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Best Coffee Grinders for French Press Review
Read the article to decide on the best French coffee grinder for you.
Published November 24, 2021
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Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
No matter what your taste, there’s no denying that coffee is great. Some people need a brew to get going in the morning, others need coffee to get over the midday hump, and then there are those whose blood has turned to java. Whichever category you fall into, it’s always useful to know how to make the perfect mug of coffee from the safety of your own home. To do this, you’re going to need more skill than a jar of instant coffee, hot water, and a spoon. You will need to grab your favorite beans, figure out your grinding method, your brewing method, and get a chemistry degree while you’re at it. Joking aside, you will need to know what’s the best coffee grinder for the French press. Continue reading to decide on the best French coffee grinder.
Baratza Encore Grinder
The Baratza Encore Grinder is the perfect companion for any coffee addict. You don’t need to put any work in, because this automatic grinder can grind your beans up with an incredible 40 settings. So, if you like to play around with different brewing methods, you won’t be disappointed. As well as being incredibly versatile, this robust coffee grinder won’t set you back too much either. Priced at an admirable $169, you can say goodbye to standing in line at the local coffee shop.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of potential downsides to this coffee grinder. For starters, if you’re hosting a get-together, you won’t be able to brew coffee for too many people in a hurry. Further, if you are on a super tight budget, you might not want to spend so much on a coffee grinder. Fortunately, there are plenty of other options that we will cover below. Although there are a couple of downsides to this coffee grinder, it’s a perfect choice for the everyday coffee drinker.
Javapresse French Press Grinder
If you’re looking for a manual coffee grinder, look no further than the Javapresse Grinder. The machine has 18 functions and is made of robust stainless-steel. You won’t need any batteries for this or a power supply for this coffee grinder, which means you can take it to the office or stop for a mid-road trip brew. You may think it takes a lot of work, but you’ll be happy to know that the handle moves smoothly and the crank is removable. The burrs are ceramic, which means they’re designed to last much longer than other additions on the list.
This manual coffee grinder is convenient and easy to use. However, if you’re looking to make coffee for plenty of people, you will be disappointed. Unfortunately, this grinder only gives out small quantities, which can make the process entirely tedious.
Capresso 560.04 Infinity Grinder
This coffee grinder is the perfect choice for beginners looking to get away from the not-so-great blade grinder French press. The stainless-steel design holds plenty of beans and offers an impressive 16 grind size, which can be adjusted using the dial on the front. With the large capacity, this comes in at around $98, making it the most budget grinder to make the list so far.
This is a great beginner coffee grinder. However, despite the stainless-steel burrs, the majority of the appliance is made from ABS plastic. Considering the price of this coffee grinder, there are plenty of similarly-priced grinders that have more metal parts. If you are concerned with the plastic parts, there is a more premium model with a sturdier design.
1Z Presso Q2 Manual Burr Mill
If you want to enjoy coffee to your liking on the go, the IZ Presso Q2 should be your go-to choice. This nifty grinder has a small design, which makes it completely portable. With this, you will have to put some work in to grind the coffee up yourself, but we think it’s worth the reward. Although it’s only a small manual coffee grinder, there are 60 click-through grind settings to choose from. You are looking at paying just under $100 for this grinder, which isn’t a bad investment if you’re someone who loves the outdoors.
Although this coffee grinder is super portable, it’s only effective when you’re grinding up a single cup. If you’re out fishing with your friends and they want a brew, don’t offer to grind their coffee because you’ll be there all day.
Bodrum Bistro
The Bodrum Bistro is an absolute powerhouse for budget coffee connoisseurs. The burr operates at a low volume, which makes it quieter than the majority of electric coffee grinders for French press on this list. There aren’t a lot of fancy settings of the Bodrum Bistro, but you’ll be able to grind up a coarse grind for your cup of joe. Given the simplicity of this coffee grinder, there is only a smooth dial button on the front of the coffee grinder.
When we remember that this coffee grinder comes in at a lower price than some of the other entries, it’s easy to forgive that the majority of this coffee machine is made from cheap plastic. Another downside to this coffee grinder is the poorly designed coffee catcher, which doesn’t have a lid on it. Unfortunately, this means that you’re at risk of losing considerable amounts of coffee.
Baratza Virtuoso+
We’ve already seen the little brother for this entry, right at the top of this list. Here, we have the Baratza Virtuoso+ which comes with some superb upgrades. For around $250, you’re going to benefit from conical burrs that spin twice as fast as the predecessor. Further, you can set this grinder to pulsate, which means you can get the perfect grind for your coffee. Although this is great for the French press, it’s more suited for espresso. However, any coffee should have this sitting on their kitchen counter.
There’s no denying that this coffee grinder is great. However, it comes with a hefty price tag. Further, if you’re happy to let a couple of features slide, you might as well invest in the predecessor. After all, the majority of us are only looking for a blend above instant coffee, milk, and sugar.
KitchenAid Coffee Grinder
The KitchenAid coffee grinder is perfect for the more upmarket coffee fantastic. You’re looking at a cost of around $300, but it sure has enough features to make up for it. This absolute machine has a solid die-cast metal build, with a glass container for beans and grinds. Further, the burr blades are flat, which means you’re going to get a more consistent and smoother grind. This heavy-duty grinder is built to last and the burrs will run at 15 RPM, which will give you a speedy cup of java. Also, thanks to the materials, there is less static, which means that the grinds won’t stick so much to the insides of the container.
Although this coffee grinder is top-of-the-range, the price does let it down. Further, the flat burrs can be difficult to clean and need to be done more regularly. However, after paying that much, we’d like to think you’ll take good care of this coffee grinder. Other than the need to constantly clean, you don’t need to worry about anything when it comes to this beauty.
Mueller Ultra-Grind
The Mueller Ultra-Grind is an incredibly versatile coffee grinder, thanks to the number of settings. You don’t strictly need this for French press, but for $89, who can say no? No matter how you like your grind, there will be a setting for you, with over 100 choices in total. When you’ve made too much coffee and need to clean the stainless-steel burrs, there’s a simple one-click mechanism for easy removal.
This coffee grinder looks the part on any work surface. However, just like the Capresso discussed above, the body is made of ABS plastic, which isn’t the most desirable. But we don’t think that’s much of an issue, given the relatively budget-end price tag.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
If you like your fancy gadgets, you’ll love the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, which has a smart LCD screen for easily-programmable settings. With a stainless-steel burr, you can set the grind time to precise 0.2 second intervals, and leave your coffee grinder to do all of the work for you. If you’re not sure of how much coffee to use, you can measure the doses in cups or shots. There are over 60 settings on this impressive machine, and if you need to, pause the grinder mid-grind to flatten out the espresso portafilter.
As you can see, this coffee grinder is one hell of a beast that also boasts an airtight container for the grinds. However, it can be difficult to align the lid with the container. Unfortunately, this struggle can lead to clogged-up machinery. Further, the accuracy of the settings isn’t always what they seem.
Coffee is a fantastic drink that’s loved all over. So, there’s no surprise there’s such a demand for making the perfect brew at home. Luckily, thanks to this handy list, you’re already halfway there.
About the author
Chandra Melo
Marketing as job, barista as passion. An authentic coffee lover, looking for the next fantastic cup of coffee that I will fall in love with. Coffee, for me, is more than a beverage. It's about community and connection - how can all the world consume the same fruit? And differently? How can we have so many different tastes? I also don't know. And because of this, I feel in love each day more for this world. Happy to share and make a change in the coffee community.
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