Top Espresso Grinders for Rich and Flavorful Coffee

When I have a hard time sleeping at night, it’s primarily due to my hyperactive mind that’s either analyzing the ways of the world or wondering how those ways came to be. For example, I wondered how the person who discovered coffee got the idea that they needed to turn the beans into powder and later on into a drink. How people come up with things really fascinates me.

So I did some research—how else can I sleep if I don’t seek an answer?—to learn how they made coffee back in the day. I found that the ancestor of coffee grinders is the good ol’ mortar and pestle. Yes, the same device used for crushing food ingredients was used to pulverize coffee beans. I can only imagine how tedious that is, but thankfully, a British man, Nicholas Book, invented what he referred to as a “coffee mill” in 1665. While the Turkish used spice grinders to make coffee bean powder, Book’s invention was specifically made for coffee beans.

Since then, different versions of this device have come out. There are now two types of grinders: manual or hand coffee grinders and automatic/electric.

What type of grinder is best for espresso?

If you want to make delicious espresso, the best grinder is a burr grinder (flat or conical). This type of grinder can produce coarser coffee powder and has limited grind size options, so it’s easier to balance out flavors.

Does espresso need a special grinder?

Yes, because you need a finer grind to make an espresso. While manual grinders can work, they are better for making pour-over or French press coffee. On the other hand, an electric grinder has the power required to crush very fine coffee grounds, and you can also easily adjust the setting. Getting an espresso grinder is best for people serious about honing their coffee-making skills and those who care about how the taste of their coffee.

Can you grind espresso beans in a normal grinder?

You can grind coffee beans in a manual grinder, but if you want to make an espresso, you need a device that can help create finer grounds easily; hence, you should use an electric grinder.

Is it better to grind your own espresso beans?

It’s easier to buy coffee grounds over whole-bean coffee, but if you want to have complete control of the grind size, flavor, and brewing process, and you prefer getting fresh coffee each time, then grinding your coffee beans is the way to go.

25 espresso grinders to buy

We’ve listed our top picks for the best espresso and coffee grinders.

#1 Beguko Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($59.97)

This conical burr grinder is designed for espresso. It has a fast and cooling grinding system to crush coffee beans at low temperatures to maintain the beans’ flavors. Other features include a 40mm conical burr, digital timer, lock system, anti-static technology, and 31 grinding settings.

#2 Breville Dose Control Pro Coffee Bean Grinder ($207.80)

This coffee bean grinder has stainless steel grinders intended to minimize the heat during the grinding process to protect the oils in coffee beans. It has 60 grind settings so you can create the finest espresso ground. It can take 12 oz of the bean and has a locking system and a metal impeller. This is best for those who are already familiar with using coffee bean grinders and looking to upgrade.

#3 Viesimple Electric Burr Coffee Bean Grinder ($149.99)

This burr grinder is small but packed with the great features required in an excellent coffee grinder. Its body is made with high-quality aluminum, making it sturdy to last a long time. It has anti-static technology for a mess-free chamber. Other features include ten adjustable precise grind settings, single dosing, and zero retention. It’s available in two colors, black and white. If you want a portable grinder that is reasonably priced but does the job, this is an excellent option to buy.

#4 Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder ($769.00)

This chrome espresso grinder is as good as it looks and will take your coffee grinding experience to the next level. It has touchscreen controls so you can easily adjust the settings like the grind time and size, 55mm step-less burrs, bottom burr adjust option, and a wide chute with an anti-clumping system to make fluffy grounds. Best of all, it has a sound-insulated case making it an ideal device to use at home as it reduces the grinding noise to 20 db compared to other grinders in the market.

#5 Baratza Forte BG Coffee Grinder ($899.95)

You’re set to make barista-quality coffee with this award-winning, flat steel burr grinder. It’s a favorite among coffee professionals for a reason. It has high-performing 260 grind settings to make precise grinds for all brewing styles. Other fantastic features include a built-in digital scale, programmable presets, and a shut-off hopper for a mess-free grinding experience.

#6 fluir touchscreen doserless grinder ($528.89)

This is a sleek and compact doser-less grinder made of aluminum alloy. It has a quiet low-speed torque motor, an LED touchscreen where you can monitor the humidity and motor speed, a 64mm flat burr, and an adjustable portafilter holder.

#7 MiiCoffee DF83 Single Dose Coffee Grinder ($699)

If you’re looking for a single-dose grinder, this is one of the best options. It has 83mm Italian-made flat burrs to make fluffy, fine grounds, a large hopper that can take up to 225 grams of beans, step-less dial adjustment, zero retention, a blow-out funnel, and a wave spring washer. It won’t take up too much space on your kitchen countertop as it’s compact and small.

#8 Rocket Espresso Faustino 3.1 Espresso Grinder ($880.00)

Small but terrible, this espresso grinder offers fantastic features to give you a quality coffee grinding experience. It has a single revolution, stepless grind, a compact case, a large hopper that can hold a pound and a half of beans, touchscreen programming, and quiet grinding. Lastly, its compact size won’t take up too much space.

#9 Nuova Simonelli G60 Electronic On-Demand Espresso Grinder ($1,195)

This espresso grinder is easy to use with a stainless 60mm stainless flat burr, automatic dosing, and stepless grind settings. It’s also NSF-8 certified, which means it passed the minimum food protection and sanitation requirements for power-operated equipment.

#10 Macap M2 Doserless Stepped BRASS Espresso Coffee Grinder ($399)

This espresso grinder is made of brass, and at only 14 lbs, it’s lightweight and can easily find a space on your countertop. It has a stepped grinding adjustment, an adjustable fork, and a removable power cord. Moreover, it has a tinted bean hopper to protect coffee beans from light exposure keeping them fresh,

#11 KitchenAid KCG0702CS Burr Coffee Grinder ($319.26)

This burr coffee grinder will be a lovely addition to your kitchen. It’s made of zinc and comes in three colors, silver, red, and black. It has a controlled rate and 15 grind settings for consistent coffee bean milling. It has a 7 oz bean hopper made of glass, a grinding jar, a handheld scoop, and a burr cleaning brush.

#12 De’Longhi Dedica Coffee Grinder KG521M ($449.88)

Get this sleek and high-quality coffee grinder from De’Longhi. It’s sturdy, compact, and made of stainless steel. It comes with a LED display with an Aroma function, a conical grinder with a removable upper insert, adjustable grind settings from 1 to 18, and a large bean hopper. If you want a grinder that gives consistent results, this is the perfect choice for you.

#13 OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($284.66)

This conical burr coffee grinder comes with a scale to measure grounds by weight. It has an automatic shutoff, so you will only use a precise amount of beans each time you make coffee. The grinder is made of stainless steel with 38 settings to help you make espresso, pour-over, or cold brew easily. Other features include high torque, a low-speed motor to prevent overheating of beans and preserve their flavors, a single dial mode, and a hopper that can hold up to 16 oz of beans.

#14 Bodum Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder ($99.95)

This burr coffee grinder is manufactured by Bodum, a company well-known for its French press products. It has a push button, pre-set timer, 12 adjustable grind settings, friction clutch that protects the grinding gear, and a bean hopper than can hold up to 7.75 ounces of beans. Moreover, the ground catcher is made of dishwasher-safe borosilicate glass. It’s available in three colors, red, black, and white.

#15 Huanyu Electric Coffee Bean Grinder ($103.99)

If you want a retro-looking aesthetic machine that does the job, consider getting this electric burr grinder. It’s easy to operate with a 60mm flat burr and eight grinding settings so you can enjoy your favorite drinks, from espresso to French press. It’s available in two colors, white and green.

#16 Dining Realty Hand Coffee Grinder ($99)

For coffee lovers with a taste for outdoor adventures, this manual coffee grinder can help you make your favorite espresso wherever you go. It has a 7-axis stainless steel conical burr, precise control with 48-size settings, and high-grade double bearings on the central shaft. It’s lightweight, easy to set up, and clean. With this hand coffee bean grinder, you will never miss your favorite espresso wherever you are.

#17 Cgoldenwall 2500g Electric Grain Grinder ($459)

This machine may be a good option if you want an all-around food grinder. It’s a grain grinder that can crush spices, grains, and, most of all, coffee beans. Its features include a safety protection lid that automatically stops grinding when the lid is open, a triple-blade structure for high power, and speedy grinding.

#18 Gevi Burr Coffee Grinder ($79.99)

This coffee grinder from Gevi will make your coffee grinding experience smooth and mess-free. It has 35 precise grind settings, a detachable hopper with up to 240g bean capacity and a UV-block tint, anti-static grinding, and a silicone sealing lid.

#19 Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder ($99.99)

This small and compact conical burr grinder is made with stainless steel. Its commercial-grade burrs ensure precise grinding and preserve the aroma of coffee beans. Its bean hopper has a large capacity of 8.8 ounces, while the ground container can hold up to 4 ounces. It’s easy to clean with a removable upper burr. The machine has 16 grind settings, so you can adjust your grind according to your preference, and a built-in timer.

#20 Shidiip Anti-static Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($79.99)

Look no further if you’re looking for a good smart coffee grinder. This machine has a premium conical burr minimizing heat to retain the oils of the beans for optimal flavor, 48 customizable grind settings, and a smart touch control where you can customize the cup’s size and the time and even enter a sleep mode. It’s also easy to clean with anti-static grinding technology, a cleaning brush, and a removable upper burr and hopper. It’s also quiet than most grinders, perfect for home use.

#21 TWOMEOW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($62.99)

If you are looking for a budget coffee grinder that doesn’t compromise quality, this TWOMEOW grinder is an excellent choice. This machine is quiet, delivers uniform grinding, has anti-static technology, and has a block-proof design. It comes with 24 precision grind settings suitable for espresso, pour-over, and French press.

#22 Boly Coffee Grinder ($48.09)

Another budget-friendly conical burr coffee grinder, this machine has an adjustable burr mill, 19 precise grind settings, and a one-button operation for easy usage. You can enjoy freshly ground coffee at home without disturbing your family, as it has an operational noise level of less than 62 dB.

#23 SHARDOR Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($69.99)

This electric coffee grinder has an adjustable burr mill with 14 precise grind settings. It’s pretty easy to use with a one-touch start, a scale control dial from 2 to 12 cups, and a safety lock for optimal grinding operation.

#24 Toycol Electric Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($46.99)

If you want a portable grinder without manual work, this electric conical burr grinder will be your next favorite thing. And it’s straightforward to use; pour the beans (up to 50g), adjust the grind settings, and press the button, and voila, you have your freshly ground coffee. The bottom cup doubles as a brewing container; just add water. Best of all, it’s USB rechargeable, so you can take this portable grinder anywhere with you.

#25 Ollygrin Coffee Bean Burr Mill Grinder ($89.99)

This coffee grinder does a great job of crushing coffee beans with its 40mm stainless steel conical burrs. It has double-safety features, a friction clutch to prevent damage to the grinding gear and built-in overheating protection. You can select from the 30 precise settings and cup sizes. Other features include a safety lock system, one-touch button operation, and auto-shut trap doors for the hopper.

How do you grind espresso at home?

While it’s easier just to buy ground coffee, grinding beans is the way to go if you want to enjoy fresh coffee every time. Ground coffee tends to lose its flavor the more they are exposed to air. Whereas, if you roast espresso beans, you get to enjoy the full flavor and have more control over how your coffee will taste and the caffeine level based on your preferred roasting method.

Now that you know the basics about espresso beans and which ones to buy, it’s time to learn how to grind them at home.

The method will depend on the type of grinders you have at home. There are automatic grinders (blade, burr, and conical burr) and hand or manual grinders.

How to grind espresso beans with an automatic grinder

Follow the steps below if you have a blade or burr conical grinder:

Step 1: Add the whole beans to the grinder. Only grind beans you will use immediately to ensure you make fresh coffee each time.

Step 2: Choose the grind size setting: extra coarse, coarse, medium coarse, medium, fine, and extra fine.

Step 3: Select the coffee dose.

Step 4: Push the button to start grinding the beans.

Step 5:  Transfer your freshly ground coffee from the grounds jar into another container.

How to grind espresso beans with a manual grinder

Follow the steps below if you have a manual or hand grinder:

Step 1: Remove the top nut.

Step 2: Add your desired amount of coffee beans into the hopper.

Step 3: Secure the top nut over the hopper.

Step 4: Adjust the burr; turn it counter-clockwise to create a coarser grind or clockwise to make a finer grind.

Step 5: Seal the ground jar.

Step 6: Place the lever on the top nut and turn it clockwise.

Step 7: Transfer your freshly ground coffee from the grounds jar into another container.

Is espresso grind coarse or fine?

To make an espresso, you must grind the coffee bean into a very fine state, similar to powdered sugar. 

What happens if espresso grinds are too fine?

A too-fine coffee ground results in an over-extracted, bitter, and strong coffee.

What happens if espresso is too coarse?

If the espresso ground is too coarse, you will end up with a watery, sour, and weaker shot that lacks sweetness.

Is a finer grind better for espresso?

Yes, a finer grind is better than a coarse grind to make a strong, delicious espresso shot.