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The Best Manual Coffee Grinder

Last updated on July 20, 2020

We looked at the top 10 Manual Coffee Grinders and dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Manual Coffee Grinders.

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Our Picks For The Top Manual Coffee Grinders

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Best Overall

JavaPresse Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

JavaPresse

Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Take

Precision and ControlWith 18 different grind settings, you can choose the coarseness of your coffee grounds.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus BestReviews, Tech Gear Lab, Little Coffee Place, Coffee Channel. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" 18 grind settings to give you control over the level of coarseness. Stainless steel construction. Compact cylinder that's perfect for travel. Built-in window to see your progress. Easy to use and clean."
Cons
"The only downside is that it is quite slow, taking over 5 minutes to grind enough for a decent cup (unless you go all out and count grinding your coffee as your morning workout)."
  Runner Up

LHS Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

LHS

Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

Overall Take

Highly Portable DesignThis manual coffee grinder is the perfect size for taking to the office.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus Roasty, CA Best Reviews Guide, Thats Nerdalicious, Coffee How. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Made with stainless steel and ceramic burrs, the LHS is highly effective for grinding coffee. With its highly portable design, you can take it with you to the office. It has four adjustable levels. It’s easy to fill, and it’s..."
Cons
"Makes a small amount of coffee in one go. Finer blends need more work and force. Unsteady cylindrical base needs to be held down while rotating the latch."
  Honorable Mention

Porlex 345-12541 Jp-30 Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Porlex

Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Take

Sleek and Sophisticated DesignThis manual coffee grinder has a stainless-steel, static-free body that adds a contemporary touch.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus The Coffee Barrister, Coffee Channel, Kitchen Aria, Daring Kitchen. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" The Porlex JP-30 Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder is one of the best hand grinders within its price range. It provides great uniform grinds across the spectrum and features quality materials including ceramic burrs. The design and style are particularly tailored..."
Cons
"The Porlex grinder doesn’t have a window to see your beans or grounds. It has durability issues with the burrs. From what we’ve heard, this one breaks down just a little bit quicker."
  We Also Like

KONA Conical Burr Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

KONA

Conical Burr Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Take

From French Press to EspressoThis grinder allows for a variety of grind settings, including French press, espresso, Turkish and cold brew.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus BestReviews, A Guide Product, Roasty and 1 more. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Quiet operation. Stores enough ground coffee for 3 cups. 18 adjustable settings. Durable ceramic blades. Ergonomic design. Reduces beans to a fine powder quickly. Compact machine."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
17

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the manual coffee grinders available to purchase.
10

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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28

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Business Insider, GGC Coffee, Our Coffee Barn, A Top Daily, Roasty.

18,864

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 10 Manual Coffee Grinders and also dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Manual Coffee Grinders.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

JavaPresse Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder


Our Expert Score

8.1
4 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

8.6
9,942 user reviews

Our Take

This manual coffee grinder has 18 different grind settings, so you can precisely get the kind of ground you're seeking. It's 90% quieter than an electric grinder, and the ceramic combo burrs are designed to last five times longer than stainless-steel blades.

What other experts liked

18 grind settings to give you control over the level of coarseness. Stainless steel construction. Compact cylinder that's perfect for travel. Built-in window to see your progress. Easy to use and clean.
- BestReviews
If you're looking for a portable coffee grinder, the JavaPresse Coffee Company Manual should be at the top of your list. It excels at making fine grinds for pour over coffee and its all stainless steel body feels near indestructible.
- Tech Gear Lab
The killer price is undeniable. The small, stainless steel design makes this grinder versatile and durable. Dual plate burr design allows for decent particle size distribution.
- Little Coffee Place
Consistent grinds every time. Doesn’t make noise. Made of long-lasting materials. 15 grind size options. Portable and can be used outdoors. Hand crank requires minimal effort. Easy to clean. Great customer service.
- Coffee Channel

What other experts didn't like

Some users have reported the plastic pieces breaking off after several months.
- BestReviews
The only downside is that it is quite slow, taking over 5 minutes to grind enough for a decent cup (unless you go all out and count grinding your coffee as your morning workout).
- Tech Gear Lab
Grinding large volumes of coffee at a time isn't feasible. Detachable hand crank can slip off during grinding.
- Little Coffee Place
Changing grind size is confusing for some. It can take a long time to grind large amounts. Ceramic burrs will need to be replaced.
- Coffee Channel

The Best Bang For Your Buck

LHS Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

Our Expert Score

9.3
4 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

8.4
262 user reviews

Our Take

This highly durable manual coffee grinder is ideal for taking to the office or anywhere else you'd like freshly ground coffee. The ceramic burr and stainless-steel hand-crank are high-quality and long-lasting. This grinder has four adjustable levels, from fine to coarse.

What other experts liked

Made with stainless steel and ceramic burrs, the LHS is highly effective for grinding coffee. With its highly portable design, you can take it with you to the office. It has four adjustable levels. It’s easy to fill, and it’s easy to disassemble, clean, and reassemble.
- Roasty
Transparent bottom allows you to observe the coarseness of blend. Makes a range of grinds from fine to coarse. Small size makes it travel-friendly. Disassembly makes it easier to clean for future rounds of coffee. Easy to set up and use.
- Thats Nerdalicious
One feature I like is that you can adjust the grind size easily, by just turning the dial that’s built into the body. Other similar models don’t have this feature. This feature makes it very easy for you to tweak your grind.
- Coffee How

What other experts didn't like

Makes a small amount of coffee in one go. Finer blends need more work and force. Unsteady cylindrical base needs to be held down while rotating the latch.
- Thats Nerdalicious
One flaw is that it has a bit of play, looseness, in the burr mechanism. Remember, you’re getting a cheap portable coffee grinder.
- Coffee How

Overall Product Rankings

1. JavaPresse Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 9.8
Reviews Included: 5

2. LHS Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

Overall Score: 9.6
Reviews Included: 5

3. Porlex 345-12541 Jp-30 Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 5

4. KONA Conical Burr Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 5

5. Hario Skerton Plus Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 5

6. Eparé Conical Burr Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 5

7. Sahara Beans Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

8. Hero Conical Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 2

9. Homiry Precision Manual Coffee Bean Grinder

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 1

10. Akirakoki Wooden Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 5

Our Manual Coffee Grinder Findings


JavaPresse Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

What We Liked: This manual coffee grinder has 18 different grind settings, so you can precisely get the kind of ground you’re seeking. It’s 90% quieter than an electric grinder, and the ceramic combo burrs are designed to last five times longer than stainless-steel blades.

Simplemost Media


LHS Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

What We Liked: This highly durable manual coffee grinder is ideal for taking to the office or anywhere else you’d like freshly ground coffee. The ceramic burr and stainless-steel hand-crank are high-quality and long-lasting. This grinder has four adjustable levels, from fine to coarse.

Simplemost Media


Porlex 345-12541 Jp-30 Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

What We Liked: This grinder has ceramic conical burrs which provide a wide range of grinds from powder to French press. Its sleek stainless-steel body is modern and stylish. This manual coffee grinder has a 30-gram capacity.

Simplemost Media


KONA Conical Burr Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

What We Liked: This versatile manual coffee grinder provides 18 different grind settings, so you can achieve exactly the kind of flavor you’re seeking. The glass jar can hold enough grounds for three cups of coffee. The hand-crank is ergonomically designed and easy to use.

Simplemost Media


Eparé Conical Burr Manual Coffee Grinder

What We Liked: You won’t lose steam by grinding for an extended period of time with this manual grinder because of its ergonomic design. It offers 15 precision settings so you can choose the exact grind you need. The hopper can hold 60 grams of fresh coffee beans.

Simplemost Media

Our Manual Coffee Grinder Buying Guide

Is there anything better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning? If you’re a true aficionado, you know that the best coffee comes from beans that have been ground right before you brew your cup. However, electric coffee grinders can be noisy, inconsistent and costly. If you’re looking for consistent grounds, try a manual coffee grinder.

Simplemost Media

One of the key benefits of a manual coffee grinder is that it can produce uniform grounds, which is the foundation for a great cup of coffee. Manual coffee grinders can produce different grind sizes, ranging from French press to espresso. In fact, many coffee grinders come with tens of different grind-size settings.

Simplemost Media

For the most part, manual coffee grinders are small, which makes them easy to transport. They are ideal for taking to the office so you can make yourself a fresh cup when you’re feeling sluggish in the afternoon. They also work great in the outdoors when you’re camping and don’t have access to the electricity needed for electric coffee grinders. If you’re not a fan of hotel coffee, bringing a manual coffee grinder on your vacation or business trip allows you to get the flavor you love.

When it comes to durability, manual coffee grinders outperform their electric counterparts. The grinder is a simple machine that consists of a vessel to hold the beans, a set of burrs to grind the beans and another vessel at the bottom to collect the grounds. The entire coffee grinder is typically held together by a long rod that connects the handle to the burrs.

Simplemost Media

For many early risers, noise is a factor. Electric coffee grinders make quite the racket, which isn’t appreciated by those who are still snoozing. If you’re typically awake before everyone else in your household, a manual coffee grinder enables you to grind the beans in relative silence, so you don’t startle anyone awake with the loud buzzing of an electric grinder.

DWYM Fun Fact

Coffee has been around for thousands of years — and so have manual coffee grinders. When coffee was introduced in Arabia around the year 1200, the beans were ground between small millstones. The Romans used wheat mills to grind large amounts of coffee.

In the middle ages, around 1400 in Turkey and Iran, coffee beans were first roasted in metal saucers and then finely ground. Some coffee-lovers around this time ground their beans using modified spice grinders.

In 1798 in the United States, the first patent for a manual coffee grinder was granted. The device was wall-mounted and ground the beans between metal nuts with strong teeth.

The Manual Coffee Grinder Tips and Advice

  • When looking for a manual coffee grinder, consider the material it is made out of, as this will affect the durability of your machine as well as the aesthetic of your kitchen. For the most part, manual coffee grinders are made out of steel, ceramic or plastic. Steel is highly durable and portable. Ceramic, on the other hand, is delicate and may break if not used properly. It’s not as portable as a steel or plastic manual coffee grinder, though it is elegant. Plastic manual coffee grinders are functional and durable. They are great for carting around to the office or on a camping trip.
  • Consider the capacity of the grinder and ensure it aligns with your needs. If you usually make coffee for yourself, then a small manual grinder will do. Most of them have a capacity for 20-30 grams of grounds. A larger manual coffee grinder can accommodate up to 40 grams of grounds. If you entertain often or make coffee for multiple people, this may be a better choice for you.
  • For some shoppers, the number of grind settings is important, especially for those who like espresso. Many manual coffee grinders come with multiple settings, from coarse to fine. Some have specific settings meant to optimize the grounds for particular styles of coffeemakers or methods of preparation, such as French press, espresso, percolator and Turkish coffee, while others have simple settings based on coarseness. When it comes to espresso, even a microscopic change in the size of the ground can affect the flavor of the coffee itself. If you’re interested in trying different kinds of coffee, opt for a manual coffee grinder that has many different types of grind settings.

About The Author

Anam Ahmed 

Anam Ahmed is a professional copywriter and essayist based in Toronto. She has been writing on technology, travel, parenting, and business for over 10 years, and works with a number of high-profile organizations. As an avid home cook who loves making magic in the kitchen, she values finding the best products to make people's lives easier. Anam earned a master's degree from the University of Toronto and a bachelor's degree from Queen's University.