When it comes to coffee, fresher is better. The instant coffee on supermarket shelves is pretty suboptimal, while pre-ground coffee is significantly more flavoursome – but still not as fresh. If you want the ultimate coffee experience, it’s worth investing in the best coffee grinder.
Related: The best coffee machines to use at home | Where to buy the best coffee pods and capsules online
Simply put, a coffee grinder allows you to grind your beans as you go and unlock their flavours at the very last minute - keeping them intact and as strong as possible. Whether you’re using a moka pot, cafetière, AeroPress or pour-over technique, grinding your beans before brewing will give the best flavour.
More and more people are getting serious about coffee, and that means the number of grinders on the market has steadily increased. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of the best coffee grinders on sale today; from impressive budget options, to more expensive products for caffeine connoisseurs.
Ready to upgrade your morning coffee? Keep reading for the best coffee grinders to buy in 2021.
The best coffee grinders you can buy in 2021:
Photo: AmazonThe DeLonghi KG79 is one of the most popular coffee grinders on the market because it combines style with truly affordable performance. Designed to fit in any kitchen, it features classy utilitarian looks, and inside it features burrs which offer a significantly better grind than blades.
After placing or storing your beans at the top, getting a perfect grind is as simple as selecting the size. The DeLonghi also has a safety shutdown mode, which means it won’t turn on if the guard at the top or container is removed. It's not the quietest grinder here, but at this price and with these features, we’ll give the KG79 a pass.
Photo: AmazonKrups is well known in the coffee world, and this GVX231 is a good reason why. Rather than blades, the GVX231 uses burrs, and that means itu2019s able to deliver a consistent grind size u2013 perfect for those using anything from a cafetiu00e8re to a moka pot. There are 17 sizes to choose from, and a dial at the front means you can choose from anything from two to 12 cups. At the top, an air-tight 225g bean hopper means it wonu2019t need to be constantly refilled.
3.
Smeg CGF01
Photo: AmazonSmeg is known for its highly fashionable appliances, and this CGF01 coffee grinder is no different. At around £200, itu2019s certainly one of the more expensive grinders on this list, but it justifies its price with impressive performance and all-important looks.
Inside, the Smeg uses conical burrs for a precise and uniform grind that’ll result in a smoother coffee. Like other products on this list, the Smeg also allows you to choose your grind size, but here you’re allowed a whopping 30 options – more than enough to dial in the perfect size for your brewing method.
Although it's sophisticated inside, operating the Smeg is supremely easy, and a 350g hopper at the top means you’ll rarely need to do more than press and forget.
Photo: AmazonDualit somehow made toasters timeless pieces of design, and now itu2019s ready to do the same with coffee grinders. Outside itu2019s a mixture of clean lines and silver u2013 just like the brandu2019s toasters u2013 but inside it uses burrs to deliver a serviceable, uniform grind.
Priced under £100, the Dualit can’t compete with some of the other devices on this list, and only offers ten sizes of grind, but looks great and is fabulously easy to use. Throw in a hopper that contains up to 250g of beans, and it’ll last a while before it needs a top-up.
Photo: AmazonThe majority of grinders are now electronic, but the Hario Skerton trades a three-pin plug for good, old-fashioned elbow grease. Mainly plastic in construction, itu2019s light enough to be carried around or put in a bag u2013 and operation is as simple as putting up to 24g of beans in the top, selecting your grind size, and then attaching and turning the handle.
Despite its total lack of electricity, the Hario uses high-quality ceramic conical burrs for an impressively consistent grind, and because there isn’t a motor it’s extremely quiet too. It’s a bit slower, but for under £30, it’s a great starting point for coffee newcomers.
Photo: AmazonIf youu2019re after a coffee grinder that delivers like an expensive grinder but is available at a more affordable price, you can do much worse than the Melitta Calibra. A mishmash of stainless steel and gloss black, itu2019s easy to control and features built-in weighing scales u2013 a must for more advanced coffee fiends.
39 grind settings mean the Melitta is extremely flexible, but buttons on the machine ensure it’s easy to find the setting you need. At around £100, it’s not too expensive but boasts many of the features of pricier grinders.
7.
Krups F203
Photo: Amazon
If youu2019re new to the idea of grinding your own beans and just want something easy and quick, itu2019s worth checking out the Krups F203. At under £20, itu2019s cheap and uses a stainless-steel blade to dice up a maximum of 75g of beans.
Unlike other grinders on this list, there are no grind-size options; just grind less if you want a coarse grind or longer if you want a finer result. The Krups’ use of blades rather than conical burrs means it won’t be as accurate or consistent as the other grinders on the list - but the Krups F203 is more about value than anything else.
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Curtis has worked in the technology sector for several years, reviewing and testing the best audio gear, laptops and gadgets at titles including The Telegraph, Mixmag and Expert Reviews. Now the online editor of CAR magazine, he's a keen sim-racer, too.
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