Want to know the easiest way to make your French Press coffee even better? Invest in a great burr grinder and prepare to be amazed at how tasty your morning brew can be!
Because the French press is such a forgiving brewing technique, you don’t even need to break the bank to buy a top-notch grinder, no matter what that pushy salesman tells you. There are plenty of affordable and even more affordable options perfect for work, and we’ve picked the top nine.
Reading: Best coffee grinder for french press
top 9 best french press coffee grinders in 2022
The best French press coffee grinder needs to produce consistent grinds at the coarser end of the grinding spectrum. and I’d say you should do this for a reasonable price since the French press is such an inexpensive brewer (1).
Fortunately, a good French press coffee grinder is easier to find than one for more finicky brewing methods like espresso. explains James Hoffmann, one of the world’s leading coffee experts; the French press is a forgiving brewing method (2).
This means that there are many affordable French press coffee grinders on the market. just stay away from blade grinders! Below are nine French press coffee grinder reviews for all you coffee lovers out there.
breville is known for making easy-to-use appliances that deliver professional-level results. The Breville Smart Grinder is our pick for the best French Press coffee grinder, and it’s one of our favorite burr grinders overall. Let’s dive into why.
40mm conical steel burrs are pretty standard, but this coffee grinder stands out with its impressive user interface and programmability. True to its name, this is a “smart” grinder. Use the large LCD screen to select a grind setting and program a dose, whether it’s the number of cups, espresso shots, or a set time, accurate to within 0.2 seconds.
The smart grinder has 60 grind settings, suitable for all brewing methods, from cold brew to espresso. for that reason, it comes with a container to collect the soil and a filter holder fork.
the smart grinder has a sleek look with a brushed stainless steel finish like all breville appliances. It has the largest hopper capacity of any coffee grinder on this list, which, along with its hands-free operation, makes it suitable for grinding a large number of coffee beans at once.
Now owned by Breville (3), Baratza is one of the few specialist brands for high-end home coffee grinders and has won awards from the Specialty Coffee Association (4). While your more expensive grinders are probably overkill for a simple French press ale, the entry-level Baratza Encore is perfect. it still benefits from considerable brand experience, but is priced much more manageably.
the bis comes in second because it has fewer grind settings, a less advanced interface, and a smaller bean hopper than the breville smart grinder pro. That said, it’s equally capable of producing consistent French press bases with its 40mm tapered steel milling cutter set, and it’s less expensive.
available in black or white, the encore has an attractive design that reveals it as a cheap coffee grinder, with soft curves and a reduced size. Instead of an LCD screen, it offers a simple button operation that makes it very easy to use. It has an on/off switch for continuous grinding and a manual button for pulsed grinding.
The javapresse manual coffee grinder is among the most popular manual grinders for many reasons. First, there’s its durable stainless steel construction; this coffee grinder can take a beating and keep grinding. then there’s its 1.4 oz hopper capacity, which is small compared to an electric grinder but ample for a manual coffee grinder. Add in its affordable price and you have a coffee grinder that’s hard to beat.
the javapresse uses conical ceramic burrs with a patented double coating, which last for years without dull. It has 18 different grind settings, impressive for such an affordable manual coffee grinder. it may not be enough to mark an espresso, but it’s perfect for the french press.
of course, the javapresse offers advantages common to all manual grinders. It’s quiet, compact and requires no electricity so you can take it anywhere. Plus, it comes with a little morning arm workout built right in! just don’t forget to change your polishing arm.
capresso infinity is a very popular basic electric coffee grinder. I have had two on my coffee journey and have recommended them to friends and family. This coffee grinder is affordable, reliable, easy to use, and a big step up from a blade coffee grinder.
infinity uses commercial grade steel tapered burs with a precision cut design that produces an even distribution. The gear reduction motor deftly grinds at slower RPMs than most, resulting in a quieter grind, less static buildup, and a more aromatic brew.
has 16 grind settings, from fine Turkish coffee to coarse grind for cold brew. From experience, I wouldn’t recommend it for an espresso grinder; 16 setups are not enough to score on one shot. but it’s perfect for the french press as it offers a consistent grind on the mid-range setting.
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is a beautifully designed coffee grinder, available in black or silver, with an 8.8 oz hopper and 4 oz grounds container. As much as I’d like to see a metal casing or lid for the coffee grounds container, these improvements would inevitably increase the price, and the infinity’s affordability is a big part of its charm.
The Rancilio Rocky Grinder is the most expensive on this list, and arguably the best. so why isn’t it the first option? well, if you just want the best french press coffee grinder, the rocky is a waste of money; it’s more than you need.
however, if you’re looking for a versatile grinder, something for your french press and espresso machine, then the rocky rancilio is a great value. 50mm flat steel wheels produce a beautifully consistent grind in a wide range of grind settings. Although it was developed for espresso, it has 40 stepped grind settings, making it easy to switch from fine to coarse.
the rocky has a simple user interface, with just an on/off switch and a grind button. and adjusting the grind setting is easy; turn the necklace clockwise or counterclockwise.
rancilio, an Italian brand known for both its grinders and premium espresso machines, has been around for a long time. they have had many years to refine the rocky to perfection. offers a considerable advance in build quality from the lower-priced coffee grinders on this list, with a metal body and commercial-grade components built to last.
bodum is known for its fun and accessible designs, with comfortable silicone grips and bright colors. the friendly bodum bistro coffee grinder is no exception, available in black, white, silver, copper, red and lime green.
The Bistro has the perfect blend of quality, functionality, and low cost to make it an easy choice for a great value grinder. It’s cheap but not cheap if you know what I mean. It has slightly smaller 35mm stainless steel conical burrs and slightly fewer grind settings than more expensive options. but these will have little impact when grinding for French press coffee.
bodum bistro is very easy to use. Rotate the hopper to set the grind size, then press the button to start grinding. you can even set a timer to make sure you grind the same amount each time.
Another nice feature of the Bodum Bistro is the dumpster on its grounds. Made from static free borosilicate glass and with a silicone band for easy grip, colored to match the body of the grinder, it’s a step up from the capresso infinity.
eureka specializes in expensive prosumer grinders, so you might be surprised to learn that they make an affordable model perfect for the French press. The Eureka Mignon Chrono eliminates much of the flash and programmability of more expensive Mignon models, but maintains the build quality and sleek design that distinguishes the Italian brand.
the crono mignon has a set of 50mm flat steel cutters, which produces an even ground. Plus, it’s the only grinder on this list with a continuous grind setting, providing endless grind settings. It’s the same patented grind adjustment system found on more expensive models. the crono is also equipped with eureka’s anti-caking and electrostatic (ace) system, which guarantees a fluffy, static-free floor.
The crono mignon is dosed with a timer, programmable from 5 to 60 seconds, or it can be ground manually by pressing a button. This simplicity of operation makes this grinder affordable, but it also makes for a pleasant user experience.
The attractive mignon series of grinders is defined by its square footprint and unique square hoppers. The Chrono is available in black or white, with a die-cast aluminum body that is much more durable than plastic.
Japanese company hario is famous in the coffee industry for its functional, affordable and attractive designs (5). The beloved V60 pour-over coffee maker might be its best seller, but the Skerton manual grinders are just as worthy of attention. The new and improved Skerton Pro has some nice upgrades from the original Skerton that make it worth the small price increase.
skerton pro uses conical ceramic burrs, and its 2.1 oz hopper capacity and 3.5 oz grounds container capacity are substantial for a manual coffee grinder. Unlike the stainless steel Javapress, the Hario Skerton Pro is made primarily of glass and plastic, so you need to treat it a little more carefully. the wide silicone base is a great addition, allowing it to stand firmly on the counter while you grind.
hario has made the grinding handle more durable and easier to connect to the cap with the professional model. They’ve also improved the adjustment mechanism, making it easier to find the perfect grind setting. More importantly, some subtle design changes have strengthened the drive shaft and reduced burr wobble. this provides more consistent bases, especially at the fatter end of the spectrum. In the past, we didn’t recommend the Skerton French Press Manual Grinder, but not anymore!
the porlex mini is one of the smallest grinders on the market, with adequate capacity for one or two cups. it’s a good manual grinder for the home if you live alone and only brew one cup at a time, but where it shines is in its portability.
the porlex mini is not only very small and light, but it is also very strong, an equally important feature of a travel grinder. With its stainless steel body, you can easily carry it in a bag or backpack for a walk around the city or to go camping.
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porlex mini is not limited by its small size when it comes to grind quality. It has a reliable grind adjustment system and produces impressively consistent coffee grinds, even when grinding coarse for a French press. the ceramic wheels are razor sharp, making grinding quick and easy, and they’re static free, so you won’t leave a mess of scuffs – great news if you’re using it in the office.
how to choose the best french press coffee grinder
First of all, buy a burr grinder, not a blade grinder. after that, the details come down to your budget, taste in coffee, lifestyle, and whether you use other methods to brew as well. This buyer’s guide will help you tackle all the variables in choosing your best French press coffee grinder.
burr shapes and sizes: what does it all mean?
Buying your first real burr grinder can seem very confusing. Does it really matter if you choose conical or flat burs? Does the size of the burr matter as much as some manufacturers would have you believe?
In all honesty, if you’re grinding coffee for a French press, especially if you’re not dealing with specialty quality coffee beans, the most important thing is to simply get a burr coffee grinder rather than a blade grinder. yes, the size and shape of the burrs do affect the flavor of your coffee, and I’ll talk about how in a second, but the average coffee drinker probably won’t know the difference.
bigger is generally better when it comes to burr size (6). a larger burr set grinds faster. fast grinding not only gets that precious caffeine into your bloodstream faster, it also generates less heat. by heating the coffee beans during grinding, you risk destroying some flavor compounds. That said, grinding a single French press ale won’t take long, no matter how big your burrs are.
what about the shape? conical mills are known for producing more fines. fines are the coffee powder you’ll often find in the bottom of your cup because the French press’s metal filter doesn’t catch it. Some coffee drinkers enjoy Finos because they add body to a coffee, and French Press drinkers, in particular, enjoy coffee with a heavy body.
by contrast, flat burr grinders are known for their consistency. the reasons are more uniform, with fewer fines. other coffee drinkers prefer this style because it gives a cleaner cup (7). it all comes down to personal taste, which is why we suggest great options for flat and conical burr grinders for your coffee beans.
ceramic versus steel burs
Although steel is now more common as a burr material, both steel and ceramic have advantages for burrs (8).
Steel burrs are sharper, so they cut through coffee beans more easily. steel is also more resistant to unexpected damage, such as if a stone gets into the coffee grinder or if you accidentally drop it. Most electric grinders have steel burrs because steel can withstand the high speeds generated by a motor.
however, as long as you take care to protect your coffee grinder from brute force damage, ceramic burrs will last longer because ceramic is a harder material that dulls at a slower rate. steel has a higher thermal conductivity than ceramic, which means that heat will build up faster on the steel burrs (not good), but also dissipate faster (good).
do you want a manual grinder or an electric grinder?
There are great reasons to go for a manual or electric coffee grinder, depending on your lifestyle. many coffee lovers have at least one, fast as manual grinders are so affordable.
Let’s start with the advantages of a manual French press coffee grinder. as already mentioned, they are inexpensive because you mostly pay for a set of burs, not a motor. the lack of a motor is also the second significant advantage: a manual grinder is silent. Do you want to prepare that first cuppa joe without waking up the whole house? this is the answer.
Sure, a manual coffee grinder requires a bit of effort to grind the coffee beans, but the coarse grind required for a French press is the easiest to produce.
The main advantage of electric coffee grinders is that the motor works for you. Not everyone can start the day with an arm workout and not everyone wants to. For the same reason, electric coffee grinders are better for grinding a lot of coffee at once. In addition to saving your arms, they also have larger hoppers and grounds bins.
don’t think too much about the number of settings
If you want to use your coffee grinder for many different brewing methods, especially if one of them is espresso, you want a coffee grinder with many grind size settings. for example, in this list, the smart grinder rancilio rocky, eureka mignon, and breville are capable of many brewing methods.
however, if you only plan to use your coffee grinder with your french press, don’t get too hung up on the number of settings. French press is a forgiving preparation method. As long as you get medium to coarse ground coffee beans, you’ll get great coffee. you don’t need to brand it like you would an espresso.
the verdict
If a rich French press brew is your favorite type of coffee, you’re in luck because there are plenty of affordable coffee grinders out there that will meet your needs. this list has nine of them, all recommended by our team of experts.
This year, our top pick is the attractive and easy-to-use breville smart grinder pro. This affordable coffee grinder offers advanced programmability and excellent grind quality, and you can use it for another style of brewing in a pinch.
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