Here is our review of the 7 best coffee grinders for French Press.
There is no question when deciding whether to buy a coffee grinder for French Press coffee or not. You WILL save money in the long run when you start using whole bean coffee instead of expensive pre-ground coffee.
After tons of research, I found the Baratza Encore to be the best coffee grinder for French Press overall.
However, if this coffee grinder doesn’t suit your needs then there are other coffee grinders on this list that may be better suited for you.
So, let’s get started:
- Our Best Coffee Grinders For French Press
- Why Buy A Coffee Grinder For French Press
- 7 Best Coffee Grinders For French Press Reviewed
- Buyer’s Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Verdict
Our Best Coffee Grinders For French Press
- Baratza Encore (Best Overall)
- Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme (Best Value)
- Baratza Virtuoso+ (Best Premium)
- Secura Electric Burr Grinder (Best Budget Electric)
- Normcore Manual V2 (Best Hand Grinder)
- Fellow Ode Brew Grinder (Best Design)
- Hamilton Beach Blade Grinder (Best Blade Grinder)
Why Buy A Coffee Grinder For French Press?
Buying a coffee grinder for French Press will make a significant difference in taste for your coffee. The problem with buying pre-ground coffee is that some brands may not supply a coarse grind size which is essential for french press coffee.
If you buy fine pre-ground coffee then your coffee may taste too acidic and bitter. So make sure to buy yourself the best coffee beans for French Press so you can use a coffee grinder that can grind superb ground coffee.
7 Best Coffee Grinders For French Press Reviewed
Here are our 7 best coffee grinders for french press reviews. If you have an eye on which grinder to buy then take the time to read through its pros and cons before buying.
Baratza Encore
Best Overall
Pros
- Easy to use
- Great grind consistency
- Variety of settings
- Very durable
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Lacks modern features
- Requires regular cleaning
The Baratza Encore is listed as the best coffee grinder for French Press overall. It has all the necessary features to make great french press coffee. The Baratza Encore has up to 40 grind settings which are great for using any type of brewing method. It’s especially well equipped for grinding for French Press and Aeropress coffee.
The downside to the Encore is that it isn’t the most budget-friendly coffee grinder on this list and does lack advanced features such as a digital timer. This coffee grinder can get messy which will require regular cleaning. But most coffee grinders need regular cleaning anyways.
The Baratza Encore was designed to grind coffee beans at a slower speed of 550 RPM to get the most even grind possible. Many people rave about the grinder’s grind consistency and if that’s all you need from a machine then the Baratza Encore is for you.
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind
Best Value
Pros
- Easy to use
- Fast grinding
- Large ground capacity
- Acceptable price
Cons
- Noisey
- Okay grind consistency
The Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind is an impressive coffee grinder considering its affordability. It’s easy to use, grinds fast, and has a large ground capacity which is perfect for making multiple servings.
There are a few downsides to the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme being a bit messy, inconsistent grinding, and being quite noisy. This coffee grinder is also going to need you to clean it regularly due to the mess it can make.
I know that there are some downsides to this coffee grinder that may drive you away from it but you must realize that it is almost a third of the price of the Baratza Encore. If you are someone who is really looking for the BEST budget-friendly electric grinder then the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme is a good choice.
Baratza Virtuoso+
Best Premium
Pros
- Has a digital timer and a backlit grounds bin
- Wide range of grind settings
- Advanced features
- Near-perfect grind consistency
Cons
- Expensive
The Baratza Virtuoso+ is the best premium coffee grinder on this list. Its features and grinding is similar to the Baratza Encore but has some more advanced features. This includes a digital timer and backlit grounds bin. It has almost twice the grind speed of the Encore and has the ability to pulsate grind to get more even particles.
The only downside to the Baratza Virtuoso+ is that it is very expensive for a coffee grinder. I would list this as the best coffee grinder for French Press overall but the price, unfortunately, sets it apart.
The Baratza Virtuoso+ has arguably the best grinding consistency on this list for French Press. It has all the needs and extra features for your grinding experience. I highly recommend buying this product if you want an upgrade to the Baratza Encore.
Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
Best Budget Electric
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to use
- Compact design
Cons
- Grind consistency isn’t great
The Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder is one of the best budget-friendly coffee grinders for your French Press. It is almost a fifth of the price of the Baratza Encore and is still able to compete with the more expensive coffee grinders. The key feature of this grinder is that it has up to 17 grind selections that can produce between 2 to 12 cups of coffee.
The downside to this coffee grinder is that it produces an average grind consistency. There can sometimes be uneven particles in the batch. The power output of the Secura is also quite low reaching up to 110 watts. This means that its RPM speed is not nearly as fast as the Baratza Virtuoso+.
Even though the Secura may have average grind consistency and minimal functions, you’re definitely getting more for what you paid for. If you are looking for an inexpensive electric burr grinder and nothing else then the Secura is the way to go.
Normcore Manual Coffee Grinder V2
Best Hand Grinder
Pros
- Amazing grind consistency
- Budget-friendly
- Portable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not many grind adjustments
- Not recommended for fine grinding
- Small ground capacity
- Manual grinding
The Normcore Manual Hand Grinder is the ideal hand grinder for specifically French Press coffee. In our guide on the best coffee hand grinders, the Normcore ranked it as best for filter coffee. It has an amazing grind consistency for when coarse grinding. It’s also reasonably priced when considering the other coffee grinders on this list.
The downside to this hand grinder is that it’s not ideal for fine grinding as there are better hand grinders that grind for espresso. It also doesn’t have a large ground bin which means that you’d need to physically grind a few times to make multiple servings.
The Normcore hand grinder is a great coffee grinder when it comes to portability, grind consistency, and affordability. I recommend any individual needing an inexpensive coffee grinder and is not concerned about the manual grinding to get the Normcore Manual Hand Grinder.
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
Best Design
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Great grind consistency
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Small ground capacity
- Expensive
The Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is by far the coolest and most sleek looking coffee grinder out there. It has a blacked-out minimalist look to it that will go well in anyone’s kitchen. Other than its design, this coffee grinder also has an amazing grind consistency which is the biggest thing to consider.
The downside to the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is that it is very expensive. Very expensive, meaning it’s more expensive than the Baratza Virtuoso+. Another downside is that it does have a small coffee ground bin which isn’t ideal for making lots of servings.
The Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is what I’d call the bachelor’s coffee grinder. It’s perfect for an individual that wants a sleek design coffee grinder to show off to their next girlfriend. It also happens to produce superb grind consistency.
Hamilton Beach Blade Grinder
Best Blade Grinder
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Easy to clean
- Small and compact
Cons
- Horrible grind consistency
The Hamilton Beach Blade Grinder may be the best blade grinder for grinding coffee but is still not recommended for grinding coffee. You’re probably wondering why I even placed this product on the list but some people still look for a blade grinder to grind coffee beans. The only good thing I can say about this product is that it’s inexpensive and can also be used to grind spices.
The biggest downside to this grinder is that its grind consistency is shocking. This is why a blade grinder is not recommended for grinding coffee beans. Grind consistency is the biggest factor that determines how great a coffee grinder actually is.
If you’re still reading this and are still thinking about getting yourself a blade grinder then get the Hamilton Beach Blade Grinder. Try grinding some coffee beans and if your French Press coffee tastes awful then you can always use this product for grinding your spices.
Buyer’s Guide
Here is our buyer’s guide on choosing the best coffee grinder for French Press. It’s important to know which coffee grinder is most ideal as choosing the wrong grinder can be a costly mistake.
Types of Coffee Grinders
There are 3 types of grinders that can grind coffee: Manual, electric, and blade coffee. Each of these coffee grinders has its advantages and disadvantages:
Blade
Blade grinders are actually not purposely built for grinding coffee. The reason for this is that they slice things using a blade that is better suited for herbs and spices. The only reason to buy a blade grinder is if you are on a strict budget, do not want to manually grind your beans, and also use it for spices.
Manual
Manual grinders are the most traditional way to grind coffee beans. manual grinders can actually produce a better grind consistency than electric burr grinders and cost half the price. The only downside to a manual hand grinder is that you have to physically turn it but it is great for grinding finely.
Electric
Electric burr grinders are the most commonly used types of grinders in public places such as a cafe. These types of grinders tend to be pricier but are definitely worth the price. If you are lazy like me and don’t feel like physically grinding your own beans then buy this type of grinder.
Best Grind Size For French Press
On the brewing method scale, French Press coffee needs to use the most coarse type of grind size. This is why it’s important to choose a coffee grinder that can grind even particles to allow the French Press to steep better.
What’s great about most coffee grinders is that they are usually better at grinding coarser grind sizes. So you don’t need to buy the most expensive grinder to get super fine ground particles if you’re only planning on using brewing methods like French Press.
Stainless Steel vs Ceramic Burr Grinders
Stainless steel burr grinders are the most common type of grinders. These are usually less expensive than ceramic grinders and tend to be sharper than ceramic grinders at first. Although stainless steel may have more precise grinding at first, this type of grinder becomes blunter over time.
Ceramic burr grinders on the other hand are usually more expensive than stainless steel grinders. Espresso machines with ceramic grinders tend to be much more expensive than ones with stainless steel grinders. What’s great about ceramic grinders is that they never really lose their sharpness but are more susceptible to cracking in the long run.
In conclusion, ceramic burr grinders are better than stainless steel burr grinders.
Conical vs Flat Burr Grinders
Conical burr grinders are cone-shaped looking and grind coffee beans vertically. This type of grinder tends to be less expensive, produce less heat, grind more quietly, and is easier to clean.
Flat burr grinders on the other hand are ring-shaped looking and grind beans horizontally. This type of grinder is usually more expensive, produces more heat, has more coffee retention, is noisier, and is harder to clean.
In conclusion, conical burr grinders are a better option.
Grinding Speed
In terms of grinding speed, you will want either an electric coffee grinder or a hand grinder that can slice through the coffee beans at a good pace. Hand grinders are not effortless by all means and it will take you a minute longer to grind coffee beans compared to an electric burr grinder.
The higher RPM (revolutions per minute) a burr grinder can rotate, the more expensive it usually is. So if you are on a budget but want a grinder that grinds coffee fast then look at getting yourself an electric grinder.
Grind Consistency
Grind consistency is one of the most important aspects of making a good cup of coffee. If your grinder is not consistent with its grind then you will end up having different sized grounds leading to uneven extraction.
Hand grinders have a better grind consistency than electric grinders, especially blade grinders. If grind consistency is important to you then I do not recommend buying yourself a blade grinder even if it’s much cheaper than a burr grinder. You will regret this in the long run.
Size of Grinder
If you’re looking for a grinder that you can take for camping or when traveling overseas then a hand grinder is the way to go. But if you are a home user only and have some counter space then an electric coffee grinder will be better suited for you.
Price of Grinder
In terms of the price of grinders, you will want to consider which type of grinder you’re buying and the overall build quality.
Blade grinders are going to be your least expensive type of grinder as it does not use a burr grinder and is better suited for grinding spices. If you are on the budget end of things then a blade grinder is something to consider.
In terms of manual hand grinders, they are usually more expensive than blade grinders as they have much more even grind consistency. You can get budget-friendly hand grinders that are cheaper than blade grinders and grinder better coffee grounds.
Electric burr grinders are the most premium end of the coffee grinder spectrum. They are usually way more expensive than both a blade and manual hand grinder, especially if you’re buying a decent one.
Cleaning and Maintenance
When it comes to cleaning and maintenance, coffee grinders usually require very little. It’s very easy to clean the exterior parts of any coffee grinder and the blades are not difficult to clean either.
You should give your coffee grinder a good clean every month or two as a rule of thumb. In terms of replacing parts such as the blades, you should replace them at half of the coffee grinders lifetime span.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often to replace coffee grinder burrs?
Depending on the material of the coffee grinder burrs, ceramic may last longer than steel burrs. Professionals recommend replacing your coffee grinder after every 500 lbs to 750lbs of grinding.
How many coffee beans to put in grinder
The general rule of thumb is to use 2 tablespoons of coffee beans for every 6 ounces. It obviously still depends on the size of the coffee grinder and how much coffee grounds you intend to use.
How often should I clean my coffee grinder?
You should clean your coffee grinder after every month or 2 of use. However, if you use it very frequently then maybe even once every 2 weeks. The reason for cleaning your coffee grinder is because coffee degrades over time and can form a moldy crust if not cleaned.
Can a coffee grinder grind spices?
Yes, a coffee grinder can grind spices. If you are going to use a burr coffee grinder then you will need to use the grinder for spices ONLY. If you interchange between grinding coffee and spice then your coffee is going to taste like spices and your spices will taste like coffee.
However, if you are going to use a blade grinder then this will work ideally for both coffee and spice. You can interchange between the two much more easily than a coffee burr grinder as the blades are easier to clean.
Is a coffee grinder the same as a spice grinder?
A blade grinder can be considered both a coffee grinder and a spice grinder. Coffee burr grinders on the other hand are ideal for coffee but can be used for spices. This will just be a very expensive spice grinder.
The Verdict
Whether or not you have read this review, here is our verdict on which coffee grinder is the best overall.
The Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder is the best coffee grinder for French Press overall that is backed by many of its consumers.
If you feel that this coffee grinder isn’t best suited for your home then I’m sure one of the other coffee grinders will be!