The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
The Insider Pick:
Freshly ground coffee is addictive and delicious. If you want to make the perfect brew each morning, you need a coffee grinder. After much research and some testing, we found that the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder is the best option for most people with its affordable $139 price tag and consistently great grinds.
There's nothing better than a perfect cup of coffee. If you're a coffee snob, you probably know that freshly ground coffee makes for a better cup of Joe. Coffee goes stale relatively quickly, so when you buy pre-ground beans, you may be losing some of your coffee's flavor. A good grinder will grind your beans to a uniform size so that you get the most out of your beans. Grinding beans every day before you make coffee may sound like a hassle, but a grinder can quickly pulverize your beans to maximize their flavor.
Coffee grinders range from the incredibly affordable to the absurdly expensive. You can get grinders at any point in between as well. We've tested a few coffee grinders and researched dozens more to find the best ones you can buy. Before we get into our picks, these are the key terms and features you need to know.
Blade versus Burr grinders
There are two main types of coffee grinders: blade and burr grinders. Purists say that you shouldn't even consider blade grinders because they don't grind the coffee beans to a nice uniform particle size, which results in an uneven and unpredictable brew. Blade grinders are much cheaper than burr grinders, though, and not everyone will be able to afford the pricier burr grinders. As such, we've included one blade grinder and the rest are burr grinders at varying price points.
When you start looking at burr grinder machines, there's a lot more to know. As The Wirecutter explains, "burrs work by using two serrated pieces of metal or ceramic that are positioned a specific distance apart from each other (depending on the grind) and rotate to crush the beans to the exact size you want." Here are the different types of burrs used on most machines:
- Flat versus Conical burrs: There's much debate over which type of burr is better, but they perform pretty similarly, so you shouldn't worry too much about this point. Flat burrs are two parallel rings with a space between them where the beans enter to be sheared into coffee grounds, while conical burrs involve a cone in a ring that grinds your beans down to the right size.
- Steel versus Ceramic burrs: Steel burrs are more affordable and more common in coffee grinders, but they don't last as long as ceramic ones do. Ceramic burrs are typically used in manual hand grinders and for grinding espresso beans perfectly.
Having a powerful, consistent, and well-made grinder is essential to making the most out of your beans. These are the best grinders you can buy, ranging from less than $20 to $230.
Updated on 03/26/2018 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices, added links to other coffee gear guides, removed the KRUPS GX5000 Professional Electric Coffee Burr Grinder due to longevity concerns after prolonged testing, added the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill as our new under $50 pick.
Read on in the slides below to learn why the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is our top pick and why you should also consider the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder, the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill, the Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, the KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder, and the Hario Mini Mill Slim Hand Coffee Grinder.
SEE ALSO: The best espresso machines you can buy
The best coffee grinder overall
Why you'll love it: The Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder produces consistently uniform coffee grounds for all grind settings, and it costs far less than other high-end models.
Every coffee expert will tell you that the least amount of money you should spend on a coffee grinder is $100 because you get what you pay for in the coffee world. Although there are fancier high-end models that cost hundreds more than the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, this really is the best grinder for most people.
The Encore is considered the ultimate entry-level burr grinder for coffee enthusiasts at home. You really don't need more than what the Encore offers. It has 40 individual grind settings, ranging from fine to coarse and everything in between. Once you find the perfect setting for your tastes, you're all set.
It runs on a DC motor with electric and gear speed reducers that slow the burr to 450 RPM to reduce noise, static, and unwanted variations in particle size. The Encore is a great all-around grinder that performs nearly as well and consistently as the pricier competition.
Baratza also has a great repair program, so if your machine needs a repair or a full cleaning, they'll take care of it for you for a fee.
User reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, and many say there's no need to pay more for a high-end grinder. The Wirecutter named the Encore its best coffee grinder. Home Grounds highly recommends it, as does Lifehacker and Foodal.
Pros: Conical burr grinder, 40 grind settings, easy to use, reliable, consistent, relatively affordable, a good repair program
Cons: One-year warranty is a bit short, it's entry-level — not high-end
Buy the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder on Amazon for $139.00
The best burr grinder for less than $100
Why you'll love it: The Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder consistently grinds coffee beans to the ideal size for great coffee, and it costs less than $100.
High-end burr grinders are very expensive, but luckily, there are many great options out there for less than $100. Of the more mid-range grinders, the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder is the very best.
This 100-watt conical burr grinder has 16 grind settings, which range from super fine Turkish ground coffee to very coarse grounds that are perfect for French Press coffee. The grinder's conical burrs come from Switzerland and they're matched for a better fit and more consistent grind.
The clear bean container at the top holds 8-1/2 ounces of coffee beans, and the clear grounds container holds four ounces of freshly ground coffee. The Capresso Infinity has a built-in timer to ensure that your beans aren't ground too fine. It's relatively easy to clean and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
It may not be quite as consistent as high-end expensive grinders, but the Infinity is an excellent deal for a burr grinder costing less than $100. Buyer reviews on Amazon are mostly positive, and The Wirecutter named it the best budget pick for a burr grinder.
Pros: Conical burr grinder, reasonable price, 16 grind settings, timer, easy to clean
Cons: Not as consistent as high-end models
Buy the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder on Amazon for $96.52 (originally $120)
The best burr grinder under $50
Why you'll love it: The Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill costs just $40 on sale and it produces a good quality grind that tastes great.
Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a coffee grinder, but if you've got $40 burning a hole in your pocket, check out the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. This burr grinder originally cost $90, but since it's discounted on Amazon for about $40, it's an incredible deal.
It has 18 different grind settings, so you can get your beans down to a fine grind for espresso or a coarser grind for French press coffee. The dial is easy to twist and the settings are clearly labeled, making it easy to adjust the grind. The grind isn't perhaps as fine or precise as you'd expect from a fancier grinder, but with some experimentation, you should be able to find a setting that works for your taste.
Cuisinart says the chamber holds enough ground coffee for 32 cups of coffee, but your mileage will vary based on how coarse or fine you grind your beans. The 8-ounce bean hopper holds a decent amount of beans at a time, too. It'll automatically turn off when it's gone through all the beans in the hopper.
Expert reviewers give the Cuisinart grinder good marks given its affordable price tag. Best Reviews calls it the best bang for your buck, but the testers mention that the grind isn't quite as fine or consistent as serious coffee fanatics might like.
Coffee-loving bloggers at Home Grounds, Coffee Aficionado, and Know Your Grinder all agree that while it's certainly not a high-end grinder, for $40, it's a good deal, and most people will be happy with it.
Buyers on Amazon also give it good ratings, and reviews largely say the same thing: If you want an affordable grinder that's good, buy the Cuisinart Burr Mill; if you want the best, buy a more expensive high-end grinder.
Pros: Affordable on sale, burr grinder, easy to use, grinds a good amount of coffee
Cons: Not as precise as more expensive grinders
Buy the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill on Amazon for $40.41 (originally $90)
Buy the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill at Walmart for $40.41
See the rest of the story at Business Insider