If you love espresso, you know that a great cup of espresso starts with a great coffee bean grinder. These days, you can quickly make a rich, intense espresso at home using an excellent espresso machine. And many coffee machines have a top-quality grinder built into them.
At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Best Coffee Grinders For Espresso
However, if you don’t have this type of two-in-one coffee maker in your own home, then you may need to look at purchasing a separate grinder for your coffee routine.
So, we’re going to discuss our top five choices for the best automatic coffee grinder for espresso, as well as comprehensive evaluations and purchasing recommendations. By the end of this guide, you’ll know everything that you need to purchase the best coffee grinder for your needs!
So, whether you are just starting out in the world of espresso, you are looking to upgrade your current coffee equipment, or just want to kick your espresso coffee game up a notch, keep reading!
Quick Summary: Best Coffee Grinders For Espresso
SAGE SMART GRINDER PRO |
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CUISINART BURR MILL |
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OXO BREW GRINDER |
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RANCILIO ROCKY COFFEE GRINDER |
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BARATZA VIRTUOSO PLUS |
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Breville Smart Grinder Pro
This Breville Smart Grinder is ideal for espresso. It’s the grinder to use if you want a simple yet effective solution for espresso grinding that produces great results every single time. The brand itself is one of the most popular for home coffee brewing, and their products are known for their quality, durability, and performance.
This particular model is a high-powered grinder with an impressive 60 precise grind settings to choose from. Ultra-fine grounds, extra coarse, medium, and everything in between are all options with this grinder. It also has a digital display showing you the exact time your espresso will be ready.
This same digital display will also show you how to adjust your grind time. The grinding time is adjustable in 0.2-second increments, providing you with a highly accurate dose. You can also program the burr coffee grinder for various brew processes using the pre-programmed settings.
The Breville Smart Grinder features a 16-ounce bean hopper and a stainless steel conical burr grinder. This high-quality grinder ensures that your coffee beans are ground evenly and consistently each time and produces the finest ground coffee possible.
All in all, the solid structure of this machine gives it the feel of a professional grinder. It’s simple to use and delivers consistent coffee grounds, making it one of our top picks for the best coffee grinding experience.
Cuisinart Burr Mill
The next excellent coffee grinder on our list is the Cuisinart Burr Mill. This is also an affordable coffee grinder for those on a tight budget looking for a quality coffee grinder that won’t break the bank. This means that it’s a great choice for those who are just starting to make espresso at home and want to grind their own beans.
The Cuisinart coffee grinder has 18 different adjustable settings for espresso, giving you a good range of choices for your espresso needs. The burr coffee mill system ensures that the beans are ground evenly each time, producing a consistent flavor and texture to your coffee. It also has an automatic shut-off feature that helps preserve electricity and an electronic timer.
This grinder stands out due to its simplicity and ease of cleaning. The fact that it is so simple to use and inexpensive makes it so appealing. It’s a great choice for those looking for an affordable, quality burr grinder that is perfect for making espresso.
OXO Brew Grinder
OXO is often a top choice for quality kitchen equipment, and this brew grinder is no different. It’s a great all-purpose grinder that you can use for espresso, drip coffee makers, French press, and more. Although, admittedly, it might not grind your beans as fine as some of the other grinders on this list, it is the most affordable. So, if you’re looking for a budget grinder, the Oxo is a great option.
It’s made of stainless steel and has conical burrs designed to minimize heat buildup and preserve the flavor of your coffee beans. It also comes with a hopper lid to keep your beans fresh and an adjustable grind size knob for more precise grinding.
This particular model features 15 different adjustable grind settings. These range from extra fine to coarse so that you can find the exact setting for your needs. It features a 30-second programmable timer that remembers how long to grind for your particular brew. This is a really handy special feature if you like to make the same type of coffee daily and get consistent amounts of grounds every time.
Of course, being on the cheaper scale doesn’t come entirely fault-free. Some customers have mentioned that the beans can get jammed, and it sometimes makes a funny whirring noise. But, it’s a great little machine that does its job well for the price.
Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder
This is easily one of the best-known coffee grinders on the market and for good reason. The Rancilio Rocky is a high-quality grinder that is designed for use in espresso bars and restaurants. It’s also a popular choice for home brewers who want to get the most out of their coffee beans.
The Rocky has 50mm flat burrs that are made of tempered steel, giving them a long lifespan and this also helps grind your beans evenly. It also has 55 different grind settings, giving you the ability to find the perfect setting for your espresso needs. This also means you can grind for a range of other coffee needs – if you have a French Press as well, this grinder will also give you more of a coarse grind.
The commercial-grade design coupled with Rocky’s very powerful 1725 RPM motor, means that this grinder can handle high volumes of coffee without slowing down. As well as being suitable for home use, this machine wouldn’t be out of place at a small cafe or coffee shop. Plus, all of these machines are rigorously tested with real coffee beans before they leave the factory – so you can be sure that you’re getting a top-quality product.
Baratza Virtuoso Plus
This Baratza grinder is an excellent choice for those who want more control over their espresso grinding. It’s the newer and improved version of the Baratza Virtuoso and comes with 40 different grind settings, so you can really fine-tune your grind to get the perfect cup of espresso each time. This also means you can grind anything from fine espresso to a coarse grind suitable for a French Press coffee maker. The only thing you can’t grind with this machine is Turkish Coffee grounds.
The exceptional DC motor and professional-quality burr design make this grinder stand out. This is really important for espresso as it needs to be ground very finely to extract all of the flavors and aromas. The motor also runs at 550 rpm, which further helps preserve your beans’ flavor.
The Virtuoso Plus also minimizes the ground coffee left in the grinder – this helps to preserve the freshness of your coffee. It features a handy 40-second digital timer display – ideal for repeat dosing – and provides the perfect electronic speed control.
Admittedly, this machine is a little pricey, but it’s definitely worth the investment for those who want to perfect their espresso-making skills.
Which type of grinder is best for espresso?
There are so many different coffee grinder options on the market. From electric to manual and burr to blade grinders, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. However, when it comes to making the perfect espresso, a burr grinder is the best option.
Blade vs. Burr grinders – what’s the difference?
So, you might now be wondering what the difference is between a blade and a burr grinder.
Well, as the name suggests, an electric blade coffee grinder has blades that chop up the coffee beans into smaller pieces. This type of grinder is often cheaper than a burr grinder, but it’s less precise and doesn’t produce as consistent grinds. So, some of your coffee will often be ground much finer – or much chunkier – than the rest.
This means that your espresso maker may not be able to extract all of the flavors and aromas from your coffee grounds, which will ultimately result in less than perfect cups of coffee – not ideal if you’re looking to refine your espresso making skills.
Burr grinders, on the other hand, use two burrs (revolving abrasive surfaces) to apply a uniform grind to the coffee beans. This usually consists of a single stationary burr and a second revolving burr. This type of grinder is more expensive than a blade grinder, but it produces a much more consistent grind – meaning you’ll get a better cup of coffee each time.
The types of burrs
There are also a few different types of burrs, typically a conical burr or a flat burr.
A conical burr coffee grinder gives you more control over the grind size than a blade. It typically consists of a ring and a cone that sit inside one another, with gaps for the beans to pass through. It will also give you a very consistent grind and is excellent for grinding espresso.
A flat burr grinder is often found in electric grinders and provides (if possible) an even greater grind consistency across all types of coffee beans. It is more of a flat shape, with two parts that sit parallel to each other. The particle size with this type of grinder is incredibly even. However, it does come with a higher price tag, which is why it’s usually employed for commercial use.
What should I look for in the best coffee grinders for espresso?
So, now that you know a little more about espresso coffee grinders, what should you look for when choosing one? Here are a few of the most important things to look out for:
Manual or electric?
First, you need to decide if you want a manual or electric grinder. If you’re looking for something that will do the grinding for you, then an electric burr coffee grinder is the way to go. However, if you want a more affordable option and don’t mind using a little bit of elbow grease, then a manual grinder is the way to go.
Burr or blade?
As we mentioned before, a burr grinder is the best option for espresso-making. So if you’re looking for a grinder specifically for espresso, make sure it’s a burr grinder. A blade grinder is not nearly precise enough to get the right consistency you need for tasty espresso brewing.
Features
Of course, the next thing to consider is what additional features the grinder has. For instance, does it have a digital timer to help you keep track of the grind time? Is there an adjustable grind size dial so that you can tailor the grind to your own specific needs? How many different grind sizes can the grinder produce? These are all important factors to consider when choosing the best grinder for espresso.
Price
Last but not least, you need to consider your budget. There are some great cheap coffee grinders out there that won’t break the bank, but if you’re looking for something with all the bells and whistles, you might have to be prepared to pay a little bit more for the most expensive coffee grinders.
FAQ
What are the top features of espresso coffee grinders?
Some of the top features to look for in an espresso coffee grinder are:
- A high-quality burr grinder (as opposed to a blade grinder)
- An adjustable grind size
- A wide range of different grind size settings – so you can brew a range of coffees with it
- A digital timer
How do I choose the best coffee grinder for espresso?
There are several things to consider when choosing the best coffee grinder for espresso, and choosing one that fits your budget is just one of them. You should also consider the type of grinder (burr or blade), the features it has, and, of course, how much you’re willing to spend.
Why is a burr grinder better than a blade grinder for coffee?
A burr model is better than a blade grinder for coffee because it produces a more consistent grind even at the finest setting, which is essential for making espresso shots. A blade grinder also doesn’t allow you to adjust the grind size, which means you might not be able to get the perfect grind for your espresso beans.
Overall…
Coffee grinders are an essential piece of equipment for any coffee lover. After all, you can’t make the perfect cup of the best-tasting coffee without freshly ground beans!
Choosing the best coffee grinder can be difficult because there are so many different types available. However, our personal favorite is the Breville Smart Grinder.
Not only is Breville an incredibly reliable coffee maker brand, but the quality of their grinders is also exceptional. If you’re looking for a quality grinder that will produce top-quality, consistent grounds and last for years, the Breville Smart Grinder is definitely the way to go.
Nonetheless, it’s not the cheapest coffee grinder, so if it’s a little out of your price range, the Cuisinart Burr Mill is our next top option. It’s a great all-around grinder that will suit most casual coffee drinkers.
Whichever grinder you choose, free up some counter space at your coffee station and make sure it has the features you need and fits your budget, and you’ll be sure to enjoy years of delicious, fresh coffee.
Happy Caffeinating!