The best manual coffee grinder can still create consistent, aromatic grounds if you're traveling or without an outlet
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We Tried 5 of the Best Manual Coffee Grinders—These Are the 3 We Recommend
Updated Sep. 25, 2024
Nothing brightens a bleary day quite like the smell of freshly ground coffee. The best coffee grinders come in many different types, from humble hand grinders to high-output, electric burr mills. While even the best manual coffee grinders don’t have the status of their pricier counterparts, they’re perfect for folks who travel frequently or don’t have regular access to an outlet. According to coffee expert and Founder of Uncharted Coffee Jasmine Neveles, no matter how you approach it, grinding your coffee beans at home always elevates the coffee experience.
“Freshly ground beans preserve essential oils and compounds that give coffee its rich taste and vibrant aroma, which are often lost in pre-ground coffee,” she says. “Additionally, grinding your own beans offers control over grind size, making it easy to tailor your brew to different methods, like espresso or French press. This process not only allows for customizable brew strength but also ensures longer shelf life for the beans and better consistency in each cup, resulting in a superior coffee experience.”
If you don’t want to fuss too much with buttons but still want to enjoy fresh beans, a manual coffee grinder is the perfect compromise. They’re often less expensive than electric burr mills. Plus, the pared-down components mean there are no power boards that break over time. We tried five manual grinders to find the best options for most folks. These are our top three picks.
Best Overall
Timemore Manual Coffee Grinder
Pros:
- Sleek design
- Good performance
- Fair price
- Durable and heavy-duty
Cons:
- Not beginner friendly
- Can't disassemble for cleaning
A good coffee grinder should be pleasurable to use and yield amazingly consistent results. That’s what makes the Timemore Manual Coffee Grinder our pick for the best manual coffee grinder overall, whether this is your first step in your coffee journey or you’re a java aficionado. It comes with everything you need to get started: a measuring cup and brush, a user guide with grinding charts and illustrations and a carrying bag for traveling.
The Timemore has a sleek and slim design that’s very modern and travel-friendly. It rings up at a fair price point of well under $100. It offers 36 grind size settings, making it a fitting option whether you’re going coarse for French press coffee, medium for single-serve coffee makers or extra fine for espresso. A small, ergonomic handle helps make the manual grinding process more comfortable. For the most part, it offers consistent results thanks to the conical burrs.
This one doesn’t offer ticks or markers to determine grind size, which makes it a bit less intuitive than others we tried. The adjustment knob on the bottom shows which way to turn for coarser and finer grinds, as well as the recommended click ranges for espressos and pour-overs. Crank it all the way to the lowest setting to “reset” it, and then count up the clicks from there when changing the setting. While it’s not complicated, it’s helpful to know this before purchasing the unit—otherwise, it can be confusing.
Additionally, the manual warns not to disassemble the unit for cleaning, which makes brushing out all the coffee dust rather tricky. While it has its flaws, the overall performance of the unit impresses—especially for the price.
Best Intuitive
OXO Brew Manual Coffee Grinder
Pros:
- Attractive
- Translucent container and chamber
- Very easy to use
- 40 grind settings
Cons:
- Handle is a little wonky
Using a manual coffee grinder releases the aromas from your favorite coffee subscription boxes, making the entire brewing process feel like self-care rather than a necessity. This goes for anyone, beginner or otherwise. That’s why we love the ultra-intuitive OXO Brew manual coffee grinder. According to our testers, it is cute and “quintessentially OXO.” Even better is the user-friendly build, making this our favorite pick for those new to this grinding technique.
The testing team is a big fan of the slim, handheld design and the substantial, plastic handle. While the handle gets caught up a bit on the top, it’s not particularly annoying. We’re partial to this one for beginners, mainly because of how easy it is to use. It’s incredibly intuitive to set a grind size using any of the 40 different available options since they’re clearly marked. As a bonus, the results are remarkably consistent—no coarse grounds made it into our fine ground test at all.
One area we weren’t thrilled with was the cleaning process, but that’s the case for most of these manual grinders. Manual grinders come apart into dozens of tiny pieces, so they must be disassembled and reassembled to remove any residual flavored coffee grounds or bean dust. All the main pieces come out (dial, shaft and burr), along with tiny little connector pieces, like springs and washers. That said, this process is rather easy to follow.
Best Splurge
1Zpresso K-Ultra Manual Coffee Grinder
Pros:
- Beautiful, luxe design
- Precise grinds
- Easy to use
- Portable carrying case
Cons:
- Pricier than the others
For pro baristas and true coffee fiends, a ho-hum grinder just won’t do. Instead of settling for a run-of-the-mill coffee mill, consider springing for the 1Zpresso K-Ultra manual coffee grinder. Its luxe wood and steel design, easy controls and hard-sided portable carrying case take this professional grinder to the next level. But really, it’s the incredible precision that captured our testing team’s collective hearts.
The grind adjustment knob comes very clearly labeled with big numbers. There’s also a red arrow that indicates what setting you’re currently on. The numbers go from zero to nine, but you are able to go a handful of clicks past the ninth setting (there are 30 total settings available). Additionally, the handle folds down if you want to pack it with a coffee tumbler for camping. Quality-wise, it’s the most precise of the manual grinders we tested. It’s a very satisfying hand grinder—something reflected in the rather high price.
Just like the other manual grinders, there are a lot of little pieces that can come apart with this one. Fortunately, you don’t have to take anything apart to adjust the grind size. That said, if you want to deep clean this device, you will be pulling out the burr, adjustment dial, shaft and a couple screws and springs. A brush and air blower are included to clean out the insides without too much disassembly required.
What To Look for When Buying a Coffee Grinder
Whether you’re hunting down coffee grinders for espresso or seeking out a budget option for your pour-over coffee maker, the right coffee grinder gives you nice consistency at a lower price without compromising quality. Jasmine notes that it’s important to consider a variety of things when choosing the best manual coffee grinder.
“When choosing a coffee grinder, consistency and grind control are key,” she says. “Look for models with adjustable grind settings to accommodate various brewing methods, from espresso to French press. Durability and ease of cleaning are also important, with materials like stainless steel or ceramic offering long-lasting performance.”
Additionally, there’s a benefit to using a manual grinder over an electric burr mill. “Lower-speed grinders prevent heat buildup, which can affect flavor,” Jasmine notes. “Ultimately, choose a grinder that balances features, quality and price for your needs. There are a lot of great grinders out there for less than $100.”
How We Found the Best Manual Coffee Grinders
Our expert product testing team spent over 120 hours collecting roughly 600 data points on 21 coffee grinders to find the best fit for every java junkie’s coffee cup. We began by researching the most well-reviewed and popular models, sourcing as many as possible. Then, the team eliminated any non-manual coffee grinders. From there, our testing team ground beans on three different settings to truly give each a good shot. To brew each cup of coffee, we used the Hario V60, Melitta filters, a gooseneck kettle and roughly 12 grams of coffee grounds.
To separate the different sizes of the grounds and check for consistency, we used the Kruve Sifter, just like we did with the best burr coffee grinders. We inserted the 500- and 800-micron mesh. Grounds larger than 800 microns are coarse, grounds between 500 and 800 microns are medium and grounds smaller than 500 microns are fine.
Tests
We conducted approximately 11 tests on each coffee grinder, including:
- Specs: Testers measured the length of the cord and size of the machine and noted any special settings.
- Noise: Testers measured the coffee grinder’s noise level during the three grinding sessions, noting how many decibels it produced at its loudest.
- Height: Testers measured the machine’s height and noted whether they think its footprint would be an issue in a standard-size kitchen.
- Grind: Testers ground beans on the finest, coarsest and medium settings, then evaluated uniformity with the assistance of a Kruve sifter, which separates out boulders and fines from the desired size. For each grind session (fine, medium and coarse), we ground 30 grams in the blades, 20 grams in the manuals and varied amounts in the burrs, depending on the unit.
- Time: Testers measured how long it took each machine to grind the beans on each setting (fine, coarse and medium). The timing test varied from unit to unit. Some allowed us to determine grind time (i.e., blade models, manual models and some burr models), whereas others had timed presets based on the weight of the beans, the desired number of coffee cups, etc.
- Taste: Testers brewed a cup of coffee with the grounds produced and a Hario pour-over coffee maker, then tasted it to evaluate bitterness, strength, etc. and compare it against the others.
- Cleaning: Testers cleaned the coffee grinders, noting how easy it was to disassemble and wash.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’ve tested dozens of foods and drinks for Taste of Home. My tests informed pieces like the best coffee concentrates and the best gift of the month clubs. Not only am I Taste of Home’s resident food and drinks expert, I’m also a total java junkie. Sure, I like looking at roasts, regional sources and aromas. But at the heart of things, I just really love a good cup of coffee. Our product testing team also has over a decade of combined experience testing and evaluating kitchen products, consumables and more.
To inform this piece, I interviewed coffee expert and Founder of Uncharted Coffee, Jasmine Neveles. I also spoke to the in-house Test Kitchen Team.
FAQs
How long does it take to grind coffee with a hand grinder?
Grinding coffee with a hand grinder takes significantly more time (and elbow grease) than using an automatic burr grinder. Expect to spend anywhere from 40 seconds to a full minute or longer to crank out your grounds.
Are manual coffee grinders better?
According to culinary producer Josh Rink, most folks just need a basic grinder. That is, unless you’re splurging as a gift for coffee lovers, of course.
“All the fancy and expensive grinders are just for status, in my opinion,” he says. “However, I firmly believe in freshly ground coffee for quality and flavor!”
How long does a manual coffee grinder last?
While burr grinders often have electric components that wear down over time, manual grinders don’t. This can help them last far longer than their fancier counterparts.
“I’ve only owned two coffee grinders in my life. The only reason I replaced my previous grinder is because one of the blades broke. My first grinder probably lasted me 15 years,” says Josh.
Originally Published: September 25, 2024
