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Best coffee grinders 2026: electric and manual grinders reviewed
Danny’s days consist of running hands-on tests. He once found the best lemon squeezer by wringing out more than 80 lemons and measuring the average juice.
The best coffee grinders turn your beans into perfectly even grounds, whether you're using a manual or electric model.
We've tested the most popular coffee grinders from DeLonghi, Niche, Krups, Sage and more to see which deserve a spot in your morning routine.
We blitz sacks of beans, then meticulously measure the ground coffee with a specialist sieve to assess grind quality. Whether you need fine grinds for espresso or coarse grinds for a cafetiere, we reveal the grinders that consistently deliver.
Four electric coffee grinders bagged our Best Buy recommendation - including a budget model costing around £50.
We also tested manual grinders ranging from £30 to £250, but only one is a Best Buy.
How our tests find you the best
We've tested 20 coffee grinders
Not sure whether to go for an electric burr or blade coffee grinder? Or a manual model with a steel or ceramic burr? Our rigorous tests reveal how different types of grinder measure up.
Grind quality
Pass us another coffee. We spend hours meticulously measuring ground coffee to find out which machines are the most consistent.
Ease of use
How difficult can it be to load coffee beans and grind them? You’d be surprised. We've seen tiny loading bowls, stiff hoppers and confusing labels.
We also assess...
How easy to clean, versatile and noisy each coffee grinder is, and if it's well made.
The electric coffee grinders we tested
The 12 most popular electric coffee grinders and the biggest brands are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the electric coffee grinder test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Coffee grinder | Price | Score | Espresso grind quality (fine) | Cafetiere grind quality (coarse) | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 88% | ||||
| 86% | |||||
| 85% | |||||
| 83% | |||||
| 81% | |||||
| 80% | |||||
| 70% | |||||
| 69% | |||||
| 69% | |||||
| 68% | |||||
| 65% | |||||
| 64% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member?
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Date tested: February 2024 and February 2026. Page last checked: March 2026. We're not able to show every retailer, and lower prices may be available. We've tested 15 electric coffee grinders in total, but the table only shows our top picks.
A selection of the electric coffee grinders we tested is listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best electric coffee grinders from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
Argos Cookworks Coffee and Herb Grinder
Available from Argos (£26)
Most recently tested February 2026
Type Electric blade
Size and weight 21 x 12 x 12cm (HxWxD); 1kg
Cup and grind settings No cup settings; 1 grind setting
Need to know Detachable bowl, non-slip base, can grind herbs too
Baratza Encore Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric burr (conical steel)
Size and weight 34 x 14 x 14cm (HxWxD); 2.5kg
Cup and grind settings No cup settings; 40 grind settings
Need to know Detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, cleaning pipe brush, non-slip base
Bodum Bistro Blade Grinder
Most recently tested February 2026
Type Electric blade
Size and weight 17 x 9 x 8cm (HxWxD); 630g
Cup and grind settings No cup settings; 1 grind setting
Need to know 150W motor, can grind herbs too
DeLonghi KG79 Coffee Grinder
Available from Argos (£67)
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric burr (flat steel)
Size and weight 16 x 13 x 26cm (HxWxD); 1.5kg
Cup and grind settings 12 cup settings (min 2, max 12); 16 grind settings
Need to know Detachable bowl, lid safety lock, cleaning brush, non-slip base
Dualit Burr Coffee Grinder
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric burr (conical steel)
Size and weight 19 x 14 x 27cm (HxWxD); 1.8kg
Cup and grind settings 10 cup settings (min 2, max 10); 10 grind settings
Need to know Detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, non-slip base, portion selector dial
Duronic Electric Blade Coffee Grinder
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric blade
Size and weight 10 x 10 x 21cm (HxWxD); 0.8kg
Cup and grind settings No cup settings; 1 grind setting
Need to know Detachable grounds container
Krups Expert Burr Grinder GVX231
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric burr (flat steel)
Size and weight 30 x 17 x 21cm (HxWxD); 1.8kg
Cup and grind settings 30 cup settings (min 2, max 12); 17 grind settings
Need to know Non-detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, lid safety lock, cleaning brush, non-slip base
Brew better coffee with a Best Buy espresso machine or filter coffee machine
Melitta Molino Coffee Grinder
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric burr (flat steel)
Size and weight 25.5 x 9.5 x 16.5cm (HxWxD); 1.6kg
Cup and grind settings 12 cup settings (min 2, max 14); 17 grind settings
Need to know Non-detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, no lid safety lock, cleaning brush, non-slip base
Niche Zero Premium Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Available from Niche Coffee (£549)
Most recently tested February 2026
Type Electric burr (conical steel)
Size and weight 32 x 13 x 19cm (HxWxD); 4g
Cup and grind settings No cup settings; infinite - stepless
Need to know Detachable grind cup, socket driver, cleaning brush, non-slip base
Sage The Smart Grinder Pro BCG820BSSUK
Most recently tested February 2026
Type Electric burr (conical steel)
Size and weight 36 x 15 x 22cm (HxWxD); 4.1kg
Cup and grind settings 12 cup settings (min 1, max 12); 60 grind settings
Need to know Detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, lid safety lock, cleaning brush, two portafilter supports, LCD control panel, non-slip base
Smeg CGF01 Coffee Grinder
Most recently tested February 2024
Type Electric burr (conical steel)
Size and weight 46 x 17 x 25cm (HxWxD); 3.1kg
Cup and grind settings 12 cup settings (min 1, max 12); 30 grind settings
Need to know Detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, lid safety lock, cleaning brush, portafilter support, non-slip base
Wilfa Svart Aroma Precision Coffee Grinder
Available from Wilfa (£135)
Most recently tested February 2026
Type Electric burr (conical steel)
Size and weight 29 x 16.5 x 11cm (HxWxD); 1.9kg
Cup and grind settings No cup settings; 34 grind settings
Need to know Detachable bean hopper, detachable bowl, non-slip base
More electric coffee grinders from our tests
Here are the rest of the electric coffee grinders we've tested, listed in alphabetical order.
| Electric coffee grinder | Price | Score | Espresso grind quality (fine) | Cafetiere grind quality (coarse) | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krups Coffee Mill and Spice Grinder | Amazon(£29.50) | ||||
| Melitta Calibra Grinder | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50012444 | ||||
| Sage the Dose Control Pro Coffee Grinder | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50012443 |
Date tested: February 2024 and February 2026. Page last checked: March 2026. We're not able to show every retailer, and lower prices may be available.
Looking for an appliance that grinds other ingredients as well as coffee beans? Check out our best blenders page.
The manual coffee grinders we tested
The five most popular manual coffee grinders and the biggest brands are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the manual coffee grinder test results.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
| Manual coffee grinder | Price | Score | Espresso grind quality (fine) | Cafetiere grind quality (coarse) | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? | 91% | ||||
| 85% | |||||
| 81% | |||||
| 70% | |||||
| 66% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member?
Log in
Date tested: February 2026. Page last checked: March 2026. We're not able to show every retailer, and lower prices may be available.
All the manual coffee grinders we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best manual coffee grinders from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.
1Zpresso X-Ultra Manual Coffee Grinder
Type Manual burr (stainless steel)
Size and weight 17 x 12 x 5cm (HxWxD); 590g
Capacity and grind settings 30g capacity; 60 grind settings
Need to know Carrying case, cleaning brush, air blower, anti-slip rubber band, retractable handle, online instructions
Comandante C40 Nitro Blade Coffee Grinder MK4
Available from Comandante (£249)
Type Manual burr (stainless steel)
Size and weight 18.5 x 16.5 x 6cm (HxWxD); 580g
Capacity and grind settings 40g capacity; 40 grind settings
Need to know Spare bean jar, instructions provided, optional colours
Hario Transparent Black Mini Mill Plus
Available from Hario (£39)
Type Manual burr (ceramic)
Size and weight 22 x 15 x 6.5cm (HxWxD); 260g
Capacity and grind settings 24g capacity; 20 grind settings
Need to know Instructions provided
Porlex Mini II
Type Manual burr (ceramic)
Size and weight 15 x 16 x 5cm (HxWxD); 265g
Capacity and grind settings 30g capacity; 18 grind settings
Need to know Instructions provided
Timemore Chestnut C3S PRO
Type Manual burr (stainless steel)
Size and weight 16.5 x 10.5 x 5cm (HxWxD); 590g
Capacity and grind settings 25g capacity; 25 grind settings
Need to know Carrying case, cleaning brush, retractable handle, instructions provided
How we test coffee grinders
We buy the bestselling coffee grinders and put them through our tough tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.
We regularly revisit the coffee grinders on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing. When we find them, we do.
Grind quality
Coffee bean grinders often have several grind settings to choose from, as particular types of coffee require differently sized grounds. A cafetiere, for example, needs a coarser grind, whereas an espresso requires very finely ground coffee.
- We buy fresh coffee beans for our tests. We also buy the same coffee beans ground in fine and coarse sizes from the same brand. This serves as a reference to compare all our grinds against.
- We use this specialist coffee sieve and guide, and painstakingly sieve the coffee grounds. This allows us to measure how much ‘perfect’ espresso and cafetiere coffee each coffee grinder produces, as shown in the image below.
- Many coffee grinder reviews rely on subjective opinion; we use precision scales instead to provide an objective measure.
It's important to note that your coffee beans can have a big impact on the quality of your grind. In our second round of testing, we used the same variety of coffee beans (an Arabica variety called Yellow Bourbon), but had to source them from a different crop, which led to major differences in grind consistency.
We also test
Our tester also rates each coffee grinder on the following:
- Ease of use: It should be simple to achieve the perfect grind every time, so we assess how easy each coffee grinder is to use.
- Cleaning: We assess how much of a faff each grinder is to clean. For example, whether you can wash your grinder with soapy water or if you have to use a brush.
- Noise Electric coffee grinders are often noisy, so we rate each grinder on how loud it is, with quieter machines earning higher ratings. We also note if a machine screeches like a banshee.
- Versatility One day you may crave an espresso; the next, a filter coffee. We reward the machines that have a higher number of settings and more options to customise your coffee grounds.
- Build quality Manual grinders will spend a lot of time in your hands, so we take into account how comfortable they are to hold and use.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
What to look for when buying a grinder
There are quite a few things to keep in mind when choosing a coffee grinder.
When it comes to the coffee itself, a precise, even grind is essential. Choose a poor coffee grinder, and you may end up with uneven grounds and a badly extracted, watery brew.
- To make espresso, either in a traditional coffee machine or using a stove-top pot or portable coffee makers such as an AeroPress, you'll need fine grounds.
- To fill up your filter coffee maker, you need medium grounds.
- If you want to make black coffee in a filter machine or cafetiere, you'll need coarse grounds.
When it comes to the grinder, there are three main types of coffee grinders:
- Electrical blade
- Electrical burr
- Manual grinder
The best type of grinder for you depends on the kind and quantity of coffee you tend to make, as well as whether you want the flexibility to make a range of different coffees.
Blade coffee grinders
Blade grinders (like the one pictured below) have a spinning blade inside that chops the beans, similar to a blender.
Pros of blade coffee grinders
- Relatively simple and inexpensive
Cons of blade coffee grinders
- Blade heats up coffee, which can alter the flavour
- Most will need to 'cool down'
- Not ideal for espresso - struggles with a fine grind
Burr coffee grinders
Burr grinders have a small gear-like mechanism that crushes the coffee beans. Because they crush rather than chop the beans, they don’t exert the same kind of force and heat that a blade grinder might.
The image below shows the difference between grounds from an electric blade grinder (left) and a burr coffee grinder (right).
Pros of electric burr coffee grinders
- More versatile and precise: capable of producing more grind sizes.
- Tend to make larger quantities
Cons of electric burr coffee grinders
- Tend to be more expensive
Manual coffee grinders
Manual grinders grind coffee thanks to your own muscles. Most manual grinders use a burr.
If you're only grinding small quantities at a time, they can be a good option, as most electric coffee grinders grind a minimum of two cups of coffee at a time.
Pros of manual coffee grinders
- Basic models are very inexpensive
- Not as noisy as electric grinders
- Take up less space
- Portable
Cons of manual coffee grinders
- Only grind small portions
- Take some physical effort
Love a latte? Pick up a milk frother to ensure your morning cuppa is light and creamy
Flat vs conical burrs
You may see coffee aficionados extolling the virtues of a flat burr (pictured below left) or a conical burr (below right).
- Conical burrs grind beans into two slightly different particle sizes, which works particularly well in espresso machines.
- Flat burrs grind the beans into a consistent fine grind, which may sound better in theory, but it's trickier to get good, consistent results.
Also, flat burr coffee grinders will usually be much pricier than their conical burr counterparts. For most people, a coffee grinder with a conical burr is going to deliver good -enough results for your coffee machine.
Steel vs ceramic burrs
- Steel burrs are found in most electric coffee grinders
- Ceramic burrs are less common and usually used in manual grinders.
Both of these materials grind the coffee beans equally well; the main difference is the durability of the grinding burr.
A steel burr is likely to last longer than a ceramic burr, provided that it doesn’t encounter any rogue materials, such as a small fragment of stone, that could cause it to chip.
Stepped vs stepless grinders
A stepped coffee grinder will have pre-set grind options for you to choose from, from a fine to a coarser grind. Most electronic burr coffee grinders sold by big retailers, such as John Lewis or Argos, will be stepped.
If you really like to be adventurous with your coffee, you might consider a stepless grinder. To get your hands on one, you'll have to venture off the high street and spend quite a bit more money. A stepless grinder has no pre-set grind levels. Instead, you can tinker with it to produce the exact grind you want. While a stepless grinder can offer you even more options for customisation, it does require an experienced hand to get good results.
How much should you pay for a coffee grinder?
We found that, generally, you get what you pay for. This is the case whether you opt for an electric or manual grinder.
However, we did find some exceptions to this rule.
Not all expensive models excelled. Some electric grinders costing upwards of £100 performed pretty averagely.
Our testing also found a coffee grinder that makes superior coffee and costs around £50. Log in or join Which? to find out which coffee grinder it is and our other Best Buy recommendations.