Are you tired of having to grind your coffee at the supermarket? Need someplace at home to make your coffee grounds? You have likely seen many hand coffee grinder reviews, but haven’t seen them compared side by side before. That is why we are here to help. Ok, then let’s talk about the best manual coffee grinder.
One of these five grinders that we will look at is the best manual coffee grinder. The best hand grinder must be able to grind cup after cup with no signs of wearing down. It must grind coffee quickly and effortlessly with no problems from the motor or blade(s). The grinder also has to be easy to clean so that you always have fresh coffee and no malicious bacteria. While some hand coffee grinders are also capable of grinding other hard foods, we will specifically observe how they grind coffee in particular.
At the end of reviewing each affordable coffee grinder, we will determine which is the most that we recommend to you. The brands of coffee grinder that we will review include Mr. Coffee, Hamilton Beach, Coffee Gator, Cuisinart, and Quieten.
1. Hamilton Beach 80335R Fresh-Grind Coffee Grinder.
Hamilton Beach is a big name in appliances. Aside from toasters and dishwashers, they too have a coffee grinder that is actually a very affordable model. It is rather small, though; as tall as seven inches and weighing 1.3 pounds. Despite the small, compact size, it can hold up to 12 cups.
It adopts the compact bullet-design and looks very sleek with a black body, a grey trim, and a clear lid. This grinder can also grind spices in addition to coffee beans.
This is known to be a very quiet grinder that can work to grind coffee effectively with its stainless steel blades. The grinding chamber is also made of steel, which can be removed from the grinder and placed in the dishwasher for an easy clean.
This grinder has just one button that turns it on or off. This grinder also has an auto-shutoff feature, so it does not run indefinitely. After a minute or so, it will turn off on its own.
The downside to using this coffee grinder is that the plastic is not of excellent quality. The materials used are not that resistant to the heat created by its motor, and this will cause the body to crack or the lid to liquify. The plastic, when burned, also gives off an unpleasant odor.
Pros
- Can grind other food items.
- Grinds coffee automatically.
- Has a large capacity.
- It is easy to use.
- It is very affordable.
- Great, modern design.
- It has an auto-shutoff feature.
Cons
- Low-quality materials used.
2. Quiseen One-Touch Electric Coffee Grinder
Quiseen’s one-touch coffee grinder allows you to turn beans into grounds with the push of a button. It is capable of holding seven cups. It is less than eight inches tall and weighs 1.6 pounds. This is one of the least expensive grinders in this review.
I am not really a fan of the design. It is mostly black in color with large, round bumps all across. Perhaps this was so that you could hold and grip the grunger better, but this design could have been made to look more attractive.
Like Cuisinart’s grinder, this grinder can also grind spices and nuts, as well as herbs and grains. It is almost like a blender, but without blending any liquids. You can also make delicious blends for expressos with this grinder. Both the motor and blades work effectively to grind up coffee beans with barely any time at all.
This grinder only has one button: pulse. Pressing this button is all you have to do to turn your coffee beans into a fine powder. This is a straightforward and effective feature.
What is not easy, however, is cleaning the grinder once you are done. The interior container inside the grinder cannot be removed, which will make washing and wiping down more difficult than it should be.
Pros
- Can grind other food items.
- Grinds coffee automatically.
- Has a large capacity.
- It is easy to use.
- It is very affordable.
Cons
- It is hard to clean.
- It has an ugly design.
3. Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Black
The last coffee grinder is from Mr. Coffee. It also assumes a sleek, black bullet design with a clear lid. Like the grinder from Hamilton Beach, it can carry up to 12 cups, and it is very affordable. It is eight inches tall and weighs 1.4 pounds.
This grinder has a sleek design to it. It is either available in a grey, which looks like hematite, or a white glossy finish. In addition to grinding coffee, it can also grind spice.
When using this coffee grinder, the grounds will produce a deep aroma, and it smells rather great. This pleasant smell will be guaranteed to wake you up in the morning.
It can grind coffee in one of four settings: superfine, medium-fine, medium, and coarse. For the freshest taste, Mr. Coffee advises you to grind whole beans only. For additional freshness, the grinder’s lid is shut vacuum-tight, so no air or bacteria can enter as it is working.
However, the description is misleading. The longer you grind, traditionally, the finer your grounds will be. There are no automatic settings, and you will need to turn the grinder off quick enough to have yourself more coarse grounds.
Pros
- It comes in more than one color.
- Can grind other food items.
- Grinds coffee automatically.
- Has a large capacity.
- It is very affordable.
- Smells pleasant.
Cons
- Only whole beans are recommended.
4. Cuisinart SG-10 Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder
This grinder from Cuisinart is known as a spice and nut grinder. It is used for turning nuts, cinnamon, and other hard edibles into powder. It can also grind coffee beans, so do not count this appliance out. It has a minimalistic bullet/capsule design. This grinder is nine inches in height and weighs 2.4 pounds.
The body, as well as the blades in this grinder, are made of stainless steel. These blades work effectively to chop foods up dozens of times so you can have evenly blended coffee grounds and other powders.
This is an electric model, so no effort is to be had from the user putting the coffee beans in. Underneath the grinder, there are rubber feet so that it will not move, rock, or shake. The motor inside performs well; however, you can definitely hear it from several rooms away.
This grinder’s lid and bowl are also dishwasher safe. These are two compartments that get the dirtiest from grinding, and the grinder will always look brand new after you clean them.
With 90 grams of capacity, this grinder can hold up to nine cups at once. This grinder comes with a manual with recipes in it, but none of them are for coffee.
Pros
- Can grind other food items.
- Grinds coffee automatically.
- It comes with dishwasher-safe parts for cleaning.
- Has a large capacity.
Cons
- The motor is loud and noisy.
5. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder with Adjustable Setting
This first coffee grinder from JavaPresse has a nice, modern look to it. It will look great in nearly every kitchen. The burr grinder is over seven inches tall and weighs 1.6 pounds. It is the best hand crank coffee grinder you can buy, but is it the best buy coffee grinder period?
This manual coffee grinder comes with 15 rotary click settings that provide every type of brewing for coffee known to man. If you grind coffee in a certain way, the odds are that this burr grinder from Coffee Gator can help you.
This grinder has a hoper that is easy to load and can hold five or six cups of coffee beans at a time. As you grind and fill your coffee, you can watch as the coffee grounds collect at the bottom. As you grind, you can smell a nice coffee aroma around you.
Notable Features
This is a durable coffee maker that is made of high-grade stainless steel. The burr is also made of stainless steel and provides you with even grounds every time.The handle is fused onto the lid, and together, they are connected to the grinder by a strong, magnetic force. It will only remove when you pull it off of the grinder hard enough, so you do not need to expect any mishaps when grinding.
Cleaning is also easy to do with this coffee grinder because it is fairly simple to disassemble.
The one problem that we have encountered with this grinder is that grinding involves a lot of muscle, even in the most robust settings. If you are known to be a lean person, you may not enjoy grinding with this appliance.
Pros
- Can grind other food items.
- Grinds coffee automatically.
- It comes with dishwasher-safe parts for cleaning.
- Has a large capacity.
Cons
- The motor is loud and noisy.
Things to consider before buying Best Manual Coffee Grinder
If you still have not decided on a capable coffee maker for your kitchen, there are many qualities about manual coffee grinders to consider in greater detail.
Capacity
Many hand coffee grinders are small overall because grinding coffee takes a lot of time when it is done manually. However, there are many sizes of coffee grinders for you to pick from. With that said, you should consider how much coffee that you typically need to grind so that the blender you choose can best serve you, your family, or your place of work.
When it comes to traveling with your coffee grinder, you will also want one that is light and small, so that you can pack other things along with it. Larger coffee grinders will surely occupy more space in your luggage.
Material
Coffee grinders come in one of two materials:
- 1. Plastic
- 2. Stainless steel
Plastic materials can be made to look in any type of color, or even transparent. Plastic can be made into either a matte or glossy finish, which makes it even more customization.
Stainless steel, on the other hand, lasts a lot longer than plastic. It is resistant to staining, won’t melt under extreme heat, and in never prone to simple cracks and chips like plastic is. The only downside to stainless steel is that it is only available in one color, which is silver.
Performance
Coffee grinders come in two different types:
- 1. Manual
- 2. Electric
Manual coffee grinders allow the user to grind his or her coffee in their way. You turn a handle, and this allows the coffee beans to be grounded up. If you know what type of grind you want, you should know precisely how many times you need to turn the crank or handle. Manual grinders do not require electricity to work, so these can be used anywhere you happen to go.
With electric coffee grinders, you just need to press a button, and your coffee grinds itself. There are no automatic settings for electric grinders, however. If you want a coarse grind, you need to experiment with how long the grind should take before you turn it off. The time it takes varies by product, so how long one grinder will take won’t be right for other grinders.
Durability
Coffee grinders need to last long, as most owners use them every single day. Most coffee grinders will have steel interiors that will not chip or crack, and cause the mill to leak. The lids on coffee grinders also must be secured shut so that nothing leaks out as coffee is being ground up.
The material used for interior and exterior parts must be of high quality for the product overall to last a long time. If the lid gets cracked, then that is all there is to the grinder, unless you have the necessary skills to fix this crack safely and professionally. In most cases, though, it is just better to buy a brand new grinder.
Simplicity Of Cleaning
Since you are putting coffee into this product, it has to be easy to clean. The parts that come into contact with coffee must be easy to rinse in a dishwasher or easy to reach with a cloth. The container must be rinsed out and dried before using it again.
Manual Coffee Grinder Buyer’s Guide
What Is The Appeal In Grinding My Own Coffee?
By grinding coffee yourself, you can retain most of the flavor included in coffee beans. These roasted beans generally contain many different oils, and these oils are released evenly for the coffee to taste its best. To put it simply, the more effective of a means to grind the coffee that you use, the better tasting your coffee will get.
Why Should I Use A Manual Coffee Grinder?
A manual coffee grinder is not just the easiest way to grind coffee beans into powder, but it actually gives you control for how you want to grind your coffee. For french press coffee, you would like a coarse grind. For espresso coffee, you would wish to as fine of a grind as possible. You can control your grinder’s output so that you can get the exact grind that you want or need for the coffee that you drink.
What Is The Difference Between A Blade Grinder And A Burr Grinder?
Blade coffee grinders are made up of the same design: a two-pronged blade that spins at the bottom of the container that cuts up anything that it comes into contact with. Blade grinders are highly convenient with just a push of a button. They are also less expensive than burr grinders.
Burr coffee grinders consist of a pair of ceramic or steel burr pieces that funnel a few beans at a time. These burrs crush beans down to a uniform size that is extracted at nearly the same rate and produces a smooth brew. These grinders produce no heat, and this retains the coffee’s flavor better. Burr grinders allow you to grind coffee at one of many different sizes, letting you brew coffee in the way you want. Burrs also tend to last much longer than pronged blades that come in cheaper models.
Are Electric Coffee Grinders Safe To Use In The Dishwasher?
There may be non-electronic parts that you can use in the dishwasher to clean and rinse them. Such components can include filters, bowls, and lids.
It is not recommended to wash an entire electric coffee grinder in your dishwasher. The electronic components and the motor inside of the coffee grinder will cause the product to short circuit. After this happens, your coffee grinder is very unlikely to work afterward. Make sure that only parts that are safe to clean with water are placed inside your dishwasher.If you are looking for a complete guide and review for the best dishwashers, you can check here
Why Are Many Coffee Grinders Capable Of Grinding Nuts And Spices?
Coffee grinders are designed to help owners crush and grind coffee beans, which are small and hard. Some many foods and ingredients are also capable of being crushed and grounded by coffee grinders. This includes the following:
- Nuts
- Mints
- Herbs
- Seeds
- Grains
With this considered, owners can use select coffee grinders to grind ingredients into a fine powder, either for homemade spices or ingredients for home-cooked meals.
If your coffee grinder does not mention any use of grinding other foods, we advise against attempting to use any food with your grinder that isn’t coffee beans.
Are There Warranties That Come With The Purchase Of A New Coffee Grinder?
Some grinders do come with warranties, and some do not. A warranty for a coffee grinder usually lasts no less than one year, but no more than three.
Warranties cover defects that occur before or during the ownership of the coffee grinder in question. Warranties, however, can become void or ineligible if the owner is at fault for damaging the product, the owner disassembles or modifies the product, or the product breaks down past the final day of warranty.
Why Do Most Coffee Grinders Have The Same Cylinder Shape?
Except for tweaks and variations to accommodate style and function, a majority of coffee grinders today assume a tall cylinder shape. This is due to the product being able to occupy less space on the counter, on a table, and wherever you may store it in your home, kitchen, or workplace.
These shapes make it so that these grinders take up as little space as possible. Past coffee grinders used to be shorter and broader in diameter, but changes have been made to save space, as well as have the most carrying capacity possible.
Do I Need A Lot Of Capacity If I Only Make Coffee For Myself?
There is a requirement for how much coffee you must put in minimally to grind it up. This requirement is usually four cups (in measurement, not in actual mugs) so that the blades of the coffee grinder can thoroughly grind the blend up nicely. The minimal requirement, however, usually varies from product to product, and different companies and brands will have different standards of measurement to follow.
Final Verdict
The best budget coffee grinder that we most recommend to you is none other than the one from Mr. Coffee.
This was a rather close call to make. They are all very serviceable coffee grinders that are of great value. However, it all came down to which of their cons affected the product overall the least.
The grinder from Mr. Coffee has a con in which you are only recommended to use whole beans to grind, but to many, this is not much of a sacrifice to make, unless that coffee that you absolutely love only comes in half beans.
This is the best manual coffee grinder, as it does not require manual cranking, will not go bad after it overheats, is easy to clean, and will not get noisy when you use it. The Mr. Coffee grinder is a very professionally made appliance that will serve its owner well time after time.