Determining the best coffee grinder was no easy task. We spent days comparing the results from top burr grinders from Smeg, Fellow, Breville, IZpresso, and other top brands to bring you our ultimate ranking.
Millie tested these coffee grinders side-by-side in our test kitchen, but she also used them for a period of time before our official testing day to familiarize herself with each machine and its setup, and consider ease of use. She loves a good cup of coffee but thinks that even the best brew is not worth a counter covered in coffee grounds.
Philip mostly drinks black coffee which he prepares with an aero press and a hand grinder from 1Zpresso - the JX pro. He also enjoys Mokka pot and Clever dripper. For weekends flat whites are on the menu courtesy of a Sage Dual Boiler and a Niche grinder. Philip also owns grinders from MaCap and Santos and previously Eureka, Mazzer and Anfim.
There are two types of burr grinders: flat burr and conical.
Flat burr grinders operate by grinding coffee beans between two serrated flat rings. The serrated edges of the rings face each other and rotate in different directions to generate the motion necessary to grind.
Conical burr grinders work in a similar way but with cone-shaped burrs. Once the coffee bean is inserted into the top of the grinder, it falls into the downward position of the cone whilst ground against a stationary and moving burr.'
‘However, to maximize the quality and consistency of the grind, we do recommend buying a separate, standalone coffee grinder when possible. This will provide you with complete control over your coffee, enabling the grinder to fully compliment your style of brewing. It is important to do your research surrounding the types of grinders available.
A standalone grinder will keep the beans cool during grinding. If coffee beans get hot, they begin to lose flavor; this is common with built-in grinders located too close to the boiler.’
Aurimas Vainauskas from Coffee Friend had the same to say. ‘Thermal stability is key to a delicious cup of coffee, and a grinder located next to the brew group is bound to disrupt it. There’s a third argument here as well: if your in-built grinder breaks down, you’ll probably need to get a new espresso machine, but if this happens to a grinder you’ve bought separately, replacing the grinder will be enough.’
We also got on with the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder, appreciating its user-friendly design, digital display, and overall great grind consistency.
