10 Best Electric Coffee Grinders in 2022 (Coffee Shop Owner-Reviewed)

Choosing an electric coffee grinder can be a herculean task when there's so much to consider. Here, we'll go over some main tips for buying the best electric grinder to fit your coffee habits!

First, ask yourself when setting out to find your perfect grinder, “how often will I use it?” The answer can affect the size and type of grinder you choose. For instance, if you only plan on making coffee once a week, maybe a smaller grinder, perfect for one cup, would be enough.

When you start looking at different grinders, you'll notice that a few will be described as making a certain number of cups. This does not mean how many cups of coffee beans can fit into the machine. It is the measurement of cups the grinder can make.

The average measurement is two tablespoons of grinds per cup. However, the exact amount per cup will depend on the manufacturer, so check the product details closely for how the company defines a cup! 

Make sure to keep track of how many cups of coffee you usually make as well, as different coffee grinders can handle a different number of batches. For instance, some coffee grinders can make as little as one to 12 cups of coffee, while other grinders can make four to 18 cups. So, if you require a large number of cups daily, you'll want a grinder that can make a lot of cups.

In general, when picking a grinder, you want to look for grind consistency. Then, you should look at the size, portability, and how it fits into your lifestyle. There are two types of electric grinders: blade and burr. We'll go over the pros and cons of each here.

Blade grinders work like a blender; the blades spin and chop the beans. They are often affordable, portable, and simple to operate. However, they emit heat when grinding, which can alter the taste of the beans. And since the blade isn’t accurate, the resulting grind will be inconsistent. It's also recommended to use a filter with these types of grinders to keep grounds out of your cup.

However, blade grinders are much better than buying pre-made coffee, as they still allow you to create fresh, flavorful cups of coffee suited to your tastes. They are a convenient choice for people starting off in the coffee grinding world or for those who want an easy-to-use machine!

Many coffee aficionados recommend burr blade grinders – and for good reason. These grinders are made of two plate-like blades that come together to crush the coffee beans. The plates can be shifted further apart from each other to achieve different grind consistencies. The resulting grind is finer in texture and more uniform.

Burr grinders can be further divided into two categories: steel and ceramic. These are based on what the blades are made of and what shape they are. Either choice does the same job, but there are a few differences in longevity of the blades. 

Steel burrs last longer and are easier to find on the market, while ceramic burrs stay sharper for longer but are more fragile.

If you want to be even more specific, you can also pick between flat and conical burr blades. The difference between the two is based on the shape of the blades. Conical burr blades feed beans through the grinder faster than flat burr blades. Flat burrs leave bean fragments called retention, which can jam the grinder if it is not thoroughly cleaned. 

But, both types have minimal differences in the final grind and are really based on personal preference. No matter what type you pick, you can’t go wrong with a burr grinder!

Extra features and versatility are awesome bonuses when it comes to picking a machine. These additions can make the grinder easier to use or better adjusted for your lifestyle, so keep them in mind!

For those who want a grinder that has multiple settings, there are two types: step and stepless.

Step grinders have pre-programmed settings optimized for different grinds and stepless grinders do not have preset settings. You can change the settings by a fraction of an inch for a more precise grind. This makes a big difference when making espresso shots. We recommend a step grinder since step grinders are easier to adjust, reprogram, and consistently make the same grinds for each of its input settings.

Did you know that different grinds are preferred for specific brewing methods? If you want to be able to create the optimal brew, go for a machine that can be adjusted. 

In general, most adjustable machines are able to grind for different brews, from French presses to lighter espressos. The consistency of the grinds can vary based on the machine and its blades, so refer to reviews about which grinds a machine is best at making before purchase! Read on to learn what type of grinds are suitable for what kinds of brews so you can match your grinder to your brewing machine.

For those who want the convenience of an automatic grinder that's quiet, look for a grinder labelled “direct drive.” These are low-speed motor machines, where the motor is attached to the burr blade and spins at the same speed, resulting in less noise. They also have an added bonus of reducing heat when grinding coffee beans.

Another choice is a "gear reduction" machine. In gear reduction grinders, the burr is slowed down by a set of gears attached to a fast motor. The extra gears in between make it noisier than a direct drive, but the lower speed of the blade makes it quieter than a standard grinder.

However, any automatic machine will make some degree of noise, so make sure to check the reviews before purchasing!

As you start using your grinder more often, it will inevitably build up with old coffee grounds. This can affect your next batch of beans, so it will need a good cleaning.

Doing a quick search online can lead you to a simple solution: grinding rice, which can help to get rid of the grounds. We do not recommend this method! Although you won’t need to take the grinder apart, the grinding rice may clog or unnecessarily damage the inner workings of the machine.

You will need to take apart the machine to do a proper clean. If you want the process to be more convenient, pick a grinder that can be taken apart with ease. You want to be able to reach the burr blade easily.

When cleaning, small brushes and toothpicks can be lifesavers to brush away those pesky grounds. Some machines even come with one, so check the product descriptions carefully!

Here are our 10 best electric coffee grinders. We've chosen them based on blade type, how easy they are to clean, and versatility. We've also combed through top reviews and summarized them here for your perusal!

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Nicole Michalek.

Following a decade-long career as a designer and art director, Nicole found her calling in a coffee shop in Japan, where she met her husband who is a barista. They now run a coffee shop together in the countryside.

With that firsthand knowledge of coffee, we decided to ask Nicole to evaluate our buying guide for accuracy. Read on for her insight and helpful tips!

When you brew coffee, water flows through the grinds, extracting the aromatic oils and flavor out of the beans. The finer the grind, the more time it takes for the water to pass through, making the final beverage stronger in flavor. Different types of brews have different flavor profiles which require a range of coffee grind consistencies.

Since this can be a little confusing, we’ve prepared a simple guide to making the best coffee for a few popular brew methods. Take a look!

These are the types of machines you’ll commonly see in a typical American home. A cone-shaped filter is placed in the machine, filled with coffee grinds. You just pour water into the reservoir and let the machine control the whole process. The recommended grind for this is a medium grind.

This brewing method requires that the beans be immersed in hot water for a long period of time. The resulting flavor profile of French press brews is full-bodied and strong. Since it is brewed for a long time, coarse grinds are your best choice for ensuring minimal bitterness.

Pour-over coffee is exactly what it sounds like – pouring hot water over a filter filled with coffee grinds that funnels into a mug. It's similar to drip-machine coffee, but with a more delicate flavor profile. For this method, medium-fine grinds are best. 

Cold brew is a delight for coffee-lovers everywhere. The best grind size for this method of brewing is coarse. Cold water needs to be able to flow freely through the grinds to extract the flavor and finer grinds can clump together. 

Since there is no heat or pressure to facilitate extraction and the grounds steep in cold water, coarse grinds allow more time for flavor extraction. Plus, it is easier to filter the grounds from the coffee. Fine grounds will be harder to strain out and will leave sediment, giving your cold brew an unfavorable grainy texture. 

Espresso machines operate by shooting high-pressure and near-boiling water through compact ground coffee, dissolving more of the solids and coffee oils into the espresso shot. The resulting drink is known for being highly concentrated and is brewed for a short period of time, making fine grinds optimal. 

This syringe-like coffee maker is popular amongst coffee enthusiasts. Lightweight and easy to use, it is easy to take on cycling trips, camping, and to your office! It’s extremely versatile and since it requires a filter, any type of grind can be used.

Whatever the machine, it is best to experiment first to get your perfect blend. When adjusting, note that if coffee is sour, grind the beans finer. The opposite is also true! If the coffee is too bitter, make a coarse grind!

We've included the answers to some frequently asked questions about electric coffee grinders with valued input from Nicole Michalek, as well!

Pre-ground coffee is subject to a chemical reaction called oxidization. In oxidation, the addition of oxygen strips away electrons from a molecule. This destabilizes the molecule, allowing it to combine with other molecules. You might have heard the phrase that coffee goes “stale.” It is through this process that it happens.

To put it in simple terms, coffee will lose flavor and aroma over time. When coffee is ground, surface area increases, which allows oxidization to affect the beans faster.

To slow this process down, we recommend buying a grinder. Grinders can be a great investment for brewing robust, bold cups in the comfort of your own home. 

Nicole Michalek says, "The quality and performance of your grinder play such an important role in the process of making delicious coffee. Although a good one can be quite an investment, it’s worth it in the long run! Scrutinize carefully when purchasing, and if possible, it is best to actually touch and handle it in person."

There are several things to consider when grinding your own coffee aside from which type of grinder you should get: grind size, contact time, extraction rate, and flow rate. 

The grind size is the size of the coffee grinds and ranges from extra-coarse to Turkish. The grind size greatly affects the other three factors. The extraction rate depends on the surface area of the grind and fine grinds have a higher surface area than coarse grinds. Fine grinds have a high extraction rate compared to coarse grinds, as well, and require less contact time with water. 

You can over-extract your coffee by brewing your find grind for too long and can under-extract your coarse grind by not brewing it long enough. Over-extracted coffees can be bitter or sour and under-extracted coffees can be weak in flavor. Temperature and pressure can also alter the extraction process. A balance of these factors is required for that perfect cup of coffee.

The different grind sizes are extra-course, coarse, medium, medium-fine, fine, extra-fine, and Turkish. Each grind size has a different texture and a different flavor and requires a different machine to process them properly.

Extra-coarse and coarse grind sizes are very chunky, with visible pieces of coffee beans. Medium and medium-fine grinds are gritty with visible flakes of coffee beans. The texture of these grinds is like coarse sand or salt. Fine grinds are smooth and similar in texture to table salt, while extra-fine grinds are even finer than granular sugar. 

Turkish grinds are so fine that they're like flour with no discernable bits of coffee bean in them. Blade grinders cannot produce Turkish grinds. 

The longevity of an electric coffee grinder depends on the type of blade, brand, and frequency of use and is measured by the pounds of coffee it can grind. However, on average, electric grinders that are used daily last for about five to 10 years. 

Blade grinders can grind about 500 to 800 pounds of coffee before their blades start to become dull. Burr coffee grinders, on the other hand, last longer. Flat burr blades can grind from 500 to 1000 pounds of coffee in their lifetime while conical burr grinders can grind up to 1000 to 1500 pounds of coffee in their lifetime. 

You can increase the lifespan of your electric coffee grinders by replacing or sharpening the blades once they start to become dull and clearing away clogs. If your coffee grounds start coming out in lumps or you need to grind finer than usual, it's time to replace or sharpen your blades. Clean your coffee grinder regularly to avoid clogs and jams.

According to Nicole Michalek, "Using an extension cord or multi-socket outlet for an electric grinder can potentially reduce the power supply, resulting in a weaker performance (and possibly weaker coffee due to inconsistent grain size). We recommend plugging it into a single outlet so as not to impair the uniformity of the coffee grinds."

Now that you've chosen your perfect electric coffee grinder, it's time to pick a brew machine. We've got more awesome tips and recommendations for you to make the best cup of joe you've ever had!

Are you interested in more electric coffee grinders? Check out these bestseller lists from Amazon on blade and burr coffee grinders below.

Author: Kristina Tan