Are Coffee Grinders Worth it?

Since I started  Coffee Hit  in 2008, the number one question people ask me is, "how can I make my coffee better at home."

My answer is always the same.Get a coffee grinder and grind your own whole bean coffee. 

Hand Grinder 

A hand grinder is a great place to start if you are looking for a lower investment option. I can guarantee you will be blown away by the difference. Here are a few of our favourite hand grinders. 

• Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade Grinder   This hand grinder is at the more expensive end of manual coffee grinders, but for a great reason. Coffee experts and barista's rave about this grinder; this is what one of our customers said "Like most, I questioned spending such an amount on the c40 but didn't regret it for a second. This is a well-built piece of kit and worth every penny. Its grinding consistency is brilliant. It's solid, easy to use and clean.  This (coffee grinder) will undoubtedly up your grinding game!

• Rhino Small Hand Grinder   The Rhino hand grinder is the perfect entry-level coffee grinder. It delivers exceptionally stable and reliable grinding. This is what one of our customers said: "For the money, it's an unbeatable product."

Electric Grinders

On the other hand, if you have got a bit more to spend, a nice electric grinder is an excellent addition to any kitchen.  Here are a few of our favourite electric grinders:

• Baratza Forte Grinder   This commercial grade grinder can grind from course to fine and comes with 54mm flat ceramic burr, grounds bin for use when grinding by weight, plus a portaholder for use when grinding directly to your portafilter.   This is what one of our customers said  " I was sceptical how much of an upgrade this would be from my Baratza Virtuoso but I've been blown away. So much more consistent at every grind level, makes for a much tastier cup. The Forte is also impressively well-built, solid as a rock, quieter, and less messy. All in all I'm delighted. And the service from Coffee Hit has been impeccable - including the fact that the Forte comes with both ceramic and steel burrs."

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  Baratza Encore Grinder  Lauded by coffee experts as THE go-to entry level grinder for home brewing, the Encore has 40 individual grind settings, from fine to coarse (250 to 1200 microns). So whether your brew of choice is the French Press or the espresso, the Baratza Encore provides consistent grinds for both – and everything in between – giving you the chance to experiment and explore your taste preference.  One of our customers said  " Having tried a few other budget Burrs with little to no success I did some research and came across the Baratza Encore. And so glad I did. The Espresso grind is Superb, the machine not as laborious as other models, and clean too. Highly recommended"

Coffee Grinders For Different Brewing Methods

Coffee grinders for manual or pour-over methods of making coffee are always cheaper than coffee grinders for espresso. This is because the grind isn't as fine as espresso for manual coffee brewing, and the uniformity isn't required to be as tight.

It is important to bear in mind when looking at grinders. If you buy a coffee grinder to make espresso, you will need to spend more than if it's just for brewed coffee. However, some great coffee grinders do both.

So back to the question are coffee grinders worth it? Absolutely. If you were only to buy one piece of equipment to improve your coffee, then a coffee grinder should be it.  

Check out our best coffee grinders of 2022