The cost of coffee grinders can vary widely. The cost is usually determined by the accuracy of the grinding mechanism and the ability to grind both fine and coarse grinds.
The type of materials used in a grinder and whether it has features like scales or a touchscreen can also affect the overall price of a grinder. A more costly grinder will almost always include some of these unique features. The Baratza Forte, for example, has a touch screen interface for controlling weight and time, while the Baratza Vario W+ has an integrated real-time scale for precise measurements.
Why we’d never recommend a blade grinder
If you just want to chop up your coffee beans and brew, then a simple blade grinder would be just what you need. Blade coffee grinders can range from £20-£40 for an electric blade grinder. So really, what you're buying here is a little spice grinder that has had coffee placed on the box. We never recommend buying a blade grinder as it cuts and chops your beans like a blender would which will affect the flavour extraction.
For the best cup of coffee, you really need to crush the beans into a powder-like form for best results, and that is where the burr grinder comes in.
Electric or manual grinders?
Once you have selected to upgrade your coffee experience with a burr grinder, you have two options, manual or electric.
You really want to make sure your grind is a uniform size for a superior taste, so if you are choosing a manual grinder, you want to make sure you choose a burr grinder that costs at least £40- £50. It will be money well spent as you'll notice the superior coffee flavours.
For decent manual burr coffee grinders, you can expect to anything from £50 to over £1k. If you are looking to spend closer to £50, I suggest you buy a good hand grinder rather than an electric grinder at this price. We recommend the Rhino Hand Grinder, a high-quality conical ceramic burr hand grinder that's perfect for individuals on a budget. It also made our pick for the Best Coffee Grinder under £50 in our guide to 2022’s best grinders.
Our best-selling electric grinder
For a really decent electric grinder that will give excellent results and last a long time with UK support, you can expect to pay from £150 upwards. Our best-selling electric grinder in this price range is the Baratza Encore, which costs £159. It offers all of the features you'd expect from an electric grinder, and it consistently produces high-quality fresh coffee. It can brew for any method you choose.
If you enjoy coffee and the idea of grinding your own beans appeals, as it should, then investing in a good solid coffee grinder is the single best thing you can do to improve and make your coffee brewing more enjoyable and tasty.
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