Best Coffee Grinders

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 2, 2024
The process of making coffee is like a ritual for every person addicted to this drink. And the key is to grind the beans to perfection ...Read more
PROS

Made with the innovative Vortex technology, the grinder literally "pulls" ingredients into the blades, ensuring fast, quiet, and efficient grinding. It works almost silently.

CONS

The cord is pretty short.

OUR VERDICT

Produced by a German brand, the KRUPS GX336D50 is a premium grinder that will easily stand the test of time. It's also one of the most powerful yet the quietest models on the market.

detailed parameters
Grinder Type

Blade grinder

Power and Capacity

200 watts, Can grind for 12 cups per one time

Design

Plastic body, Removable grinding bowl, Storage lid, Stainless steel blades

Additional Options

One-touch operation, Silent Vortex technology, High and Low speed grinding modes

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The stainless steel bowl can hold up to 3.2 oz of beans, which will let you make as many as 18 cups of coffee. The heavy-duty motor can grind the hardest ingredients.

CONS

The power button feels a bit tentative in action.

OUR VERDICT

The Cuisinart DCG-12BC is what you need for quick grinding of coffee beans, spices, and nuts. It has a thoughtful design with a built-in interlock for safe operation and handling.

detailed parameters
Grinder Type

Blade grinder

Power and Capacity

175 watts, Can grind for 18 cups per one time

Design

Brushed stainless steel body, Removable grinding chamber and lid, Stainless steel blades

Additional Options

On/Off control, Built-in safety interlock, Cord storage and lid storage, Inner measurement markings

WARRANTY

18-month limited

PROS

The appliance comes with 2 bowls - the 4-bladed cup can be used to grind garlic, basil, and spices while the 2-bladed one works for grinding coffee beans, nuts, sesame seeds, and flax.

CONS

The lid is slightly difficult to clean.

OUR VERDICT

The SHARDOR CG618B is an ideal appliance for wet and dry grinding. It'll let you work with a variety of ingredients (including the hardest spices) without mixing their flavors.

detailed parameters
Grinder Type

Blade grinder

Power and Capacity

200 watts, Can grind for 12 cups per one time

Design

Plastic body, 2 removable grinding bowls, Stainless steel blades

Additional Options

One-touch operation, 2-in-1 Spoon (Brush and Spoon) included, Safety lock and sealing ring

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The see-through lid allows you to watch the grinding of coffee beans and makes it possible to stop it at any moment. 

CONS

The lid doesn't quite seal around the cup, so some little bits of coffee grinds may fly out of it.

OUR VERDICT

The KitchenAid BCG111ER is a powerful device with sharp stainless steel blades that can grind for up to 12 cups of coffee per each cycle. For the convenience of use, it features special measurement marks on the inside of the bowl.

detailed parameters
Grinder Type

Blade grinder

Power and Capacity

160 watts, Can grind for 12 cups per one time

Design

Plastic body, Removable grinding bowl, Storage lid, Stainless steel blades

Additional Options

One-touch control, Measurement marks

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

Besides standard Black, this grinder is available in Chrome, Dark Gray, Die-Cast Copper, Matte Chrome, Red, and White colors. This allows it to complement any interior without looking there as an eyesore. 

CONS

The consistency of the grind is not always ideal.

OUR VERDICT

Produced by a trustworthy manufacturer, this grinder is ideal for beginners. It's not too fancy but it does the job as expected. Takes little counter space and prepares ground coffee for 2 cups.

detailed parameters
Grinder Type

Blade grinder

Power and Capacity

150 watts, Can grind for 8 cups per one time

Design

Plastic body, Removable grinding bowl, Storage lid, Stainless steel blades

Additional Options

Push-button control, Cord storage in base, Pulse or Continuous grind options, Safety lid system

WARRANTY

2 years limited

High-Quality Design

KRUPS is a German company that has been an expert in coffee preparation for more than 170 years. The secret of their success is that they pay a lot of attention to the finest details, making sure the products they design are robust and perpetuate the highest standards of quality. The GX336D50 hasn't become an exception. Packed with advanced technologies, this blade grinder is ultra-powerful, efficient, and easy to use. However, the word that best describes it and favorably stands it apart from many other coffee grinders is "silence". The GX336D50 uses the latest, patent-pending Silent Vortex technology that makes it by far the quietest grinder on the market. So, if you’re an early morning cook or just need something that gets the job done during your baby's nap, this Krups grinder is probably the best bet for you.

At the same time, as was mentioned earlier, the GX336D50 doesn't lack in the performance department. The powerful DC motor that it keeps under its hood gives plenty of torque to tackle even the trickiest grinding tasks. You can choose between High and Low speed grinding settings depending on the ingredients you're working with. The High Mode is best for coffee beans as well as hard foods like nuts, while the Low Mode is perfect for herbs and spices. So, from whole coffee beans and hard spices like whole peppercorns to dry herbs and bread crumbs, this mini machine can effortlessly grind everything you may need for savory dishes or sweet-baked goods.

The KRUPS GX336D50 grinds equally well at various levels of coarseness and allows for either continuous or pulse grinding. Just put your coffee beans in the bowl, put the lid on, and press down on the button until the seeds are ground to your liking.

Extra Quick

Unlike many other models that need about a minute to grind coffee beans, this one requires just 15 seconds to prepare 12 cups of beans for drip coffee. As a nice touch, the removable stainless-steel grinding bowl has a dedicated storage lid that can hold all the ground coffee. The top is quite large and doubles as a "cup", letting you flip it upside down to trap your ground coffee after grinding. This makes it much easier to pour the content into the coffee pot without making a mess. In addition, it perfectly seals flavors.

Overall, the Krup grinder has a sleek, modern design that looks quite attractive. It comes in Black and fits in well with any decor. It is also easy to wash and dishwasher safe. However, take note that the motorized bottom with blades must not be immersed in water and should be cleaned only by hand. So after you're done, you can hand-wash the lid and wipe down the bowl with a paper towel. Our recommendation is to store the appliance with the lid off so that the bowl and the lid stay dry, thus, minimizing spice clumping in the future.

In all, if you need a sleek, quiet device for different kitchen needs, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the KRUPS GX336D50. Packed with advanced technologies, this premium grinder will work superbly for coffee beans, herbs, seeds, nuts, and grains.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $49.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B08C37BY5L

Large-capacity Grinder

If you're after something modern-looking and good-performing, the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder may catch your fancy. Made from brushed stainless steel, it looks premium and can be proudly displayed on any kitchen countertop. Unlike the majority of other grinders with oval plastic tops, this one has a bit different aesthetics - sporting clean lines and steel body with slightly rounded edges, it looks very presentable and can blend seamlessly into any contemporary decor.

As for the inner elements, the Cuisinart grinder is made with a heavy-duty motor and stainless steel blades. Also, it has a built-in safety interlock that stops the unit's operation if the lid has not been properly closed. This, however, should not be a frequent case since the lid seals really tightly.

Also included is an airtight freshness cap that can come in useful for storing ground coffee that you haven't used, which is pretty handy considering that the device can grind up to 3.2 oz of coffee beans at once.

With such a generous capacity, it's not surprising that the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder is widely used by large families and those who often host coffee parties. And it's also not surprising that though advertised as for household use only, this coffee grinder can often be found in small coffee shops, offices, and many other public places.

So Easy to Use

Operating this grinder is quite easy even for those who've never owned this type of kitchen appliances before. You should simply plug the cord into a power outlet, remove the lid from the base, and fill the stainless steel bowl with the needed quantity of beans. For proper admeasuring, there are handy markings indented on the bowl. After that, lock the grinding bowl and place the lid back onto the base. Then press and hold the on/off button for grinding and don't release the pressure until beans are ground to the desired consistency. That's it.

For easy cleaning, all removable parts are dishwasher-safe (on the top rack). And for neat storage, the appliance has a special compartment in the base, allowing you to hide the cord. All this makes the Cuisinart Grind Central Coffee Grinder a good choice for those who need a high-capacity unit that would be easy to use and maintain.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer


VIDEO

Two are Better than One

This grinder from Shardor is a quite respectable choice because of its reasonable price, excellent buyer satisfaction rating, and versatility of use. However, the highlight of the model is that it's capable of handling both dry and wet grinding. Along with the grinder itself, the package includes two stainless steel bowls. The first one is a two-blade grinder cup that can handle dry ingredients like coffee beans, spices, nuts, sesame seeds, and flax seeds. The second one is a four-blade chopper cup that can be used for garlic, basil, and other wet spices. That way, you can get away from manual grinding completely. What's especially great is that despite the two-bowl design the model doesn't mix flavors and delivers great results with any ingredients you're working with.

When it comes to its effectiveness as a grinder, the Shardor appliance gets quite outstanding customer reviews and ratings. Equipped with a heavy-duty 200-watt motor, it's a bit more powerful than the majority of other electric grinders on the market, which makes it suitable for all types of spices including the hardest of them. The motor's operation is robust and it doesn't tend to get hot like cheap models, which allows preserving the original coffee flavor with no side tastes.

Convenience of Use

The other thing that adds appeal to this Shardor’s grinder is its ease of use. You simply need to load coffee beans (~2.45 oz) or spices in a bowl and press the lid to start grinding. The push-down lid facilitates the unit's handling and makes it an excellent choice even for consumers with dexterity issues. A soft grip of the main body contributes to the convenience of use too.

Obviously, you won't find any grinding settings here. It is you who will customize your grind by pressing the lid. This, however, is pretty convenient and will be easy to do after you try a couple of times. On average, the Shardor CG618B can get coffee beans to a fine grind in 5-8 seconds while nuts and spices will take about 10-15 seconds.

Once you're done, you can remove the bowl for easy cleaning in a dishwasher or you can wash it by hand using the included 2-in-1 accessory (spoon with a brush) that will let you clean inside the grinder.

With a smart design like this, the Shardor coffee and spice grinder can definitely find a place in any kitchen. It'll be especially great for those who often work with wet and dry spices.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $39.95
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07LG33LV3

Best for Home Use

Those who do not plan on grinding tons of coffee beans daily may find a lot to love about the KitchenAid BCG111ER. Though small and inexpensive, this model has a rather powerful 160W motor, allowing it to grind enough coffee beans for up to 12 cups per each cycle, which is not a small feat at all. More to that, this grinder is quite effective not only for coffee. According to users, it's able to tackle dried cinnamon sticks and even ginseng root with effortless ease, turning grind ingredients to fine dust in mere minutes.

The build quality of the KitchenAid coffee grinder is superb. It's wrapped in a heavy-duty plastic housing with a stainless steel bowl that is made to stand the test of time. To make the use of the device more simple and convenient, the top cover was made clear, so you can check up on the consistency of grinds and either stop the process or grind a little longer.

Another advantage of this grinder is that it is very quiet. Actually, its operation noise is as quiet as a whisper, making it a great choice for early risers who usually have their daily Joe first thing in the morning. The only warning is, the unit can be a little messy due to the lid being not tight enough to seal properly against the top of the bowl. However, since this issue is quite common with most coffee grinders, both expensive and cheap, it shouldn't be a dealbreaker.

Some Additional Perks

Although most coffee grinders are not difficult to use, we like the fact that the folk behind KitchenAid made it even easier by engraving measurement markings on the inside of the bowl. This way, you won't be wasting any beans and will only grind enough for 4, 8, ten or twelve cups of coffee. What is also handy is that the bowl is removable, making it easy to transfer the grinds to the Turk or coffee machine.

It should also be mentioned that the KitchenAid BCG111ER can be used with separate spice grinding bowls, which can be purchased from the manufacturer. This allows you to expand the capabilities of the device and use it for grinding all sorts of various spices and herbs. Not only that. Having two grinding bowls can also help eliminate cross-contamination and save time on cleaning, as you can simply swap them between uses. 

To bring it to an end, the KitchenAid BCG111ER is a nice coffee grinder in a budget range. It can grind coffee for up to 12 cups within just a few minutes and is powerful to tackle even dried cinnamon sticks. Moreover, it helps save waste, thanks to the handy measurement marking inside the coffee bowl, which sets it apart from the competition.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B006H41LX8

Great Starter Grinder

Bodum Chambord is a big name in the coffee market. It's a Denmark brand that is respected all across the globe for the high-quality coffee and tea products it produces in addition to other kitchenware. However, if you think that Bodum appliances come at premium price tags, this coffee grinder proves the opposite. Coming at less than $25, it offers a great way to start your coffee making experience.

It’s a functional grinder that has a good blade grinding mechanism and does its job as expected. With some practice and patience, you'll be able to get almost the same grinding results as with more expensive machines. It's a pulse-action grinder that doesn’t have preset grind settings, meaning you simply need to pulse the unit until the beans meet your visual standards. For this, the grinder has a transparent lid allowing you to check the evenness of the grind at a glance.

Specs-wise, the Bodum grinder is pretty average. It's equipped with a strong stainless steel cutting blade and a 150-watt motor that spins this blade at a precise RPM. In general, this grinder takes whole coffee beans from coarse to fine fairly quickly and efficiently.

Nice Design

What we also like is that the Bodum grinder has a slimmer profile than most other options available for sale. Measuring just 6" x 3.5" x 3", it's very compact and may easily fit anywhere in your kitchen. What's more, Bodum offers more color options than other manufacturers, allowing you to find the ideal grinder that would blend beautifully into your kitchen. Besides standard Black, you can choose between Chrome, Dark Gray, Die-Cast Copper, Matte Chrome, Red, and White. At the base, there is convenient cord storage allowing you to keep the lead out of the way on the kitchen counter.

When it comes to operation, the large push-button control button at the side ensures easy operation even for those individuals that have some dexterity problems. Per one cycle, you can grind enough beans for one or two cups of coffee. So, if you're limited in space and looking for a compact, basic grinder that will look hot and be able to prepare enough ground coffee for you and your significant other, the Bodum grinder is a worthy choice. Featuring no fancy bells and whistles or complex functions, it is also ideal for novice users.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $23.40
Stock In stock
ASIN B0043073WQ

How it works:

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What Is a Coffee Grinder?

Some people like brewing coffee in a Turkish coffee pot while others prefer using coffee brewers, French presses, or espresso machines. No matter which appliance you prefer, there's one thing common for all of them - they all require well-ground coffee. For that, you may need to get a coffee grinder. There are two types of coffee grinders available - manual models and electrical ones. Surely, electric grinders are the leaders. Compared to manual grinders that often take no less than 20 minutes to grind, these will get the job done in a matter of 2-5 minutes. In addition, they also allow adjusting the grinding coarseness to cater to different preferences.

To help make your choice easier, we have selected only the best electric coffee grinders available on the market right now. Here, you will find both blade and burr grinders, so you can decide which one suits your requirements best.

For true coffee buffs, we also recommend checking out our selection of milk frothers, with the help of which you'll be able to make a variety of coffee drinks such as latte, macchiato, cappuccino, and others.

What Features to Compare

Grinder Type

When choosing a grinder, first things first, decide which type suits you most. As we've noted above, there are two main types of coffee grinders to choose from - blade grinders and burr ones.

Blade grinders are fitted with sharp knives that are rotating at a high speed. This type of grinders is pretty affordable, very easy to use and provides high-grade quality of grinding. However, be careful when using it - its sharp knife is easily accessible, meaning there is a potential risk of injury if you don't tread it with caution. As for burr coffee grinders, they don't break coffee beans into pieces; instead, they fray them smoothly and hence, much safer to use.

Power and Capacity

The power and capacity of a coffee grinder are important things to consider. Needless to say, the power affects the quality and speed of grinding. To prevent overheating of the device, opt for mid-to-high-power models that yield from 80 to 150 Watts or more. These are considered the golden mean and do not add bitterness to the drink, as most higher-power grinders do.

Design

A coffee grinder should be convenient and easy-to-use. If you prefer to have a portable coffee grinder, you surely need to take a closer look at blade grinders since, generally, they are more compact than burr grinders. That's largely achieved owing to the fact that burr-type grinders are usually equipped with larger motors. Also, whereas burr grinders are equipped with dual tanks for coffee beans and ground coffee, blade models have only one container for coffee beans, making them considerably lighter in weight.

Take note that grinders can be made from metal or plastic. Surely, metal grinders will serve you longer than plastic ones. However, they are also heavier and usually pricier than plastic models.

Additional Functions

Most coffee grinders include a few additional functions that add to their usability. One of the most important is, perhaps, the option to control the grinding coarseness, which defines what kind of coffee you'll be able to make - strong or mild. The dosing option is also a practical addition that will allow you to make just the right amount of coffee without wasting beans.

Furthermore, you can find grinders designed with twin blades. They operate considerably faster than coffee grinders equipped with only one blade.

Other additional functions may include a built-in timer, deactivating the machine after a certain time of no use, and a hidden cord compartment that allows for neat storage of the device on the countertop.

Sources:

1. Alan Henry Five Best Burr Coffee Grinders, Lifehacker. November 2, 2014.

2. Lauren Crabbe Slave to the Grind: 7 Coffee Grinders Tested and Rated, Wired. April 12, 2013.

3. Kate Halse Top 10 Best Burr Coffee Grinders, Heavy. March 20, 2015.

4. Scott Packard The 10 Best Coffee Grinders, Gear Patrol.

5. Rebecca Ciaramidaro The grind on coffee grinders, Choice.

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