12 Best Manual Coffee Grinders – Reviews + Buying Guide
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There is nothing as magical as the aroma and flavor of hand-ground coffee beans. Electric grinders may work quickly and extremely well, but they cannot produce uniform-sized coffee grounds that are essential for a flavorful brew. If you have a refined coffee palate and cannot compromise with the taste, you need a manual coffee grinder, also known as a coffee mill. If you are looking to invest in one, look no further. We have all the best ones listed for you. Check them out!
In This Article
12 Top Manual Coffee Grinders
1. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder is great for those who are looking for something simple and inexpensive to use occasionally. It is slender, compact, and affordable. This lightweight grinder is perfect for those who want fuss-free, functional, and affordable quality grinds. The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder has a stainless steel body and ceramic conical burr. It has a detachable hand crank and a dual plate system that makes it more stable while grinding coffee in it. It has an adjustable knob set underneath the burr. You can use the click system to adjust your grind settings.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.8 x 7.5 inches
- Weight: 0.587 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 40 g
- Material: Ceramic conical burr and brushed stainless steel
- Number Of Grind Settings: 18
- Reasonably priced
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Not durable
- Complicated grind settings
2. VEVOK CHEF Manual Burr Coffee Grinder
The Vevok Chef manual coffee grinder is made of plastic and stainless steel. It has stainless steel burrs and a built-in five-axis numerically controlled grinding core. It needs about 45 seconds for a one-time grind. The coffee burr grinder has six levels to adjust between coarse and fine grind. The hand crank is easy to remove. You can conveniently put the manual grinder burr in your bag for travel purposes.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 2.04 x 2.04 x 7.5 inches
- Weight: 1.79 pounds
- Grinder capacity: 20 g
- Material: Stainless steel
- Number Of Grind Settings: 6
- Lightweight
- Replacement parts easily available
- Travel-friendly
- Fragile interior
3. KONA Manual Coffee Grinder
The KONA Manual Coffee grinder makes just enough ground coffee for two people at one go. It is easy to clean, portable, and has a convenient to use adjustable ceramic burr grinder with 18 settings. It has a detachable manual crank handle and is easy to store. You can now enjoy pour-over, espresso, or French press coffee whenever and wherever you want. It can also be used to grind spices, but make sure you do not use the same one though – no one likes red chili coffee!
Specifications
Dimensions: 3.4 x 3.3 x 7.5 inches
Weight: 0.5 pounds
Grinder capacity: 50 g
Material: Glass and ceramic burr
Number Of Grind Settings: 18
- Portable
- Easy to clean
- Reasonably priced
- Not durable
4. Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder
The Porlex Mini Stainless Steel coffee grinder is made in Osaka, Japan. It is perfect for minimalists and travelers as it weighs only 0.5 pounds. Its stainless steel body makes it super easy to clean and durable. It has 13 settings that help you to grind coarse, fine, or in between coffee. The Porlex has a tiny set of ceramic burrs. They produce a pretty consistent grind when set at the medium-fine setting.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 6 x 2.3 x 1.8 inches
- Weight: 0.5 pounds
- Grinder capacity: 20 g
- Material: Stainless steel and ceramic conical burrs
- Number Of Grind Settings: 13
- Easy to clean
- Versatile
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Small capacity
5. AVNICUD Manual Coffee Grinder
The AVNICUD manual coffee grinder comes with not just one but two 0.34-pound clear glass jars. Its detachable manual crank handle makes it perfect for compact storage and packing. The ceramic conical burr prevents overheating of the coffee beans while grinding, maintaining the coffee’s original aroma for better flavor. Its adjustable control gives you fine or coarse coffee powder as per your liking. It is easy to clean, and all parts of the grinder are washable – the removable handle and lid, the coffee mill, and the clear glass jars.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.26 x 4.1 inches
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 0.132 pounds
- Material: Stainless steel, ceramic, acrylic, glass
- Number Of Grind Settings: 15
- Easy to clean
- Includes an extra glass jar
- Burrs may abrade with time.
6. ElephantNum TIMEMORE Chestnut Manual Coffee Grinder
This classy looking manual coffee grinder from ElephantNum TIMEMORE Chestnut has a built-in five-axis numerically controlled steel grinding core. It makes the ground particles more uniform. It has a three-dimensional grid design with a non-slip grip, making it comfortable to hold. The adjustable conical burr coffee grinder gives you the desired ground size, from extra fine to extra coarse. The burrs are made of space aluminum and baby-safe resin materials. This coffee grinder is rust-proof, durable, lightweight, and portable. It comes with a carry bag as well!
Specifications
- Dimensions: 8.74 x 5.63 x 3.43 inches
- Weight: 0.95 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 25 g
- Material: Space aluminum, stainless steel, and PC
- Number Of Grind Settings: 36
- Great quality for the price
- Durable
- Includes a carry bag
- Small size
7. LHS Manual Coffee Grinder
The LHS Manual Coffee Grinder is made of stainless steel and ceramic burrs. It has a super portable design – you can carry it anywhere! The ceramic burr does not produce excessive friction heat, maintaining the flavor of the coffee. It features four adjustable levels and has a knob in the middle to change the grind settings. It is easy to disassemble, fill, reassemble, and clean.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.5 x 3.2 inches
- Weight: 0.95 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 40 g (approximately)
- Material: Ceramic burr and stainless steel
- Number Of Grind Settings: 4
- Great looking
- Easy to clean
- Consistent grind
- Not durable
- Takes time to grind
8. TRIPLE TREE Manual Coffee Grinder
The TRIPLE TREE Manual Coffee Grinder has a stainless steel handle that makes grinding coffee beans super easy. Its ceramic burr will not heat the beans during grinding, preserving the aroma of the coffee. It has a silicone lid, which is soft and makes adding beans very convenient. This coffee mill is super easy to wash and clean. It is easily adjustable – you can get fine or coarse coffee as per your liking. The coffee grinder can be disassembled into parts, and all the parts are washable. It has two glass jars, which are convenient to keep beans or powders while traveling.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 5.5 inches
- Weight: 2.35 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 170 g
- Material: Ceramic burr, silicone, glass, and stainless steel
- Number Of Grind Settings: 8
- Anti-slipping silicone pad
- Easy to clean
- Comes with two glass jars
- Lightweight
- Loose handle attachment
9. Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill
The Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill is great for grinding coffee beans for more than three people. It is a super lightweight grinder with a slip-free rubber base and is easy to use and clean. This coffee mill has large storage capacity and ceramic burrs for precise grinding. It is easy to disassemble and reassemble. Its hopper can easily attach to a mason jar.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 4 x 7 x 3 inches
- Weight: 0.66 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 24 g
- Material: Glass and ceramic burr
- Number Of Grind Settings: 16
- Slip-free rubber base
- Easy to clean
- Durable hexagonal adapter
- Easy to disassemble and assemble
- Requires elbow grease to grind
- Heavy
- Not travel-friendly
10. Henry Charles Manual Coffee Grinder
This beautiful coffee grinder by Oliver James is not just elegant and stylish but also built to last. It has a built-in adjustable grind selector that enables you to adjust between fine, medium, or thick coarseness. It is compact and portable, making it ideal for travel. It comes with a cute bag. This grinder has high-quality ceramic burrs that make grinding coffee beans a breeze.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 8.9 x 2.44 x 2.36 inches
- Weight: 0.61 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 56.7 g
- Material: Stainless steel and ceramic
- Comes with a travel pouch
- Easy to clean
- Easy to assemble and disassemble
- Sturdy
- Handle does not fit
11. DDSKY Manual Coffee Grinder
This manual coffee grinder from DDSKY is a collector’s item. In addition to grinding coffee beans, it can also grind nuts, spices, and herbs. Its antique design makes it unique. The rubber base prevents the grinder from shifting when placed on the counter. It has three adjustable modes for coarse, medium, and fine grind. You can rotate it upward or downward. It is easy to operate – simply put the coffee beans in the bowl of the coffee grinder, and then turn the handle several times. The ground coffee then collects in the drawer.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 4.33 x 4.33 x 7.09 inches
- Weight: 0.85 pounds
- Grinder Capacity: 21 g (approximately)
- Material: Wood and metal
- Number Of Grind Settings: 3
- Unique design
- Can grind nuts and spices
- Not easy to use
- Not easy to clean
12. Hithens Manual Coffee Grinder
This manual coffee grinder from Hithens is made of iron and high-quality ceramic. The ceramic container is a little heavy but is comfortable to use. The container can be sealed, so you can also store coffee powder. This grinder has a mechanism that is easily adjusted to change the coarseness of the coffee beans. This hand coffee grinder has an iron grinding core.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 4 inches
- Weight: 1.23 pounds
- Material: Ceramic and iron
- Adjustable grind settings
- Great design
- Can be used to store beans
- Heavy
These are our top choices for manual coffee grinders. Before you pick any of them, here are a few things to help you take the right decision.
Things To Look For In A Manual Coffee Hand Grinder – Buying Guide
When buying a manual coffee grinder, keep the following pointers in mind:
- Portability: Opt for something small and portable if you want to carry the grinder around when going on trips.
- Espresso Or Filter: Most manual grinders are suitable for one of these, but there are a few of them that work well for both styles of coffee. Get your hands on a versatile one.
- Capacity: Portable and compact coffee grinders have limited space for coffee beans – not much you can grind in one go. If you are looking to serve coffee to more than two people, go for a bigger model with more capacity.
- Number Of Grind Settings: Check how many grind settings the coffee grinder has. Is it easy to adjust? Always buy a grinder that grinds to different textures to make the best coffee.
- Longevity: Unlike electric grinders, manual grinders hardly ever come with warranties. You should not get something that you would use a couple of times before it completely stops working. Well-made products often come with lifetime or long-term warranty. However, the longevity of the product also depends on how you maintain it.
- Handle Length: The handle is one of the most important parts of a hand grinder. If it is too short, you will have to spend a lot more time and energy grinding the same amount of coffee beans. If it is too long, you will have storage and balance issues – the grinder will become top-heavy and topple when placed on the counter.
- Ceramic Or Steel Burrs: The burrs are one of the most important parts of a grinder. All manual grinders have conical burrs made of either ceramic or steel. Steel is way sharper and better than ceramic ones. If it fits into your budget, get a grinder with steel burrs even if it is more expensive.
- Material: You have two options – steel or ceramic. Consider getting stainless steel burrs if you are taking the grinder on trips as they are way more durable and easy to clean. Ceramic burrs are cheaper and work fine if you plan to use your grinder at home.
- Easy To Clean: Make sure the grinder parts are easy to detach and assemble – this will make it easy to clean. The taste of the grind is totally affected by how well you clean your grinder.
- Budget: Nowadays, hand grinders are available at all prices. Remember – you get what you pay for. If you go for a super cheap one, you may end up spending all your time grinding coffee beans. Consider your requirements and invest accordingly.
Other than these, here are a few more factors that you should consider before buying a coffee grinder.
Automatic Grinders Vs. Manual Grinders
When it comes to simplicity, portability, and affordability, manual coffee grinders are way better than electric ones. Manual coffee grinders are extremely easy to use. Although you may need to put in some effort, the process of grinding your coffee is quite satisfying and easy. Therefore, if you are not grinding coffee for many people, it is way better to get a hand grinder.
Conical Vs. Flat Burr Grinders
Conical burrs contain a cone-shaped ring that is placed inside another cone-shaped ring that is hollow. The coffee beans slide down through the burrs at a slight angle. Flat burr grinders, on the other hand, contain two rings of burrs that sit horizontal to the surface. One is set facing upwards while the other is placed facing downwards.
According to coffee lovers, the grinder is more important than the coffee maker. While it may sound a bit dramatic, it is true. Manual coffee grinders are absolutely awesome for solo coffee drinkers and are so much more affordable than their electric counterparts. Get yourself one of these amazing coffee grinders and enjoy your fresh morning cuppa every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grind coffee beans manually?
Generally, a manual coffee grinder takes around one minute to grind enough coffee for a large cup. The cheaper models with ceramic burrs take about 2-3 minutes to grind two scoops of coffee.
Does a finer grind make stronger coffee?
Finer grounds don’t make the coffee stronger. However, they do brew way faster than coarser grinds. Coarser grinds are better suited for long steeps.
Should you refrigerate whole coffee beans?
If you use the whole beans within 7-10 days, you need not refrigerate it. You should ideally store them in an airtight container in a dark place.
Do different coffee beans grind differently?
Yes, they may. Natural coffee beans grind differently compared to wet-processed ones. Also, new crop coffee will give finer grounds than beans from the older crop. The cell structure of the beans is responsible for this.
How long do coffee beans stay fresh after grinding?
Coffee beans stay fresh for a maximum of 1-2 weeks after grinding. However, this does not mean the coffee grind has gone bad. As long as the unused coffee grind stays dry, it can be used for a long time.
Can you brew coffee beans without grinding them?
Yes, absolutely! Grinders do not affect the taste or flavor of the coffee. They simply grind the roasted pods into smaller particles to help them brew quickly
