Any professional barista will tell you: grinding fresh with a quality burr grinder is probably the largest contributing factor to making good coffee. Even more important than the coffee machine itself. Yet the grinder remains the most overlooked coffee making appliance for coffee lovers. Possibly because it's can get seriously complicated and there are so many to grinder to choose from.
So we put together the ultimate guide to help you find the perfect coffee grinder to match your needs and your wallet. In this guide we’ll help you identify your needs, what questions to be asking, and explore options, features and their merits to help inform your choice.
Some key questions to address when choosing the right coffee grinder for you:
- How many cups do you need to grind for per serving?
- Manual vs Electric?
- What brew method are you grinding for mostly? (Espresso, plunger, Moka pot, etc.)
- What burrs will suit your taste preferences?
- Other practical needs like looks, noise levels, etc.
How Many People Are You Grinding For?
If you're mainly grinding for yourself, and don't mind 1 minute of manual effort, you may enjoy the versatility and affordability of a manual coffee grinder.
Manual coffee grinders offer an excellent quality grind for significantly lower prices than electric grinders. However, if you're grinding for more than 2 cups at a time, you'll prefer the extra capacity, speed and convenience of an electric grinder.
Choosing a Manual Coffee Grinder
TIMEMORE is renowned for quality grinders at great value. Manual grinders can range from entry level around R1000 to R5000. The main drivers of value will be the burrs, grind range and build materials. To be honest, all Timemore grinders will deliver the goods, however as the higher up the chain you go, you’re met with more refinement and most certainly more flavour. Burrs can really unlock clarity and flavour for more inquisitive pallets.
Portable Electric Grinders
Affordable, perfect for home and on-the-go, and LOADSHEDDING-proof.
The Timemore Nutti X, Whirly or the more upmarket Millab offer the best of both worlds: quality coffee, effortless grinding, and mobility. These revolutionary grinders are compact, elegant, and feature USB rechargeable batteries that grind 20–35 cups on a single charge!
They have a full range of grinding from espresso, moka pot, pour over through to plunger. One consideration when buying a portable grinder: since they use a rechargeable battery-powered motor, they won't be as fast or powerful as a mains-powered grinder. Faster than manual grinding, but not as fast as mains.
Choosing an Electric Coffee Grinder
If you're brewing for 3 or more people at a time, or don’t fancy the effort, you're going to need an electric burr grinder. There's a huge variance in price and capability of electric coffee grinders, and choosing correctly will save you in the long run.
Almost all electric grinders either lean towards alternative brew methods or espresso. Espresso requires more refined adjustment mechanisms than alternative brew methods. Espresso-focused grinders offer stepless adjustment for nano adjustments, whereas stepped grinders offer incremental micro adjustments.
Grind Requirements by Brew Method
- Espresso: Fine to very fine grind
- Moka pot / Stove top: Medium – fine grind
- Nanopresso / Minipresso: Medium – fine grind
- AeroPress: Fine – medium – coarse grind
- Pour-over / Filter: Medium – coarse grind
- Plunger / French press: Coarse grind
Basic domestic electric grinders are more suited to alternative brewers. All-purpose grinders like the Baratza Encore ESP and Timemore Bricks will serve all your coffee needs, while top-of-the-range grinders like the Timemore Sculptor excel across all brewing methods.
Blade versus Burr Grinders
The same way you can't chop wheat into flour, you can't chop beans into coffee. Blade grinders chop beans; they don't grind them. The result is a massive variance in grind particle sizes, which is highly undesirable when brewing decent coffee.
Only burr grinders deliver the granular uniformity required to brew good coffee. While a blade grinder is preferable to stale pre-ground coffee, it really should be a last resort.
Types of Burrs: Conical versus Flat Burrs
The main difference between conical burrs and flat burrs is grind efficiency. Conical burrs, being
Other practical considerations are more subjective, looks, noise levels, and workflow are all important to how the grinder will make you feel during your morning ritual.
We’ve put together a matrix of grinders side by side for you to compare. Feel free to contact us, so we can help you find your ideal coffee grinder.
