Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or simply love a good cuppa,’ owning a durable coffee grinder is an absolute must– but with so many different brands and styles on the market, it can be challenging to know which one is best. Coffee grinders range from thirty to two hundred dollars depending on the various unique features. So, which one should you choose?

How much you should spend on a good coffee grinder depends on your needs. Spending hundreds of dollars on an expensive grinder won’t make sense if you’re an occasional coffee drinker. On the flip side, owning an efficient grinder is a must if you grind your coffee beans every morning before work. 

There are other advantages and disadvantages to the various grinders available for purchase in today’s market. The rest of this article will discuss inexpensive, moderately priced, and expensive coffee grinders, as well as the pros and cons of each. Additionally, we’ll look at how much one should spend on a grinder based on both price and individual need!

Coffee Grinders Based on Price and Need

As mentioned, the two things to consider when purchasing a coffee grinder are price and need. Are you even a coffee snob if you don’t obsess over the quality of your coffee beans and insist on grinding them immediately before brewing? And if you’re not– what is the best grinder for you? Let’s take a look.

Inexpensive Grinders for the Casual Coffee Drinker

The most inexpensive grinders of the bunch are manual grinders. A manual grinder is a handheld tool with a crank that grinds the beans (imagine the manual window cranks on older vehicles, but on the top of a coffee grinder). Naturally, there are pros and cons to using a manual grinder, but they’re generally efficient and easy to use by the casual coffee drinker.

If you don’t like the sound of starting your morning cranking beans to grounds, fear not– there are inexpensive electric grinders, too. Below are three of the best, most inexpensive machines that are perfect for someone who prefers to grind coffee beans as a post-dinner party trick versus as a mandatory morning ritual.

1. Suneville Manual Coffee Grinder With Ceramic Burrs

The Suneville Ceramic coffee grinder is one of the least expensive you’ll find. It’s the very same handheld tool that I used to use before I decided to level up my coffee game. Therefore, I can attest that this is an excellent tool for casual drinkers that are just starting to grind their own coffee.

2. DR Mills Electric Coffee Grinder

The DR Mills Electric grinder is a little bit more convenient, albeit a bit pricier. It’s an excellent, efficient coffee grinder that works simply by holding down the lid for up to thirty seconds to achieve your desired ground consistency. (Ten seconds will produce coarse grounds and thirty–fine ones). 

If you’re not sure how to use a manual coffee grinder yet, make sure to check out this video:

3. Popsweeter C38 Manual Coffee Grinder

Sleek and modern looking, the Popsweeter C38 coffee grinder is another crank-handle machine that is the priciest of these grinders. This portable tool can hold up to thirty-six grams of beans and is built with a coarseness adjustment mechanism. No batteries, no plug-ins– just pure arm strength. 

Why Choose an Inexpensive Coffee Grinder?

If you’re a casual coffee drinker, just learning the trade of coffee grinding (you heard me–trade), or someone needs a housewarming gift– any of these inexpensive coffee grinders are a good investment. They are all simple to use and get the job done within five to ten minutes if you have strong wrists. (And if you don’t– these manual grinders will help!)

Moderately Priced Grinders for the Coffee Newbie

Let’s pretend you’ve been exploring different coffees for a few weeks. You can tell the difference between a blond roast and a dark roast. You can disassemble and reassemble your well-used manual grinder with your eyes closed. Looks like you’re a coffee newbie!

The beauty of moderately priced coffee grinders lies in the additional features you’ll see compared to the manual tools. You may see dials to select coarseness level or separate containers that hold the ground beans. Take a look at the top three moderately priced grinders for the coffee newbie.

1. Shardor Conical Burr Grinder

The Shardor Conical Burr Grinder is a nice-looking machine that is electric operated. It has two separate chambers and a number of removable pieces for easy cleaning. Unlike the manual tools, the Shardor burr grinder can hold significantly more beans and grounds, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking to make more than one cup. 

2. Krups Precision Grinder

The Krups Burr grinder is a little bit more expensive; the brand makes a number of different styles that all range in price, but this particular version is on the higher end of the spectrum. Regardless, it’s the best bang for your buck for a coffee newbie who wants to experiment with efficient machines.

3. Cuisinart Programmable Conical Burr Mill

Finally, the Cuisinart Programmable Conical Burr Mill is a modern, heavy-duty grinder that has no problem holding close to three hundred grams of coffee grounds. It’s the most expensive of the bunch, but it’s certainly worth the money. The machine can grind your magic beans to use in other coffee machines (like the french press) and can be programmed to start automatically. 

Why Choose a Moderately Priced Coffee Grinder?

These coffee grinders are a little more expensive, but the quality and features make up for it. If you’re regularly grinding coffee beans for yourself, your friends, or even your office staff, these tools will get the job done quickly and without the need to strength-train your wrists.

Expensive Grinders for the Coffee Connoisseur

Last but not least, the coffee connoisseur… I see you. You waft your coffee beans just to anticipate the buzz and sift through the grounds with your bare hands to ensure they’ll produce the best cup. (Okay, maybe that’s a bit much) Either way, when the flavor profile of your coffee is of the utmost importance, using a proper grinder is essential.

Naturally, the more features a machine has, the more expensive it will be. You will notice, though, that the features make it so worthwhile! So if you’re willing to spend a little extra, take a look through a few awesome grinders below.

1. Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

The Baratza Virtuoso is purportedly used and loved by many coffee professionals. The blades are steel, ensuring proper grinding without leftover chunks of a bean, and the machine has a digital screen to keep track of timing and weight. The Baratza can hold about 250 grams (0.55 lb) of beans.

2. Cuisinart DGB-800 Grind and Brew 

Coming up next is the Cuisinart Grind and Brew. What I like about this machine is that it both grinds your coffee beans and brews a pot of coffee all in one sitting. While it’s the most expensive of the lot, the DGB 800 would be my first choice as a busy, single mother in need of her morning brew! 

You simply load the beans into the machine, and the grounds drop into your coffee filter. Assuming the water levels are sufficient and you’ve programmed it appropriately, the pot begins to brew your coffee from there!

Why Choose an Expensive Coffee Grinder?

Investing in a good, expensive coffee grinder makes the most sense when you regularly consume the beverage and require precision to your morning rituals. The pricier coffee grinders are intuitive to use, quicker, and allow for the most control over your grounds. 

Of course, you don’t need to be a casual newbie or coffee connoisseur to purchase any of the grinders mentioned on this list. You may have never ground a single bean in your life and decided to buy any of the above tools to learn, which is totally okay! The most important thing is to do your research beforehand so as to keep an eye out for the specific features you’re looking for. 

You can experiment with the grind consistency, weight, and manual versus automatic machines. Digital machines do most of the legwork, while manual ones require you to understand the grinders a bit more intimately. You can examine the container style (cone-shaped or rectangular) and how many grams of beans it can be loaded with. 

There are so many fun features to explore when you look at all of the different grinders on the market. A cookware store or local cafe would be an excellent place to look for additional resources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you strongly enjoy coffee and plan to use your grinding machine often, then it makes the most sense to invest in a good-quality one. There’s no shortage of grinders to choose from, ranging anywhere between manual and automatic, so hopefully, by the end of this article, you have learned a little bit more about the different machines you can choose between and which would be the best choice for you!