Best Coffee Grinders For French Press
- Best Overall: Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder
- Best Alternative: Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Best Value for Money: Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
- Best Portable: JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
- Best Easy-to-use: Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Best Quantity Control: Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Mill
- Best Large Capacity: Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder
- Best Durability: 1Zpresso Q Manual Coffee Grinder
People all over the world are looking for a coffee grinder that can grind their beans just right.
We’ve all had it happen – you’re in the middle of making your morning cup of joe and suddenly realize that you don’t have enough grounds to finish. Or worse yet, they aren’t ground finely enough! You end up with either weak coffee or too many floating around.
We’ve done our research on this topic, and we’re here to help! We compared a lot of products in this category to show our readers which ones are worth buying.
Our top picks offer great value, high-quality performance, easy operation, durable construction, versatility, and more.
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Customer Reviews
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Testing Hours
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Products Reviewed
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Sources Researched
- Best Coffee Grinders For French Press
- 8 of the Best Coffee Grinder for French Press
- 1. Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder
- 2. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- 3. Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
- 4. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
- 5. Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- 6. Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Mill
- 7. Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder
- 8. 1Zpresso Q Manual Coffee Grinder
- Various Forms of Grinders
- Types of Coffee Grinders
- What to Look for When Buying the Best Coffee Grinder
- Most Commonly Asked Questions
- Conclusion
8 of the Best Coffee Grinder for French Press
1. Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder
Best for Overall
- Stainless Steel
- 60 Grind Settings
- Precision Electronic Timer
- 18 Ounce Coffee Bean Capacity
- Dosing IQ
- LCD Display
- Static-control system to cut cling and mess
- Removable hopper & grind bin for easy cleaning
The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder takes pride in its 60 precise grind settings.
It also has a Precision Electronic Timer that enables users to adjust how long it takes to grind their coffee beans in 0.2-second increments.
The smart grinder does not limit you to a specific type of coffee. Instead, it gives you the option to pick between ‘cups’ or ‘shots’ depending on what kind of brew you prefer for the day.
It also has an 18 Ounce Coffee Bean Capacity and an efficient locking system to conveniently transfer, store, or remove the bean hopper whenever needed.
The Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder is so versatile that you can grind your beans into a grinding container, a filter basket, a paper filter, or even directly into the portafilter.
Lastly, it has an LCD that shows your current grind setting, grind time, and cup or shot quantity it is currently making.
2. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Best Alternative
- 40 Grind settings
- User-friendly controls
- Full grounds bin indication
- Fit up to 8 ounces of whole beans
- Replaceable parts
- Low static catch bin
- Straight-through grind path for easy cleanup
The Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder has been one of the most well-loved grinders by coffee enthusiasts for almost a decade.
With its grind consistency and reliability at an affordable cost, this is an all-purpose coffee grinder that can help you make your favorite home espresso, drip, or French Press coffee perfectly.
It has two power options: one on the side for continuous grind and another on the front for a quick grind burst – just in case you want to make it a little finer.
It’s also small enough to fit in your kitchen cabinet, and yet it could fit in 8 ounces of whole beans at a time. It also has a full bin indicator, which alerts every time the bin needs emptying.
Lastly, it also has 40 grind settings to choose from. Whether coarse or fine grind, now you’ll be able to try all the popular brews in the very comfort of your home!
3. Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
Best Value for Money
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The Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder has removable coffee containers and upper burrs for easy cleaning.
It has a safety lock mechanism, ensuring that the grinder only operates when the coffee bean container is installed correctly.
It also has a gear reduction motor to ensure your coffee still has its original flavor after grinding.
Moreover, it has 16 grind settings and can hold up to 8.8 ounces of coffee beans and four ounces of ground coffee – just enough cups for you to enjoy for the day.
4. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
Best for Traveling
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The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder is a stainless steel coffee grinder equipped with 18 different grind settings.
It boasts of its professional-grade ceramic burr which produces a highly consistent grind of your coffee beans, whether you prefer coarse, medium, or fine.
It being manual means it does not require any power source. It’s comparably quieter than that of an electric coffee grinder.
It’s also portable enough for you to have your favorite cup of coffee whenever, wherever!
Not only is it portable and convenient to use, but the JavaPresse Coffee Company also ensures that their coffee grinder is durable enough to last.
Their ceramic coffee burr grinder was tested using three quality inspections and designed to last up to five times longer than other coffee burrs in the market. Add that to its stainless steel body, and you’d find yourself one of the best must-haves for a traveling coffee-lover!
5. Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Best Easy-to-Use
- Digital timer
- Backlit grounds bin
- 40 Grind Settings
- Replaceable parts
- Straight-through grind path
- Quiet DC motor
A more advanced conical burr grinder from Baratza is the Virtuoso+.
Its most distinguishing feature is the presence of a digital timer and a LED backlight for the grounds bin. You can set the digital timer to a tenth of a second, whereas the LED backlight will aid you to see if the grounds bin needs emptying.
It also has 40 grind settings to choose from, making it easier to make any popular brew methods like espresso and French press.
In addition, the Baratza Virtuouso+ has replaceable parts and is compact enough to fit in any part of your kitchen!
6. Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Mill
Best Quantity Control
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The Secura Electric Burr Coffee Grinder Mill gives you 17 grind settings for making your preferred brew.
Moreover, its quantity control dial can be set between 2 to 12 cups of ground coffee, ensuring that you’ll be able to make exact amounts of fresh coffee at a time.
It has non-slip tabs and is strategically designed to be compact, making it an easy fit on your kitchen corner or in your luggage.
Lastly, it is designed with a see-through lid so you can quickly check if you need to refill your coffee beans or if the hopper is full.
7. Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder
Best Large Capacity
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The Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder is made with alloy steel conical burr providing you with uniform grinding in any grind settings you choose.
It boasts of its large capacity bean hopper and ground container as it can make up to 32 cups of flavorful coffee at a time.
Its gear reduction motor ensures that no heat or friction will affect the original taste of your coffee beans. It is also designed to ensure that grinding coffee beans wouldn’t be messy. Instead, it goes straight to the ground bin.
With a detachable top burr and grinding chamber, and an embedded cleaning brush, the Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder made cleaning effortless.
It is also easy to use; by just rotating the grinder knob, you’d be able to pick between 10 grind settings ranging from coarse to extra fine.
Moreover, it has a portafilter bracket, making it easier for espresso lovers!
8. 1Zpresso Q Manual Coffee Grinder
Best Durability
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This slim grinder solves two big pain points: bulk and inconsistency. Weighing less than a soda can, it stows in your bag or kitchen drawer—and its foldable handle tucks away for travel.
The dual-bearing, triaxial structure holds the burr rock-steady, while 30 clicks per turn let you dial in anything from French press to pour-over. Cleanup takes barely a minute—just unscrew the body, rinse, and you’re ready to go again.
Built to last through hundreds of pounds of beans and backed by a one-year warranty, the 1Zpresso Q could be the reliable companion you need for perfectly even grinds on the road or at home.
Various Forms of Grinders
Blade Grinders
Blade grinders are the cheapest, most affordable coffee grinders. They’re also the easiest to use and clean. However, blade grinders don’t work as quickly as other options. Also, they can produce some pretty inconsistent results (small pieces and dust).
Also, blade grinders create a lot of heat because the blade is spinning very fast and can burn the coffee during grinding. As a result, blade grinders need to be cooled down after use, which is not very practical for those who don’t have a lot of time to stand around and wait.
Disc and Conical Burr Grinders
These are the most common types on the market – disc grinders and conical burr. Disc grinders are usually best for drip or press pot coffee, while conical burr grinders are better for French press, espresso, and other “drip style” coffees.
Disc grinders use two spinning discs with cutting edges that spin at different speeds to pulverize the coffee beans. These disc grinders are great because they’re faster and more consistent than blade grinders. They can be adjusted to produce different levels of coarseness within seconds. This is good for those who like their coffee on the lighter side.
Conical burr grinders use a spinning disc with cutting edges that spin at the same speed as a conical disc with serrated edges. The advantage to this design is excellent grinding – so you can expect your coffee to be much more refined than disc grinders.
Types of Coffee Grinders
Manual Grinders
Manual grinders are the most popular for making French press coffee. They take a little bit of elbow grease, but you’ll be able to produce the finest grounds your beans have ever seen!
You won’t need electricity or batteries to operate these either, so they’re perfect for camping trips and power outages. Note that manual grinders are the most affordable option and allow for more precise grinding, but they’re very slow and awkward to use.
Electric Grinders
We recommend electric coffee grinders for anyone who uses a French press more than once a day. They’re speedy and easy to use, so you won’t have to worry about messing up your coffee – ever.
Just plug the grinder in, add your coffee and press a button to get quick and even results. Most electric grinders come with multiple settings for coarseness. They also last a long time with proper care, so they’re definitely worth the price.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Coffee Grinder
Grind Consistency
The grind consistency is essential for French press coffee. A grind that’s too fine will cause the water and grounds to stay in contact longer than necessary, resulting in a bitter taste. On the other hand, overly coarse grinds will not extract properly and give you very weak coffee.
To get consistent grinds, consider getting a conical burr grinder because it provides an even grind by using flat grinds and grind adjustments.
Static
If you usually brew small batches, look for a grinder with static features so you can get static-free grounds every time.
Some grinders come with little “teeth” to help with static, too, so take a closer look at those models before purchasing one.
Easy Cleaning
If easy cleaning is a big concern for you, consider getting an electric grinder that uses stainless steel blades.
These are easy to clean because they’re mostly made of metal, which doesn’t retain grounds like plastic can.
However, keep in mind that these grinders are more expensive than the other options on the market.
If easy cleaning isn’t that big of a deal, then you might want to go for a blade grinder. These are great because they’re inexpensive and easy to use – perfect for anyone who doesn’t own a coffee grinder yet.
However, their downfall is that there’s no consistency (the grinds can be coarse or fine), and easy cleaning is out of the question.
Adjustability
If you want adjustability, then check out conical burr grinders. These are perfect for the French press because they can be adjusted to create coarser or finer results within seconds.
French press grinders need to grind beans finely enough so that the moment they come in contact with hot water; they immediately turn into coffee grounds instead of staying intact, which weakens the flavor.
The adjustability of the grinder can adjust from fine to coarse. If the adjustability does not exist, you should find another grinder as it will produce undesirable grounds that do not extract properly. This results in some bad-tasting coffee.
The best grinders for French press coffee should be able to grind your beans to the consistency of kosher salt. Some people even prefer sand-like grounds because it allows them to use less coffee per unit of water to save money in the long run.
Manual grinders will vibrate when in use, so look for one with a rubber base to eliminate noise and vibrations from being transferred up to the coffee beans.
Stainless Steel vs. Ceramic Burrs
Stainless steel is great because it won’t rust, but ceramic can help you achieve more consistent grinds. Ceramic burrs provide more even results than stainless steel or other materials, so your coffee tastes better, and that makes everyone happy.
It’s not hard to find a grinder that can get the job done. But we suggest choosing stainless steel because it won’t rust. However, ceramic burrs provide more consistency than stainless steel.
Flat vs. Conical Burrs
Flat burrs grind through flat surfaces, while conical burrs grind using cones.
The flat burrs create a lot of heat while grinding the beans, affecting the taste, but flat burrs are cheaper and more durable.
However, flat burrs don’t deliver the consistent grind that conical burrs do, so they’re not as reliable for producing consistent results.
Conical burrs cost a bit more money but are more consistent than flat burr grinders.
Price
There are a few price categories for coffee grinders: expensive, affordable, and cheap.
Expensive models have the most features and usually provide better results in terms of flavor, but these aren’t necessary for a great cup of French press coffee. There’s no need to pay extra if you’re going to be grinding just one cup at a time, so the price shouldn’t be a big deal for most people.
Most grinders range from $20 to $400, with the most common price being between $100 and $200, which is an excellent price range that can accommodate most budgets.
If price is a huge factor, go for one of these inexpensive manual models because they’re available for under $20, although they won’t provide consistent results.
Most Commonly Asked Questions
What about pre-ground coffee?
Pre-ground coffee is not ideal for the French press because it loses its flavor and doesn’t extract properly. Grinding beans yourself just before you brew will ensure you can enjoy the most flavorful cup without fail.
Which coffee grinder is best for French press?
If you have a small budget and want the best French press coffee grinder, check out the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder.
It’s very affordable, durable, easy to clean, and most importantly, it provides even results that lead to great-tasting coffee. It features sharpened stainless steel blades for consistent grinds and an adjustable knob so you can change coarseness as necessary.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more money for a premium option, then I’d recommend checking out the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro.
Does grinder matter for the French press?
A grinder is essential for the French press because you want your coffee grounds to be consistent in size so they can evenly extract flavor. You don’t want any large or small chunks of grounds that won’t properly steep. This will result in some bad-tasting coffee.
How should I grind my beans for the French press?
You should grind your beans for French press coarsely because you don’t want them to be too fine, or else they’ll fall through the filter.
Can you use regular grind coffee in a French press?
No, you should always use coarsely ground coffee for French press because it won’t pass through the filter, and you don’t want fine grounds.
Conclusion
Grind your beans yourself just before you brew for the best cup of French press coffee!
Want to have your fresh brew while camping? I suggest having manual grinders like the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder or the 1Zpresso Q2 Manual Coffee Grinder handy for your next outdoor trip.
If you want to have a multi-function grinder that produces excellent results, then I’d recommend checking out the Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder – it has all sorts of great features that make grinding beans easy and convenient (and consistent).
If you think you might go over-budget with a Breville Smart Grinder, the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder produces outstanding results for half the price!
Have a great coffee experience!
