Best coffee grinders 2020
Coffee machines are a must-have kitchen accessory, so we put a selection of coffee grinder at various price points to the test
A coffee machine on your kitchen counter always looks great, but you'll want your machine to do more than just look good - it also needs to deliver a decent cup of lava.
Poppable pods and pre-ground coffee remain popular, but most true coffee aficionados will attest to the fact that the best brews come from freshly ground beans. The process of grinding them might seem like a time-consuming hassle but with a home coffee grinder, it's actually a relatively simple task. We've put a selection of coffee grinders, in a range of price brackets, to the test - here's the very best of them.
Hario Skerton Coffee Grinder
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This might be a humble hand-operated grinder, but its smooth mechanism makes coffee grinding swifter than most of its rivals. The ceramic burrs are adjustable depending on the fineness of the grind you want: an espresso will be ready in around five minutes. No time at all for a grinder of this quality and at this price.
Hario Skerton Coffee Grinder, hario.co.uk, £40
Krups Expert Burr Grinder
Another budget-priced grinder, and one that’s compact, quick and incredibly simple to use. One dial toggles between 17 grinding levels; the other grinds enough beans for anywhere been two and twelve cups. Unlike a lot of coffee grinders at the lower end of the price spectrum, the Krups does an excellent job of finer grinds - it’s actually with coarser grinds where it struggles. But if you’re looking for a latte with limited means, this is one of the best out there.
Krups Expert Burr Grinder, amazon.co.uk, £38
Wilfa Svart Aroma Coffee Grinder
This coffee grinder from Norwegian company Wilfa gives a performance that belies that not-too-hefty price tag. A guide printed on the hopper takes you through the grinding process, showing you how long you should grind for various coffee-making techniques - filter, aeropress, espresso, and so on. The slow-speed motor produces less heat than usual, so as not to burn away the aromatic subtleties of the beans. An excellent machine in the sub-hardcore category.
Wilfa Svart Aroma Coffee Grinder, amazon.co.uk, £119.50
Sage Smart Grinder Pro
If Sage’s Dose machine focuses on personalisation, the Smart Grinder Pro focuses on precision. With this, you’re able to calibrate the burrs thanks to Safe’s Dosing IQ technology, which automatically changes the dose of coffee in accordance with the changes in grind. The LCD display is clear, and the controls easy to use, and comes with a cleaning brush so you can keep the burrs in tip-top condition. It’s the definite winner among the mid-range grinders we looked at.
Sage Smart Grinder Pro, johnlewis.com, £144
Mahlkonig Vario
Leaping up into the higher echelons of spending? Definitely consider the Mahlkoning Vario: a programmable grinder with a digital timer and presets for ground for espresso, filter and French press. In fact, between the 10-position grind control and 20-position fine-tune control, the level of control at your hands is astonishing. Efficient, precise and well-built, this is one of the best grinders you can pick before moving into splurge territory.
Mahlkonig Vario, coffeeitalia.co.uk, £389
Baratza Sette 270
The entire Baratza range is a seriously impressive line of coffee grinders - but for us, the Sette 270 is the best of them. Its ‘revolutionary grinding technology’ puts a stainless-steel cone burr against a fixed-ring burr to process the beans. It’s a noisier-than-typical machine, but when the dosage is consistently correct to a degree of half a gram, you’ll forgive that. A sleek and gleaming piece of kit - and one that’s not cheap, but for self-evident reasons.
Baratza Sette 270, coffeehit.co.uk, £349
Cuisinart Professional Burr Coffee Mill
Cold-brew fans should take note of this grinder from Cuisinart, which efficiently delivers the kind of coarse, easy-to-filter grind that’s required for this achingly trendy beverage. That being said, its 18 grind settings will also deliver a grind that’s perfect for a percolator, French press and cafetiere too. It also comes with an impressive five-year guarantee, too.
Cuisinart Professional Burr Coffee Mill, amazon.co.uk, £51
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nine of the best coffee and espresso machines
The Week Recommends Start the day off right by making your own barista-grade coffee at home
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ten of the best early Black Friday coffee machine deals
The Week Recommends Save up to two thirds of the price on top-quality models from brands including Nespresso and Bosch
By The Week Staff Published
-
Five of the best espresso machines
The Week Recommends Start your day off right with a perfect cup of coffee
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is Britain’s love affair with tea over?
Speed Read PG Tips and Lipton could be sold by Unilever because they are falling out of favour with the public
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Best reusable coffee cups
The Week Recommends
By Matt Breen Last updated
-
Best bean-to-cup coffee machines
The Week Recommends For barista-grade coffee at home, invest in a bean-to-cup coffee machine
By Caroline Preece Last updated
-
Alain Ducasse on the perfect cup of coffee
In Depth The Week Portfolio talks to the Michelin-starred chef about his new high-end cafe in London
By Arion McNicoll Last updated