The Best Coffee Grinders for Home Brewing
What to look for in a burr grinder, and the models worth considering.
If you upgrade one thing in your coffee setup, make it the grinder. A consistent grind is what lets water extract coffee evenly, and it matters more than the brewer you pour it into. Here’s how to choose one, and the grinders we’d point a friend toward.
What to look for
Burrs, not blades
Blade grinders chop beans into a mix of dust and chunks that extract unevenly, so the cup tastes bitter and sour at once. Burr grinders crush beans between two surfaces to a consistent size. Every pick below is a burr grinder.
Match the grinder to your brew method
Drip, pour-over, and French press need medium to coarse grounds, which almost any good burr grinder handles. Espresso needs very fine, precisely adjustable grounds, and many grinders built for filter coffee can’t get there. Decide which you brew most before you buy.
Manual or electric
Hand grinders get you excellent burrs for the money and are quiet and portable, but grinding takes a minute or two of cranking per cup. Electric grinders are faster and easier for multiple cups each morning.
Our picks
Baratza Encore
Mid-range
Best for: A first electric burr grinder for drip, pour-over, and French press.
A long-running favorite for home brewing, with 40 grind settings and simple one-button operation. Baratza also sells replacement parts, so it can be repaired rather than replaced.
Keep in mind: It isn’t designed for espresso; at the fine end it lacks the precise adjustment espresso needs.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder
Mid-range
Best for: Busy mornings where convenience matters most.
An electric conical burr grinder with a one-touch timer for repeatable doses. OXO also makes a version with a built-in scale that grinds by weight.
Keep in mind: Best suited to drip and pour-over rather than espresso.
Timemore C2
Budget
Best for: The most grinder for the money, for one or two cups at a time.
A manual grinder with stainless steel conical burrs and a sturdy aluminum body. It produces noticeably more even grounds than budget electric options at a similar price.
Keep in mind: Hand grinding takes effort, and it’s aimed at filter coffee rather than espresso.
1Zpresso JX-Pro
Mid-range
Best for: Home espresso on a budget, plus filter coffee.
A manual grinder with large 48mm steel burrs and an external adjustment ring with fine steps, which makes it one of the more capable hand grinders for espresso.
Keep in mind: Larger and heavier than most hand grinders, so it’s less of a travel option.
Comandante C40
Premium
Best for: Filter-coffee enthusiasts who want a hand grinder for life.
Made in Germany and widely regarded as a benchmark hand grinder for grind consistency in pour-over and other filter methods.
Keep in mind: Expensive for a manual grinder, and fine-tuning for espresso typically needs an add-on adjustment kit.
Hario Ceramic Slim Pro
Budget
Best for: Travel, camping, and the office.
A compact, lightweight hand grinder with ceramic burrs that slips into a bag.
Keep in mind: Slower to grind and less consistent at coarse settings than the steel-burr options above.
Sunset Brews doesn’t sell brewing equipment, and we aren’t paid for these recommendations. Prices and models change, so check the maker’s site for current details.