A Comprehensive Review of the Best Coffee Grinders of 2021

It's all in your coffee beans. Nothing delivers great morning coffee like switching to whole beans that you grind perfectly before brewing. Whether you're using a $30 Mr. Coffee or a multi-thousand-dollar AI-powered espresso machine, making the switch to whole beans will completely transform your experience. Generally, most people underestimate the impact of coffee grinders when making flavorsome coffee. If you've chosen to grind your own beans, a machine with various features and settings is an investment that's more than worthwhile. A quality grinder lets you experiment with various brew styles and use your coffee maker optimally.

Getting it right with the grind size could involve trial and error. However, today's grinders will get you there easily, with a wide range of machine sizes, robust blades, and programmable presets.

Top Consideration When Shopping for Coffee Grinders

Simply put, this machine breaks down coffee beans into tiny pieces that can brew optimally. Within the little bean are tons of soluble compounds. If you don't break them up correctly, you can't coax the yummy soluble elements from the beans, and these could end up in your cup. That's why you can't compromise the quality of the coffee grinder when shopping.

There're myriads of consideration factors when shopping for a coffee grinder. These include:

Size

Some kitchens can accommodate smaller-sized manual grinders, while others can house bigger ones. But the smaller varieties can't grind beyond 25 grams. Therefore, always go for a size that fits your space and needs.

Type

You'll have to choose between manual or hand grinders and electrical grinders. Generally, a decent manual grinder will be cheaper. The electric varieties can grind everything from French press to espresso. Others work on specific coffee types, so first, confirm the best type for your needs.

Hopper Size

Hoppers, the container that holds the beans before grinding, hold between 30 grams and one pound. Make sure your preferred product lets you input any amount to meet your needs.

Price

Conical burrs tend to be cheaper than flat burrs. However, the latter can yield more consistent results. When choosing a particular price point, ensure you have more to gain.

Speed

Pricier, Fancier grinders work quickly and limit the time you have to put up with the noise. On the other hand, low to moderately-priced machines are louder and slower.

Noise

Despite their less consistency, conical burrs are relatively less noisy. So if you don't want to hear your grinder hissing loudly at 5.30 am, you know what to go for.

Retention

Anytime you grind, say, 30 grams of coffee, you'll rarely get the full weight in actual grounds. The amount will reduce after you dump the beans in the grinder, so always consider the grinder's retention when shopping.

Single Dosing

If you weigh the beans you use every morning or a single dose, you should go for a single-dosing grinder. This helps you avoid aged coffee that stays within the hopper for days.

Adjustability

Some grinders have adjustability features of grind size and weight. You need several grind size options and vivid lines marking your adjustments to “dial in your brew.” This way, you can move around easily between particle sizes. For instance, a coarse grind is perfect for a cold brew, while a finer grind is ideal for pour-overs.

Auto-Stop

This feature offers more convenience and sufficient time to prepare the grinder in the morning. These features are available in lots of coffee grinders out there. As such, it's easy to get caught up in the various bells and whistles. Knowing the best coffee grinders available can narrow your choices so you can pick what you need.

An Overview of the Best Coffee Grinders of 2021

Here are the top products that you should prioritize when shopping for coffee grinders:

Baratza Virtuoso Plus – Best Overall

This updated version of the Baratza Virtuoso stands out as the best overall. The Virtuoso Plus offers 8 ounces of hopper capacity with 40 grind settings alongside an outstanding speed of 1.5 – 2.4 g/s. The grinder also has 40mm stainless steel conical burrs combined with pulse and timed grinding.

The easy-to-use grinder is undeniably good-looking. But most users prefer its exceptional commercial-quality burr and DC motor design that reduces heat and friction while maintaining an extremely consistent grind at 550 RPMs. Its adjustment steps let you grind for all brewing styles except Turkish coffee. It's perfect for coffee makers like Aeropress or Hario Brewers.

Bodum Bistro Electric – Best Budget Burr Grinder

When affordability is a priority, you don't want to stoop too low when buying pre-ground coffee, and you also don't wish to butcher your beans using a blade grinder. In this case, the Bodum Bistro Electric is what you need.

This isn't a 10/10 grinder, but why is it popular? Because it's easy to maintain and use, it's affordable, and eliminates static cling. With a 7.8-ounce hopper capacity, this pocket-friendly grinder also has 12 settings and 35 mm stainless steel conical burrs. Its material and design ensure no clogging by oily beans and minimal cleaning.

Most users compare it with the Cuisinart Supreme Grind, but it stands out due to its value, style, and simplicity. Its conical bars and 720 RPMs make it better than hand grinders, but it's not suitable for espresso or Turkish coffee.

Fellow Ode Brew Grinder – Best Style

The precise and powerful home grinder also comes with café capabilities to do things differently. When other grinders try tackling both espresso and brewed coffee, they become a master of none. However, Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is made to perfect your brewed coffee every day.

It's popular due to its 31 grind settings, attractive minimalistic design, 60 mm professional flat burrs, and auto-stop. You'll also appreciate its quietness and ease of cleaning, but not ideal for espresso. Looks aside, Ode lets you make simple adjustments to optimize the brew and cranks out super consistent particle-sized coffee.

Breville Smart Grinder Pro – Best Smart Coffee Grinders

Offering 60 unique settings, Breville Smart Grinder Pro is designed to maximize the potential of any brew. It's incredibly easy to use and looks great on any countertop. That aside, the programmable conical burr grinder can handle a range of grind sizes from French press to espresso.

The most outstanding feature is Breville's Dosing IQ, which lets you control dosing duration for precise brewing.

Capresso 565.05 Infinity – Best For Super-Fine Grounds

With its stable and attractive design, the Capresso 565 Infinity is an excellent pick in its price range. The burr grinder offers an 8.8-ounce hopper capacity alongside four major settings: coarse, medium, fine, and extra-fine. Each of these settings has four sub-settings.

Besides its super-fine grind, the Capresso also offers hardened 40 mm conical steel burrs, easy-to-remove and cleanable burr, and slow, consistent grind time (450 RPM) to avoid heating.

Krups Burr Coffee Grinder – The Best Grinder Under $50

If your favorite grinders are way costly yet you'd love to stop chopping up your beans using a blade grinder, nothing beats the price of the Krups Burr Coffee Grinder. The product's design leaves a lot to be desired, and its grind is inconsistent, but you'll get excellent value. For instance, you can regulate your grind size than you would if you use a blade grinder. It also comes with a removable grounds container and an 8-ounce hopper ideal for 30 – 32 cups.

This metallic flat burr coffee grinder is perfect for coffee drinkers who love dark roasts or prefer adding sugar or dairy. Go for it if you wish to grind whole beans and achieve a fresher flavor without using the spice grinder.

The Fellow Ode – Best for Filter and Drip Coffee

Fellow has gained the reputation of a reliable manufacturer of trendy brewing accessories. So their announcement to unveil a burr grinder received off-the-charts hype. The Ode Coffee Grinder offers everything the manufacturer claims but is designed for drip coffee. It comes with a 2.8-ounce hopper capacity and 31 grind settings. It comprises 64 mm stainless steel flat burrs and is ideal if you'd like to brew anything from Aeropress to Chemex to French press.

The single-dose grinder also delivers fluffy, uniform grounds, but its 80-gram capacity makes it suitable for only a few cusps and not an entire carafe. You'll pay a premium price for this, but you'll get value for every dime.

OXO Brew Coffee Grinder – Best Coffee Grinder for Most Coffee Drinkers

Like most products in the OXO series, the burr coffee grinder maintains an intuitive. The 12-ounce hopper capacity and excellent grind quality are perhaps the most outstanding features. Furthermore, it has 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs are durable and come with 38 settings.

The Brew Coffee Grinder is perfect for coffee drinkers looking for more control and the freedom to cost-effectively try different grind sizes and detailed brewing concepts.

Get Insights On the Best Quality Products for Your Home

A great coffee grinder can spice up your everyday coffee, letting you experiment with different flavors and varieties. The list above covers the best options to consider, so you can be certain to make an informed choice. Feel free to read our blog to get more home and kitchen appliances ideas.