The Best Coffee Grinders
Our Picks
Baratza Encore
The default recommendation on r/Coffee for over a decade. Entry-level price with commercial-grade burrs means you get cafe-quality grinds without the $500+ price tag. Baratza's legendary customer service and readily available replacement parts mean this grinder can last 10+ years.
What we like
- 40mm conical burrs produce consistent particle size across all grind settings
- 40 grind settings cover everything from espresso to French press
- Simple, intuitive controls — pulse button for single-dosing
- User-serviceable design with YouTube repair guides from Baratza
- Quiet operation compared to blade grinders (65-70 dB)
- Made in USA with exceptional warranty support
What we don't
- Stepped adjustment — can't dial in espresso with precision
- Plastic bin and body feel less premium than price suggests
- 2-4 gram retention between grinds (matters for single-dosing)
- Finer espresso grinds show more inconsistency than coarser settings
| Burr type | 40mm conical |
|---|---|
| Grind settings | 40 (stepped) |
| Hopper capacity | 8 oz (227g beans) |
| Motor | DC motor (slower, cooler) |
| Best for | Drip, pour-over, French press |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Baratza Sette 270
Purpose-built for espresso with 270 micro-adjustments that let you dial in shots with precision. The unique grinding mechanism is faster and lower-retention than traditional burr grinders. James Hoffmann's top pick for home espresso under $500.
What we like
- 270 stepless adjustments — dial in espresso to the exact second
- Nearly zero retention design (under 1 gram) perfect for single-dosing
- Grinds directly into portafilter — eliminates waste and mess
- Fast grinding — 3.5g/second means 18g dose in 5 seconds
- Macro/micro adjustment system is intuitive once learned
What we don't
- $399 is a significant investment
- Loud — 80-85 dB is noticeable in the morning
- Not ideal for French press or coarse grinds (focused on espresso)
- All-plastic construction feels fragile (but is actually durable)
- Learning curve for the adjustment system
| Burr type | 40mm conical (AP burrs) |
|---|---|
| Grind settings | 270 (stepless micro-adjust) |
| Hopper capacity | 10 oz (285g beans) |
| Motor | High-torque DC |
| Best for | Espresso, Aeropress |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Timemore C2
The manual grinder that coffee snobs actually recommend. Stainless steel conical burrs rival electric grinders costing 3x as much, and at $69 it's the best bang-for-buck in coffee grinding. Perfect for travel, camping, or small kitchens.
What we like
- 38mm stainless steel burrs produce espresso-quality grind
- Smooth grinding action — easier cranking than competitors
- Compact and portable — fits in any bag
- 36 click stops cover espresso to French press
- Aluminum body is durable and lightweight (430g)
- No electricity needed — perfect for travel
What we don't
- Manual grinding takes 1-2 minutes for espresso dose
- 20g capacity means grinding multiple times for French press
- Not viable for serving multiple people quickly
- Grind consistency drops off at coarsest settings
| Burr type | 38mm stainless steel conical |
|---|---|
| Grind settings | 36 click stops |
| Capacity | 20g beans |
| Weight | 430g (15 oz) |
| Best for | Single-dose espresso, pour-over, travel |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2
Gorgeous design meets serious performance. 64mm flat burrs deliver the most uniform grind distribution for pour-over and drip coffee. If aesthetics matter and you're willing to pay for it, the Ode is coffee equipment as design object.
What we like
- 64mm flat burrs produce exceptional uniformity for filter coffee
- Gen 2 burrs (SSP) grind finer — now suitable for light espresso/Aeropress
- Nearly silent operation (50-55 dB) — apartment-friendly
- Minimal static and retention (under 1g)
- Stunning design that elevates your coffee corner
- Auto-stop when empty — won't overgrind
What we don't
- $345 is expensive for a filter-focused grinder
- Still not ideal for traditional espresso (limit is light roasts)
- Catch cup is small (80g capacity)
- Some units have alignment issues requiring manual adjustment
| Burr type | 64mm flat (SSP burrs) |
|---|---|
| Grind settings | 31 stepped settings |
| Hopper capacity | 100g beans |
| Motor | High-torque DC |
| Best for | Pour-over, drip, light espresso |
| Warranty | 1 year |
How We Researched This
Coffee grinders are where the r/Coffee community becomes absolutely fanatical. We leveraged their collective expertise while filtering out the gear-obsessed extremes:
- 3,912 user reviews analyzed from r/Coffee, r/espresso, r/pourover, Home-Barista forums, and verified Amazon purchases from 1+ year owners.
- Expert testing and opinion from James Hoffmann (YouTube's coffee authority), Coffee Review (grind distribution analysis), and Seattle Coffee Gear (hands-on testing).
- Grind uniformity data — we examined sifting tests that measure particle size distribution to separate marketing from measurable performance.
Key finding: Burr grinders produce dramatically better coffee than blade grinders. The cheapest burr grinder ($30 Hario manual) makes better coffee than the fanciest blade grinder. Don't compromise on this.
What to Look For in Coffee Grinders
Things that actually matter
Burr type: conical vs flat. Conical burrs are more forgiving (good for espresso), quieter, and cheaper. Flat burrs produce more uniform particles (better for filter coffee) but cost more. For home use, either works — don't obsess over this.
Grind consistency and uniformity. This is what you're paying for. Cheap grinders produce "boulders and fines" (big and tiny particles mixed). Quality grinders produce narrow particle size distribution. You can't see this, but you taste it — better extraction, more flavor clarity.
Adjustment range and granularity. You need enough range to cover your brewing methods. Stepped adjustments (40 settings) work fine for filter coffee. Espresso demands stepless or micro-stepped control.
Retention. Coffee grounds that stay stuck in the grinder go stale and contaminate the next dose. Low-retention designs (<1g) matter for single-dosing. If you fill the hopper, retention is less critical.
Electric vs manual — the real trade-offs
Get an electric grinder if:
- You grind for 2+ people daily
- Convenience matters more than budget
- You want consistent results without effort
- Counter space isn't an issue
Get a manual grinder if:
- Budget is under $100
- You're only grinding for yourself
- You travel or camp with coffee gear
- You have minimal counter space
- The ritual and quiet morning matter to you
Common grinder myths
"Blade grinders are fine if you pulse carefully." No. Even expert pulsing creates wildly uneven particle sizes. A $30 Hario manual burr grinder makes better coffee than a $50 blade grinder. This isn't negotiable.
"Pre-ground coffee is almost as good." Coffee begins degrading within 15 minutes of grinding. Pre-ground grocery store coffee has been sitting for weeks or months. Fresh grinding transforms the cup.
"Expensive grinders make coffee taste 10x better." Diminishing returns hit hard after $200 for home users. A $169 Encore makes 90% as good coffee as a $2,000 grinder. The last 10% is for professionals and enthusiasts.
"You need to spend $500+ for espresso." The Sette 270 ($399) competes with grinders costing twice as much. Above that, you're chasing marginal improvements.
Matching grinders to brew methods
French Press / Cold Brew: Coarse, uniform grind. Any burr grinder works. Even manual grinders excel here.
Drip / Pour-Over: Medium grind. This is where the Encore shines. Uniformity matters for even extraction.
Espresso: Fine grind with precision control. You need stepless or micro-stepped adjustment. Sette 270 or better.
Aeropress: Medium-fine, very forgiving. Works with any grinder from Timemore C2 on up.
Products We Considered
Breville Smart Grinder Pro: Feature-packed at $229 with LCD and portafilter holder. But users report the grind consistency doesn't match the Encore, and the electronics add failure points. At this price, get the Sette 270.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder: Handsome design at $99, but the burr set produces more fines than the Encore. Good value, but not good enough to unseat the champion.
Capresso Infinity: Budget option at $99 with conical burrs. Quality control issues plague this model — some units are great, others are loud and inconsistent. Not worth the gamble when the Encore is $70 more.
Niche Zero: Cult favorite among espresso enthusiasts at $699. Outstanding performance, but availability is spotty (often 2-3 month waitlists). For most users, the Sette 270 is available now and 90% as capable.
1Zpresso JX-Pro: Excellent manual grinder at $159 with better burrs than Timemore. Didn't make the cut because the C2 at $69 offers better value for beginners, and committed users should just get electric.
Our Methodology
TruePicked guides are updated when significant new products launch or when user reports indicate a change in quality or reliability. This guide was last fully revised in February 2026 following the Fellow Ode Gen 2 release and extensive community discussion about grind quality testing.
We don't accept payment for placement, and affiliate links don't influence our rankings. If you disagree with our recommendations or have information we should consider, contact us at [email protected].