Best Coffee Grinders for Espresso, Drip and French Press –

New High Tech Coffee Grinders set to Release Greater Flavor

By Kathie FitzPatrick

You may wonder, what is the big deal with a coffee grinder?  Why is one much better over the other?  Apparently, there is quite bit to know about them!  Some of the new brands introduce high technology that means greater flavor in your cup!  Let’s take a look at what elements make up the “Best Coffee Grinders,” and what  their best features are.

Buying a grinder of any type is a step in the right direction. It means that you’re buying your coffee beans whole and planning to grind them as needed. This is a huge step in the right direction because you just can’t beat the freshness and full-bodied flavor of freshly ground coffee.
Buying a coffee grinder means that you’ve elevated your game. You’re no longer a beginner when it comes to coffee. For most beginners, they start drinking coffee in any form that’s readily available. So they grab a cup at their local Dunkin’ Donuts, or anywhere else that sells coffee. At home, they tend to use the most widely advertised supermarket brands.
It’s only later that the true taste for “real” coffee develops. That’s when we tend to opt for the more robust flavor and an enhanced coffee experience.

For the coffee aficionado – you want the best available. This means buying coffee beans that satisfy your palette and give you that feeling of warmth and comfort with every sip. But to experience full-bodied flavor at its freshest, you need quality beans that are freshly-ground.

Therefore, to enjoy fresh, robust coffee on demand – at home or in the office – means you’ll need to have a coffee grinder of some sort.
There are basically three kinds: hand, blade, and burr grinders. The most basic is the hand grinder where you turn the crank and blend coffee beans (like a manual blender) into a consistency where it can be brewed.
The blade grinder is the most common type. You see these in big box stores and discount shops all over. That’s because they’re extremely inexpensive. But they’re not the best option because of the way they function. Blade grinders use a chopping action, which cuts the coffee bean into tiny grains. It chops the bean into a usable size for brewing.
The best type of coffee grinder by far is the burr grinder. This is what you see in every fine coffee shop and in the homes of serious coffee fans everywhere. Burr grinders use a set of steel (or ceramic) burrs to efficiently squeeze the coffee beans and grind them into a uniform consistency that provides the ultimate in freshness and flavor.

Can you tell a difference?

The more experienced you are as a serious coffee drinker, the more likely you are to distinguish the difference between pre-ground, blade ground, and burr-ground coffee from a quality machine.

In this article, my mission is to provide you with the today’s top choices of consumer grinders, favoured by the most discerning of coffee grinders. So it’s no surprise that all of the suggested models are in fact of the burr- grinding variety.

Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

 

Click here to buy this Baratza Sette 270 on Amazon

The Baratza 270 and Baratza 270W are two of the most popular coffee grinders on the market today. Made by one of the most respected and best-known brands in the industry, these slick machines feature a grind adjustment dial that is a combination of a “stepped” and “step-less” system that allows you to precisely control the grind. 

What’s the difference between the Baratza 270 and the 270W?

Click here to buy the Baratza Sette 270W on Amazon:

The 270 is the standard model. The 270W gives you the option of grinding your coffee by weight. Dosing by weight provides superior accuracy and therefore, a greater likelihood of the best possible taste.

This means the 270W has a built-in weigh scale. On the 270, you grind simply by time and would need a separate device to weigh the coffee. Whereas the 270W allows you to grind according to the precise weight of the ground coffee to get that perfect level of consistency.

It’s these adjustments and the total control they give you that makes the Baratza 270 coffee grinder a favorite. It includes both stepped macro grind settings and step-less micro adjustments so you can get  the exact consistency – whether it’s for espresso or drip coffee.

With programmable dosing, you can simply dial it in and save three grind settings. When you go back to your machine the next time, it will deliver the exact texture later on single shots or double shots of espresso, or on your drip blends.

Curved, rubber coated arms are designed to firmly hold most portafilters and brew baskets. So you get last mess and waste every time you grind. This is a nice feature to have, considering how grinding coffee can get a little messy, even for those of us who are careful.

Baratza has completely re-designed the burrs used in the 270 and 270W grinder. They’ve taken the classic engineering of most coffee grinders and flipped it 180 degrees. Now it’s the outside burr that rotates to process the beans. And the result is precisely-ground fresh coffee – faster.

Additionally, the rotating door allows you to take the hopper out without spilling coffee beans everywhere. If you’ve only used a blade coffee grinder before, you’ll love not only what this burr grinder can do, but how cleanly and efficiently it does so.

Pros

What users love about the Baratza 270 and 270W is that it’s super easy to remove the burrs and brush out old coffee grounds. This is important because cleaning any coffee grinder is one of the keys to making it work perfectly and last longer. This one is simple to use. There’s no engineering or rocket science degree required. It’s push-button controlled and settings are clearly visible.

Programmed presets mean that even a beginner can use a Barozza grinder. The backlit LCD display screen makes it easy to note the settings at a glance. It’s a relatively compact grinder that is only 5 inches wide. So it’s easy to fit in most any kitchen.

The Baratza 270 offers lightning-fast grinding action. As an example, you can grind and 18 gram dose in about five seconds. So you won’t need to run the grinder very long at all.

Cons

This coffee grinder is not very quiet. In fact, you should be aware that you could wake up the whole house when using it first thing in the morning. That’s just the way it is. If your family members are coffee fans too, they’ll understand. Just be aware that the Baratza 270 and 270W is not particularly quiet.

While a fast speed is an attribute in some cases, it can be a disadvantage. This machine is so quick that trying to trying to refine your grind to make it absolutely perfect can be a bit of a challenge. Patience and experience may be required to get it just right for you.

The machine fits a variety of portafilters including those made by Breville, La Marzocco, and Rancilio.

Both the 270 and the 270W have the same redesigned grinding system. The difference is that the 270 does not have the weight controlled dosing offered by the 270W.

To turn the grinder on, simply hit the start/pause button. To turn the grinder off, you need to press and hold the stop button. If you’re grinding your coffee directly into a portafilter, keep an eye on it at all times. If you added a little too much coffee, it can clog the burrs.

The hook provided adjusts to most any portafilter. You want to be sure to make this adjustment so that whatever portafilter you’re using is held firmly in place.

Removing the burrs for cleaning purposes is easy. Getting them back in place is almost as easy. Simply line up the blue dial markers and twist the burner into place, in a counter-clockwise motion. It’s not difficult at all and it does get easier with experience.

Overall size measures 5.25 inches wide by 9.5 inches deep by 15. 75 inches high. The product weighs 9 pounds. It runs on a standard 120 volt outlet. The timer functions up to 60 seconds and the bean hopper holds up to 10 ounces of coffee beans.

As with most Baratza products, these models come with a full one-year guarantee. It’s also important to note that should you have any problem, Baratza has you covered in multiple ways. Their website, for example, is a useful resource for troubleshooting any issues you may have with your coffee grinder. This can be particularly helpful down the road after your warranty has expired.

Multiple users claim that the Baratza 270 is the best coffee grinder for espresso, due to its consistent uniformity in the grind produced. That’s one of the keys to perfect espresso.

Another huge advantage is the speed with which the Baratza grinds coffee.

If you’re looking for quick grind that consistently delivers a near perfect blend, without leaving leftover grains in the chute, this is one you should consider. With minimal waste, cleanup is a breeze, which is not always the case with some coffee grinders.

This is one of the best coffee grinders for both espresso and pour over coffee blends. But you should keep in mind that it’s not designed for perfect French press brewing. Some reviewers have slammed the Baratza 270 for not being a French press grinder. Clearly, those folks didn’t do their homework because that’s not what the Baratza 270 was designed for. So you should probably disregard those reviews.

If you’re interested in that full-bodied flavor and a fresh, fluffy grind without clumping, you should seriously consider this model. As one user put it “all the wonderful complex flavors I smelled when freshly grinding the beans can now be tasted in the cup”.

More on the Baratza 270W Coffee Grinder

Like the 270, the 270W fits almost anywhere, thanks to its small profile and compact shape. You can grind your coffee directly into a portafilter or pour over filter. You’ll likely experience less waste and a faster and easier cleanup.

40 mm steel burrs deliver a consistent texture to grinds at any level. You get direct access to the burrs so it’s easy to clean them properly without needing specialty tools. The built-in “door” makes it is easy to remove and replace the hopper. So changing one load of beans for another is super-easy.

There’s no need for a separate weigh scale because it’s built-in to the 270W.

There’s also a portafilter hook and arms that provide a solid grip on virtually any portafilter. Like it’s cousin, the 270, the 270W is small yet mighty. It’s unique and compact size makes it ideal for smaller kitchens.

Cons

The motors used in these two models are identical and tend to be on the loud side. It processes coffee beans quickly, so the machine is not running for extended periods. But while it is running – it’s loud.

Another potential problem is the fast speed. It may be too fast, making it difficult to control until you’ve gained some experience and tested different times and weights until you’re getting a perfectly delicious cup every time.

The Baratza 270W grinder measures 5.2 inches wide by 9.5 inches deep by 15.75 inches high. It weighs 9 pounds. The hopper capacity is 10 ounces, while the diameter of the grinding burrs is 40 mm.

What makes this a good choice is a coffee grinder is that it goes to work quickly and delivers a consistent grind, from fine to course. Waste is minimal. If you’ve used a lesser brand, you know how annoying it is to witness all the waste.

This is one of the faster and more consistent coffee grinders on the market. It’s no surprise that it’s also one of the most popular too. But it’s not perfect. That’s because it’s not quite course enough for French press perfection. If you love your French Press, that’s a concern. But if you’re strictly an espresso and drip coffee drinker, it doesn’t really matter.

Baratza Forte BG Flat Steel Burr Coffee Grinder

The Baratza Forte BG is the big kahuna of home coffee grinders as the standard goes. It’s actually a commercial-grade type of grinder – one that’s weight-based and specially designed for grinds from medium to course. The Forte BG features a digital control panel that’s intuitive and easy for anyone to use. It features an all metal construction with easy to adjust macro and micro settings. Despite it being more of a heavy-duty grinder, it consumes a remarkably small amount of space on your countertop.

Be forewarned: the Baratza Forte BG isn’t for bargain hunters looking for a cheap coffee grinder because “cheap” – it is NOT. It’s made for those of us who thoroughly enjoy a quality cup whenever we want – and have the budget to spend on a quality kitchen appliance.

With the Forte BG, you can set your dose by time or by weight. Dosing by weight is accurate to a .2 gram (plus or minus) differential. With an LED backlit screen, it’s easy to see your settings and you can change those settings at a push of the button. The BG comes with three programmable presets. Yet it puts the user in total control with its up and down arrows to increase or decrease the amount of the dose required.

For an accurate and consistent grind, it’s hard to beat the Forte BG with its 54 mm steel burrs. These burrs were designed specifically to enhance the flavor of your ground coffee. Grind size ranges from 230 microns up to 1150 microns.

What users love is the smoothness of the all metal macro and micro adjustments. It gives you a feeling of precision and control as you set your grind for the specific desired result. The macro adjustment alone allows for 10 distinct settings. These are easily repeatable. Each macro step can further be adjusted by the micro setting which provides 26 additional settings for each macro step. This gives you a huge range of settings  – 260 in all – so you get the ideal grind – whether it’s a double shot of espresso you’re brewing, or a pot of Starbucks French Roast.

You get the exact grind and best possible taste for your preferred brew method at the time. You’ll feel like the head barista in your own coffeehouse using this top-notch piece of equipment.

The hopper is large and expandable. The base unit holds more than 10 1/2 ounces of beans. With the optional extension, you can increase the hopper’s capacity by an additional 9 ounces. There’s also a built-in shut off feature prevents a mess whenever you need to remove the hopper to swap out the beans.

The Forte BG coffee grinder has been expertly calibrated at the factory to deliver accuracy across a wide range of grinds. But should that you ever lose that calibration, there’s an easy fix. Simply recalibrate by using the special tool provided.

The Baratza Forte BG grinder comes with an interesting warranty. You’re covered for a period of one year or 50 hours of cumulative use – whichever comes first. Well, unless you’re making a ton of coffee in your home, you probably won’t get 50 cumulative hours of use within the period of one year. So figure on warranty coverage to extend for 12 months after your purchase.

This quality coffee grinder has been expertly engineered to prepare ideal grinds for a variety of brewing methods. It provides precision weight control and delivers just the right amount of fresh-ground coffee for maximum taste. Essentially, the Baratza Forte BG coffee grinder was designed with commercial coffeehouses in mind. So there’s plenty of functionality in a small space. Despite its small size, the BG is a powerhouse of a coffee grinder with a high torque DC motor capable of rapidly grinding any coffee bean with ease.

All you need to do with the BG is set the weight for your chosen grind. The Forte BG will weigh the coffee as it’s grinding and then stop automatically once it reaches the desired weight.

Switch up beans easily without any spillage simply by using the removable hopper. It’s easy to change beans and it features a much larger capacity than most comparable coffee grinders. You can also add multiple extensions (sold separately)to create an even larger hopper. You don’t have to worry about beans falling down the chute because the clever design of the Forte BG actually prevents that from happening.

As with every coffee grinder, frequent cleaning is recommended. Thankfully, the Baratza Forte grinder comes with a high-quality tool to make removing the burrs quick and easy.

Overall product size is as follows: 5 inches wide, 5.5 inches deep, and 14.2 inches in height. It weighs in at a significant 13 pounds. It runs on 110 volts so you can plug it into any household outlet. The outer housing  is made of a combination of stainless steel and plastic. The burrs are flat steel (ceramic may be available) unless otherwise specified at the time of your order.

If you’re interested in a solid and stable coffee grinder, one that should serve you for years, you should consider the Baratza Forte BG coffee grinder for your home or office. The belt driven motor is a powerhouse, yet emits significantly less noise than many other brands and models.

Cons

The digital display can be a little difficult to see at times, unless you’re looking at it head-on. This is the case with many of these LED display units. It’s a minor issue, but an issue nevertheless.

if you’re serious about your coffee and you want a high-quality grinder that gives you absolute control over the quality of the fresh ground coffee experience, this may be a good fit for you.

For a uniform grind – consistently – for virtually all drip methods, it’s hard to go wrong with this one. and Adjustments are easy to make and it’s fair to say that this is one of the quieter countertop models despite its commercial capability.

The weigh scale provides a precise dose for an exceptional espresso. Once you have the setting just right for you – it’s easy to repeat.

This thing is a heavy-duty unit that’s built to last with its sturdy metal construction. it’s surprisingly compact and low enough in height to fit under any upper kitchen cabinets. Sure it’s expensive. But how important is great-tasting coffee and espresso on demand? When you consider it’s wide ranging capabilities from perfect espresso to delicious drip coffee – it’s not at all an unreasonable price to pay.

What some users have found is that even a lesser brand of coffee tastes better. They’ve noticed a distinct improvement in flavor using the exact same brand of coffee. All that changed with the grinding process. That may not come as a surprise to long-term coffee fans who’ve been grinding their own beans for years. Clearly there is a difference between fresh ground coffee from a quality grinder and coffee “processed” any other way.

Click here to buy the Baratza Forte BG Steel Burr Coffee Grinder on Amazon:

DeLonghi Coffee Grinders

DeLonghi is another well-known quality brand of kitchen appliances from Italy. A DeLonghi coffee grinder produces consistent results and a uniform grind texture.

DeLonghi has a reputation for manufacturing quality kitchen equipment and the KG89 coffee grinder is their premium consumer level grinder. It’s both functional and stylish and would look smashing in pretty well any kitchen. It’s compact size of 5 inches wide by 6.3 inches deep by 10.1 inches high means that you’re  able to fit it in small spaces.

Is there a difference between the DeLonghi KG79 and KG89?

These two models are virtually identical, with the exception of the exterior finish. The KG89 has a brushed stainless steel finish while the KG79 does not. The look is quite different – yet the performance is identical. These coffee grinders can grind anywhere from 4 to 12 cups of coffee perfectly, from course to medium, or fine.

It’s simple to use with an on/off push-button control. There’s a built-in safety feature designed to shut the machine down if the lid or some other component is not properly in place.

It also features a self-contained cord storage area to keep your countertop clutter-free. This is one of those added features that when you read about it, it evokes a mostly “ho-hum” reaction. But having an appliance on your kitchen counter and being able to tuck away the cord when you’re finished grinding coffee is in fact – a beautiful thing. It’s a huge advantage to those of us who like clean and tidy living spaces.

DeLonghi customers love the automatic stop that kicks in the second the coffee is perfectly ground to the setting. You can prepare enough coffee for a large percolator or just a couple of cups. It’s easy to use too. Just load your coffee beans into the hopper, choose your setting and let this impressive machine do its work.

Click here to buy the Delonghi KG79 Coffee Grinder on Amazon:

Each DeLonghi grinder comes with three distinct grinds – fine, medium, and course. There are also multiple settings between each of these three main options. This means you can select the exact texture for a perfect grind, something that’s vitally important to the chosen brew method.

Is it silent? No. No coffee grinder is. However, the DeLonghi is relatively quiet as far as coffee grinders go. Anything with an electric motor is going to make some noise. But clearly, Delonghi engineers have gone to work to reduce noise as much as possible.

With its stainless steel exterior and sleek lines, it would look exceptional in most any kitchen. Weighing in at just 4 pounds means it’s easy to move around as needed. Most burr grinders weigh considerably more.

Pros

The Delonghi coffee grinder is very easy to use and works reliably. You can make less than the 2 cup minimum by using the stop/start button. In just eight seconds, you can prepare the perfect amount for a double shot of espresso. It’s also a reasonably priced coffee grinder – given the thoughtful design and quality that’s built into every Delonghi.

Click here to buy the Delonghi KG89 Coffee Grinder on Amazon:

Baratza Vario Flat Ceramic Grinder – Best Coffee Grinder?

In our search for which is the best coffee grinder, let’s next take a look at the Baratza Vario. The Baratza Vario is another commercial-grade coffee grinder that’s popular among consumers. It features a metal portaholder, bright LED display panel, and 54mm flat ceramic burrs.

What’s particularly interesting about ceramic burrs is that they’re known to stay sharper over longer periods of time. Ceramic burr tend to last longer. Another great advantage of ceramic is that it limits the transfer of heat from the motor as coffee is ground. Temperature is one of those things that dramatically affects the quality of the bean. So anything that can be done to keep the coffee a little cooler as it’s processing is an added advantage.

Freshly grind your coffee whenever you want – as much as you want. With electronic dosing, you can grind only the coffee you need for each shot and get it right every time.

This machine comes with three programmable “grind by weight” buttons. Once you get it set to your liking, you can lock these in and repeat the process instantly at any time.

The Baratza Vario also comes with a dual arm adjustment system. The right arm let you decide on the type of grind, while the left arm allows you to fine-tune that grind, within the range you’ve chosen. This means that you have a huge range – more than 230 distinctive grind settings available.

Baratza has given the Vario a strong, yet remarkably quiet motor. This motor intentionally turns at a slower rate, resulting in a cooler and quieter operation. The adjustable portaholder brackets are designed in a way to accept virtually any brand of portholder.

Pros

This consumer coffee grinder has many of the design features built-in that are typically reserved for the more expensive, professional coffee house grinders. It’s a commercial-grade powerhouse with 230 different settings for the serious home of office coffee connoisseur. It features precision engineering and well thought through design based on decades of in-the-field experience.

Cons

This may be more of a grinder then you actually need for your home. For the novice, 230 different settings can seem overwhelming. But when you get right down to it, you’re probably only ever going to  use a few different settings repeatedly over time. Having such a variety enables you to fine-tune your grind for maximum flavor and enjoyment. But if you’re not looking for that kind of precision, this may not be the right machine for you.

It’s on the louder side of the scale – as far as coffee grinders go. This is something you want to keep in mind if you’re grinding early in the morning, when everyone else in your household is still sleeping.

Another issue is that it can take considerable pressure to get the hopper on and off. While not a huge problem, this is something that could be improved by Baratza.

The Baratza Vario features a 240 Watt DC motor. What a DC motor does is it powers up extremely fast -much faster than a typical AC motor. What this essentially means is that the second you flip the switch on your Vario – the grinder is working. So it means it you’ll be running the grinder for much less time, each time. Since the motor gets up to speed rapidly, in a matter of milliseconds, your coffee is perfectly ground.

This is a good-looking unit that’s solidly built by an industry leader. The portaholder is particularly useful. There are plenty of settings so that you can fine-tune your coffee exactly as you want.

Pros

It accurately grinds at a variety of settings. It’s not messy either – compared to other coffee grinders. And the power cord is longer than most – a huge bonus if there’s no outlet where you would ideally want to locate your grinder.

The unit itself occupies little space on your countertop. This is an excellent coffee grinder for a family who whose members like to enjoy their coffee in different ways. Whether it’s espresso or drip brewed coffee, the Baratza Vario coffee grinder delivers great taste.

Click here to buy the Baratza Vario 886 Coffee grinder on Amazon:

Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder

Which is the best coffee grinder? Rancilio is another well-known name brand. It’s best known in the commercial espresso machine market. With this mode,l Rancilio has bundled near commercial functionality and features into a consumer product. For the coffee fan looking to create the perfect cup on-demand, consider the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD coffee grinder.

It offers 55 different settings at the press of a button to create the grind of your choice. This is very important for busy folks today who want delicious coffee without a lot of tinkering.

The Rancilio is available with or without a doser. With a doser, you get a more automated preparation. You can get the perfect amount of grounds into the Portafilter and then transfer it straight to your espresso machine instantly. Without a doser, you have more manual control and can adjust the grind to suit your particular tastes.

What’s fantastic about the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD is the commercial quality of the grinding burrs. This is a huge advantage because the burrs inside a grinder make a significant difference in the quality and uniformity of the grind.

These burs turn at a super-slow speed to prevent any heat from building up and ruining your otherwise perfectly-roasted coffee. There’s also added insulation around the motor to prevent heat from transferring from a motor to the coffee.

Rancilio also provides a tinted coffee hopper to protect the beans from UV light. The tinting still allows for easy see-through, so you can monitor the bean level. But you won’t have to worry about leaving it out and exposed to the light and ruining an otherwise perfect batch of coffee beans.

The versatility of having 55 automated settings means that you can go from espresso to drip coffee to a French press and anywhere in between with a simple turn of the dial.

Since Rancilio designs it’s grinders for commercial use – you can rest assured that it can easily withstand the frequent use of an ardent coffee fan at home.

The motor is powerful and yet quiet, emitting as little noise as possible. This may be one of the quieter coffee grinders on the market today. The Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD also comes with built in machine protection. If the grinding mechanism ever overheats or jams, there is a thermal protection element that shuts the machine down immediately to prevent any damage.

Pros

It’s built strong. You’re getting a commercial grade burr grinder with 55 easy settings and a unit that’s made to last makes the Rancilio a favorite among coffee fans.

It’s smaller then one of those large commercial grinders and yet it has many of the same features and capabilities. The Rancilio can handle more than half abound pound of coffee beans at one time.

Cons

As with any powerful, commercially-inspired design, this may be more of a coffee grinder than you require. It’s a quality piece of equipment that is capable of heavy-duty performance.

Some say the power switch is in an awkward position. Its location makes it tricky to handle the portafilter and run the machine at the same time.

The It’s built strong. The Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD is a larger machine. It’s big and heavy weighing in at 18 pounds. The motor itself takes up 11 of those 18 pounds. It’s a sizable unit and may not work in a smaller kitchen.

Overall dimensions 9.8″ x 4.7″ x 13.8″. The motor is a powerful yet quiet with 166 Watts of power, spinning at 1725 RPMs. It’s a durable machine with a large capacity,  capable of handling 7.7 pounds of coffee per hour. The motor spins at 1725 RPMs. It’s a powerful yet quiet grinder.

You can go from a fine grind to a course grind in a matter of seconds and it’s easy to clean. This is one of the premium consumer coffee grinders on the market. It delivers consistent quality from espresso to drip to French press coffee.

Click here to buy the Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder on Amazon

Conclusion

So which are the best coffee grinders?  In this article you have reviews on some of the top favorite coffee grinders!  Particularly the new Barata Sette 270 and Baratza Sette 270W are the new darlings on the scene!  You will be sure to find one of these that suits both your taste and your wallet!  Enjoy the best cup of coffee you can imagine with one of these very nice coffee grinders!