If you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll need one of the best coffee grinders to ensure full flavor each time. As the name suggests, coffee grinders are designed to grind coffee beans to an exact degree. The grind size will be adjustable to suit different kinds of beverages, ranging from fine to coarse. Achieving the correct grind size for your chosen drink is essential, because this will vary the extraction rate and overall flavor produced.
Many people opt for a separate coffee grinder when looking for a coffee maker or one of the best espresso machines, because among coffee experts, the perception is that you'll always get more for your money when you opt for a dedicated grinder. We tested some of the more premium coffee grinders on the market, but we also feature grinders that cost less than $100 to make sure there is an option for everyone in this buying guide.
With so many different type on the market, it can be tricky to buy the right one for you. The most important thing to consider is what you plan on using your grinder for. If it's espresso, the Eureka Mignon Specialista is our top pick, whereas we suggest the Moccamaster KM5 for drip coffee. And if you want a true all-rounder, we recommend the attractive and versatile KitchenAid Burr Grinder, which is also our top pick.
The quick list
Here’s the best coffee grinders you can buy right now based on our comprehensive online research. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.
With 70 settings to choose from and guides for a range of smart pre-sets thanks to its LED screen, the KitchenAid Burr Grinder is the smartest one we came across in our tests. Its spring-loaded base prevents mess and we experienced a great consistency when we tested against a range of brews.
This consistent and adjustable grinder has incredibly low retention and features a high-tech LCD screen. It's best for espresso and would be a good choice for someone who's willing to commit to a quality, premium grinder.
The OG drip coffee brand that brought us the iconic Moccamaster also made a brilliant grinder for drip coffee. This well-made stepless design doesn't have many fancy features, but it's a brilliant choice for medium-large grind sizes.
This Baratza model is a simple version of our winner, but it still offers 40 grind settings for exact consistency. An on/off switch powers the machine, and a pulse button gives you extra if needed. When ready, you can upgrade it with a Virtuoso burr set.
This Breville grinder offers a premium design and precise control. There are 60 grind settings to peruse, with the timer running up to 50 seconds. A portafilter can fit straight into this machine for convenience when making espresso too.
You'll struggle to find an amazing grinder under $100, but if you're on a real tight budget, the OXO would be the one we suggest. It's good for volume grinding thanks to its large container, and while we found some notable inconsistencies in the grind size, it will still yield a tastier brew than buying pre-ground coffee.
The best coffee grinders available now
If you want a user-friendly, quality coffee grinder at under $200, the KitchenAid Burr Grinder is the obvious choice. It's a smart machine, with an LED display that shows your grind size, timer, and allows you to toggle between cup measures or shot measures (for espresso) using the dial on the right hand side of the machine.
You can rest assured that this machine is mess-free when you dispense directly into the container, and this also seals to be airtight between uses, which is handy for keeping grounds fresh. We experienced minimal static when grinding, and when we sifted through our grounds there was an impressive size consistency, especially in the middle settings. We had some clumping with our espresso grounds, and a few larger shards when grinding French press coffee, but this machine shines when grinding for drip brews. Our drink was bright and balanced without too much acidity.
Although it's amazing at drip coffee, this machine is also a good all-rounder and can be used with KitchenAid's matching Artisan Espresso Machine. They even come in the same colors. For under $200, it's a great choice.
Best for espresso
Made in Italy, you'll pay a premium (around $600 to be exact) to get your hands on the Eureka Mignon Specialita in the U.S., as opposed to a more tolerable £400 in the UK. We do think it's worth it for espresso-lovers who want to make a durable investment though, thanks to its incredibly high build quality and low retention.
Although this is an all-purpose grinder, the Mignon Specialita is geared toward espresso. It has 6 grind settings but this is split up on a stepless dial that has a very wide throw, meaning you'll be able to make tiny adjustments if you like to get stuck into the details of your espresso.
As for the settings, you can make timer adjustments down to the tenth of a second, and switch between single and double portafilter measures thanks to the touchscreen display. Our main gripe is that the chute can be a little messy, but on the plus side, you'll lose a lot less bean in the grinding process due to the low-retention design.
Read our full Eureka Mignon Specialita review
Best for drip coffee
The Technivorm Moccamaster drip coffee maker is our top pick of coffee makers you can buy, and while it's not the cheapest option on the market, the build quality more than makes up for it. The same can be said for its Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 coffee grinder, which is weighty but sturdy with a cool metal body and glass grounds container.
The stepless design of this burr grinder means you can take full advantage of fine-tuning your brew. However, as you might expect for a grinder that's designed to work with the Moccamaster, it works best for drip, V60, Chemex, French press and cold brew coffees, and its finest grind settings won't be suitable for espresso.
One of the most impressive elements of this grinder is its low retention, which means you can pre-weigh your beans and be confident that (almost) every ground will make it to your finished brew. This is ideal for those who work with a very specific ratio, but if you would prefer a grinder that you can fill up with beans and leave it to run with a timer, this won't be the machine for you. Its controls are very simple, with an on/off switch at the base, making it better suited to single drinks.
Best for beginners
The Baratza Encore is a cheaper version of our top pick for the best coffee grinder. You are dropping a few of the fancier features here, like grind time control and a high quality burr set, however there's plenty here to make this an excellent choice for those just getting started.
There's still 40 different grind settings to choose from, offering plenty of customization, and a simple on / off continuous grind mechanism. That untimed grind may take some getting used to but will allow you to experiment with how much coffee you need and far more control overall. Plus, there's a pulse button to top up as well.
What makes the Encore so well positioned for those interested in in-depth tinkering, is that you can actually upgrade to the superior burr set used in the Virtuoso once you're ready to make the investment as well. That's great for not breaking the bank while you're still getting into the hobby, while keeping your options open for more advanced gear in the future as well.
Best for settings
An espresso grind can be a fiddly process. While the grind size itself is fairly subjective (though always particularly fine), the feeling of brewing your own perfect espresso shot from bean to cup is one of the greatest pleasures of a coffee aficionado. The Breville Dose Control Pro allows you to find your perfect settings through a wide range of grinding options and super precise controls.
The grind time is set down to the second here, with options running up to 50 seconds, and there are 60 grind sizes to choose from as well. Stainless steel conical burrs reduce the amount of heat generated during the grinding process for an extra flavor boost, and a large 12oz hopper with a sealed lid makes for a more convenient experience as well.
You are paying a little bit more for this model, but if you're serious about getting that espresso just right it's well worth the investment.
Best grinder under $100
If you regularly return to your coffee machine throughout the day you won't want to keep topping up that hopper every time. The OXO Brew coffee grinder offers a healthy 12oz capacity drum, with UV light blocking and an air tight seal.
That means you can leave your beans in the hopper for as long as you like and their quality won't deteriorate. Add a one touch timer with your last settings already remembered, and grinding fresh beans becomes a case of simply pushing a button. If, however, you're only using one cup's worth of beans you can also grind direct into a portafilter for an even more convenient experience.
You are losing a little in the precision of your timings, with a max of 30 seconds which might mean your finer grinds are less consistent from cup to cup, but at under $100 / £100 this is an excellent buy.
How we picked the best coffee grinders
Millie Fender is Senior Home Editor at Tom's Guide. With a five-year career of testing the very best in home tech, she can't go a day without a good cup of coffee, and has had the chance to put some of the leading coffee brands to the test in her own kitchen.
Millie has tried the majority of the coffee grinders featured in our guide and is continuing to work on testing the whole range.
To find the best coffee grinders we conducted extensive online research, factoring in reviews which promoted the quality of the design and the consistency of the performance. As these are the best the market has to offer, the ratings for each from consumers needed to be top-notch, with no obvious flaws or weaknesses.
On top of this, we assessed and compared the specifications behind each design. We considered the number of grind options, as well as the hopper capacity and the timer settings, if available. In doing this, we were able to find the grinders which had the most to offer. We also factored in value for money, and made sure to include different types of grinder to cater to various households.
After we had selected which coffee grinders we would review as part of our buying guide, we then tested them side-by-side, using the same beans and brewing recipe, to evaluate the user experience, noise levels, variety of grind settings, static created in grinding, and retention after our beans were finished.
To examine how evenly and precisely our coffee grinders worked, we used a Kuve sifter that uses several layers of sift-style filters to separate grinds out at various thickness. We then were able to evaluate the spread of ground sizes and whether the settings had accurately predicted how suitable our grounds would be for different types of brewing.
How to choose
Whether you've just picked up a fancy new espresso machine, or you're simply interested in brewing a fresher cup of Joe in the morning, it's important to find a coffee grinder with the right features and capacities for your daily routine. The best coffee grinders can get fairly pricey, so this is especially true if you're shopping in the $200+ range. There are a number of factors that go into this decision, so you'll find more information about each consideration just below.
Burr grinders vs blade grinders
The best coffee grinders will chop down those beans into a uniform grind that leaves a silky smooth taste, with the highest quality machines using burr sets to do so. These are sets of metal plates that spin into one another, crushing your coffee beans into a well balanced powder. While blade grinders are a lot cheaper, the spin of the dual-blades is known to leave uneven grinds, leading to a more bitter taste.
If you're just getting started grinding your own coffee beans and don't want to spend more than $20, you can still achieve a nice effect with a blade grinder. However, we'd recommend most users spring a little extra for a burr model considering the jump in quality you'll experience.
Grind size
The best coffee grinders can offer over 200 different grind sizes, but in general many middle range models between $150 and $250 provide around 30-60 options. In general, you can expect a grinder with more grind sizes to choose from to offer further extremes of each size; ie a finer 'finest' setting and a coarser 'coarse' setting.
This is where your coffee tastes come in. If you prefer Turkish or espresso coffee from one of the best coffee makers, you will want to make sure that these grind sizes really do offer the finest level of grounds possible. Meanwhile, for French press coffee you'll need a precise but still fairly large grind size option. And for an AeroPresss coffee press a medium to fine grind is best.
It's also worth noting that pour-over and drip brewers sit at sliding scales in the middle as well, so it will be easier to find the best size for you if more options are available in the centre of the scale as well.
Capacity
A larger hopper is better for those who will be brewing regularly throughout the day, but only airtight ones. Coffee dries out particularly quickly, which means exposure to chemicals in the air will start degrading the taste once left out. Similarly, the best coffee comes from a freshly ground set of beans, so you won't need a massive container if you're just brewing for yourself.
Price
Some of the best coffee grinders on the market can reach astronomical prices, especially once weight and programmability are brought into the mix. You'll be able to find a good quality burr grinder with a range of options between $150 and $250, and dropping down to $100 can still yield some excellent results without some extra features as well.
Below that price range you might be dropping down to a lower quality burr set or dropping grind time features, but if you don't need these extras then you'll still be able to find an affordable alternative.
Coffee grinder FAQs
Are high end coffee grinders worth it?
Coffee grinders can cost anywhere from $20 up to $300, so there’s a significant price difference depending on the model you go with. For a higher price, you tend to get more premium features, such as LED displays and a higher level of grind settings. This technically gives you more control over the final product, which is a useful addition. However, as our list shows, you don’t necessarily have to pay top dollar to get the best coffee grinder.
Above all, you want a model which provides the grind sizes suitable to your brew type, and consistency in those grinds. You also want it to be simple to operate with a hopper capacity to suit your needs. To avoid overspending, we recommend having a budget in mind before you start shopping. It’s also a good idea to consider what you need from your grinder, so you know what specifications to look out for. There’s no point paying extra for additional settings you’re unlikely to use. In doing this, you should find a suitable coffee grinder within budget.
Once your coffee is ready, you're going to want one of the best travel coffee mugs to take it away.
How do I know what coffee grind is suitable for me?
Generally, if your cup of Joe tastes bitter, harsh, or your mouth feels dry with this means that you're likely grinding too fine. To resolve this, you can make your grounds bigger with a coarser grind. Alternatively, if your coffee tastes weak, sour, or flavorless, you may need to try a finer grind.
How often should you clean your coffee grinder
It's recommended that you should clean your coffee grinder every two weeks, however, this depends on how often you use it, and type of beans. If you use it every day, you should clean your blade grinder weekly. Use a soft brush to clean tiny particles away, before wiping down with a damp cloth. Never wash it with water, as this can permanently damage the burrs.
Now the beans are freshly ground, it's time to make some coffee - we're rounding up all the best Cuisinart coffee makers. However, if you're not interested in hand crafting your brew you'll find a number of convenience pod options available. You'll find all the best Nespresso machines and Keurig coffee makers right here.
