Great Coffee Starts With The Best Grinders
Your grinder is the most important piece of coffee equipment, and we’ve reviewed different types of coffee grinders for all your needs. Here are our articles for Craft Coffee Spot.
Top Buying Guides
- Best burr grinder: if you want to get started in coffee, you should get a burr grinder.
- Best burr grinder for beginners: this mix of grinders works for budget, all-around use cases, and ease of use. Think of this as a simpler list if you want to get started.
- Best manual coffee grinder: a manual grinder can save you a lot if you will do some work. Also, new manual grinders have hit the market with really good quality too. We’ve tested several that you should consider.
Or, choose a grinder by brewing method:
- Best grinder for espresso: espresso grinders are unique and more important for your shots than the espresso machine itself. We review the top options and what is important.
- Best grinder for pour over: a pour over grinder requires a certain range of grind size and consistency for high for your filter coffee. We go through several options that will work best for conical or flat-bottom pour over drippers.
- Best grinder for French press: French press requires a coarse grind size, and we curated a list that can make consistent coarse grind at a reasonable price.
Choosing The Right Grinder: Overview Of The Options
- Burr grinder vs blade grinder: we give an overview of the two broadest choices of grinders. At Craft Coffee Spot, we strongly recommend a burr grinder for better consistency and control.
- Conical vs flat burr grinder: there are two distinct types of burrs with different properties. However, there isn’t one clear choice
- What is grind retention: an explanation of what causes coffee grounds to get trapped in the burrs, why it’s so important for taste, and simple ways to reduce it. We also include three low-retention grinders.
- Manual vs electric coffee grinders: there are clear trade-offs in whether you want to get a manual or an electric (automatic) one. It comes down to price vs versatility, which we explain.
- Ceramic vs steel burr grinder: another heated debate within grinder circles is the quality of the burr. It matters a lot for coffee, and we lay out how the materials tend to differ.
- How to reduce static in coffee grinder: static is a common issue in grinders, and we talk about why that is and some simple ways to reduce it to improve your grinding.
- Clean and maintain your coffee grinder: regular maintenance is very important with a grinder, and it’s not as easy given the specifics of the burr assembly. We walk through the best maintenance processes.
- Measuring grind size distribution: this is an advanced guide on quantifying the grind consistency of your grinder, which helps measure quality and impact on taste.
Manual Grinder Reviews
- 1zpresso grinder comparison: 1zpresso makes some of the best all-around hand grinders today. We breakdown the full lineup (which has a lot of grinders).
- Timemore C3: one of our favorites for starting out in specialty coffee. It has a premium burr and simple design that is easy to transport at a great value. It’s not for espresso though.
- Timemore C3 vs C2: comparing two popular budget grinders. We have a strong view on the C3’s upgraded burr set.
- 1zpresso J Max: a great hand grinder for espresso. It has an easy external adjustment dial and consistent grind settings. A good value if you don’t want to spend on a more expensive electric espresso grinder.
- 1zpresso JX Pro: the mid-range hand grinder that’s good for all types of coffee. However, it does best for filter coffee and sacrifices some convenience for value.
- Comandante C40 review: a high-performance manual grinder with advanced burrs, the C40 is a premium option for those who want a (slightly) cheaper version than an electric.
Espresso Grinders
- Baratza Sette 270wi: this is a great grinder for consistent, fast, low-retention grinding, and it works with espresso to pour over coffee. However, it has some drawbacks, which we detail.
- DF 64 grinder: a new’ish entrant to espresso grinder, the DF64 is a nice value grinder with a powerful falt burr and easy workflow.
- Eureka Mignon Specialita review: one of the top espresso grinders for good reason. This is a premium grind that excels at delivering a flavorful espresso shot.
- Eureka Mignon Notte review: we’re biased towards less expensive options, and the Notte maintains Eureka’s reputation for top-notch espresso at a bargain price.
Grinders For Filter Coffee Or All-Around Use Cases
- Fellow Ode Gen 2 review: the new version of the original grinder performs really well for filter coffee. Read what’s changed and why we like it.
- Fellow Opus review: Fellow’s second grinder is an all-in-one, aimed at consumers who switch between brewing methods, and don’t want multiple grinders.
- Fellow Opus vs Baratza Encore ESP: comparing two new entrants to all-in-one grinders, and how they compare (it’s a very close call).
- Baratza Encore vs Virtuoso: Comparing Baratza’s two entry-level grinders, both of which are very popular. Overall, there are some slight differences between the two.
- Breville Smart Grinder Pro vs Baratza Encore: the two most popular entry-level grinders. We compare what’s the better starter option.
Learn how to use coffee grinders with our coffee brewing guides or espresso articles.
