The 5 Best Coffee Grinders

Jeffrey Pu — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:36:35 +0000

For a lot of people, coffee is a necessary component in kickstarting their day, and so for those folks it makes a lot of sense to have the equipment necessary to make a good brew at home. But even if you're not someone who needs two cups of joe to get through the day, it could very well be a good idea to invest in the equipment anyway so that you don't end up shelling out $3-5 every time you hit up Starbucks. Regardless of your reasons, if you're looking to make your own coffee at home, you'll want to look into a coffee grinder. (See also: Shopping Calendar: The Best Time to Buy Anything)

What Is a Coffee Grinder?

A coffee grinder is a device that grinds whole coffee beans so that they may be brewed into a beverage. Coffee grinders come in two primary forms: burr grinders and blade grinders. Burr grinders crush coffee beans between a moving grind wheel and a non-moving surface; a blade grinder chops coffee beans with metal blades. While most coffee lovers prefer the use of a burr grinder because they grind coffee beans more consistently, the right blade grinder is quite capable of making basic coffee if that's what you're looking for. Blade grinders are also typically inexpensive and can double as a spice grinder.

Best 5 Coffee Grinders

Krups 203 Electric Coffee Grinder

Compact, easy-to-use, and relatively inexpensive, the Krups Electric Coffee Grinder is highly regarded as the best available blade coffee grinder. Capable of grinding up to 3 ounces of coffee beans at a time, users claim that this grinder chops beans more consistently than other blade grinders. It does an excellent job for those looking for a basic brew, but coffee drinkers looking for more variety should probably look elsewhere. Currently $19.99 on Amazon.

Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder

A favorite among users, the Capresso 560.01 Infinity is capable of grinding coffee beans as consistently as other burr grinders that cost twice as much. The Capresso features 16 different grind settings including settings for espresso and drip coffee, along with a built-in timer that allows for grinding of anywhere between 5 and 60 seconds. Currently $89.99 on Amazon Marketplace.

Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder

Another well-reviewed burr coffee grinder, the most unique feature of the Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder is the borosilicate glass container that receives the ground coffee. The special glass keeps from getting statically charged like other plastic containers which can cause the coffee grounds to “jump.” The Bodum Bistro also features 14 grind settings between coarse and fine. Currently $119.95 on Amazon.

Breville BCG800XL Smart Grinder

As the coffee grinders we feature get more expensive, they also start coming with more features. The Breville BCG800XL comes with 25 grind settings for French press, drip, percolator, and espresso coffee. The backlit LCD screen displays the current grind setting, number of cup or shots, and a customized grind amount. Users laud its ease-of-use as well as its consistency once you figure out the settings for your perfect cup of joe. Currently $190.24 on Amazon.

Rancilio Rocky Doserless Coffee Grinder

Considered the best prosumer coffee grinder available, the Rancilio Rocky is built like a tank and delivers precise and consistent grinds, but also comes with a premium price. This grinder features a whopping 55 different grind settings with a die-cast housing finished in stainless steel. Finally, it also carries the largest bean-carrying capacity of the grinders we have featured here with a 10.5 ounce bean hopper. Currently $339.00 on Amazon.

This article is from Jeffrey Pu of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: