Coffee Grinders

How to choose a coffee grinder

A good coffee grinder makes a bigger difference to the taste of your coffee than almost anything else. Burr grinders crush beans to an even size, so your coffee extracts evenly and tastes sweet and balanced. Start by choosing a grinder that suits how you brew, then think about workflow and budget.

Espresso grinders

Espresso needs a very fine grind and tiny adjustments, so look for stepless grind settings or lots of small steps. The Eureka Mignon Specialita, Matte Black and Eureka Mignon XL, Chrome are quiet, precise and beautifully built, while the Mahlkönig X54 Allround Grinder and Eureka Mythos One, Polished Steel bring café-grade burrs to your kitchen.

Single-dose grinders

Single dosing means weighing exactly the beans you need for each cup. It keeps coffee fresher and makes switching beans easy. The DF64 Gen 2 Single Dose Grinder and MiiCoffee DF83V Single Dose Grinder are popular choices with flat burrs and minimal retention.

Filter coffee grinders

Pour-over, AeroPress and cafetière need a coarser, very consistent grind. The Fellow Ode Gen 2 Flat Burr Grinder, Wilfa Uniform Burr Grinder and Fellow Opus 2 Conical Burr Grinder are built for exactly that, and the Baratza Encore ESP Pro Grinder is a dependable all-rounder.

Manual coffee grinders

A manual coffee grinder costs less for the same grind quality, is silent and travels well. The Comandante C40 MK4 Hand Grinder, Walnut, Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade, Alpine Lagoon and 1Zpresso K-Ultra Hand Grinder are among the best hand grinders in the world, and the 1Zpresso J-Ultra Hand Grinder is tuned for espresso.

Electric or manual coffee grinder?

An electric coffee grinder is faster and easier if you make several drinks a day. A manual grinder suits smaller kitchens, travel and anyone who enjoys the ritual. Many coffee lovers own both. If you’re upgrading from a blade grinder, the Sage Smart Grinder Pro, Black Truffle is a great first step into burr grinding.

Understanding grind settings

Grind settings control how fine or coarse your coffee is, and getting them right is the key to a balanced cup. Espresso needs the finest grind settings, AeroPress and pour-over sit in the middle, and cafetière and cold brew need the coarsest. Stepless grinders give you total control between grind settings, while stepped grinders make it easy to return to a setting you know works. If you brew both espresso and filter, pick an electric grinder with a wide range of grind settings and clear markings so you can switch quickly.

Compare before you buy

When you compare grinders, look beyond the price. Burr size and quality, grind retention, noise, speed and how easy it is to clean all make a difference day to day. Every product in this collection is sold through Amazon UK, so you get Amazon’s delivery and returns alongside the manufacturer’s warranty.

Essentials to pair with a new grinder

A coffee scale is the first thing to buy alongside any grinder. Timemore makes some of the best value coffee scales, such as the Timemore Black Mirror Mini Coffee Scale and Timemore Black Mirror DUO Coffee Scale, which let you weigh beans in and coffee out for every cup. Add a WDT tool like the Subminimal Flick WDT Distribution Tool for espresso and an airtight container such as the Airscape Kilo Coffee Canister to keep beans fresh. Explore more in our barista accessories.

Cleaning and looking after your grinder

Regular cleaning keeps your coffees tasting fresh. Oils from the beans build up on the burrs over time and turn stale, so brush the burrs, run a few grinder cleaning tablets through every month or so, and keep the hopper free of old beans. All the products in this range have spare burrs and parts available, and most come with free Prime delivery on eligible orders.

Frequently asked questions

How much should you pay for a coffee grinder?

For espresso, expect to spend around £300 to £450 on a quality electric grinder. For filter only, £200 to £350 buys something excellent. Premium hand grinders cost around £150 to £300.

Is a burr grinder better than a blade grinder?

Yes. Blade grinders chop beans unevenly, producing dust and large pieces together. Burr grinders give a consistent grind size, which is the key to great-tasting coffee.

How do I clean a coffee grinder?

Brush out the burrs and chute every week or two and use grinder cleaning tablets now and then. Never use water on the burrs of an electric grinder.

Read our full guide to the best coffee grinders.

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