker that names its burr material is telling you it has one worth naming.
Adjustment range is not the same as the number of settings
We weight range and adjustment at 16 points. A grinder advertising 100 settings is telling you how the dial is divided, not how far it goes. What matters is whether the range covers what you brew: espresso needs fine and repeatable, French press needs genuinely coarse, and a grinder that does one well often does the other badly.
Stepped means the dial clicks into fixed positions, which is repeatable and limits you to the steps the maker chose. Stepless means anywhere in between, which is what espresso wants and what makes it easy to lose your setting.
Retention is the spec almost nobody publishes
Retention is the coffee left inside the grinder after you finish. It matters because it is stale by tomorrow and it comes out in tomorrow's cup, and because if you weigh 18g in and 16.5g comes out, your recipe is wrong every time.
Almost no maker publishes a retention figure. That is not an oversight, it is a number that flatters very few grinders. Where a maker publishes it we score it; where nobody does, we score the things that predict it instead: single dosing, a short grind path, and a design that comes apart.
What to ignore
Motor wattage on an electric grinder tells you almost nothing about grind quality, only about how hard it can push. Bean hopper capacity is a storage decision, not a coffee decision, and beans go stale in a hopper anyway. "Professional" and "commercial grade" are not specifications.
Where we mark a grinder down
A maker that publishes burr size, burr material, settings count and a weight is giving you enough to judge it. One that publishes a photograph and the word "precision" is not, and our score says so: a criterion whose inputs are not published is marked thinly evidenced rather than guessed at.
Reading on grinders
What to know before you pick one.
- Burr vs Blade: Why Grind Consistency Is Most of the Cup
A blade grinder chops, a burr grinder mills to a size. That difference decides how much of your coffee dissolves, and it is the single biggest upgrade most home setups can make.
- What Grind Size for Each Brewer
Brew time and grind size are the same dial turned from different ends. A four-minute press wants coarse, a thirty-second espresso wants fine, and everything else sits between.
- Flat Bed vs Cone: What the Shape of a Dripper Changes
A cone concentrates the coffee in the middle and drains fast. A flat bed spreads it evenly and drains slow. That one difference decides how much your pour has to be right.
- How to Use a Moka Pot Without Burning the Coffee
Almost every complaint about moka pots is the same mistake made in the same place. Start with hot water and take it off early, and the pot stops tasting scorched.
Frequently asked
Are conical or flat burrs better for a coffee grinder?
Neither is universally better. Flat burrs usually give a tighter particle spread, which suits espresso where a small change in grind changes the shot. Conical burrs are more forgiving across brew methods, generally quieter, and cheaper at the same build quality. Both beat a blade grinder by a wide margin, because a blade chops rather than grinds and cannot produce an even particle size at all.
Does burr size actually matter?
Yes, and for a physical reason rather than a marketing one. Larger burrs pass each bean through fewer cutting events to reach the same particle size, which produces less heat and fewer fines. 40mm is typical on home electric grinders, 64mm and above is where enthusiast machines start. Size is not the only thing that matters, but between two grinders that are otherwise similar it is a real difference.
What is grind retention and why is it not on the spec sheet?
Retention is the ground coffee left inside the grinder when you are done. It matters twice over: yesterday's grounds are stale when they come out in today's cup, and if you put 18g in and get 16.5g out then your recipe is wrong every time. Very few makers publish a figure, because it flatters very few grinders. Where the number is published we score it directly. Where it is not, we score the design features that predict it instead.
Do I need a stepless grinder?
Only if you are pulling espresso. Stepless adjustment lets you land anywhere between two clicks, which is what espresso dialling needs because the useful range is narrow. For filter, French press or pour over, a stepped grinder is easier to live with, because you can return to a setting exactly rather than approximately.
Is a hand grinder good enough?
For one or two cups a day, a good hand grinder often out-performs an electric grinder costing three times as much, because the money goes into burrs rather than into a motor and a housing. The limit is volume. Grinding for a full French press by hand is a few minutes of work, and doing that every morning is what usually sends people to an electric grinder.
What is the best grinder?
Based on our research across the category, Homtone Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is our editor's pick for grinder. Espresso-capable grinding for well under what espresso-capable usually costs
Is there a cheap grinder worth buying?
Hario Mini Slim Plus Ceramic Coffee Mill is the least expensive we have reviewed in this category at $36.66. Cheapest is not the same as best value: the review says which corners were cut.
How much does a grinder cost?
The ones we have reviewed run from about $36.66 to $599.95. Price tracks build material, capacity and how much of the specification the maker publishes.