coffee grinder
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The best coffee grinder
By Liz Clayton This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full mirrorless camera for beginners guide here. After over 70 hours of research and hands-on grinding since 2015, we think the uber-consistent, no-frills Baratza Encore is the best grinder for most people. At a practical price, it reliably delivers the high-quality grind needed to make a great cup of drip or French press coffee. The Baratza Encore grinds coffee more evenly than almost any other machine we tested on a wide range of settings. It's a reliable, straightforward tool—there's almost no learning curve—that takes up only a modest square of counter space. It's also super easy to clean and maintain, meaning it'll be an investment you can rely on morning after morning. While it can't produce a fine enough grind for serious espresso enthusiasts, its output is consistent enough for a serviceable shot and should satisfy anyone's filter coffee needs. The Baratza Virtuoso is a great grinder with a speedy, durable burr set and consistent grinding performance. It looks and feels solid, and unlike the Encore, it has a timer switch that makes it easy to grind the exact same amount of coffee each time you brew. It also has a sturdier base than the Encore, which helps keep burrs from vibrating out of calibration, making it more convenient for those who drink a lot of coffee and still demand consistent results. But though the Virtuoso grinds a little faster, its grind is not significantly better than the Encore's—you're paying for incremental improvements. Though it isn't cheap, the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder is the best grinder we've found in its price range. So long as you mainly drink drip or French press coffee, the OXO's relatively even grind, wide range of settings, and ease of use make it a good alternative if you can't afford the Baratza Encore, which still offers a more consistent, versatile grind. It's also got some nice features, like a mechanism to reduce static when grinding and a hopper you can remove to change out beans easily—something we still wish Baratza offered. While we stress that hand grinders should be recognized for what they are—good machines to use when electricity is not available rather than cheaper alternatives to electric burr grinders—the Porlex was easily our favorite. Its grinding action is smooth and easy on the hand and wrist, and the grinder itself is durable and compact—it even stows away in the cylinder of an AeroPress if you are traveling. But remember, hand grinders can only make enough grounds for a cup or two of coffee at a time, and that can take 5-10 minutes of manual labor.
