10 Best Coffee Grinders for Espresso in 2021
Photo: javapresse.com
If you are going to make espresso at home, you need to make sure that you at least make it right. And one way to ensure this will be by investing in a good coffee grinder that can make the fine coffee grounds required for espresso.
The good news is that most top coffee grinders will have a fine grind size setting, but because they are not all built equal, they will not all deliver the perfect coffee grounds for your brews.
The best coffee grinder for espresso for you is one that not only provides highly consistent fine coffee grounds but is also easy to use and has good capacity.
To help you find the perfect grinder for your espressos, here we review 10 top-rated coffee grinders for espressos and also explain the key factors to watch out for as you are shopping.
10 Best Coffee Grinders for Espresso – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder (Best Manual) | ||
 | 2. Mueller Austria Manual Coffee Grinder (Best Budget) | ||
 | 3. Breville BCG820BKSXL (Best Automatic) | ||
 | 4. Oxo 8717000 (Powerful & Precise) | ||
 | 5. Hario MSCS-2DTB (Great On-the-Go) | ||
 | 6. Capresso 560.01 (Affordable Commercial-Grade) | ||
 | 7. KRUPS 8000035978 (Best under $50) | ||
 | 8. Baratza ENCORE (The Go-To Entry Level) | ||
 | 9. Chefman Electric Burr Grinder (For Consistently Full-Bodied & Full-Flavor Coffee) | ||
 | 10. Cuisinart DBM-8 (Elegant Looking & Consistently Uniform Grinds) |
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder (Best Manual Grinder) |
2. Mueller Austria Manual Coffee Grinder (Best Budget) |
3. Breville BCG820BKSXL (Best Automatic) |
4. Oxo 8717000 (Powerful & Precise) |
5. Hario MSCS-2DTB (Great On-the-Go) |
6. Capresso 560.01 (Affordable Commercial-Grade) |
7. KRUPS 8000035978 (Best under $50) |
8. Baratza ENCORE (The Go-To Entry Level) |
9. Chefman Electric Burr Grinder (For Consistently Full-Bodied & Full-Flavor Coffee) |
10. Cuisinart DBM-8 (Elegant Looking & Consistently Uniform Grinds) |
1. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder – Best Manual Grinder for Espresso
Photo: JavaPresse
- Material: Ceramic burrs
- Hopper Size: 1.4 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 18
- Weight: 0.59 pounds
Manual grinders like this model by JavaPresse are designed to give you an inexpensive way of making coffee grounds for your espresso.
What makes this one of the best hand grinders for espresso is the fact that it uses some highly durable ceramic burrs which will deliver highly consistent coffee grounds. And it does this without producing any excess heat.
Also, noise should not be an issue when using this grinder as it comes with a convenient hand crank mechanism that reduces the noise by up to 90%.
This grinder is also more compact and highly portable, and it is also easy to take apart for fast and easy cleaning.
The few things that some users might not like is that this grinder has a relatively smaller capacity and the grounds are not always 100% consistent. But, for a manual grinder, it is still as good as it can get.
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2. Mueller Austria Manual Coffee Grinder – Best Budget Coffee Grinder for Espresso
Photo: Mueller Austria
- Material: Ceramic Burrs
- Number of Grind Settings: 18
- Weight:0.66 pounds
Anyone shopping for an inexpensive coffee grinder for espresso will be happy to get this manual model by Mueller Austria because despite being cheap, it still delivers excellent coffee grounds.
This grinder grinds using some high-quality ceramic burrs that are built to last up to 7 times longer than the regular stainless steel blades. Better yet, it has been built to grind with minimal noise.
With its relatively smaller and more compact size, this will be a highly portable coffee grinder that you can carry and use on the go, and you will also get a free carry bag to make it even easier to transport.
And with its 18 easily adjustable grind settings, you can make coffee grounds for a wider variety of other brewing methods besides espresso.
Because this coffee grinder will include several smaller pieces, when you take it apart cleanup can be a little hectic, but it should become easier as you get used to it. Also, despite the relatively smaller capacity, it can still make enough coffee grounds for several shots of espresso at a go.
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3. Breville BCG820BKSXL – Best Automatic Coffee Grinder for Espresso
Photo: Breville
- Material: Stainless steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 16 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 60
- Weight: 6.4 pounds
With a smarter and highly efficient coffee grinder like the Breville BCG820BKSXL, you can easily make coffee grounds for espresso and all your other favorite brewing methods.
Its larger capacity also makes it one of the best commercial coffee grinders for espresso as its 16-ounce hopper will hold enough coffee beans to make grounds for several cups at a go.
Also, this is a more versatile coffee grinder as it will allow you to choose from 60 grind settings which means there will be a suitable setting for you regardless of your preferred brewing methods.
To make it even more convenient, this coffee grinder also has a precision timer to allow you to adjust grind time in a 0.2-second increment. You will also get a convenient LCD, and you can grind directly into a portafilter, grounds container or filter basket.
Because this is quite a large coffee grinder, it will take up more room. However, in a commercial establishment and for those with enough counter space, this should not be an issue. And despite not being as efficient and durable as ceramic, the stainless steel burrs on this grinder offer the advantage of grinding coffee beans without producing too much heat.
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4. Oxo 8717000 – Powerful and Precise
Photo: Oxo
- Material: Stainless steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 12 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 15
- Weight:4.5 pounds
Oxo 87170000 is a powerful coffee grinder that has been designed to offer high grinding precision to allow you to make some fantastic espressos and various other coffee types like French press and cold brew.
Its 12-ounce hopper capacity is the second largest on our coffee grinders for espresso reviews, and it makes this a perfect choice for heavy coffee drinkers as you can make lots of grounds within a short time.
This coffee grinder uses some highly durable stainless steel burrs which grind with minimal heat and noise. And besides having a larger capacity, the hopper is mess-free and made with a UV-blocking tint to preserve the coffee beans longer.
There is also a handy one-touch timer on the grinder that keeps your last grind setting to help speed up the grinding process, and overall this grinder will come in a more space-saving design despite the larger capacity.
Because the bottom burr is not removable, cleaning up this grinder can be a little hectic, but you should still be able to hack it, and so this should not be the deal-breaker.
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5. Hario MSCS-2DTB – Great On-the-Go Coffee Grinder
Photo: Hario
- Material: Ceramic Burrs
- Hopper Size: 3.5 ounces
- Weight: 1.2 pounds
For the many espresso-fanatics that would want to enjoy their favorite brews on the go, the Hario MSCS-2DTB will be a perfect pick as it is small and easy to carry around.
Besides its portable size, this coffee grinder also offers highly precise and uniform coffee grounds thanks to a sturdier grinding shaft and burrs.
With its ergonomically designed crank handle, this will be a more comfortable and easy to operate coffee grinder, and the handle is also detachable for convenient storage and transportation.
And because most of the components are easy to take apart and are dishwasher-safe, this will be a super easy grinder to clean after use.
Although it has a relatively smaller capacity when compared to others on our list, this manual grinder grinds fairly quickly, and so you can still make as much coffee grounds as you want within a short time.
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6. Capresso 560.01 – An Affordable Commercial-Grade Coffee Grinder
Photo: Capresso
- Material: Solid steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 8.8 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings:16
- Weight: 4 pounds
For a commercial-grade burr grinder, the Capresso 560.01 is as cheap as it can get. And this is even more so given its overall build quality and precise coffee grounds it delivers.
This coffee grinder will provide a relatively slower grinding mechanism thanks to the gear reduction motor which helps to preserve the coffee flavors and aromas. Also, this motor helps to ensure relatively quieter grinding.
Although it only has 16 grind settings, they are still wide enough to allow you to make everything from ultra-fine Turkish coffee to coarse French press coffee.
The 8.8-ounce beans hopper should be large enough for most home users while the lightweight and durable plastic housing ensure that this is still a portable coffee grinder.
Because the grinding mechanism seems to trap a little too much coffee grounds, this grinder can be quite messy, but it is nothing that you cannot take care of with a little extra cleanup.
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7. KRUPS 8000035978 – The Best Professional-Grade Grinder under $50
Photo: KRUPS
- Material: Stainless steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 8 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 45
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
KRUPS 8000035978 has been built with the budding professional barista in mind as it will deliver high grind consistency and precision while also being easier to use.
The coffee grinder uses some flat burrs to provide efficient grinding and with up to 45 different settings to ensure besides making fine espresso coffee grounds, you can also use it for various other coffee-making methods.
With this coffee grinder, you will also not need to worry about overheating as it grinds relatively slowly, and it will help preserve all the nice coffee flavors and aromas.
Also, besides grind size, this coffee grinder will allow for cup selection, and because it is easy to take apart, clean up should be a breeze.
When grinding, this machine can be quite loud, but the noise only takes some getting used to and furthermore, you will hardly find anything quieter for its price.
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8. Baratza ENCORE – The Go-To Entry Level Espresso Coffee Grinder
Photo: Baratza
- Material: Alloy steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 8 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 40
- Weight: 6.83 pounds
For an entry-level coffee grinder, the Baratza Encore is a top-notch option, and it is hard to get anything better without spending way much more money.
This coffee grinder uses some high-quality alloy steel burrs which besides being highly durable are also designed to ensure precise and uniform grinding and to preserve coffee aroma and flavor.
This small and powerful coffee grinder also comes in a more user-friendly design that includes some straightforward controls for quick and easy grinding.
And better yet, it will also come with a decent size 8-ounce capacity bean hopper which means it will grind lots of coffee at a go.
When compared to other models on our list, this coffee grinder is a little on the heavier side, but unless you plan to be using it on the go, this should not be a significant drawback.
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9. Chefman Electric Burr Grinder – For Consistently Full-Bodied and Full-Flavor Coffee
Photo: Chefman
- Material: Stainless steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 8 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 17
- Weight: 2.84 pounds
Electric burr grinders are built to make coffee grinding faster and more effortless, but this model by Chefman takes things a notch higher by also ensuring you always get full-bodied and full flavor coffee consistently thanks to its efficient burr mill system.
Another element that makes this one of the best home espresso grinders is the fact that it also offers some simple one-touch operation which makes it quick and easy to use.
Also, this coffee grinder has some easily customizable grind settings and a more spacious 8-ounce bean hopper that will allow you to grind more beans at a go.
Because both the burr grinding disc and container are easily detachable, cleaning this grinder should also be more effortless.
This coffee grinder still seems to have some significant static build-up, but it will not be enough to create a mess or affect the overall convenience of the grinder.
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10. Cuisinart DBM-8 – Elegant Looking Grinder that Delivers Consistently Uniform Grinds
Photo: Cuisinart
- Material: Stainless steel burrs
- Hopper Size: 8 ounces
- Number of Grind Settings: 18
- Weight: 4.5 pounds
Cuisinart DBM-8 is built to not only grind well but also to look great in your kitchen counter as it comes in a sleek stainless steel styling.
This grinder uses a heavy-duty motor and separate one-touch power bar to ensure the stainless steel burrs get more than enough power for fast and efficient grinding.
Also, it will include both grind size and cup selector to ensure you can easily customize your coffee grounds, and both its hopper and grinds container have a large enough capacity. And the relatively smaller price tag makes this one of the best budget coffee grinders for espresso.
Cleaning up the grinder after use is also quick and easy as it is easy to take apart and will also come with a handy cleaning brush.
There is no doubt that this coffee grinder can be quite loud, but given that most other models in its class are equally if not louder, this should not be the deal-breaker. And scooping out the coffee from the grinding chamber will help you solve the awkward pour issue.
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How to Buy the Best Coffee Grinders for Espresso
With the wide variety of coffee grinders currently on the market, choosing one for your espresso will always seem like a daunting task. However, this will only be so if you do not have the right information in mind. To choose a coffee grinder that will help you get the perfect espresso grounds, you need to understand the following points.
1. Manual vs. Automatic
One of the first decisions you will need to make when trying to choose a good coffee grinder for espresso is whether to go for a manual or automatic model.
Both types will have various models that can deliver some fine enough coffee grounds for espresso, but each will have its merits and demerits which potential buyers need to understand.
Manual grinders provide a more hands-on approach to coffee grinding, and they will also give you more control over the process. But despite also being more affordable, these grinders will take more effort to use and are not always very consistent.
Automatic grinders, on the other hand, will not require any muscle grease to use and are also faster, more efficient and highly consistent. However, automatic grinders are more expensive.
2. Blade Grinder vs. Burr (flat and Conical)
Besides manual and automatic, grinders can also be classified according to the grinding mechanism or operation that they use. And here there will be two main options which are the blade and burr grinders.
Blade Grinders
Blade grinders are the types that will grind using metal blades to slice down the coffee beans into smaller pieces. These are more budget-friendly grinders, but they will not deliver consistently uniform coffee grounds like the burr grinders.
Burr Grinders
If budget is not a concern for you, there is no doubt that the burr grinder will be your best bet as they will deliver more consistent coffee grounds. Also, these grinders will grind with less heat to ensure they do not burn the coffee.
Burr grinders are further classified into two types which are the flat and conical grinders based on the shape and grinding design of the burrs. But both burr types will still offer much better coffee grounds quality than the blade grinders.
3. Material
The material used to make the grinder, and this is more so the grinding element also matters as it determines both the efficiency and durability.
For the grinding burrs, stainless steel and ceramic are the two main options, but you can still get both burrs and blades made from a solid steel alloy.
Stainless steel is a tough material, but it tends to get quite hot when grinding which can affect the quality of coffee grounds that you get. Also, stainless steel tends to lose its sharp edge much faster.
Ceramic grinders will have a lower thermal conductivity which means it takes much longer for them to heat, and so you will not need to worry about burning your coffee grounds. Also, ceramic burrs tend to maintain a sharp edge much longer.
4. Hopper Size
While the hopper size and capacity also matter a lot, they will be more dependent on your specific preferences or amount of coffee you will typically make.
Overall, the larger the hopper capacity the better as it means you can make more coffee grounds at a go since there is enough space to keep the beans.
Also, a larger capacity hopper will ensure that you have a place to keep your coffee beans once you take them from the bag given that most hoppers tend to be airtight.
5. Grind Settings
Although you will only need a fine setting to make espresso, you still need to consider the grind settings that you get when shopping for the best home espresso grinder.
You might not always feel like taking espressos, and so with a grinder that allows you to choose from different settings, you can easily grind coffee for other brewing methods like the French press.
Many budget coffee grinders will give you at least 15 grind settings ranging from extra-coarse for cold brewing to extra-fine for Turkish coffee, but the mid and high tier models will offer dozens of grind settings.
6. Noise
Because the grinding process will entail physically crushing coffee beans, and there is also often a motor and gears involved, it will be a far-fetched idea to hope that you will get a grinder that works without making any noise.
However, the noise level differs from one model to the other with some being quiet while others are known for being super loud.
If you do not want to distract everyone in the house when making coffee, always look at the noise rating of the grinder you are thinking of buying, and the lower it is the better.
7. Weight
For those that are planning to be using their coffee grinders from one spot in the kitchen, the weight might not be a significant factor as they will hardly need to move it around.
However, if you are one of the many espresso-lovers that might want to make their favorite brew on the go whether you are traveling, trekking or camping, you will need something easier to carry around which means it should be lightweight enough. Something under 10 pounds is often lightweight enough for most users.
But, as you shop for a lightweight coffee grinder, you should keep in mind that the lighter models tend to have a relatively smaller capacity, and in many instances, they will be manual-operated since the inclusion of a motor adds a lot of weight to these appliances.
8. Budget
Budget is always a factor when shopping for anything, and so no matter how much you love espresso, you still need to consider the cost of buying a grinder.
The good news is that these grinders are available in a wide variety of prices to suit different budgets. If you are on the lookout for the best budget coffee grinder for espresso, you can get a manual model for as little as under $20. But, if you are looking for a high capacity, commercial-grade model, you should be ready to part with at least $150.
Hence, when it comes to the budget, how much you end up paying will largely depend on the kind of grinder you want.
Conclusion
A coffee grinder is one of the key elements that you cannot afford to get wrong if you want to make some rich and great tasting espressos.
But with the many grinders out there capable of producing a fine enough grind consistency for espressos, it should be easy to get something that will work well for you. All you will need to do is watch out for the things highlighted in our guide above.
And with our top 10 reviews above for recommendations, finding the best coffee grinder for espresso should now be even more effortless.
