Electric coffee grinders test 2023

Grinder: 40 mm steel cone grinder | Grinding degree: 34 | Volume: medium

The grinding result is solid to good and the small number of grinds is usually sufficient for home use. We recommend the grinder for filter coffee drinkers and stovetop pot users. Grinding espresso is not recommended, as the grinder cannot be adjusted finely enough. We were very happy with the grind settings in the medium grind range. The finer we ground, the more homogeneous the grind became. At coarser grind settings, especially for French Press preparation, the result became very uneven. We would advise against using the last two grind settings. The beans are only coarsely chopped here.
The grinder is very easy and intuitive to operate. The grind is adjusted by turning the bean hopper. A little highlight: There are markings for different preparation methods on the bean hopper, which allowed us to quickly find the right grind for our different preparation methods. In addition, the grinder has a timer function that can be used to set a grinding time of up to a maximum of 30 seconds. Overall, the grinder is well-made and looks very modern. At first glance, the Wilfa Svart cannot be clearly identified as a coffee grinder. In terms of noise, the grinder is in the middle of the tested grinders. The grinder is easy to keep clean with a brush and cloth. Deep cleaning is more difficult because the Wilfa Smart Nymalt grinder is not easy to disassemble.

• einfache und intuitive Bedienung
• inklusive Timer Funktion
• kompaktes und modernes Design

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Grinder: steel disc grinder | Grinding degrees: 60 | Volume: loud

In terms of grind quality, the EKM 200 cannot compete with the Baratza Encore or the Wilfa Svart, but the Rommelsbacher performs better than the competition in its price segment in our test. It offers over 60 different grind settings. The coffee grinder delivers good results at medium to coarser grinds, as required for filter coffee preparation. However, the grinder reaches its limits with finer grinds, and the amount of fines increases significantly compared to the Baratza Encore. The biggest plus point of the Rommelsbacher is its steel disc grinder. This is extremely rare to find in this price range. Compared to high-quality grinders, however, some compromises have to be made, because not all disc grinders are the same. In general, grinders should be of a certain size to guarantee an even and aroma-friendly grinding process. The grinder of the EKM 200 is quite small. Due to the rather small size of the grinding discs, the Rommelsbacher needs a relatively long time for each grinding process and, as also stated in the manual, it first has to cool down after larger amounts of coffee. If the grind is accidentally changed when the machine is turned off, the grinder gets jammed relatively easily and then has to be opened and cleaned.
Since the Rommelsbacher is mostly made of plastic, the grinding material easily gets electrostatically charged during the grinding process and sticks to the grinding material container or other places. In addition, there is always a small amount of ground coffee in the dead space of the grinder, between the grinder and the ejector, which only ends up in the container after the next grinding cycle. The timer can produce coffee grounds for 2 – 12 cups of coffee. Despite certain drawbacks, the Rommelsbacher is a good choice for all newcomers to the world of freshly ground coffee and for those who only prepare a fresh coffee once in a while. The grinder scores with its intuitive usability, which includes all the basics. Those who brew coffee daily, and in larger quantities, should look for a grinder with a stronger and larger grinder like the Baratza Encore.

Tip for improving the grind: Simply wipe away fine dust and coffee bean skin that gets stuck on the edge of the container and thus separate it from the rest of the good grind in the container.

• simple and intuitive operation
• timer function included
• compact and modern design

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Grinder: stainless steel cone grinder | Grinding degrees: 60 | Volume: relatively loud

The Sage the Dose ControlTM Pro offers a wide range of 60 grinds and a high level of operating convenience. The grinder also scores with an excellent grinding result for espresso. Although grinds for the French Press are also achieved, we recommend this grinder primarily to espresso enthusiasts, because the homogeneity of the grind decreases more and more the coarser you set the grinder. A big plus of the mill is the easy adjustment of the grinder. To achieve even coarser or even finer grinds, the upper part of the grinder can be removed and adjusted finer or coarser as needed. The grinder offers a grind-by-time function that allows the grinding process to be timed between 0 – 50 sec. Alternatively, the grinding process can be started manually by pressing a button. Almost all parts of the grinder are made of plastic, which doesn’t make it seem too high-end. The bean hopper has a locking system that is accessible from the top and can be easily removed to change the coffee beans. The rubber rim of the lid has two advantages: it protects the coffee beans from oxygen for longer freshness and significantly reduces the noise during grinding. The fact that this grinder is primarily intended for making espresso is also evident from the accessories available: two portafilter holders in different sizes, a razor for removing excess coffee grounds in the portafilter (hidden in the base of the grinder), and no included drip tray. We recommend this grinder to anyone looking for an espresso grinder that can also manage medium to coarse grinds for making filter coffee.

• wide range of 60 grinds
• timer function included
• especially suitable for the preparation of espresso

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Grinder: 58 mm stainless steel disc grinder | Grinding degree: 41 | Volume: quiet

With the Wilfa Uniform you can grind coffee without waking up your neighbors. It comes off as the quietest grinder in our test. The Wilfa Uniform is suitable for grinding filter coffee as well as espresso. The Wilfa is solidly built and a real eye-catcher. It fits well in any kitchen due to its simple shape. We tested the Wilfa in silver, which comes without a built-in fine scale compared to the black variant, so we can’t make a statement about its function. Similar to the Ode Brew, the bean hopper only holds 75 grams and is thus exclusively intended for single dosing. The grinding process is started and stopped with just one button. The grinder grinds quite slowly, which proves to be an advantage here, though, because the Wilfa thus produces a very homogeneous grind.

• very homogeneous grist
• the quietest mill in the test
• stays clean and can be easily disassembled for deep cleaning
• small bean hopper for single dosing

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Grinder: 64 mm stainless steel disc grinder | Grinding degrees: 31 | Volume: medium

The first coffee grinder from Fellow was already joyfully awaited by the coffee scene. It is strikingly small and impresses with its modern design in matte black. A large bean hopper was completely omitted, the existing flat insert holds only 80 g of beans and is intended for single dosing. The grinder can be operated intuitively. The large dial on the front sets the grind level, and a small button on the base plate starts and stops the grinding process. There is a beeping sound during this process, which seems a bit unnecessary, but otherwise does not bother much. According to the manufacturer, the grinder stops the grinding process automatically, but in our experience, the grinder sometimes takes a bit longer to realize that all the beans have been ground. The grinder was designed solely for all types of filter coffee preparation and is not suitable for grinding espresso powder. We would have liked the grinder to be able to grind a bit finer in order to also grind coffee for the espresso maker, but that is only a minor drawback. Those who only need their grinder for filter coffee preparation methods will get along wonderfully with the Ode Brew. Of all the grinders tested, the Ode Brew is the only one with a knock-off lever – a professional feature rarely found on grinders for home use. The grinder is very fast, but the grind is not as homogeneous as that of the Eureka Filtro, despite the grinder’s high price. For darker roasts, this does not play a major role, but for lighter roasts, this can lead to the coffee not tasting optimally balanced. On a positive note, the grind container slides into place easily and elegantly thanks to the magnetic base, and the grinder’s good stability. A rubber ring is attached to the grind container of the mill, which unfortunately has disadvantages: If it is not perfectly in place, it prevents the container from being inserted under the ground coffee ejector. In addition, the ground coffee sticks to the ring due to the material and the electrostatic charge. Further cleaning of the grinder is straightforward. Although the Ode Brew grinder quickly gets dirty due to its design, it can be kept clean well with the included brush.

• space saving grinder in modern design
• small bean hopper for single dosing
• very fast and not too loud

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Grinder: 40 mm cone grinder | Grinding degrees: 40 | Volume: loud

The big sister of the Baratza Encore is characterized by a variety of grind options, ranging up to fine settings for espresso. The 40 grinds can be adjusted by turning the bean hopper. We are satisfied with the grinding result, but not as satisfied as with that of the Eureka Filtro or the Wilfa Uniform. The finer we grind, the better the homogeneity of the grind. The Virtouso+ is, like all mills of the Baratza family, quite noisy. The grinding process can be started and stopped using the button located on the front of the grinder. The Virtouso+ has a timer function and grinds the coffee into the grind bin with millisecond accuracy. The grinder has hardly any problems with the typical static charging of the ground coffee. Thus, the ground coffee falls into the quite large grounds container, thanks to a small dead space. The bean hopper holds 230 g of coffee beans and does not have a locking system. To change the beans, the grinder has to be turned upside down in a cumbersome way. The grinder is mostly made of plastic, but unlike its little sister, it has a slightly higher weight and thus a better stability. Daily cleaning of the mill is straightforward, and the upper part of the grinder can also be easily removed for deep cleaning.

• wide range of grinds
• large bean hopper
• very fast and not too loud

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Grinder: 40 mm stainless steel cone grinder | Grinding degrees: 279 | Volume: very loud

The mill from the house Baratza revolutionizes the mill technology. It is the first grinder in which the inner grinding ring of the grinder is fixed and the outer part rotates. The result: the ground coffee falls directly out of the grinder. Thanks to this innovation, the coffee residue in the machine (also called dead space) is very low. The grinding result is of excellent homogeneity and covers everything from espresso to finer filter grinds. Unfortunately, the grinder does not manage to cover coarser grinds as well. Therefore, the grinder does not achieve the rating as a top grinder for filter coffee. Adjusting the grind is easy via a macro and micro adjustment ring directly on the grind’s ejector. A total of 270 different settings can be made here. The control is also very simple, thanks to the clearly arranged buttons on the front and the display. Programmed grinding levels can be quickly called up by means of a timer. A special feature of the mill are the different grinding containers that come with the mill. Switching from grinding into the grounds container for filter coffee to grinding directly into the portafilter or into a filter holder is conceivably uncomplicated and practical. Overall, the Sette 270 is well made. Unfortunately, the housing is made entirely of plastic, which makes it lose some of its high-quality look and feel. If you are looking for a grinder for filter coffee makers with rather fine grinds that also covers the espresso range and also combines innovative technology with novel design, you will find a fantastic grinder in the Sette 270.

• precise coffee grinder with homogeneous grinding result
• timer function with 3 programmings
• very fast thanks to new grinding technology
• not suitable for French Press

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Grinder: 54 mm steel disc mill | Grinding degrees: 260 | Volume: relatively loud

With the Baratza Forté BG, Baratza launches an all-rounder that leaves nothing to be desired. The grinder convinces with very good grinding results in filter coffee and espresso, intuitive operation, and a solid and high-quality casing. Only the design seems a bit clunky and remains a matter of taste. Macro and micro levels can be set via two controls, so you can choose between 260 different grinds. The fine gradation options allow you to achieve almost any desired grind. We are very pleased with the grind-by-weight and grind-by-time functions. For both options, three settings each can be programmed or manually operated via the start and stop buttons. Like all grinders in the Baratza family, this grinder is one of the slightly noisier ones. For cleaning, all surfaces are easily accessible with a brush and cloth. The manufacturer includes all the necessary parts to get to the inside of the mill for maintenance and calibration. We are absolutely convinced by the Baratza Forté BG and even recommend it for demanding operation in the office or for occasional use in the gastronomy sector when cleaned regularly.

• precise coffee grinder with homogeneous grinding result
• grind-by-weight and grind-by-time function
• wide range of grinding degrees

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We love coffee and spend all day with nothing else but our favorite beverage. In 2010 we started our journey into the world of coffee and since then we have learned a lot. From cultivation to roasting to the preparation of really good coffee, we would like to share our knowledge with you. We only recommend products that we would also recommend to our friends.

We have many of the products represented in the test in our range. Is the test still objective?

Yes, we only recommend products that we would buy ourselves. For this mill test, we tested many devices against each other. Therefore, the product tests are a good chance for us to see how well our previous selection performs against the competition. Whenever products convince us in the test, we include them in our store.

Pre-ground coffee loses aroma quickly

Coffee loses aroma within minutes of being ground. So you can imagine how this affects pre-ground coffee that you store for several weeks. To avoid this, we recommend that you buy your coffee as a whole bean and use it up within a short period of time. Before brewing, grind only as much as you need for the preparation. Thanks to your own grinder, you can adjust the grind of your coffee depending on the brewer to ensure optimal extraction.

But not all grinders are the same. There are many differences between the various grinders, such as different grinders, power and handling of the effort and maintenance requirements.

Please note: The grinders listed here cover grinds from fine to coarse and are not ideal for grinding espresso beans. Espresso machines require particularly fine powder and a much finer gradation between grinds. For espresso fans, we have therefore put espresso grinders through their paces in a separate test.

To the espresso grinder test ›

The coffee beans are crushed by a rotating rotary blade, similar to a blender. Accordingly, some beans are barely crushed, while others are already fine as dust. This leads to uneven extraction of the coffee during brewing. As a result, your coffee may taste unbalanced and usually sour or bitter. Impact grinders are therefore hardly ever used in modern coffee grinders. We also advise against buying such a grinder.

In grinders with a cone grinder, the coffee beans are ground between the inner cone and the outer wall. The distance between the cone and the ring surrounding it decreases towards the bottom, so that the beans are gradually ground finer and finer until they fit between the grinding cones and the grinding ring. The degree of grinding can be changed by the distance between the cone and the ring. Unlike a disc mill, the ground material is not carried to the side. Rather, it falls down and into a collecting container. For this reason, the speed of a cone grinder tends to be lower than that of a disc grinder and the coffee is ground very gently in terms of aroma.

Mills with disc grinders are currently the most commonly used. Here, the beans are ground between two concave grinding discs lying on top of each other. One of the two discs is driven by a motor and the other disc is stationary. The distance between the two discs is slightly larger on the inside than on the outside. The bean passes from the inside between the discs, is broken up here, and then transported further to the outside by centrifugal force. As the grinding discs are closer together on the outside, the bean is ground finer and finer. To adjust the degree of grinding, the distance between the discs is changed. The grinding discs are usually made of steel or ceramic and have a particularly long service life.

For a detailed test, we examined all aspects of the grinder: result of the grind, handling, processing and cleaning of the grinder, and also the taste of the finished brewed coffee. First and foremost, we focused on the quality of the grinding result. To determine this, we used a special shaker. In the shaker, different fine sieves are arranged on top of each other, which make it possible to separate coffee particles of different sizes from each other. After a few minutes of shaking, we can see how the particles are distributed among the sieves and determine the homogeneity of the ground coffee. We also compared the practical handling and cleaning of the grinders in everyday use.