In America, we love our coffee. Millions of us can’t get the day started until we’ve had our morning cup, with consumption in the 2018/2019 fiscal year topping 26 million 60-kilogram bags, up from 25.84 million in the previous fiscal year.
The National Coffee Association (NCA) says that today, more Americans are drinking gourmet coffee than in past years, including brewed gourmet, espresso-based beverages, and blended drinks or cold brews. And though the majority of us purchase coffee already ground, about one-fifth of us prefer to get the beans whole and grind them at home.
Coffee enthusiasts know that a good coffee grinder can be even more important than a fancy coffee maker when it comes to making the perfect cup of coffee. The grinder can affect the coffee flavor and strength in a way that no other piece of equipment can. Small adjustments to the grinder can help you refine the flavor of your coffee until you have it just where you want it.
But there are a lot of grinders out there to choose from. Which one is best? We recently reviewed dozens of coffee grinders to help you answer that question.
We looked at things like grind settings, capacity, particle size and consistency, cost, size, material, durability, speed, noise, ease of use, and cleaning. All of these top-rated coffee grinders can be purchased online at Amazon.
We’ve identified the KRUPS Precision Coffee Grinder as our number-one option. It is a fast and easy grinder that has a quiet motor, making it perfect for most busy households.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Coffee Grinders
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Coffee Grinder Overall | KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder | 4.4 |
| Best Pro Coffee Grinder | Breville Smart Grinder Pro | 4.5 |
| Best Budget Coffee Grinder | Mueller Austria HyperGrind Precision Grinder | 4.4 |
| Best Manual Coffee Grinder | Shanik Manual Coffee Grinder | 4.4 |
| Best Vintage Coffee Grinder | IMAVO Vintage Style Coffee Grinder | 4.0 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change.
Best Coffee Grinder Overall: KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder
The KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder gives you the benefit of an efficient grinder at a reasonable price. It has the capability to grind beans for all types of brewing methods, including drip filter, French press, espresso, cold brew, and more, plus it does so quickly and quietly. Grind beans for 12 cups of coffee in only 15 seconds! The patent-pending vortex spin technology pulls the beans right into the blades so you won’t be waiting around for your grounds, and the one-touch operation allows you to perform continuous and pulse grinding.
If you’re not ready to make your coffee right away, this machine comes with dedicated storage lid you can use to safely keep the grounds fresh until it’s time to use them. The removable bowl is also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, which is super handy if you want to grind out other things like spices and dry herbs later on.
Reviewers love the small size, quiet operation, and long wear and reliability.
KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder Key Features:
- Fast and quiet grinding
- Perfect for all brewing methods
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes with a lid to store the grounds
Best Pro Coffee Grinder: Breville Smart Grinder Pro
If you’ve been grinding your own beans for a while and you pride yourself on your ability to make the best cup of coffee, espresso, or French press cup, you are probably ready for the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.
With an astounding 60 precise grind settings, stainless steel conical burrs, and a precision electric timer, you can bring all your experience to the task to create just what you want. The timer is so precise that you can change it in 0.2 increments, and the conical burrs help minimize heat to protect the essential oils in the coffee beans. The hopper has a locking mechanism for easy removal, storage, and transfer, and you have the option of grinding directly into the portafilter or you can use another airtight container.
The LCD makes this product a pleasure to use, as it’s easy to see the grind setting, grind time, and the number of shots or cups you’ve selected, plus you can change each one of these measurements with a touch of a button. This machine will cost you a bit more, but reviewers love the consistency of the grind, which is what matters to the taste of your coffee.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro Key Features:
- 60 grind settings for the true coffee connoisseur
- Conical burrs minimize heat on the beans
- Easy-to-read LCD
- A l
- ocking mechanism on the bean hopper for easy storage
Best Budget Coffee Grinder: Mueller Austria HyperGrind Precision Grinder
If you’re just getting started grinding your own beans, or if you’re not interested in multiple grind settings, you may be perfectly happy with the Mueller Austria HyperGrind Precision Grinder. Coming in at less than $20, it’s a blade grinder with three options—fine, medium, and coarse—giving you the ability to use the ground beans in a regular drip filter, French press or cold brew coffee maker.
The grinder is compact, taking up a minimum amount of counter space, and can be easily stored underneath cupboards or even in a drawer. The manufacturer promises consistent grinds every time, and if you’re not happy, offers a 100-percent money-back guarantee.
Reviewers note that this unit is quiet, too—which may be perfect if you’re making coffee while everyone else is still asleep in the morning. They also noted that it was fast with an easy clean-up and that you can use it for grinding other items like spices and nuts.
Mueller Austria HyperGrind Precision Grinder Key Features:
- A budget-friendly grinder that may be all you need
- Three grind options
- Takes up little space on the counter
- Grinds consistently with a quiet motor
- Easy clean-up
Best Manual Coffee Grinder: Shanik Manual Coffee Grinder
There are a few reasons you may prefer a manual grinder over an electric one. First, most are burr grinders, which means you can enjoy the higher quality of the burr grind without the higher price that usually comes with them. Second, a manual grinder is very portable, meaning you can take your beans with you and enjoy freshly ground coffee when traveling.
Third, a manual grinder is typically much quieter than the electric options, so if you’re an early riser with a roommate or house of light sleepers, you can still enjoy the perfect cup of coffee without risking the wrath of others. And finally, some people enjoy the process of grinding, feeling that it’s good for your arm muscles while helping your brain to relax and focus on what you’re doing.
Considering all these benefits, we chose the Shanik Manual Coffee Grinder for this spot. It has a stainless steel body built to last, a durable ceramic burr, and a silicone grip for better handling. The handle itself slides easily into the slot in the grip, making this grinder super sleek when you’re on the go and also ensuring you never lose the handle. The manufacturer includes a velvet carrying bag to keep it protected.
You can also adjust the grind by simply turning the knob clockwise or counterclockwise, and measure out the grounds with the handy measuring base container. Finally, the grinder comes with a silicone lid to keep your ground coffee fresh in case you can’t use it right away.
Shanik Manual Coffee Grinder Key Features:
- High-quality stainless steel with a ceramic burr
- Silicone grip for ease of use
- Removable handle with slot to keep it close
- Adjustable grind selector
- Comes with a velvet travel bag
Best Vintage Coffee Grinder: IMAVO Vintage Style Coffee Grinder
If you want to bring a little antique style into your kitchen, the IMAVO Vintage Style Coffee Grinder is just the thing. Made of elegant wood and cast-iron, it’s ideal for special home décor or to give someone else as a gift. Plus it’s not just something to look at—this grinder is fully functional.
Simply add your beans to the cast-iron pot, turn the crank (clockwise) a few times, and voila, the ground coffee drops into the adorable wooden drawer. The ceramic burr core makes the grind quickly, and you can change the grind setting by rotating the cog nut as needed. (Check the manual for more details.)
The capacity is smaller than other grinders—you can get just less than a cup in the drawer, but you can always repeat the process to get more. Reviewers love this item as a gift and/or conversation piece, and note that the crank takes little effort to turn.
IMAVO Vintage Style Coffee Grinder Key Features:
- Antique style great for home decor
- Ceramic burr grinds beans quickly
- Fun to use or give away as a gift
- Works great for one perfect cup of coffee
- Perfect for individuals and small spaces
Considering all these options, you can certainly have fun creating your best cup of coffee. If you still need some things to outfit your kitchen, check out our reviews of the best bread machines and the best rice cookers.
