13 of the Very Best Coffee Grinders

Blade style

Noise level

Size

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Loud| Size:5.9” x 5.1” x 13.4”

I’ve been using the Baratza Encore for a year now, and I love it (it’s one of the tools that has convinced me to up my at-home coffee game). The machine is super-intuitive to use (and initially took me no more than five minutes to set up and get a handle of). There are two simple switches — on and off — and a dial to choose from 41 grind settings, numbered 0 to 40. Mine generally stays between 25 and 30 to work with mystandard coffee machine, but I’ve used the smallest setting for espresso (notoriously difficult to get as fine of a grind as you need) with no problem. And the subtleties between all the sizes are very apparent: You can make minute adjustments if you’re dedicated to landing on exactly what will yield the best cup for your particular coffee-brewing method. It takes a couple of rounds to grind a full bag of beans (how I do it, as opposed to per serving) but works quickly at about a minute per turn. In general, my biggest qualm with coffee grinders is the mess they make, but this one has nicely angled sides on the grind chamber that allow for relatively neat pouring. And it’s easy to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the detachable parts before I store it.

As a brand, Baratza came up in my reporting more often than any other. Some favor its higher-end models (more on a couple of those below), but several of the coffee aficionados I spoke with recommended this more affordable option, highlighting its quality performance and solid build — especially for the price. “It’s super-consistent,” Lareau says. Elliott Foos, director of coffee atDaymovesin Brooklyn, told us that he used the Encore at work when he previously ran the coffee shop attached to the first iteration of chefFlynn McGarry’s Lower East Side restaurantGem. “It’s intuitive and performs wonderfully,” he says. While he acknowledges it can be a little loud — or a “touch chatty,” in his words — Foos says that’s to be expected for a grinder made of plastic and designed for the home. And Humberto Ricardo, founder ofThird Rail Coffee, adds that Baratza machines are “designed to be repaired instead of thrown away should something break, which is good for my wallet and for the planet.” And speaking of repairs, Pratt noted Baratza’s great customer service. “When you have to replace the burrs every few years, they make it incredibly easy to do so,” he says.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Loud| Size:6” x 7” x 10.75”

Before I got my hands on the Baratza, this was the entry-level grinder I had for about a year, one of the most affordable on the market with burr-style blades. It’s quite intuitive to use: You simply fill the chamber with beans, set the dial to any of the 18 settings between fine and coarse grind, set the number of cups you are planning to brew (though you won’t need this if you pre-weigh the amount of beans you put in in the first place), and press start. And while I only used mine once a month or so (I sometimes buy pre-ground beans, and even more so back in the day), Strategist writerErin Schwartzhas used the same model nearly every day for more than five years and says “it’s kind of incredible that it hasn’t broken or shown any signs of serious wear and tear yet.” They like that the top container can fit a standard-sizebag of beansso they don’t have to waste pantry space on leftovers. And while they note that it’s not the easiest to take apart to clean,most of the pieces are dishwasher-safe, and it stores well, rectangular and compact with a place to wrap the cord underneath.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:7.3” x 4.4” x 10.4”

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge on a model upwards of $100, the Krups Precision Grinder is a very solid place to start. It’s intuitive to use: Whole beans go in the back chamber, the front dial sets the number of cups you want to brew between two and 12, and the side dial sets the fineness of your grind. This latter mechanism shows numbers three through ten — though it allows you to tick several notches before, after, and in between each, so you can actually get quite precise. I found a midrange seven to be perfect for my electric machine, and the lowest setting worked for my Breville espresso-maker. (While I’m no espresso connoisseur, I will say that the Baratza goes even finer than I need for that method, and the Krups does not.) The grind-size dial is a bit tough to move; you have to use some force with your finger. But assuming you mostly stick with one type of brew method, that wouldn’t be a daily annoyance. The chamber is also not quite as easy to pour grounds from as the Baratza — but again, this feels like a small matter to me. Neither gripe is enough to undermine the price.

Jeremy Rellosa, who bought the machine more than a year ago, loves how simple it is to use. Previously, he had a hand-crank model that took too much work and a blade grinder that resulted in uneven ground size; the Krups, he says, solves both these problems, giving him “the ease of an electric machine and the consistency of a burr blade,” he says. Now, he says he makes great pour-over daily. “The appliance also comes with a tiny brush to get all the coffee unstuck from the plastic grounds container,” he says. “But if you keep it clean, I’ve found that you rarely have to use it (the bits just slide right off as you dump them into your filter).”

Blade style:Flat burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:5” x 6.75” x 13.75”

If you brew coffee using methods like pour-over, French press, orAeropress, you should consider the Eureka Mignon.Matthew Kang, editor ofEater LA, says he likes it even more than the similarly priced Baratza because it has better grind consistency (though it mills only on the coarser end of the spectrum, so it’s not suitable for espresso). The grinder is “strong, durable, and powerful,” Kang says, “wasting through whole bags of coffee at a time, if needed, with its bigger-than-average 50-millimeter flat burrs.” Kang does note that the machine has only a small dial to change the grind setting and a tiny button on the bottom to start the grinder without any timers. But he says that doesn’t matter — in the end, “the beans will be ground more consistently, resulting in better-tasting coffee.” This grinder certainly makes some noise, though as you can see inthis video, it’s quite a reasonable level — especially for this price point, as the pro testing it points out.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Loud| Size:7.2” x 11.1” x 16.4”

I’m not obsessive about weighing my coffee (I measure by scoops). But for those who are, this OXO model makes it easy — and as Schlader points out, it “cuts down on the equipment you need.” You add your beans to the hopper and select from 15 grind sizes. From there, you set the machine to weigh the ground coffee one of three ways: manually so you have full control, by grams (great for espresso and pour-over), or by the number of cups of water you brew in astandard electric maker(what I tested since I use myBonavita machineevery morning). In this last setup, it allots for eight grams of ground coffee per cup, though you can also adjust that by a couple of ounces in either direction by sliding a notch at the front. Once everything is set, you simply press the knob on the front and it spits out the exact amount of grounds you need to brew. “It’s an incredibly thoughtful product,” Schlader says.

The only downside I found is the small gap between the dispenser and the opening of the jar that collects the coffee; some grounds spurt out and onto the counter during grinding. To be fair, most grinders make a bit of a mess, but it was enough that it feels worth noting. At the end, the stainless-steel body wipes up easily and cleanly — and I would say it’s not so annoying as to deter from the overall convenience of using this unit.

If you’re interested in this OXO grinder but don’t need an integrated scale, recipe developer and cookbook authorSamah Dadarecommendsthis model, which costs $150 less. “I’ve had other grinders that gave me grief with error messages for no reason or inconsistent grounds,” she says. But in the couple of years she’s owned it, she says “this one has not failed me yet” even with daily use. She also says she appreciates that the hopper is UV blocking (so leaving whole beans in there won’t age them) and that it comes off the top of the machine very easily to rinse clean.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:5.9” x 5.1” x 13.4”

I was skeptical that the Baratza Virtuoso+ would be worth $100 more than the Baratza Encore, the grinder that has had the longest permanent residence in my kitchen. And though I think the latter remains a smart choice for our best overall pick, since part of what we consider for that title is cost, I’ve been incredibly impressed by this slightly fancier version in my testing. For one, you can set it to grind for a specific time, turn it on, and walk away. This isn’t an imperative feature, but it is nice. Depending on which brewing method you use, you can figure out exactly how many seconds you need for a given dose. Or even if you’re like me and grind a full bag of coffee in one go, the timer lets you do other tasks while it whirrs away. (It’s not the end of the world to stand there and flip a switch on and off every 30 seconds or so as the grind basket fills — but I like the little luxury of not having to.)

It’s also a bit quieter than the Encore. Again, the Encore isn’t so loud that it’s a problem, but the first time I turned this one on, I was pleasantly surprised by its relatively subdued noise level. Ricardo, who also recommends this model, notes that the blades and body of the machine are even stronger and says you can get a slightly finer grind for espresso than you can with the Encore.

Blade style:Flat burrs| Noise level:Loud| Size:7” x 10” x 18.5”

The grinder is high-quality enough to be used in many coffee shops but still a good investment at home if you’re a serious espresso drinker. It’s on the pricier side, but according to Morrison, it’s worth it. “Most grinders claim they can get a fine-enough consistency for espresso,” he says, “but that’s just not true.” The Marzocco, on the other hand, was made specifically for espresso and espresso alone. And unlike the Niche Zero right below, you can fill the hopper with enough beans at a time to grind more than one dose, one right after the other.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:3.5” x 8.5” x 10.8”

For years, the industry-favoriteNiche Zerocoffee grinder held this spot — but no longer. My colleague senior writerMichael Zhaois a true coffee and espresso aficionado, and he recently replaced his Niche with the Lagom Casa. Not only is it less expensive (an obvious bonus), but Zhao says it’s even better. While the Niche claimed to be zero retention, meaning there are no grounds or fines left behind, that wasn’t actually the case unless you bought an additional part (called bellows) on the aftermarket. The Lagom Casa doesn’t leave anything behind. There’s also less static buildup, Zhao says.

The grind consistency is better, too. “Shots are coming out much cleaner from the bottomless portafilter, indicating that there are fewer fines overall, which can lead to clogging and irregular drip patterns,” Zhao says. Unlike the Niche, you can “hot start” this grinder, meaning you turn it on, let it get going, and then you add the beans. This is better for the motor’s health over time (and is one of the contributing factors for a more consistent grind).

Two final small pluses: Unlike the Niche, this allows you to grind for drip coffee, too. (Niche came out with an updated grinder calledthe Duothat did allow you to swap in a different set of burrs, but here, it’s built in.) And finally, it’s “solid as a rock,” Zhao says. “It feels like a kettlebell. It is not going anywhere unless you move it, whereas the Niche is kinda top heavy.”

Blade style:Flat burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:5.1” x 7.1” x 14.2”

If you are, in fact, ready to take the plunge on the very high end of the coffee-grinder spectrum, it doesn’t get much better than the Baratza Forte BG. The word “commercial” in the name is an indicator; it’s intended for extensive daily use in restaurants and cafés. For one, it’s virtually silent. For another, “the grind-by-weight feature is incredible,” says Reagan Petrehn, specialty coffee consultant and former branding lead ofFelix Roasting Co.Petrehn adds that he loves its capabilities across the board, which allow him to use it “both for espresso and pour-over” and change his grind settings as he goes.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:1.9” (diameter) x 5.3” (height)

Although it may sound strange to take a technological step backward, manual grinders have plenty of fans because they’re so small and portable. The Porlex II is an updated version of a model that a couple of our experts noted was great. It features the same burr blades as every other grinder on this list, but is significantly more affordable than the Comandante. “It’s great to travel with, or to gift someone if you don’t want to assume anything about the setup of their kitchen,” says Caroline Bell, owner ofCafe Grumpyin New York City. “It’s easy to adjust, and the grind size is really consistent.” I also think this would be a good pick for someone who doesn’t make coffee every single day.

Or if you’re interested in a fancier manual grinder, theComandante C40 MK4 Hand Grinderis a pro-level model recommended by Tom Bomford, coffee director at New York City’sBlack Fox. The price is steep (even more so than some of the electric grinders on this list), but Bomford says that because your money isn’t going into the build of a large unit, more of it “goes into the blade quality and the grinder’s internal gears.”

Blade style:Flat burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:9.5” x 4.7” x 9.4”

I tested both of Fellow’s coffee grinders side by side. The Ode Brew is its top-of-the-line offering, an instant hit among industry pros when it hit the market several years ago. The machine combines fast, consistent, and typically commercial-grade flat-burr grinding technology with a physical footprint on the smaller side. The body is made from aluminum, so it’s quite heavy, which in turn means it doesn’t shake at all as it grinds.

“They really thought about every detail,” says Jerad Morrison, co-founder and co-CEO ofSightglass Coffeein San Francisco. And he’s right: The cup that catches the grinds is magnetic, so it clicks into position tightly and easily. There’s a lid that goes onto that cup with just a small hole at the top, which means it dispenses grinds more cleanly than almost any other grinder I’ve tried, and the machine even has a small lever sticking out of the side that shakes out any residual chaff — the leftover coffee skins that mostly come off during roasting, but usually not all the way — into the cup, instead of blowing them out onto your counter. And for a grinder, it’s quite quiet, about on par with the higher-end Baratza.

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:5.1” x 8.3” x 10.5”

More recently, Fellow introduced a second grinder to its lineup. It’s a more affordable model with a plastic body instead of an aluminum one and conical blades that don’t require as powerful a motor to cut through the beans, instead of flat ones. Overall, it’s a great choice, though a bit less premium-feeling than the Ode Brew. The plastic means it’s lightweight (which I don’t mind so much), but chaff and grounds cling to the inside, which creates more of a mess. It’s nothing more intense than most models on this list, just worth noting in comparison to the Ode Brew.

There are some pluses: It allows for a timed grind instead of just a dosed grind, if you prefer that. And it allows for a wider range of grind sizes. Some pros told me it delivers a bit less consistency than the Ode Brew, so you might lose some of the nuance and depth that the Ode delivers — but that wasn’t something I noticed at all. In fact, my observation was that the grounds of both looked equally even. Indeed, Strategist writerKat Gillespieuses the Opus for both the AeroPress and French press and says it delivers great results.As with the Ode, the aesthetic is undeniably part of the appeal. “It’s more like a design object than my old Baratza,” she says. “It’s really very impressive-looking on any counter, even my NYC landlord-special one.”

Blade style:Conical burrs| Noise level:Quiet| Size:6.75” x 10” x 18”

Smeg makes many particularly attractive, retro-style appliances (we’re talking everything from refrigerators to toasters). And while we would never urge you to buy something just for looks, Kang says its coffee grinder is super solid, the one he has been using nearly every day at home for the last couple of years. Kang owns one in pastel green, which he says “looks really adorable with its 1950s design,” but he also notes that the grind consistency is good, the container captures most of the coffee dust, it’s easy to dose a specific amount, and the hopper is big enough for almost a pound of beans.