If you're a coffee connoisseur, you'll need one of the best coffee grinders to ensure full flavor each time.
As the name suggests, coffee grinders are designed to grind coffee beans to an exact degree. The grind size will be adjustable to suit different kinds of beverages, ranging from fine to coarse. Achieving the correct grind size for your chosen drink is essential, because this will vary the extraction rate and overall flavor produced.
Many people opt for a separate coffee grinder when looking for a coffee maker or one of the best espresso machines, because among coffee experts, the perception is that you'll always get more for your money when you opt for a dedicated grinder. We tested some of the more premium coffee grinders on the market, but we also feature grinders that cost less than $100 to make sure there is an option for everyone in this buying guide.
With so many different types on the market, it can be tricky to buy the right one for you. The most important thing to consider is what you plan on using your grinder for. If it's the best of the best, the Eureka Mignon Specialista is our top pick. We suggest the Moccamaster KM5 for drip coffee, and the Baratza Encore for espresso. But if you're on a budget, the Breville Dose Control Pro is an outstanding all-rounder.
The quick list
Here’s the best coffee grinders you can buy right now based on our comprehensive testing. Scroll on for our full in-depth reviews.
This is the grinder we use every day in our test kitchen for consistently high-quality espressos, which should tell you how highly we rate the Eureka Mignon. This consistent and adjustable grinder has incredibly low retention and features a high-tech LCD screen.
If you’re on a budget, then the Breville (Sage) Dose Control Pro is the perfect coffee grinder for you. It offers excellent uniformity, low retention, and minimal clumping, all on a budget.
The Comandante C40 MK4 is the uncontroversial best hand grinder on the market. We experienced minimal clumping and next-to-no retention, and while it's an expensive option, it does come with a lifetime warranty.
Capable, consistent, and reasonably-priced, the Baratza Encore ESP is the ideal grinder if you want to acheive excellent espresso. Its's incredibly easy to use and offered excellent uniformity with minimal retention, but it will struggle on larger grind sizes.
The OG drip coffee brand that brought us the iconic Moccamaster also made a brilliant grinder for drip coffee. This well-made stepless design doesn't have many fancy features, but it's a brilliant choice for medium-large grind sizes and obviously pairs very well with the Moccamaster.
If you're on a tighter budget, Wacaco's Exagrind is a really impressive option that will usually cost around $100. It's prone to a little retention, and there's also some clumping which we easily overcame with a WDT, but make no mistake: this is a brilliant value choice.
The best coffee grinder you can buy
Tested in our reviews lab by Tom's Guide's reviews editor Peter, the Eureka Mignon Specialita was (and continues to be) put through its paces for everything from espresso to drip coffee as part of our testing. This is a premium option, not one for entry-level enthusiasts, but it's a highly dependable flat burr option that will get the best out of every single bean.
Made in Italy, you'll pay a premium (around $600 to be exact) to get your hands on the Eureka Mignon Specialita in the U.S., as opposed to a more tolerable £400 in the UK. We do think it's worth it for espresso-lovers who want to make a durable investment though, thanks to its incredibly high build quality and low retention.
Although this is an all-purpose grinder, the Mignon Specialita is the one we use when testing espresso machines because of how capable it is for this especially challening task. It has 6 grind settings but this is split up on a stepless dial that has a very wide throw, meaning you'll be able to make tiny adjustments if you like to get stuck into the details of your espresso.
As for the settings, you can make timer adjustments down to the tenth of a second, and switch between single and double portafilter measures thanks to the touchscreen display. Our main gripe is that the chute can be a little messy, but on the plus side, you'll lose a lot less bean in the grinding process due to the low-retention design.
Tested by Peter Wolinski, Reviews Editor
Read our full Eureka Mignon Specialita review
Best budget coffee grinder
If you’re on a budget, then the Breville (Sage) Dose Control Pro is the perfect coffee grinder for you. It’s just $159, which might seem like a lot of money, but coffee grinders can very easily get to well over $500.
In terms of performance, it’s fair to say that the Dose Control Pro behaves like a budget grinder. While I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, it is worth noting. I found that the Dose Control Pro couldn’t go fine enough for certain brewing methods and beans. If you gravitate towards light-roasted beans (like me) then you might need to adjust the inner burr to get the grinder fine enough. Don’t worry, it’s pretty easy.
Actually, using the Dose Control Pro is all pretty easy. To adjust the grind, all you have to do is move the hopper left or right. Left is finer, and right is coarser. I had no trouble using this grinder whatsoever during testing. It’s by far one of the easiest grinders I’ve ever used.
The Dose Control Pro has pretty good uniformity. I’ll give you some data here — it looks scientific and confusing, but it’s really not. While the grinder never managed to get as fine as 300μm, it had big jumps from 500μm to 800μm, which is what I want to see. This means the grind is mostly uniform.
There’s also a considerable lack of retention. The average retention was 2.15%, or 0.43g in real terms. To get this number, I ground 20g of coffee and calculated how much was left inside the grinding mechanism.
In terms of clumping, while no grinder has managed to evade the laws of physics and completely eviscerate clumping, the Dose Control Pro performed well. There was minimal clumping during testing and I think it’s more than enough for the average person.
If you’re on a budget but still want a big-name grinder, then the Breville Dose Control Pro is the best option. No, it won’t impress serious coffee purists, but for a beginner, cheap machine, I think it’s great.
Tested by Erin Bashford, Reviews Writer and ex-barista
Read our full Breville Grind Control Pro review
Best hand coffee grinder
There’s very little disagreement in the coffee world about the best hand grinder. I feel like most people will say the Comandante C40 MK4 is the best hand grinder around, hands-down. Of course there are other fantastic options, but the Comandante C40 MK4 just has that finesse that pips others at the post.
The C40 MK4 has a ‘Nitro Blade’ burr. If, like me before I got super into reviewing grinders, you don’t know what a Nitro Blade is, let me explain. It’s basically a fancy name for a really strong metal. The burr is made of martensitic stainless steel, which is a type of steel used in surgical instruments, pumps, valves, and more. In simple terms, it’s just very strong and very resistant to corrosion.
Because of this patented burr, the C40 MK4 is very expensive. It starts at a massive $277 and increases depending on the color and style. I have the walnut veneer version, which is usually around $330.
However, although the C40 MK4 is pricey, it’s so darn good. I really have no complaints about this grinder other than its price. If you want the best of the best, there’s no other option.
In terms of super-specific, almost scientific data, I have plenty. The Comandante C40 MK4 performed exceptionally well in my retention, uniformity, and clumping tests. It can easily grind smaller than 300μm, suitable for even Turkish coffee. It also jumped from 1% passthrough to 95% passthrough, indicating that the burrs grind super consistently for uniform grind.
For retention, the Comandante C40 MK4 also impressed me. Its average retention was 2.75%, which is on the higher end for other hand grinders, but still impressive in real-terms.
Finally, static and clumping. The C40 MK4 still generates static electricity, but of course it would — it’s literally grinding tiny little particles. As far as usability goes, though, this static was minimal. I didn’t notice any clumping issues during testing, either.
If you’ve got $300 to spend on the best of the best hand grinders, the Comandante C40 MK4 won’t let you down. And, to top it off, Comandante offers a lifetime warranty (for its burrs), so you’ll be able to grind in confidence.
Tested by Erin Bashford, Reviews Writer and ex-barista
Read our full Comandante C40 MK4 review
Best coffee grinder for espresso
The Baratza Encore ESP is our best grinder for espresso. There are two versions of the Encore: the ESP and the Encore (no ESP). You will want the Encore ESP, as the original does not grind fine enough for espresso.
At $199, it’s not the cheapest grinder on the market, but it is by no means the most expensive, either. When I first tested this grinder, I was actually gobsmacked by how affordable it is. No, it’s not as impressive as the Eureka Mignon Specialita, but it is around $300 cheaper.
You’d expect a $200 grinder to have some uniformity or fineness issues, like the Breville Dose Control Pro can be prone to. But that’s not the case with the Baratza Encore ESP. Besides being super easy to use (no learning curve whatsoever, which is a welcome change with coffee grinders), it also performed really well in my retention, uniformity. I will admit that there was a little clumping, so I had to wiggle my finger in the chute a couple of times to release some clumped coffee. However, for $200, can I blame the Encore ESP?
I’ve even got the data to prove it. The Baratza Encore ESP jumped from 10% passthrough to 90% passthrough, which means it has good uniformity. If the majority of the grounds can pass through my coffee sieve, it means they’re all the same size. This will result in a better tasting espresso.
I will admit that the coarser I ground the more inconsistent the grind was, but if you’re using this grinder for espresso, then you will only be grinding fine, so it won’t be an issue.
Retention was very impressive — just 1.55% on average. This means only a little coffee was stuck in the inner burrs after grinding. I did have to manually remove coffee from the chute, but this was negligible in my coffeemaking process.
In general, the Baratza Encore ESP is a fantastic espresso-forward grinder. It has great uniformity in fine grinds and very little retention, making it an ideal option for espresso. The best part? It’s just $200. I genuinely couldn’t believe the price when I first saw it.
Tested by Erin Bashford, Reviews Writer and ex-barista
Read our full Baratza Encore ESP review
Best grinder for drip coffee
The Technivorm Moccamaster drip coffee maker is one of the top coffee makers on the market. While it's not the cheapest option on the market, the build quality more than makes up for it. The same can be said for its Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 coffee grinder.
I was struck by its weighty but sturdy design, with a cool metal body and glass grounds container. Having tested a handful of the grinders in this guide, I can attest that none of them rival the Moccamaster in build quality.
The stepless design of this burr grinder means you can take full advantage of fine-tuning your brew. However, as you might expect for a grinder that's designed to work with the Moccamaster, it works best for drip, V60, Chemex, French press, and cold brew coffees, and its finest grind settings won't be suitable for espresso.
One of the most impressive elements of this grinder is its low retention, which means you can pre-weigh your beans and be confident that (almost) every ground will make it to your finished brew. This is ideal for those who work with a very specific ratio, but if you would prefer a grinder that you can fill up with beans and leave it to run with a timer, this won't be the machine for you.
Its controls are very simple, with an on/off switch at the base, making it better suited to single drinks.
Tested by Millie Fender, Managing Editor for Homes
Read our full Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Coffee Grinder review
Best budget hand grinder
We've tested the whole range of Wacaco's portable coffee gear, and the Exagrind is just as good as its portable espresso coffee makers. If you've got a Wacaco (or another portable coffee maker) this is a no-brainer buy. It's designed for single doses, topping out at 20g (which could prove annoying if you're grinding over 20g in a single shot, as some do). However, the high quality performance versus the low cost easily makes up for this.
The Exagrind’s 38mm stainless burrs have no problem grinding fine enough for espresso, French press, drip coffee, even Turkish coffee. It's small, portable, pretty consistent, and ideal for home use in small kitchens or taking on the go.
During testing, we put the grounds through a Kruve sifter to measure how evenly the grinder handles different grind sizes. There were very few outliers in the <300μm grounds and 1400μm, which is impressive for a $100(ish) grinder.
It isn’t perfect, though. Its beans chamber maxes out at 20 grams or so, which may not be enough for espresso brewers pulling double shots in 58mm portafilters, nor for +2-cup pour overs or French press. It’s also prone to a little retention, as well as static and clumping (although nothing that can’t be solved with a basic distribution tool).
Retention was also low — averaging at 0.5g of a 20g dose of beans, equating to 2.5%. While it can't compete with the big hitters, this budget hand grinder is a great pick that will deliver a delicious brew without the big price tag.
Tested by Ashley Thieme, Reviews Writer
Read our full Wacaco Exagrind review
The best quiet coffee grinder
If you want a user-friendly, quality coffee grinder at under $200, the KitchenAid Burr Grinder is the obvious choice.
It's a smart machine, with an LED display that shows your grind size, timer, and allows you to toggle between cup measures or shot measures (for espresso) using the dial on the right-hand side of the machine.
You can rest assured that this machine is mess-free when you dispense directly into the container, and this also seals to be airtight between uses, which is handy for keeping grounds fresh.
We experienced minimal static when grinding, and when we sifted through our grounds there was an impressive size consistency, especially in the middle settings. We had some clumping with our espresso grounds, and a few larger shards when grinding French press coffee, but this machine shines when grinding for drip brews. Our drink was bright and balanced without too much acidity.
Although it's amazing at drip coffee, this machine is also a good all-rounder and can be used with KitchenAid's matching Artisan Espresso Machine. They even come in the same colors. For under $200, it's a great choice.
Tested by Millie Fender, Managing Editor, Homes
Read our full KitchenAid Burr Grinder review
How we pick the best coffee grinders
I'm the Managing Editor for the Homes channel at Tom's Guide. With a five-year career of testing the very best in home tech, I can't go a day without a good cup of coffee, and have had the chance to put some of the leading coffee brands to the test in my own kitchen.
I worked closely with Tom's Guide's reviews team to test the grinders in this guide, and tried a number of them myself for good measure.
As a former barista (and current product tester), I've spent a lot of time getting hands-on with coffee grinders.
After a combined three years at two of the biggest coffee chains and a year at an artisan independent coffee shop, I can detect a well-balanced shot when I taste it, and I know how important the grinder can be in achieving that perfect extraction.
I’m Tom’s Guide's Reviews Editor and I’ve been a coffee enthusiast for almost a decade now.
I spend large chunks of my day testing out the latest and greatest coffee gear, from coffee grinders and weighing scales through to pour-over drippers and espresso machines.
I'm a big believer in consistency when testing different models, which is why we use the same brand of beans across all of our testing, and the same grinder (our top pick, the Eureka Mignon Specialita) for all of our coffee maker reviews.
How we test
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
To find the best coffee grinder, you first need to select your candidates. I was keen to test the market-leading options from more popular brands like KitchenAid and Technivorm, but there are also a range of smaller and more specialist coffee brands worth consideration.
Luckily, between myself and the reviews team, we've got a handful of coffee obsessives who know our conical burrs from our flat burrs, and some great tools for testing consistency and retention across our lineup. So once we'd selected our candidates, we got straight to testing.
We consider a range of subjective and objective features when reviewing coffee grinders. This includes user experience, noise levels, variety of grind settings, static created in grinding, and the retention after our beans are finished.
To examine how evenly and precisely our coffee grinders worked, we used a Kruve sifter that uses several layers of sift-style filters to separate grinds out at various thicknesses.
We then were able to evaluate the spread of ground sizes and whether the settings had accurately predicted how suitable our grounds would be for different types of brewing.
