The 10 best coffee grinders

Though relatively new to the grinder market, Niche Coffee is very much making their mark with the Zero. Not only is the design fresh and unique (goodbye big black boxes), but it has 63mm commercial-grade conical burrs. That no doubt sounds like a lot of sales jargon, but that right there is one of the reasons for the hefty £500 price tag. Another is that it’s quiet (for a grinder) and – here’s where the ‘zero’ comes in – there’s no retention. That means there’s no coffee getting trapped in the machine, so nothing’s getting wasted.

Let’s journey back to the good ol’ days, shall we? The good ol’ days of coffee that is, but with modern technology. Smeg is notorious for retro design and their CGF01 grinders are no different. If you have anything else in their retro range, this will match it down to a tee. So that’s a big tick in the looks department, but what about practicality? Well, for starters you can grind directly into your moka pot (a container is also provided). Plus, you can select your perfect grind at the simple twist of a knob. Bliss.

As much as Smeg looks to the past for its inspiration, Fellow is looking to the future and we’re talking space age. This sleek, black, aluminium-bodied monolith, aka the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder, oozes Scandinavian modernism in all its glory. Any design nut would be thrilled to add this to their countertop. Plus, it delivers the goods. The burrs are a satisfying 64mm, for a quick and consistent grind, which can be set 31 different ways. The only downside is it’s not recommended for espressos, as the grind’s not quite fine enough.

With just two knobs to operate, burr coffee grinders don’t come much simpler to use than the De'Longhi KG79. And at just shy of £50, it’s clear to see why it’s such a popular choice among households. It’s not huge, with just a 120g bean container, but that’s more than adequate for the average home. There are 17 grind levels that, thanks to the grinding wheels, can get a pretty fine result. The top wheel can be removed, too, for easy cleaning. Added extras are the cord storage, to keep your kitchen looking tidy, and the automatic safety function that stops the machine if either of the two containers are removed.

As any coffee aficionado will know, weight is incredibly important in the making of a flawless cup o’ joe. Of course, the fineness or coarseness of the grind is just as vital, but if you don’t measure that out into consistent weights, you won’t get your perfect brew every time. So, to make coffee life just that smidge easier, the Melitta Calibra comes with an integrated scale. That means you can grind up your perfect strength each time without the worry of storing any leftovers – because stored beans stay fresher much longer than stored grounds.

Sure, electric grinders are great, but they can be bulky, noisy and tricky to clean. Unless you’re planning on grinding enough beans for a house full of coffee nuts, a Hario Mini Mill Plus may just do you quite nicely. The 24g container holds enough to make two cups’ worth of grounds in one go and it has ceramic burrs that shave the beans instead of cracking them, which draws better flavour. Plus, it’s all plastic, which means it’s light enough to take with you on the go and robust enough to withstand any knocks.

If you’re the kind of person who requires your tech to be smart so you don’t have to, then this is the grinder for you. The Sage Smart Grinder Pro has all possible grind varieties and doses (that’s coffee speak for quantity) pre-programmed, so all you have to do is fill the hopper (that holds the beans), turn the knob at the side to select plunger, filter, percolator or espresso, press a button to up the cups/shots required, and hit start. Hey presto! You’ve got grounds. And if you’re making enough to last a little while, you can confidently store the grounds in the airtight canister.

Alright, if you’re planning to take your domestic coffee game to next level, you’d better be ready to splurge. We’d recommend starting off with the Eureka Mignon Specialita, which kicks off the semi-pro machines, with a price to match (£350-£450 depending on which of the 29 colours and finishes you opt for). As well as individuality, what you get for your money here is bigger burrs. Most home burr grinders measure in at 40mm, while commercial machines will hold 60mm upwards. The Specialita has 55mm, which means a faster and more even grind. It also comes with an LCD touch screen. Nice.

Obviously there’s no more environmentally friendly way to grind your coffee beans than by hand, but what if you’ve injured a wrist or suffer from arthritis or are just plain lazy? You’re going to need an electric machine. While coffee grinders aren’t a major source of power in your home, there’s no harm in trying to reduce it. Depending on the size, most grinders use between 150 and 300 watts, but this modest Melitta Molino uses just 100 and automatically switches off when it’s done. It has 17 settings and can manage up to 14 cups in one go.

No matter how much we try to deny it, hand-grinding is tough. It’s hard on the wrist, the biceps, the arms in general. So anything, no matter how small, to make that task easier is welcome. Like an inbuilt storage jar, for instance. Genius! This Kilner coffee mill grinds straight into a 500ml storage jar, so once you’re done, simply unscrew the grinding part and screw on the airtight lid. Given that it’s hand-powered, you’re unlikely to get grounds fine enough for espresso, but it doesn’t use any electricity, so it’s good for the environment, and it’s a bargain to boot at only £30.