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The Best Manual Coffee Grinder

Last updated on March 13, 2024

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Our Picks For The Top Manual Coffee Grinders

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Best Overall

JavaPresse Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

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JavaPresse

Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

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.

Overall Take

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

 Runner Up

LHS Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

LHS

Manual Coffee Mill Grinder

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.

Overall Take

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

 Honorable Mention

Porlex 345-12541 Jp-30 Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

Porlex

Stainless Manual Coffee Grinder

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.

Overall Take

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

 We Also Like

KONA Conical Burr Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

KONA

Conical Burr Mill Manual Coffee Grinder

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.

Overall Take

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

What to Look For

  • 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.

More to Explore

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.

More to explore