Best Coffee Grinders in 2024
Investing in a good burr coffee grinder is the biggest and most important change you can make to improve the quality of your coffee. We’ve compiled a list of the best coffee grinders on the market, including a detailed explanation as to why we chose each one.
Grinders come in a huge range of price points, so we’ve included something to fit everyone’s budget.
Our Top Pick for the Best Coffee Grinders
Our top pick for the best coffee grinders in 2024 is the Baratza Virtuoso+ (Amazon link). The grinder’s perfect mix of simplicity and functionality only makes grinding your own coffee beans all the more enjoyable.
The in-built digital timer adjusts to automatically grind anywhere from one to 40 seconds in 0.1-second increments. Just flick the switch and the Virtuoso+ will grind the perfect amount of coffee, shutting off once it’s finished grinding.
The dial on the Virtuoso+ has been updated from the older Virtuoso model. It now sits on the front of the machine and can be used for pulse-grinding too.
The Virtuoso+ features 40mm high-carbon steel conical burrs that run at 550 RPMs, producing a grind quality that is among the most consistent I’ve seen this price point. A uniform grind is the most important factor in unlocking a coffee’s flavour potential.
The grinder has 40 different grind size settings that range from fine to coarse. To adjust the grind, you simply turn the bean hopper to one of the pre-marked number settings. You’ll be able to enjoy any style of coffee drink from espresso all the way to French press.
The grinder’s internals are commcercial-grade components, which is something that isn’t usually seen at this price point. The external chassis also has a metal top and base, which makes the machine excellently sturdy.
The Baratza’s small size is one of the reasons it’s loved by so many for use in the home. You don’t have to sacrifice any space on your kitchen counter.
This grinder is so good that you’ll also find it used in cafes all over the world. You’ll get a ton of respect from the baristas at your local cafe when you tell them that you own a Baratza grinder.
Sure, there are cheaper alternatives out there on the market. But wouldn’t it be a shame to spend all that money on delicious coffee beans, only to muddle the flavours with a cheap grinder?
Do your coffee making routine a favour and show it the love it deserves with the Virtuoso+’s automatic timer, its wide range of grind settings and, most importantly, its incredible grind quality that will show you how good coffee can be.
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Best Budget Pick for the Best Coffee Grinders
The best budget coffee grinder in 2024 is the Baratza Encore (Amazon link). This entry-level grinder provides an incredible grind quality at a very affordable price.
The Encore’s grinding capability will open up a new world of fresh and fragrant coffee that you never knew existed.
The Encore has 40mm steel conical burrs that also run at 550 RPMs. Just as with the Virtuoso+ model, the Encore has 40 different grind settings that are adjustable by turning the hopper.
The machine features two power buttons: a power switch for continual grinding and a pulse button for the times you need that little extra control when dosing.
The Encore has the same small footprint as the other two on this list. This thing is easy to move around, and its small size makes cleaning and maintaining it so simple.
The Encore is simplicity at its finest. If you’re not interested in the bells and whistles, and you don’t mind the plastic finish, you can’t beat this grinder for overall quality and design.
The grinder is so highly thought of that former World Barista Champion, James Hoffmann, highlighted how good the Encore in his budget ‘Grinder Showdown’ video on YouTube.
There are one or two cheaper options available that could achieve something similar to the Encore, but is it really worth saving a few bucks for something that you’re going to be using every single day?
The Encore is so well designed with its easily adjustable grind settings, its superior conical steel burrs, its two power options, and its large, snugly fit grounds bin that leaves zero mess. There’s really nothing to rival the Encore in terms of entry-level grinders.
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Best Upper-tier Pick for the Best Coffee Grinders
Our favourite upper-tier coffee grinder has to be the Baratza Vario (Amazon link). This thing features 54mm flat ceramic burrs and a whopping 230 different grind size settings.
The large flat burrs create a consistent grind that is essential for unlocking all the flavours and aromas of your coffee beans. And with such a huge array of grind settings, you can really tailor your coffee to taste exactly how you like it.
Changing the grind size is as simple as sliding the micro and macro dials up and down on the front panel. The right slider adjusts the larger macro settings that are needed when switching between brewing apparatus, and the left slider enables you to fine-tune your grind size, making micro adjustments to get the perfect cup.
The front panel has also two power buttons: one manual and one automatic. The automatic option features three different timers that you can program to grind the exact amount of coffee that you need, great if you enjoy preparing your coffee using different brewers.
The Vario has the option of the usual large-capacity grounds bin as well as a very well designed portafilter holder attachment for those that like to prepare espresso with minimal effort.
You really get what you pay for with the Vario in terms of design and durability. The grinder is extremely well-built and very sturdy. The Vario is regularly seen in cafes because of how it can comfortably go up against machines two or three times its price.
We admit that it’s not necessary to spend this much to achieve great-tasting coffee. But as you continue on your coffee journey, one day you’ll likely want to buy something that’s a step up.
By buying the Vario, you future-proof your purchase, avoiding having to upgrade in a few years’ time. After the Vario, the differences in grind quality really get less and less noticeable. Unless you’re an absolute fanatic, this is the last grinder you’ll ever need to buy.
Check out the current price today: