Our choice
This versatile and strong grinder produces the even grind needed to brew delicious coffee without breaking the bank.
The Baratza Encore grinds coffee more evenly and over a wider range of settings than any other machine we tested in its price range—and many that cost more. It’s a tried-and-true, no-frills tool that takes up a modest square footage of countertop space. It’s basic to immaculate and maintain, and an investment you can count on every morning.
This grinder should be great for anyone who makes drip coffee or uses other methods that require a medium-fine to sturdy grind (like a pour-over, Chemex, AeroPress, or French press). It won’t produce the subtle variations in fineness that stern espresso enthusiasts rave about, but its performance is consistent enough to create a decent shot. The Encore is our only choice (apart from hand grinder) doesn’t have a timer or automatic way to measure your beans, but we’ve found that measuring your beans before adding them to the hopper is basic enough—and many coffee lovers already do it. Baratza also makes a smaller hopper with a 60-gram capacity that lets you measure your beans using the top cover, making the process easier.
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For the higher price, the Virtuoso+ has everything we like about the Encore in terms of reliability and consistent grind size, along with some improved features.
The Baratza Virtuoso+ is a great burr grinder that is slightly faster and more even than the Encore, and also offers a slightly wider range of both fine and sturdy grinds. Unlike the Encore, this grinder has a precise 60-second digital timer that allows you to grind fixed amount of beans from the hopper — meaning you don’t have to measure them every time you make coffee. (You can also add hopper extensions, which would allow your Virtuoso+ to hold an entire bag of beans.) The Virtuoso+ also has a lightweight above the hopper, so you can easily see how much you’ve ground. Still, this model isn’t significantly better at grinding than the Encore. You’re paying for incremental improvements, which can be essential if coffee is a burgeoning passion or hobby for you.
Budget choice
This compact grinder is basic to operate and has a larger range than most budget grinders, but it’s a bit less consistent than our top picks and harder to repair.
The OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is the best grinder we’ve tested in the $100 price range. (We’ve found that every electric grinder in that price range is better than ours.) a significant step down (in terms of grind consistency and durability.) The Encore offers a more consistent, versatile grind and a long-term maintenance and repair program, but the OXO hits the nail on the head in terms of price, grind quality, and ease of operate.
If you want to fill the OXO with a bag of beans and just press a button every morning, you can: It has a 12-ounce container and a zero-to-30-second timer that lets you automate how much coffee you grind. It’s also easier to immaculate than the Baratza, because the container has a shut-off valve so you can easily remove it with beans inside, and the top burr has a little handle that lets you unscrew the top half. If you mostly drink drip coffee or from a plunger brewer, the OXO’s relatively even grind, wide range of settings, and more convenient features make it a good alternative to the more costly Baratza Encore.
Also great
For those looking for an affordable yet high-quality portable hand grinder, the Timemore Chestnut C2 is best in class for speed, ease of grinding and consistency.
If you’re on a tight budget, have a very diminutive kitchen, or want a more portable or off-grid burr coffee grinder, we found the Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder to be the best option under $100. The C2 is Coffee Gear’s cheapest grinder Fear morewhose manual grinders are prized by coffee experts. To sell the C2 at a lower price, Timemore uses strong, high-quality plastic for the internal shaft instead of the metal in its more costly models, and gives it a slightly less complicated burr and crank arm that still easily disassembles for storage or travel. The C2 has an impressively polished and rapid grinding action, and is sturdy and well-built. Some options have a gritty aluminum surface that is basic to grip.
Like the electric models in this guide, the C2 isn’t designed to make espresso, and because it’s much smaller than an electric grinder, it can only grind enough coffee for a cup or two at a time. But it only takes a few minutes—even with a ponderous grind—and it’s basic to refill.
