First off, thank you for helping get rid of the recent crappy coffee scourge because being here means that you appreciate a fresh cup of good coffee in the morning. Coffee brewing is a delicate art, and if you're a coffee aficionado, then it's only natural that you'd prefer to do the grinding yourself to ensure the perfect consistency for a great french press coffee. Though luxurious, a fully automatic espresso machine cannot give you this, you'll need the best coffee grinder for French press coffee, paired up with your preferred extraction method.
Generally, French press coffee grinders come a dime a dozen, but that doesn't mean that you should casually purchase the first one you come across. The French press brewing method is largely one of the best and favorite ways that many home baristas will settle for. With this in mind, the perfect brew will need the perfect French press process, and the correct coffee grinder is crucial to the process.
Manual Vs. Electric Coffee Grinders?
As you trash your pre-ground coffee stash, the first decision you have to make when getting a coffee grinder is whether you want a manual grinder or an electric grinder.
i) Manual Grinder
Generally, manual grinders are hand-operated and are the ultimate traditional caffeinating machines. Also, they do look pretty cool on your countertop. However, a manual grinder is a great option if you're only planning to brew smaller quantities. Overall, manual grinders are pretty affordable, compact, easy to use, quiet, and portable.
The main downside of using a manual coffee grinder is that you'll have to turn its handle to grind coffee beans physically. This, in turn, means a certain degree of trial and error when using manual grinders until you can perfectly get the right level of coarseness.
ii) Electric Coffee Grinder
Electric grinders mainly have the advantages of being much easier to use, faster and capacity to brew a lot more coffee. The main drawback of electric grinders is that it doesn't give you much control once the grind is underway. However, a good-quality electric burr grinder for French press coffee will take you a fraction of the time that a manual machine would.
Blade Vs. Burr Grinders and Is it So Important?
Getting the best coffee possible will entirely depend on getting the grind right. As you'd know, different coffee brewing methods will have different grind requirements. For example, unlike the fine grinding required for espresso, coffee in a Chemex should be a medium to coarse grind so that the water can pass through the filter better.
i) Blade Grinder
A basic blade grinder works like a mini food processor or blender, so generally, it wouldn't suffice in making a consistent coffee that's good for any brewing process. In addition, blade grinders will produce an uneven texture unless you pulverize the coffee into powder.
ii) Burr Grinder
A burr grinder, on the other hand, which mills the coffee between 2 grooved surfaces, is the ideal choice for whatever preferred brewing method. And yes, while some burr grinders can be a little pricey, you, in turn, get a high-quality and reliable machine that will last you years to come.
Portafilter Vs. the Bracket?
Coffee grinders for French press that are designed to be paired with an espresso machine usually come with a handy little bracket to hold the portafilter in place. The machine grinds the coffee beans and spits the grounds directly into your portafilter. If you're always trying to transfer the coffee grounds from a container into the portafilter without spilling, then you'll definitely appreciate this nifty feature.
Grinders that are designed with drip coffee brewing will instead spit out the grinds directly into the container. And grinders that are designed for all brewing styles will often allow you to switch between the two.
As you buy your electric burr grinder for French press coffee, first consider what you plan on brewing and then pick whichever has these features accordingly. For example, if you plan to brew espresso, then having a portafilter holder comes in handy. On the other hand, if you're planning to brew espresso and others, then make sure you get one where the bracket can be removed.
If you're not grinding an espresso, then you definitely don't need a portafilter holder because it'll just make things hard to clean and get in the way. However, here are great options for the best grinders for French press coffee.
1. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder- Overall Top pick
- SPECIALTY COFFEE ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNING GRINDERS - Baratza grinders are preferred by coffee professionals and backed by Baratza’s world...
- GO-TO ENTRY LEVEL GRINDER - Baratza’s best-selling grinder, with its small footprint, is THE choice for brewing coffee at home. Available...
- USER FRIENDLY - A convenient, front-mounted pulse button, plus a simple ON/OFF switch make it easy to grind fresh coffee.
- 40 GRIND SETTINGS - Engineered with 40mm commercial-grade conical burrs that help you explore the extensive range of brew methods (espresso,...
- WARRANTY/QUALITY PARTS - Hardened alloy steel burrs manufactured in Liechtenstein, Europe, plus a powerful DC motor. This combination...
Picking this little bad boy will have you pleased with its versatility. Yes, it's a little more pricey than others, but it's well worth backing that up. With a high torque motor that spins its stainless steel conical burrs at 550 RPM, it can give you a consistent grind at a relatively slower speed. The slower speed gives it an edge in delivery and heating up to overall give an even grind and avoid any jams.
As a result, the Baratza Encore conical burr grinder ranks high as one of the best coffee grinders for the French press. It has more than enough capacity to grind any kind of roast that you throw at it into any grind size you need. This is the best electric coffee grinder that uses a conical burr, is so easy to use, and is so quiet for a grinder its size.
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2. Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder- Runners Up
- SPECIALTY COFFEE ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNING GRINDERS - Baratza grinders are preferred by coffee professionals and backed by Baratza’s world...
- DIGITAL TIMER and BACKLIT GROUNDS BIN - a 40-second digital timer, adjustable to a tenth of a second, and an LED backlit grounds bin to dose...
- 40 GRIND SETTINGS - With enhanced commercial-grade conical burrs to help you explore an extensive range of brew methods (espresso,...
- STYLISH - A sculptured metal top and base give the Virtuoso+ a modern image that highlights your coffee corner.
- WARRANTY/QUALITY PARTS - Engineered with 40mm hardened alloy steel burrs manufactured in Liechtenstein, Europe, plus a powerful DC motor....
Very similar to the Baratza Encore, the Baratza virtuoso comes with a few vital differences. For starters, it has conical burrs that grind at nearly twice the speed, thus offering relatively more uniformity when it comes to coarser grinds. As a result, you'll see very little if any coffee fines.
Should you need an espresso coffee grinder, it functions well at its finest setting to achieve a fine particle size of 200 microns. Additionally, the Virtuoso also comes with a couple of more advanced features that lack in the Encore. These include a feature that can pulsate the grind to ensure that you get uniform coffee grounds.
It also comes with a timer that you can use to repeat that same grind level at a specified period. Nonetheless, these advanced features are more useful for espresso brewing, which needs very fine and consistent grounds. So if you all you need is a coffee grinder for French Press coffee, then either this or the Baratza Encore will be great picks.
As with everything else, you pay for the privilege. The Virtuoso + Conical burr coffee grinder for French press coffee is a high-end grinder that comes with a premium price tag. However, when it comes to conical burrs, it's a great pick and the best burr coffee grinder that ultimately gives you the perfect french press coffee.
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3. KitchenAid Burr Grinder For Coffee - Premium Pick
- Controlled rate grinding with 15 grind settings allows for excellent grind consistency and lower grinding temperatures.
- Stainless steel cutting burrs offers durability and powerful performance.
- 7 oz. glass bean hopper and grind jar minimizes the static “cling” of coffee grinds.
- The sleek, streamlined design allows it to be stored on your countertop or in a cabinet. Durable and easy to wipe clean.
- Burrs turn at 450 rpm, minimizing frictional heat build-up and preserving flavor.
Coffee connoisseurs who are design-focused will appreciate this high-quality flat burr grinder by KitchenAid. Unlike other grinders, this electric coffee grinder is made from glass and zinc die-cast metal. Despite the glass built, it has a heavy-duty construction and stainless steel conical burrs that you can count on to last.
Besides its great build, it operates pretty well with burrs that run at 450 RPM, while the grinder has 15 grind settings. In addition, the hopper and container are made of glass which significantly reduces static. With this, you won't have to worry about the beans or coffee grounds not being uniformly ground or getting stuck in the machine.
The only slight downside comes when you need to clean the flat burrs especially since flat burr grinders will need to be cleaned more often than cone grinders. So overall, this grinder is short of excellent, but only if you can clean it as often as possible, probably each time you use it, so it doesn't clog.
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4. 1Z Presso Q2 Manual Conical Burr Mill -Best to Travel
- ☕SAVE SPACE - Goodbye bulky machine! The Q grinder only takes up little space, under 500g weight, small than a can of soft drink! Making...
- ☕SMALL but PREMIUM - Fixed with dual bearing and triaxial design, increased stability for better consistency of the grind. Over 60 clicks...
- ☕DISASSEMBLED STRUCTURE - Simply unscrew for a general cleaning. Easy apart off cleaning thoroughly without any tool. With assemble...
- ☕ PRODUCT GUARANTEES - The burr was calibrated and fixed in place by the 1Zpresso team, ensure no wobbly parts or burrs that come loose as...
- ☕COFFEE IS LIFE - With users vision, we are working on the products what are you actually need! Chose a 1Zpresso product to stay with you.
1Z Presso is an established company within the specialty coffee community. The 1Z Presso Q2 manual conical burr is more of a travel burr coffee grinder mill that uses stainless steel burrs. This is not so common in manual burr grinders, which makes it rank as the best manual coffee grinder for the French press.
This manual coffee grinder has an easily adjustable grind selector, and a numerical face at the bottom, which allows you to flick through the grinder's 10 numbered dial and 60 click grind adjustments. This perfectly comes in handy for people who struggle to find the correct particle size when using a manual coffee grinder.
Unlike other manual coffee grinders, this manual coffee grinder is highly portable and smaller in size than a can of coke which is great if you like the freshest brew on the go or simply appreciate something that sits discreetly on your kitchen counter. However, although it's a great coffee grinder, being a manual coffee burr grinder means that it will take some effort to grind, while its small 20-gram capacity means that it's not suitable if you want to grind multiple cups.
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5. Capresso Infinity Electric Burr Coffee Grinder- Best Value
- PRECISION GRINDING: Commercial-grade, solid steel conical burrs with advanced cutting design
- WIDE GRINDING RANGE: From ultrafine Turkish to French Press coarse and everything in between
- PRESERVES AROMA: Gear reduction motor grinds slow with reduced noise and little static build-up
- LARGE CAPACITY: 8.8 ounce bean container and 4 ounce ground coffee container.Watts/Volts/Hertz: 100W/120V/60Hz
- EASY TO CLEAN: Removable upper burr allows access for easy cleaning
The Capresso Infinity conical burr grinder is an easy-to-use coffee grinder that's quite easy to operate. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners who are looking to upgrade from the usual blade grinders that literally murder your coffee bean flavor. In addition, it has a selector dial at the base of the bean container that lets you to toggle between extra-fine/ fine/ medium/ coarsely ground coffee.
Each of these settings has 4 levels to choose from, so in total you have 16 grind sizes you can choose from. You also get other great features, including the gear reduction motor, a timer, and commercial-grade stainless steel conical burrs. This is a great quality French press coffee grinder, but it also has a lot of plastic parts. But hey, overall, it does gives you pretty good value.
On the bright side, if the plastic concerns you, it has a premium version that comes in a zinc die-cast housing. Overall it's a great budget coffee grinder for French press coffee that comes with an electric grinder.
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6. Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Coffee Grinder - Most Multifunctional
- Highest Quality - This new Mueller Conical Burr Grinder provides you with the highest quality and newest technology on the market. The...
- Large Capacity - Coffee bean hopper and removable grounds container have the capacity to produce 30-32 cups of great tasting coffee.
- Precision Grinding - Gear reduction motor grinds slow with reduced noise making rich flavored, tasty ground coffee. This Burr Grinder is...
- Easy To Clean - Removable top burr with embedded cleaning brush for the effortless cleaning as well as One Button Touch operation - On/Off...
- Mueller's mission - Our mission is to deliver simply superior products that improve people's lives!
This French press coffee grinder is the most versatile of all picks since it has so many options and nifty features. This may not be as of a necessity for French press coffee, but the number of grind size settings are pretty useful.
On the grind settings, there's 0 (extra fine)- 10 (coarse), and each level has 10 different grind levels, so essentially, there a 100 different grind levels. This French press grinder also allows you to choose between dosing and non-dosing while you brew.
The conical burrs are made from stainless steel, while the housing is made of ABS plastic. It is also one of the best coffee grinders if you're on a tight budget but still want a multifunctional grinder.
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7. Bodum Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder - Best Budget Choice Pick
- Neat, space-saving device that holds up to 220g coffee beans
- Adjustable grind with 12 settings, taking your beans from espresso to French press with ease
- Clear plastic coffee catcher. Made from stainless steel, plastic, rubber & silicone
- The conical burr provides a consistent grind with no sharpening required. It spins slower than a wheel model, making it quieter and less...
- Warning!: Please ensure that the catcher is completely in place, especially when using a fine grind.
If you want something that you can use regularly but within a tight budget, the Bodum Bistro Grinder is something you could consider. It's quite basic as a burr grinder that doesn't come with a lot of fancy features, but it does exactly what's needed– a coarse grind of your coffee beans - and it does so well enough.
All its dials and buttons spin smoothly, as so does its coffee grounds catcher. It runs a little quieter than many of its competitors and is so much more affordable. This coffee grinder is also ultra-lightweight because it is mainly made from lightweight plastic apart from its conical burrs made from stainless steel.
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What Factors to Consider for the Best Coffee Grinder for French Press?
A) Consistent Grind?
Whether brewing a filter french press coffee or pull a shot of espresso, coffee lovers should know that the aim is always to end up having grinds that are consistent in size. This means that the best french press coffee grinder should give you ground coffee that's extracted at the same degree and grind size.
This will help ensure that your coffee tastes great and is the biggest advantage that burr coffee grinders have over blade grinders. Even if you are new to specialty coffee, you'll be able to taste the difference between the two in each cup.
B) What Grind Settings?
The best coffee grinder for french press coffee doesn't necessarily need to have all the bells and whistles. Most importantly have a great burr set, but if you're going to grind daily or multiple times in a day, some extra features and grind settings could go a long way to simplify life. Certain features such as the pulse timed grinding and auto-grind on your french press coffee grinder will come in handy.
Most of the best coffee grinders come with a pulse feature to pause grinding, while some have the auto-grind function that allows you to grind without needing to push the button. Instead, just turn the dial, and the coffee grinds while you check your Facebook.
And then some french press coffee grinders come with a timed grinding function which allows you to set the usual time you want to let her grind. Some grind settings even include programmable dosing where you can program your grinder to use exactly how much coffee you want to be brewed.
C) How Many Grind Settings?
Coffee grinders for french press with hundreds of settings are the ideal case of over-engineering. Of course, having more steps will allow you to do more, but you really don't need all 500 settings. As humans, we tend to believe that 'more is better,' but as with grinders, you really just need the right balance of functionality to convenience, durability and price. Of course, this also totally depends on your preferences, how you plan to brew coffee and how often you do it.
So instead of choosing the coffee grinder based on the number of settings it has, here's what's recommended:
- If you love to experiment or want to make use of ALL the brewing styles, including espresso and cold brew, then you'll need roughly 40+ settings
- If you want to stick to the most used brew styles and would like to experiment a little here and there, then 20-40 settings will do
- If you only use the standard brew styles, like the pour-over and French press, and are completely happy with leaving it at that, then less than 30 settings are more than enough for you
Turkish coffee will need super-fine coffee grounds, even finer than that of espresso. Unfortunately, such a fine grinding size is usually not for your typical electric burr grinder. For this, you'll need one of the more pricey electric coffee grinder models or a Turkish grinder. You'll also need something that can give an extra coarse grind for cold brew.
D) A Little Techy?
This section is a little nerdy and technical, but since your coffee grinder might well be your most expensive appliance or coffee purchase, the more you know, the better. Typically what you need to know would revolve around the burr size, type of burr grinder, and RPMs.
Generally, we have high-speed burr grinders and low-speed burr grinders. The grinder speed is measured in Revolutions Per Minute (RPMs), which would affect your final brew in several different ways. A little snag, though.
Typically, you'd want a higher RPM for a more consistent grinding. But with speed also comes heat, and heat is really not what you need when grinding. Heating coffee beans while grinding changes their flavor, and not ever for the better. The heat could cause a bitter or burnt taste that you really don't want in your coffee.
To get around the heat problem, most good high-speed grinders have large flat burrs and a very powerful motor. Having a larger flat burr means that it will grind faster, and it will be done before it gets a chance to build upon heat. As a result, a burr grinder will give you a super consistent grinding, and this category of grinders is also the best for espresso grinding.
Generally, conical burr grinders are low-speed grinders that grind at a slower speed to avoid heat and static buildup.
E) Does It Have Static?
One of the lesser identified problems in electric coffee grinders is that some will create static. Static in an electric grinder will affect the uniformity of the grind, thereby leading to an imperfect extraction of flavor during the steeping process. This, therefore, results in a substandard brew.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Coffee Grinder for French Press
1. Does the type of grinder matter in a French press?
When using a French Press, the type of coffee bean grinder and grind settings you use really matters. Fine-grind coffee will be a little too bitter. Alternatively, if the grind is a little too coarse, then it'll be weak. The surface of freshly ground coffee will dictate how much water touches the grind during its brewing process.
2. How does the grind size affect the 'permeability' of the coffee beans?
Relatively bigger coffee grounds have more permeability because they make it much easier to push the water through while brewing coffee.
3. Does the coffee grind size affect the level of caffeine?
The finer your coffee grind, the higher the caffeine level. This doesn't matter whether you took long to brew the coffee or whatever amount of water the grounds absorbed. Additionally, a bag of fine ground coffee beans will last you much longer.
4. How does the grind size affect coffee flavor?
If your coffee tastes watery and a little acidic, then you may be grinding your coffee beans too coarsely. If you brew coffee and it tastes overly bitter, then you may be grinding it too finely. A coarser grind, optimum brew time and great temperature may improve your brew flavor as well.
