People who are true fans and lovers of coffee are very well aware of the fact that the cup of coffee made out of freshly ground beans has its own taste, freshness, and aroma. Therefore, they often prefer using freshly ground coffee beans rather than the ones that come in powder form.
If you are also one of such coffee enthusiasts, you should for sure invest in a coffee grinder. From manual ones to automatic grinders, there is a range of products that you will find in the market. But if you are truly interested in buying a coffee grinder that will lead to uniformly ground coffee while preserving the aroma, freshness and taste, you cannot just buy any coffee grinder.
To help you make the right choice and pick the best coffee grinder, we decided to review some of the best coffee grinders in the market. Here are the top four picks that did not fail to impress us based on ease of use, quality, and most importantly, the results of the ground coffee.
Top Four Best Coffee Grinders For French Press
1. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder White:
Small And Compact:
If you are someone who is looking for a coffee grinder with a smaller footprint, the Barata Encore Coffee Grinder would be an ideal choice. The small size means that it does not take up too much space. It is so compact that you can easily leave it on the kitchen counter or place it on any corner shelf. But rest assured that the small size does not mean that the grinder is not powerful. The sharp blades of the grinder will grind your coffee in the blink of an eye.
Easy To Use:
The usage of this coffee grinder is extremely simple. You have to fill in the coffee beans at the top. There is a pulse button on the front side that will be used to pulsate the grinder for a uniform grind. The switch ON and OFF of the machine is also quite simple so this machine is a perfect investment for people who are looking for something that is easy to use and straightforward.
Grind Settings:
You will not have to worry about the quality of the coffee grinding when using this grinder. With up to 40 grind settings, you will always get coffee that is uniformly grinded and is free from lumps. No matter what strength or style of coffee you like, when you grind it in this grinder before adding it to your french press, you will always get the best aroma and taste.
2.Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder:
Powerful Motor:
Equipped with a powerful 166-watt motor, this coffee grinder will grind the coffee beans into fine grinds within seconds. The motor is powerful yet operates quietly so you will not have to deal with an irritating loud noise when using this coffee grinder. The motor is durable and the sharp blades attached to the motor spin at a rapid rate so that the coffee beans can be ground in a quick, efficient and uniform manner.
Variable Grinding Settings:
When using this coffee grinder to grind coffee for their french press, users have the freedom to adjust the grinding settings and control the extent to which they wish to grind the coffee. You can leave the beans slightly coarse or have them ground into a fine powder. The variable grinding settings of the coffee grinder allow the users to customize the extent of the coffee grinding as desired and handle it accordingly.
Durable And Sturdy:
From the blades to the overall construction and design, every element of the machine is durable and sturdy. Therefore, you will not have to worry about the machine breaking or getting damaged with use. This grinder may seem slightly expensive. But the quality of the grinder and the ground beans makes it an excellent investment and the users can be a hundred percent certain that they will be using it for years to come.
3. Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill Skerton Pro:
Fit For Personal Use:
If you are the sole coffee lover at your house, there would be no point of you buying a large, commercial-scale coffee grinder. The Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill would be an ideal choice for you as it is compact and small. The sleek design paired with the small size makes this grinder an ideal choice for personal use where the users only want to grind a small quantity of coffee beans at a time.
Uniform Grind:
The ceramic base of the grinder allows the beans to easily move within the grinder. Therefore, the beans do not get jammed up inside the grinder and end up finely ground in a very smooth texture. Since it is a manual grinder, therefore, the users also have a better control over the extent to which they wish to grind the coffee beans and can easily stop grinding as soon as the beans reach the desired ground consistency.
Design:
From the handle to the grinder, every design element of this coffee grinder is just perfect. The ceramic grinder is not only easy to use, but is easy to clean as well. The handle too can be gripped quite easily and rotates in a smooth manner so the users will not have to struggle with grinding their coffee. The extra lid can be placed on the grinder to preserve the remaining ground coffee for future use or as needed.
4. Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder:
Uniform And Consistent Grind:
You will notice that the coffee grounds get grinded in a consistent and uniform manner when the Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder is used. The small size of the grinder holds the beans closer to the blades while the cylindrical shape allows them to move around so that every bean can be grounded in a uniform way and no lumps remain. At a time, the users can use the grinder to grind up to 20 grams of coffee.
Durability:
Thanks to the stainless steel construction, this is one of the most durable coffee grinders that you will find in the market. The blade of the grinder, too, is sharp so that it can easily pierce the hard coffee beans and break them down with ease. Since the body of the coffee grinder is static free and the handle too is long, therefore, moving the blades of the machine is not an issue at all. The shape of the grinder also makes it easy to hold and grip which further enhances the utility of the grinder.
Compact:
With a height of merely 130 mm, it is one of the most compact and small-sized coffee grinders that you will find in the market. It is so small that you can easily hold it within your palm. Therefore, if you are someone who loves to enjoy freshly ground coffee, and is always on the move, you should surely consider this coffee grinder. You will be able to carry it around with ease as it will not end up taking too much space in your luggage.
Coffee Grinder Buying Guide:
As already mentioned, you will find a huge variety of coffee grinders in the market, each one claiming to be the absolute best. However, before you go ahead and buy a coffee grinder, it is very important for you to take into account a couple of things that will help you make the right choice and pick the best coffee grinder:
Grind Settings:
There are some coffee grinders that come with a fixed grind setting. This means that the grinder can only be used to grind the coffee to one consistency. Although this works for some people, most coffee lovers like to switch things up and change the consistency of the coffee beans every now and then. The choice of the extent of the coffee grind also depends on the drink that one wishes to make.
Therefore, it is recommended that you invest in a coffee grinder that comes with a variable grind setting. This way, you will be able to control the extent to which the coffee beans are ground and would be able to keep them as coarse or grind them as finely as you would like.
Usage:
Usage is obviously an important factor that has to be taken into account when buying a coffee grinder. If you are someone who does not like to work hard and wishes for the coffee to be grinded quickly and in a hassle free manner, you should surely invest in an automatic coffee grinder. These coffee grinders operate on electricity so you simply need to plug them in a socket and pulsate to grind the coffee beans.
However, if you do not mind using some elbow grease, you can consider buying a manual coffee grinder. The blade of these grinders is attached to a handle that can be rotated to grind the coffee. These grinders are slightly hard to use since the force to grind the coffee beans has to be exerted manually, but they are still quite fun to use.
The choice of whether to buy a manual or an electric coffee grinder is purely personal and depends on the user’s own preference and needs.
Ease Of Cleaning:
Coffee beans are slightly oily. When you grind them, the oil comes to the surface as the bean is broken down. Therefore, you might notice an oily film appearing around the coffee grinder after a couple of uses. It is important for this oily residue to be cleaned as it can not only impact the quality of the coffee grind but is also unhygienic.
Therefore, whenever you are picking a coffee grinder, pay attention to its structure. It is best that you select a coffee grinder whose blades are exposed and you can easily reach out to them. This way, you will be able to clean the blades and the surrounding area quite easily.
Noise:
Some coffee grinders, especially the commercial-scale ones can end up producing too much noise. This is ok for some people but there are others who naturally get irritated by the noise. Therefore, it is also a factor that has to be taken into account when picking a coffee grinder. You need to select a coffee grinder that comes with a noiseless motor so that you can grind the coffee beans whenever you want to without having to worry about disturbing your housemates or even waking up the neighbors due to the unbearably loud noise of the grinder.
Capacity:
The capacity of the coffee grinder is another aspect that cannot be ignored when you are planning to buy a coffee grinder. The capacity depends on the person who would be using the grinder. Some people like to grind the coffee beans in bulk while others like to grind them fresh in the morning every day.
You have to pick a coffee grinder that has a capacity that aligns well with your needs. You can then grind as much or as little coffee as you need. The capacity also depends on the quantity of coffee that you wish to make at a time. Based on these factors, you can pick a coffee grinder that can fulfill your needs and help you grind the perfect amount of coffee beans.
How To Grind Coffee Beans?
Grinding the coffee beans right is a very important factor that heavily impacts the taste of the coffee. The grind of the coffee beans determines the quality and freshness. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of the right way of grinding coffee beans so you do not end up ruining your coffee. It is not only the texture and consistency of the beans, but the amount of beans that you add to the water after grinding to prepare coffee is also significant as it heavily impacts the taste and freshness of the coffee when it is brewed in the french press.
You can grind the coffee beans into a complete powder. But since you wish to use the coffee grounds in a french press, it is recommended that you leave some of the coffee beans in a coarse and bigger size rather than turning them into a fine powder. The coarseness adds a rich texture to the coffee and also enhances its strength.
Users have more control over the texture of the coffee grounds when they are making use of a manual coffee grinder. But when you use an electric one, you have to be vigilant so that you do not end up over grinding the beans. It is best to pulsate the grinder so that the beans move freely around in the grinder. You can also keep opening the lid to see the extent of the grinding.
It is also recommended that you move the beans inside the grinder. This can be done by slightly shaking the grinder or by stirring the beans around with a spoon. Doing so will prevent the beans from jamming inside the grinder and will also ensure that the beans get grinded in a uniform manner and no lumps remain. The grinder too will work better when the beans are rotated and can easily reach the blade of the grinder.
You can also feel the texture of the coffee beans with your hands. This will give you a better idea of whether you have achieved the desired grind or should keep going further. Once the required consistency is achieved, you can go ahead and use the freshly ground beans in your french coffee press. You can use the grounded beans as needed but make sure to store the remaining beans in an airtight container so that they do not develop lumps. Scoop them with a clean and dry spoon as wetness can also spoil the coffee beans.
Make sure you choose the right ratio of water to beans if you truly want to experience the coffee to the fullest. Here is a table summarizing the perfect ration between the two:
| COFFEE BEANS | WATER |
| 2 Tablespoons | 1 cup |
| Quarter of a Cup | 2 cups |
| Half Cup | 4 cups |
| 1 cup | 8 cups |
Conclusion:
You will notice a huge difference in the taste, freshness, and aroma of coffee when you use freshly grinded coffee beans in your french press. The beans will reap a lot more flavor and the coffee would be creamier and richer. To be able to do so, you will have to invest in a coffee grinder so that you can grind the coffee beans fresh every time.
From electronic grinders to manual ones, those meant for personal use to the more powerful commercial ones, you will find a huge range of coffee grinders in the market. But rather than picking the first coffee grinder that you come across, it is best to do some research and then select a coffee grinder that can truly do justice to your coffee beans.
To come to help in this regard, we have not only listed our top four picks but have also included a buying guide so that you can assess whether the grinder you are about to buy is worth it or not. Moreover, we have also shared the process of grinding the coffee beans so that you can enjoy coffee like never before.