Coffee Grinder Break Down, Choosing the Best for You in 2022
Coffee Considerations…
Here are a few things to weigh when choosing the right grinder for you.
The Basics
The key to a delicious (and repeatable) cup of coffee is consistent grind size. That is, how fine or coarse your beans are ground. High-quality grinders use a conical burr grinder to produce a repeatable grind size, allowing for a consistent cup of joe every time you brew.
No matter what method you use to brew, the bedrock of good coffee (besides the bean itself) is the grinder. Below, we’ll outline some things to think about when choosing one.
““No matter what method you use to brew, the bedrock of good coffee (besides the bean itself) is the grinder.””
Burr vs. Blade
A burr grinder uses a nested set of conical grinding parts to create an adjustable and consistent grind, this is a superior (although more expensive) solution compared to a bladed coffee grinder. Consistent pulsing and timing can produce a similar result in a bladed grinder, but with more hassle and variability. Since they are generally durable, spending the extra on a burr grinder will pay for itself in delicious, repeatable coffee for years to come.
OXO Countertop Burr Grinder
A Great Choice for getting into burr grinders
From OXO:
15 settings let you adjust your grind to suit your taste
One-touch start timer keeps your last setting, just push to grind
Hopper holds up to 0.75 pounds of Coffee beans
Product Dimension - 12x7.4x16 inch
The grounds container accommodates up to 110 grams (enough for 12 cups).
Buy Here
Portability for Travel
If you’re a coffee connoisseur and world traveler you’ll be interested in repeatable and delicious coffee no matter the accommodations, and a manual burr grinder is a great way to accomplish this. They usually come in a compact form factor with either a retractable or removable grinding arm. I also really like these grinders for the tactile experience of grinding coffee. Something about grinding your own beans by hand adds to the final product. These portable grinders are also easy to maintain and generally come with a small brush for cleaning out the grinding burrs after use. Overall, hand grinders can be a great solution for making coffee while traveling, but they can be a useful solution for your home too. If your goal is to have a minimalist setup that makes a smaller volume of coffee, say for pour-over or a small french press, a hand grinder can be the perfect option. Since they are more compact, these grinders are also a great solution for apartments or other small kitchens without the counter or cupboard space for a larger electric grinder.
Travel Companion
This Beautiful Grinder from TIMEMORE will serve the traveler well. THi smodel includes a cleaning brush and travel bag for ease of use.
And a Few More Things…
Hopper Size:
Another consideration for the coffee connoisseur will be the hopper size. If you’re making a small batch for one or two cups, the hopper size is largely a non-issue. If larger batches are in order for the caffeine-o-holic or the family on the go then hopper size may be a major consideration. Hoppers range in size but generally hover around a 1-pound capacity. This is large enough to make an average 40oz pot every day, and only have to refill it weekly. Of course, this depends on how strong you make your coffee and the size of your particular pot or french press.
Range of Grind size vs. Coffee Type:
The last criteria we’ll cover here is the grind size range. Making a classic drip coffee is pretty forgiving when it comes to grind size, but an Italian espresso may require a much smaller grind than some grinders can handle. On the other end of the spectrum, a french press grind tends to be much larger and some grinders might not have the range. Being sure the grinder you choose has the flexibility for all the coffee brewing methods you may employ is crucial.
Now that you know what to look for to match your needs in a grinder, here are our picks for coffee lovers:
Great build quality and a decent sized hopper make this one of our picks. The all black design will fit in with any kitchen to boot.
What We Like:
Easily replaceable grinding parts
Vertical design for a smaller footprint
Customers report great customer service from Baratza
What We Don’t:
Spendy, but worth it for those who want to get serious about their coffee
No preset grind times
Buy Here
Next up is this great little grinder from SHARDOR. It boasts many of the same features as many of the higher end grinders while maintaining a lower price. If you’re looking for the most “bang for your buck” look no further!
What We Like:
Economical, and well built for the price
Preset grind times get you the right amount of coffee
Easy disassembly for cleaning
What We Don’t:
Consumers have reported some quality control issues
Customer service is spotty
Buy Here
Bodum makes some great kitchen products and this burr grinder is no exception. Its funky color and robust look make for a fun and unique tool, great for any kitchen.
What We Like:
Glass Hopper comes with a lid for storing leftover grounds
Consumers report long lasting construction for the most part
What We Don’t:
Burrs have been known to dull early on some Bodum models
Buy Here
Good things can come in small packages, and this manual burr grinder from 1zpresso is one of them. The rubber grip and large knob are easy to grip for grinding and its small size makes this a great option for either travel or minimal space in your kitchen.
What We Like:
Can be fully disassembled for cleaning with included brush
Overwhelmingly positive reviews from Amazon
All metal construction is super durable
What We Don’t:
Nothing we could identify!
Buy Here
Two Words: High. End. Fellow Ode’s grinder sports a premium matte black finish, boasts 31 individual grind sizes, and let’s face it, this thing looks nice. Although it may set you back a little extra, this bad boy will give you great results with a premium feel. Who doesn’t love that?
What We Like:
Great materials give a premium feel
Cup comes with lid to keep leftover grounds fresh
Large grind selector wheel is easy to use and allows for very fine adjustments
What We Don’t:
Grind cup sits a touch low and some coffee grounds can make their way out onto the counter, this doesn’t happen often
