There is just something special about French Press-brewed coffee, right? That aroma that teleports your to your happy place, the flavor that makes your taste buds do cartwheels, oh it's almost enough to raise those goose bumps!
But a French Press is dependent on one item to really blow your mind: best coffee grinder for French press; and a quality grinder at that. Get the grind wrong and you risk missing out on potentially the most delectable cup of joe of your life.
Well, there is only ONE problem. Finding that “Good” French press grinder isn’t an easy job. The market is chock-full of product, enough to make you dizzy with confusion.
That's why after countless hours researching online, we have shortlisted the 10 Best Coffee Grinders for French Press and what to look for when buying a new grinder.
Page Contents
Buying Guide - Nine Considerations
1. What's the Best Grind Size for French Press?
Good question. Considering the mechanism of this machine, you ought to settle for a coarse grind. This setting makes it easier for you to press down the plunger, prevents any grounds from making it into your cup of coffee, and provides just the right size to allow for perfect extraction.
If your brew turns out a bit on the weak side, it's wiser to tweak the steeping time before thinking of increasing the grind fineness.
Consistency Rules - this can't be emphasized enough!
They should program every French Press to blurt this out to you every three days. If you want to enjoy consistently amazing coffee, you need to achieve a consistent grind each time.
And this is why it’s so important to invest in a capable grinder.
The cheaper blade grinders produce irregular results, which in turn lead to different rates of extraction and culminate in a morning-ruining cup of java
To be on the safer and delicious end of things, do yourself a favor and get a burr grinder.
2. What's Your Budget?
Grinders can cost in the thousands of dollars or as little as $20. So the first step is to sit down, look at that bank account and settle on a budget you’re comfortable with.
If you’re a true coffee aficionado, if a good cup of joe means more to you than your entire extended family, then a pricier grinder that comes in tow with premium features would be more your speed.
But you ought to think of this purchase as an investment in deliciousness, and set enough change aside to get yourself a quality and durable machine.
3. What's Your Counter Size?
Grinders come in all shapes and sizes. Some are compact, some are domineeringly big. So have a look around your kitchen, determine how much counter space you have to spare, and then make your choice.
If you have a particularly large household or are buying a grinder for a restaurant, then pick one with a roomy bean hopper, capable of grinding a decent amount of beans in one go.
4. Blade vs Burr - What's Better?
Oh the coffee-lovers dilemma. Well, blade grinders may be cheaper, but they produce damaging heat and inconsistent results. Burr grinders might be a bit of a financial pinch, but the amazing results and their durability make them more than worth it in the long run.
5. Conical vs Flat Burrs - What's Better?
In your quest for the best grinder, you’ll come across those that have conical and flat burrs. The coffee world is divided among which is the best: enough to incite a little civil war even!
Conical burrs have a larger surface area while flat ones have a larger diameter. They are just about equal when it comes to shedding heat, and both produce a brilliant grind for French Press.
6. Steel vs Ceramic - What's Better?
Both of these will do a bang up job in achieving the right grind for a French Press. Ceramic tends to last twice as long as steel, but steel is much cheaper to replace just in case anything goes wrong. So it all depends on how optimistic you are!
7. What About the Motor Design?
When it comes to transmission, the low-tier grinders are normally equipped with high speed motors, mid-tier ones have high speed motors with gear reduction, while the very best come with low-speed direct drive motors. A lower grinding speed is always better but you have to be willing to pay for it.
8. Stepped vs Stepless - What's that About?
This has to do with the level of customization of grind size:
But for a French Press, either of these models is spot-on as you’re interested in a uniform, coarse grind rather than a super-fine one.
9. Doserless vs Doser - What's that About?
Doserless grinders dispense coffee grounds right into the French Press while doser models collect them in a built-in compartment.
The doserless variety may be a bit messier and require more work but reduce the chance of leaving old grinds stuck in the machine.
Doser models are the most popular however, owing to the fact that we all like making as little effort as possible. That's why god created technology!
Coffee Grinder Quick Comparison
Rank | Image | Make & Model | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 
| Breville / BCG820BSSXL |  | |
2 | 
| Cuisinart / DBM-8 |  | |
3 | 
| JavaPresse / Conical Burr |  | |
4 | 
| Capresso / 560.01 | | |
5 | 
| Hario / MSCS-2DTB |  | |
6 | 
| Porlex / Mini |  | |
7 | 
| Baratza / Virtuoso | | |
8 | 
| Rancilio / HSD-ROC-SD | | |
9 | 
| Baratza / Encore | | |
10 | 
| Krups / F203 | |
Best French Press Coffee Grinder Reviews
Surely, these grinders are not for everyone as some of theme carry a hefty price-tag. With that said, one thing can be said for sure, these coffee grinders are good enough to make it to our list of the top 10 best Coffee Grinders For French Press.
1
The Smart Grinder Pro by Breville
Highlighted Features
Priced at about $200, this is hands down one of the best value for money grinders you’ll come across. It has a very elegant appeal that will seamlessly blend into any decor and comes with a back-lit LCD screen that indicates the number of cups, grind setting and dosage; very nice touch!
See the Breville Smart Grinder Pro [Video]
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
This is one grinder you’ll quickly grow fond of. If you’ve become dependent on machines with LCD screens, then this one will work for you perfectly. The fact that it is designed to accommodate a 58 mm commercial portafilter is also a huge plus. You may have to spend some time cleaning it every now and then, but the brilliant results completely make up for that.
2
Cuisinart Supreme Automatic Burr Mill
Highlighted Features
It’s simply astounding that this grinder is just under $50! Its design is reminiscent of products 5 times its price, and while it does contain a fair amount of plastic, the stainless steel finishing gives it a hint of an expensive feel, which is always welcome on any kitchen counter top.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
For a machine that’s under 50 bucks, this is quite impressive. Espresso lovers might experience a bit of difficulty landing on the right setting, but if you’re a French Press die-hard then it really won’t be a problem. Yes, the uniformity of the grind isn’t as good as with more expensive machines, and yes, it might create a bit of a mess thanks to the static. But for its price, this baby earns top spot for best grinder under 50 bucks!
3
JavaPresse Manual Conical Burr Mill
Highlighted Features
This little, nifty gadget is an absolute joy to use! And wait until you lay eyes on it; oh it’s just drop-dead gorgeous. The stainless steel styling makes you want to tote it just about anywhere, and at just around $25, it gives you way better results than pricier blade grinders.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
Oh this is one of those little machines you simply need to have in your kitchen. It’s like a French Press’ soul mate! Anyone looking for a grinder for an espresso maker or standard drip machine may not be too impressed with the results, but it does an amazing job of producing that coarse grind that works brilliantly with a French Press. If you don’t mind dedicating a bit of muscle every morning, this manual grinder will be tons of fun to use.
4
Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder
Highlighted Features
If you have less than 100 bucks to spend, then you'll be doing your taste buds a huge favor by going for this Capresso grinder. The Infinity comes with a 100-watt gear reduction motor with an RPM of 450, and works brilliantly 100% of the time.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
The Capresso 560.01 may not have people complementing its looks, but it’ll definitely have loads of them praising its heavenly results. It might be plastic but it still feels very sturdily-built, and will probably be the best $100 you ever did spend.
5
Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill
Highlighted Features
The ‘Plus’ is an improved grinding unit that comes with all the bells and whistles that are sure to make your French press brewing experience a lot better.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
If you are looking for a grinder that does not skimp on quality and never drains your wallet, then you should go all in on the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill "Skerton Plus", which promises a great grinding experience at an affordable price.
6
Porlex Mini Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
Made in Osaka, Japan and retailing at less than $70, the Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder is simple enough to be understood by users across the board and functional enough to get the job done.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
Generally, this little Porlex Mini Coffee Grinder works wonders if your grinding needs are modest. For the price, it is definitely worth taking the plunge.
7
Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr
Highlighted Features
With a beautiful name like 'Baratza’ you’d expect nothing but a gorgeous machine, and this grinder is nothing short of stunning. For under $250, you get a DC-powered motor with gear reduction that enables it to spin at a nice and slow 450RPM.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
The Virtuoso, just like its name suggests, is a brilliant machine. It’s a bit of a hybrid in that it contains a bin and the ability to dispense right into a portafilter, which makes it perfect for use with French presses all the way to espresso makers.
8
Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Grinder
Highlighted Features
Oh Rancilio always churns-out products to make us coffee-lovers smile, and this burr grinder is no exception. It’s arguably the best in its price range, costing about $350, and comes with a direct drive 160-watt motor to get its grind on. Making this product the best coffee grinder under $400!
Rancilio Rocky Coffee Grinder Review [Video]
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
You’ll absolutely love the beautiful stainless steel and black detailing of this Rancilio; it’s definitely a looker! It also gets points for its quiet operation and for an amazingly uniform grind. The chrome cradle at the bottom might get in the way sometimes, but you can easily remove it and place a jar underneath to catch the grounds. All things considered, this grinder is a brilliant buy.
9
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder
Highlighted Features
Baratza rears its head for the second time on this list with this pretty nifty grinder. The Encore goes for around $140 and is the perfect entry level burr grinder. It comes with a convenient bin to collect your grounds in, and is powered by the same motor as the Virtuoso with an RPM of 450.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
The Encore might not have the premium feel of its more expensive sibling, the Virtuoso, but it still does a hell of a job. You also have the option of buying an attachable scale that helps you grind by weight and a 9 oz hopper extender. If you’re looking for an entry-level grinder, this one by Baratza is top of its price range.
10
Krups F203 Electric Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
With just $20, you can get yourself one of these blade grinders from the fine folks at KRUPS. It has enough room to grind beans for up to 8 cups of coffee, and easily doubles as a spice or nut grinder.
What We Liked [Pros]
What We Didn't Like [Cons]
Well, this grinder has all the expected pitfalls of the blade variety: it heats up the beans and doesn’t produce uniform results. But if for any reason you have to get one, maybe as a way to secure the release of a number of hostages, then you’ll be pleased with the durability and attractive styling of the KRUPS F203.
Final Thoughts
And there is everything you need to know about getting the best coffee grinder for French Press! But one thing is for sure: grinding your own beans will completely change your coffee experience. It will evolve from just being a regular morning routine to being the most anticipated part of your day. Brace yourself for deliciousness!
Happy Grinding!
