As a home espresso enthusiast, you probably already know that the quality of your espresso machine is only the first chapter of the quest for the perfect extraction.
In fact, a quality espresso grinder is absolutely essential if you hope to achieve truly excellent espresso.
Read on for expert advice when it comes to grinder shopping, whether you’re looking at entry level espresso grinders or one that’s professional-grade.
Best Espresso Grinders—Key Features & Considerations
Before we dive into our recommendations for which home grinders we recommend across price points, there are a few broad considerations to keep in mind when shopping for a grinder.
Flat Burr vs. Conical Burr Grinders
Conventional wisdom dictates that flatt burrs are generally going to perform better than cone burrs in an espresso grinder. “Perform better,” in this instance, means more accurate and consistent grinding results with less retention. So, a greater percentage of the grounds produced will be the same size, and less grounds will get stuck in the grind chamber.
Stepless Grind Settings
Some grinders have a range of notched grind settings that allow you to choose from one of 40 or 80 or even 100 preset sizes. A stepless grinder, on the other hand, gives you near-unlimited options for grind sizes, because the burr adjustments happen smoothly and seamlessly. Stepless grinders allow you to dial in your grinds much more accurately, making them an essential tool for home baristas on a quest for the perfect extraction.
Single-Dose vs. Hopper
Whether you choose a single-dose or hopper grinder depends less on which is “better” and more on what your daily espresso routine looks like.
Technically, the best way to brew the perfect shot of espresso would be to use a single-dose grinder, because that way you’re ensuring your beans are as fresh as possible. Practically, however, that may not make a ton of sense if you’re doing any sort of high-volume brewing.
If you have some leisure time in the morning and don’t mind spending a little extra time brewing yourself a shot, a single-dose grinder is probably the way to go. If you’re brewing multiple shots or you have a hectic schedule, however, a hopper might just make more sense.
Espresso Grinding Range
Every grinder has a range of grind sizes it can achieve. Within that range, they each have a smaller range at which they’re most effective. Both of these ranges vary from grinder to grinder. An espresso-focused grinder may have a smaller range overall and really only excel when grinding super-fine. All-purpose grinders, on the other hand, sacrifice that extreme precision at the espresso range for a wider overall grinding range.
If all you do is brew espresso, obviously an espresso-focused grinder is the way to go. If, however, you’re going to want to make yourself a french press every now and then, you’re going to want something with coffee-grinder capabilities.
Best Espresso Grinders Under $500
Exceptional espresso is achievable, even if you don’t have the budget for a commercial espresso grinder. Our picks for best espresso grinders under $500 aren’t just affordable—they’re impressively consistent and packed with surprising features to help you brew cafe-quality espresso at home.
Baratza’s Encore ESP is a budget-friendly all-purpose grinder that does espresso a surprising amount of justice given the price tag. It features 40mm steel burrs and a gear reduction motor that reduces heat and static buildup during grinding. The result is an incredibly versatile grinder—one that will help you brew delicious espresso and prepare the perfect pour over. Baratza Encore ESP
The Fellow Opus grinder isn’t just a versatile and affordable all-purpose single-dose grinder with 41 stepped adjustments and near-infinite stepless micro-adjustments. It also happens to be one of the best looking grinders on the market. Its sleek and modern design is also compact, so it’s sure to fit on even the most cluttered of countertops. Fellow Opus
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, entry-level grinder that you won’t have to replace once you’ve become an at-home brewing pro, the Eureka Mignon Zero is a great place to start. It’s a single-dose espresso-focused grinder with 55mm hardened steel burrs. Tack on micrometric stepless adjustment, low retention, and silent-grind technology and you’ve got a grinder that will serve you well as long as you want it to.Eureka Mignon Zero
Best Espresso Grinders Under $1,000
If you want a grinder that’s ready for whatever life throws your way, look no further. The Ceado Life is about as versatile as grinders get—it’s extraordinarily consistent across a wide range of grind sizes, from espresso-fine to cold-brew-coarse. It also functions both as a single-dose and hopper grinder, so you can tailor its performance to your daily needs. The fixed 50mm top burr also makes for easy access to the grind chamber for cleaning without messing up your grind setting.Ceado Life
Take the guesswork out of your daily dosing with Eureka’s Mignon Libra. This extraordinary grinder dispenses based on weight rather than time, so you’re sure to get the perfect dose every time. Like all Mignon grinders, the Libra features stepless micrometric adjustments, silent-grind technology, and remarkable retention—plus the intuitive touch screen makes it incredibly easy to program and use.Eureka Mignon Libra
Best Espresso Grinders Under $2,000
If you find yourself going through a coffee shop’s worth of beans every day, the ECM V-Titan 64 is the grinder for you. This powerhouse grinder features two flat 64mm titanium-coated burrs designed to grind their way through a whopping 1200 kilograms of coffee before wearing out. Add to that a 450 watt motor and you’ve got a grinder capable of grinding 11 grams of coffee in a mere 2.5 seconds. This grinder is designed to excel especially when grinding at espresso sizes, so if you like cappuccinos, lattes, or pure espresso, it’s a phenomenal option.ECM V-Titan 64
Grind like a pro with the Ceado E37S. This is an absolute behemoth of a grinder, featuring 83mm stainless steel burrs and a 500 watt motor which, despite its power, is surprisingly silent. The highly programmable touchscreen allows you to set up to three doses in 1/10th of a second increments, and the Steady Lock Burr Technology keeps your grind setting locked in place, making this one of the most consistent grinders we’ve seen. Ceado E37S Quick Set
Best Espresso Grinder PERIOD
This is, quite simply, the ultimate single-dose grinder. A truly zero-retention grinder, thanks to its diamond-like-carbon-coated burrs and 45° incline, the Hero is about as accurate as grinders come. The interlocking worm gear allows for truly infinitesimal grind adjustments, so you can dial in the perfect shot with ease. You can also totally remove the gear to make larger jumps from espresso to pourover grind sizes, so this is also one of the most versatile grinders available as well. Top all that off with the exterior gearbox that allows you to adjust the RPM of your grind and the gorgeous wood accents and you’ve got a grinder built for the true coffee connoisseur. Ceado E37Z—Hero
The Best Espresso Grinders For You
Reading about our favorite espresso grinders is all well and good, but if you’re going to make an investment in the future of your coffee corner, you’re going to want to see the grinder in action, right?
That’s where Coffee Cast comes in. We offer free one-on-one product demonstrations by our in-house experts. They’ll show you all the bells and whistles as well as how to get everything set up properly so you’re ready to unbox and get brewing. Schedule a Coffee Cast now and discover which espresso grinder is the best for you.
FAQ
Which type of grinder is best for espresso?
Technically speaking, a flat-burr, single-dose grinder is the best option when grinding for espresso specifically. Flat burrs are generally more consistent than conical burrs, and a single-dose grinder will allow you to keep your beans as fresh as possible, rather than having them go stale in the hopper waiting to get ground. Another consideration to make is that the larger the burrs, the more consistent your grinding results will be.
What is the best grind for an espresso machine?
The best grind size to use on an espresso machine is very fine. Each grinder has a different scale for adjusting the grind size, but generally espresso falls between 1 and 3 on most grinders’ dials. Of course, you’ll still want to dial in your grinder periodically when using it to make sure you get the best results.
Do you need an expensive grinder for espresso?
You do not need an expensive grinder for espresso. The budget grinders on this list are all perfectly capable of producing delicious shots of espresso consistently, especially if you prefer milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos to straight shots of espresso. Of course, if your goal is to coax nuanced flavor profiles from specialty, single-origin coffees, you may find that a budget grinder is not quite as consistent as you want it to be.
