Top 5 compared
The best coffee grinders
Whole beans ground minutes before brewing, for a morning cup that tastes fresher.
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The top 5 at a glance
A grinder lives by the coffee maker and turns whole beans into grounds for a drip machine, a French press, a pour-over cone or espresso. A burr grinder crushes beans between two cutting rings set to the size you choose, from fine to coarse; a blade grinder chops them with a spinning blade, finer the longer you hold the button, and can take spices too.
Espresso needs the fine, even grind of a burr grinder. Drip and French press are more forgiving, and a blade grinder handles them in less space. Whichever kind, brush out old grounds now and then, as they turn stale inside.
What matters
- A timer or cup selector, so the dose is set, not guessed.
- A hopper or bowl sized for a single mug or a full pot.
- A bowl or burr that comes out for cleaning.
- An anti-static design, so grounds don’t cling and scatter.
#1Aromaster Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (48 settings)
$75–$100
Stainless steel conical burrs turn slowly to keep heat away from the beans, with 48 settings running from fine espresso to coarse French press and a timer of up to 40 seconds to set how much it grinds. An anti-static design keeps the grounds from clinging and scattering across the counter.
What owners say: Owners single out how quiet it is, how even the grind comes out and how many settings it has, and the anti-static design keeps grounds in the cup instead of across the counter. It comes apart easily for a clean, too.
A closer look: Start in the middle of the dial for drip coffee and move a few clicks finer for espresso, brewing a cup between changes. A brush sits on the back of the hopper lid for sweeping out old grounds, and the burr must be completely dry before it goes back in.
- Brush on the hopper lid
- Burr comes out for cleaning
- Tinted bin blocks light
- Slow burrs limit heat
Best for: Espresso to French press
- Type
- Conical burr (electric)
- Grind settings
- 48
- Holds
- 3.9 oz of beans
- Extras
- 40-second timer, anti-static
#2BLACK+DECKER One Touch Coffee Grinder (CBG110S)
$20–$30
A compact stainless steel blade grinder that holds 2/3 cup of beans and grinds them coarse or fine with a single push-button, depending on how long you hold it. The blades only spin with the lid locked in place, and it handles herbs, spices and grains as readily as coffee.
What owners say: Fast, turning beans fine enough for espresso in about 20 seconds, and quieter than many, owners say, with plenty of kitchens using it for spices too. Some had one stop working early, and cleaning is a sticking point for others.
A closer look: Hold the button in short bursts and give the grinder a gentle shake between them for an even grind; a few seconds suits a French press and longer gives a finer grind for drip. Brushing the bowl out with a dry pastry brush after each use stops old grounds turning stale inside.
- Stainless steel blades and bowl
- Hold longer for finer grounds
- Two-year limited warranty
- 150W motor
Best for: Quick drip coffee and spices
- Type
- Blade (electric)
- Grind settings
- Push button
- Holds
- 2/3 cup of beans
- Extras
- Lid lock, spices too
#3Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Coffee Grinder (80335R)
$20–$30
A small, simple grinder: put the lid on, press to grind and let go to stop. The stainless steel bowl lifts out for filling and pouring and goes in the dishwasher, and it grinds enough beans for up to 12 cups, as well as peppercorns, flax and chia seeds.
What owners say: Quiet and easy, and owners like its small footprint and the way it comes apart for washing. The worry is lifespan, with a number reporting it gave out after a few months.
A closer look: Short presses leave a coarser grind for a French press, and holding it longer gives the finer grind a drip machine or cone filter needs. Lifting the bowl out to pour keeps grounds off the counter, and a dry bowl after washing stops the next batch from clumping.
- Bowl lifts out to pour
- Grinds peppercorns, flax and chia
- 125W motor
Best for: Grinding for a 12-cup pot
- Type
- Blade (electric)
- Grind settings
- Push button
- Holds
- 9 tbsp, for 12 cups
- Extras
- Dishwasher-safe bowl, cord storage
#4Ollygrin Conical Burr Coffee Grinder (30 settings)
$50–$75
40mm stainless conical burrs driven by a slow, gear-reduced motor, with 30 settings and a dial that grinds enough for 2 to 12 cups. The 10 oz hopper locks shut when lifted off, so beans don’t spill, and a friction clutch protects the gears if a small stone slips through with the beans.
What owners say: Even tiny batches come out uniform, and owners like how quietly and quickly it works, with the medium setting just right for a drip machine. Static is where they part ways: no trouble for some, a real mess for others.
A closer look: Pick the grind setting, then turn the rotary button to the number of cups, from 2 to 12, so it grinds just enough for the pot. Tapping the grounds container on the counter before opening it settles any static, and the upper burr lifts out so the brush in the box can clear the chute every week or two.
- 40mm conical burrs
- Hopper locks shut when lifted
- Clutch guards against stray stones
- Burr lifts out for cleaning
Best for: Daily drip and pour-over
- Type
- Conical burr (electric)
- Grind settings
- 30
- Holds
- 10 oz of beans
- Extras
- 2–12 cup selector, overheat cutout
#5Breville Smart Grinder Pro (BCG820, Black Truffle)
$150–$200
Sixty grind settings run from a fine espresso grind to a coarse French press one, and the LCD shows the setting, the grind time and how many cups or shots you’ve chosen. Grind time adjusts in 0.2-second steps, so the dose comes out the same every morning, straight into a portafilter, a filter basket or the sealed grounds container.
What owners say: Espresso drinkers are the happiest, with a fine, consistent grind and settings precise enough to dial in a shot, and the tray at the bottom lifts out for an easy clean. Longevity is the split: years of use for some, a failure within months for others, and opinions on the noise and the price differ too.
A closer look: Choose cups for a drip or French press dose or shots for espresso, then nudge the grind time up or down in 0.2-second steps until the cup tastes right. It’s a lot of grinder for someone who only brews drip, but anyone with an espresso machine will use the fine end of the dial every day.
- Grind time in 0.2-second steps
- Choose cups or shots
- Sealed grounds container
- Cleaning brush in the box
Best for: Dialing in a daily shot
- Type
- Conical burr (electric)
- Grind settings
- 60
- Holds
- 18 oz of beans
- Extras
- LCD timer, portafilter cradles
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Aromaster | #2BLACK+DECKER | #3Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind | #4Ollygrin | #5Breville |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best blade grinder | Best for espresso | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | $75–$100 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $50–$75 | $150–$200 |
| Type | Conical burr (electric) | Blade (electric) | Blade (electric) | Conical burr (electric) | Conical burr (electric) |
| Grind settings | 48 | Push button | Push button | 30 | 60 |
| Holds | 3.9 oz of beans | 2/3 cup of beans | 9 tbsp, for 12 cups | 10 oz of beans | 18 oz of beans |
| Extras | 40-second timer, anti-static | Lid lock, spices too | Dishwasher-safe bowl, cord storage | 2–12 cup selector, overheat cutout | LCD timer, portafilter cradles |
| Best for | Espresso to French press | Quick drip coffee and spices | Grinding for a 12-cup pot | Daily drip and pour-over | Dialing in a daily shot |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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