5 coffee grinders you need to upgrade your coffee-making set-up
With these coffee grinders, you can turn yourself into an at-home barista
An essential part of the coffee-making process which is often overlooked is a good coffee grinder. Whether you have one built into your bean to cup coffee machine or you prefer to buy pre-ground coffee, not many people think they need a coffee grinder – but I’m here to tell you why that’s wrong.
Grinding your own coffee enhances the flavour as whole beans tend to hold onto their natural aroma and oils for longer than pre-ground. As you’re grinding them fresh, these grounds will tend to last longer, and you also have more control over the grind size so you can customise each cup of joe that you make.
But which coffee grinder should you buy? I’ve listed five of our favourite coffee grinders that should be part of your set-up to turn you from a beginner to a barista.
Best coffee grinder overall
1. Smeg Coffee Grinder
Starting off strong, the Smeg Coffee Grinder has 15 grind levels and three precision settings to choose from, to cater to all types of coffees. Using conical burrs crafted from stainless steel, the Smeg Coffee Grinder delivers a consistent grind size throughout the entire process.
While it can be used to grind any coffee bean you like, the Smeg Coffee Grinder is best suited for espresso and even cold brew. At £199.95, it’s on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it’s from a good quality, reliable brand so you know you’re getting something good. Plus, the Smeg Coffee Grinder comes in multiple retro-inspired colours to suit any kitchen style.
Best premium coffee grinder
2. Baratza Encore ESP Pro
Baratza’s Encore collection is full of premium at-home coffee grinders, and the newest Baratza Encore ESP Pro offers its most precise grind yet. Using Baratza’s M2 precision steel burrs, the Baratza Encore ESP Pro comes with a stepless grind adjustment mechanism which gives you more consistent control over your grind style.
The Baratza Encore ESP Pro looks the part and has a hopper at the top so you can store beans before you grind them. It has a dial and display on the front which shows your grind’s fine or coarseness, setting, time and dose method. It’s our premium pick so unsurprisingly, it’s not cheap at £249.95 / $299.95.
Best budget coffee grinder
3. Bosch Coffee Grinder
Coffee grinders don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, and the Bosch Coffee Grinder proves that. At just £29.99, the Bosch Coffee Grinder doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but it does a great job and it’s exceedingly easy to use.
The Bosch Coffee Grinder uses a powerful motor and stainless steel chopping blades to blend fine and coarse coffee beans. It’s best used for espresso or filter coffee, and it has a one-touch operation so you can’t really go wrong with it.
Best smart coffee grinder
4. Sage Smart Grinder Pro
Smart technology has been added to almost anything in the kitchen, so why not a coffee grinder?! The Sage Smart Grinder Pro has 60 settings to choose from and has an LCD display which lets you choose different cup and shot sizes for espresso, filter, french press and more.
What makes the Sage Smart Grinder Pro smart is its Dosing IQ technology which automatically adjusts the grind time when you change your cup or grind size amount in 0.2 second increments. This gives you total control over your coffee, while also giving you some additional help so there’s no guesswork involved.
Best travel coffee grinder
5. AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder
If you’re off on a trip and want to make coffee on the go, you can now get a travel coffee grinder in the form of the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder. Designed to go with its AeroPress portable coffee makers, the AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder is a 3-in-1 coffee press with 60 adjustable settings and a portable, lightweight design.
The AeroPress Manual Coffee Grinder has an Easy-Grind magnetic handle with dual bearings that turn the internal conic burrs to grind your coffee beans. It acts like a hand crank and comes with a Power Drill Adapter for quicker grinding times. It comes with a medium-fine grind pre-set for your first use, and is best for drip, pour-over, French Press and cold brew coffees.
