There are lots and lots of coffee grinders in the market you can choose from these days. Some are manual, while others are electric. Some are better for finer grinds, while others are better on the coarse side. This gives us plenty of choices to work with.
When it comes to coffee grinders for AeroPress, there are some attributes to prioritize. We go over these qualities in the buying guide.
First, let’s look at some of the best grinders for AeroPress on the market right now. We prepared this list after considering many popular grinders. We think the Porlex Mini is the best coffee grinder for AeroPress.
1. Porlex Mini
The Porlex Mini is the younger brother of the Porlex Tall. You can probably guess the difference.
Design and Build Quality
This is an extremely lightweight and robust coffee grinder. It only weighs around 240 g. Its stainless steel construction makes it highly durable. Even though it is a small grinder, it can still take 30 g of coffee beans per round. Besides being good with the standard AeroPress, the Porlex Mini should also fit right into an AeroPress Go, making it an excellent grinder for a traveling coffee kit.
Porlex updated the handle from the hex nut design to a flat variant a while back. This has dramatically improved the grinding experience. Now, the handle is less likely to slip off when compared to the previous iteration. You can take the handle off and hang it on the holder. This adds to the portability of the already small grinder.
Grind-Size Adjustments
If you open up the grinder, you will see an adjustment wheel beneath the burrs. You can use this wheel to adjust the grind size. To produce a finer grind, you turn the wheel clockwise and the opposite way for coarse grinds. You can hear each step of the wheel when you turn it. This makes it easy to keep track of the setting. You can always return to your preferred grind by recalling the number of clicks.
The Burrs and Grind Consistency
The Japanese-made conical ceramic burrs used here are spring-loaded, which should give you a more consistent grind.
The quality of manual grinders is generally great at the medium range. This is the sweet spot for AeroPress grinds, so the Porlex Mini should be great for making coffee with an AeroPress. As for the burrs themselves, they should remain sharp for a while.
The consistency of the grind is great at finer settings as well. However, as is typical with hand grinders, the consistency falters at coarser grind settings.
Cleaning
Cleaning the Porlex Mini is simple. You just remove the grind catcher, take off the wheel and remove the burr. Since the burr is ceramic, it will not rust. So you can wash it with warm soapy water anytime you please. The rest of the grinder should also keep its looks for a while if you take good care of it. Just make sure you do not drop or otherwise damage the burr or the wheel.
Overall, the Porlex Mini is one of the best grinders for the AeroPress and the AeroPress Go. It is also one of the best travel grinders because of its robust build, small size, and lightweight.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Robust steel build
- Removable handle
- Extremely portable
- Non-rust conical ceramic burrs
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use
Cons
- Adjustment wheel and ceramic burrs risk chipping if dropped or damaged
2. 1Z Presso Q2
The Q2 comes from the established 1Z Presso range. It is the most compact grinder in the series.
Design and Build Quality
Like the Porlex Mini, it is lightweight and easy to carry. Also, it has a full steel body construction.
In fact, the only thing not built from steel or aluminum here is the removable wooden handle and the lid.
It is only 4.6 cm in diameter, weighs only 385 g, and can fit in the plunger of an AeroPress Go. Since it has a 20 g grind capacity, it can grind beans worth a single cup of coffee easily in one go. All of this makes it a good choice for travelers and campers.
The catcher has the same capacity as the grinder, and it fits neatly on the top. So measuring and transferring a dose of coffee beans should be easy and spill-free.
Grind-Size Adjustment
Beneath the catcher, you have the grind size adjuster. With this, you can choose up to 240 grind settings in 8 revolutions. Each revolution of the wheel has 30 clicks. This means you have an extensive range of grind sizes available. However, for AeroPress, you only need to go up to 14-21 clicks.
As long as you stick to one setting, the adjustment should not be a problem. However, clockwise and counterclockwise counting can be a bit of a hassle. When you want to go coarse (anti-clockwise), the numbering goes from 9 to 1 instead of the normal 1 to 9. This is something you’ll have to get used to if you plan on using this grinder.
If you want to get technical about it, each click increases the size of the grind by about 24 microns. So with 14-21 clicks, you end up around 300-400 microns, which is about the size of an AeroPress grind.
The easy-to-grip body and the long handle, and the large wooden grip make the grinding motion smooth.
Stainless Steel Burrs
This grinder uses 38 mm stainless steel conical burrs, which should remain sharp for a while. Unlike some ceramic burrs, they are not fragile. So dropping the Q2 by mistake should not damage it. This makes it great for hikers. Oh, and not to mention, it also comes with a one-year warranty for regular use. The general workload given is 300 Kg per annum.
Cleaning
Cleaning the Q2 is very simple. You just take off the catcher and unscrew the wheel. This should free up the burr, and the rest of the body should come apart. Then take out the driveshaft but make sure you do not lose those two caps for each of the ball bearings. You can clean the grinder easily with the brush that comes with it.
Overall, this is a very compact and robust manual grinder with a great range of grind sizes. It should be great for travelers that do not have much space and can tolerate a low grinder capacity.
Pros
- Fits within the AeroPress Go
- Adjustable grind size
- Versatile
- Robust design
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- One year warranty on general use
Cons
- 20 g capacity may be limiting
3. Breville Smart Grinder Pro
This is the upgraded version of the Smart Grinder. It is one of the best kitchen grinders you can have, especially at this price point. You can also use it for AeroPress and any other type of brewing method. It should always deliver on quality and ease of use for every brew.
Design and Build Quality
The body is primarily stainless steel on the sides, with the plastic hopper on top. As for the catcher, it can hold as much coffee as you could want. The base is open, and the grinder comes both with portafilters and a coffee container.
For the filters, there are two cradles, one for the standard 58 mm and a smaller one for the 50-54 mm filters. The container can be air-sealed and has markings on it for measuring quantity.
As for the container, one gripe you may have with it is that the opening of the container is relatively small, and the coffee can spill when you place the container in the base. However, as it happens, this grinder has a magnetically attached grind tray that collects any spills. This helps clean up any runoff grinds.
Grind-Size Adjustment
As for the grinding, this might be the most consistent coffee grinder in this list, especially in the finer ranges around AeroPress and espresso-sized grinds. Using it is very easy once you set it up.
There are 60 grind settings you can go through by using the dial on the side. In addition to this, you can also adjust the size settings of the burr itself under the hopper. So this grinder’s versatility is excellent.
Steel Burrs and the Motor
The grinder uses hardened conical steel grinders and a DC motor. The motor is a little underpowered. This makes the grinder more silent than it might have been otherwise. It may also help with consistency. However, it also means that it may take a while to grind larger doses, especially light roasted beans. If you are unfamiliar with the difference between light and dark roast, you can find out more about that here.
Typically, the quality of the grind on this grinder should be exquisite. So, all in all, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is one of the best kitchen-top coffee grinders out there.
Ease of Use
As you go through the grind sizes, the pointer on the screen moves on a horizontal line beside the four grind size categories displayed.
Here, the “smart” aspect of the grinder comes into play. Since it features smart ‘iQ dosing’ technology, you can program the amount of coffee beans it takes for a single cup/shot of coffee. Once you have that bit down, you can simply choose the number of cups you want, and the timer will adjust automatically.
The display shows the time elapsed or the time set for the grinding. It also displays the number of cups and the grind size.
Pros
- Smart iQ dosing
- LCD tech
- Easy to use once set up
- Versatile
- High consistency grinding
Cons
- A bit expensive
4. Baratza Encore Burr
Baratza is a renowned coffee grinder manufacturer, and the encore is their ultimate entry-level shelf grinder for an AeroPress.
Design and Build Quality
Unlike the Porlex Mini and the Q2, this is an electric grinder. However, it still has a small footprint and looks sleek, compact, and modern sitting on the shelf.
The assembly is super easy as well. You just take the base out of the box, put the rubber ring on it, and fit the hopper on top. After that, you pop on the on/off button on the side, and voila.
The bean hopper has a capacity of about 230 g which should be more than enough for a typical family’s morning brew.
As mentioned, the construction is pretty simple, which makes the deconstruction easy as well. It comes with a booklet that illustrates how you can take the grinder apart. So if the burr or any other part needs replacement, you can do so quickly and easily.
Grind-Size Adjustment
You rotate the hopper to adjust the grind size. There are 40 settings, and the higher you go, the coarser it gets. For an AeroPress grind, though, you only need to go up to 12. The quality of the grind is great, especially for AeroPress.
Stainless Steel Burrs
The grinder uses conical stainless steel burrs, which should last for a while. If they get dull, as is the case with most burrs when used over time, you can replace them easily.
Since this grinder runs on a DC motor and has a gear-speed-selector in place, the burrs can modulate to provide a consistent speed. This should also help keep the grinder quiet and prevent overheating.
Cleaning
Cleaning the grinder is also easy. Just take off the hopper by rotating it towards the highest setting (i.e., 40) and removing it. Then take out the burr and use the brush that comes in the box to clean under it. You can clean the burr itself with a cloth.
Pros
- Durable
- Compact
- All parts, especially the burr, are easily replaceable
- 40 settings for grind size
- Espresso size grind may not be very consistent
Cons
- Not fine enough for espresso
5. JavaPresse Manual Grinder
The JavaPresse manual grinder is a well-known coffee hand grinder. It has been around for a while and is still popular in the manual coffee grinder market.
Design and Build Quality
Its cylindrical design and stainless steel build make it both portable and durable. It has a 35 g capacity which should be enough for a couple of cups of joe. There are windows on either side of the catcher, so you can see how far it’s filled up. Just give a tap or two, and all the grind will empty into the catcher.
The handle is removable, and it fits nicely inside the plunger of an AeroPress, so it’s great for hikers and campers.
Grind-Size Adjustment
There are 18 size adjustment settings on this grinder. For an AeroPress grind, you only need to go up to 5-7 clicks. The consistency of the grind should be as good as any hand grinder out there. Also, the plastic flaps inside the grinder help separate the beans in case they are oily. This should ensure a smooth grinding experience.
Grinding with the JavaPresse for an AeroPress can take about a minute or two but should not require much effort. Since it has a smooth action, it should also be quiet. However, it may take some time if you are grinding at a fine setting and making coffee for more than two people. Still, the same can be said of any hand grinder. While you grind your beans, you can do something else to pass the time.
Ceramic Burrs
The Java Presse uses patented double-plated ceramic burrs that are supposed to last five times as long as comparable stainless steel burrs. Compared to electric grinders, these ceramic burrs should help preserve the aroma and the taste of the beans better.
Exceptional Customer Service
One of the things that make this grinder unique is the customer service behind it. We have seen people singing praises of the quick and effective responses from the Java Presse customer service.
Cleaning
Cleaning and maintaining this hand grinder should be a piece of cake. You can disassemble it by taking off the catcher, unscrewing the wheel, and taking out the ceramic burr. Clean it with water and scrape the inside with the given brush.
Overall, the JavaPresse is a handy grinder with a good track record. It can fit inside the AeroPress plunger and has a cylindrical shape which makes it easily portable. The adjustment settings make it versatile, and the excellent customer service makes it an outstanding choice for a coffee grinder. Find out more about the Java Presse here.
Pros
- Great track record
- Five times more robust patented ceramic burrs
- Durable
- Compact
- Good at fine and medium range
- Great customer service
Cons
- 35 g capacity
- Not very consistent with coarse grinds
6. Baratza Virtuoso Plus
The Virtuoso Plus is a premium coffee grinder from Baratza. It is the successor of the Baratza Virtuoso.
Design and Build Quality
Since it retired the Virtuoso grinder, it brings a couple of upgrades with it. The first is the electronic timer on the front, which replaces the old spin timer on the side. It also adds some LEDs to the mix, so the clear grind catcher is also lit by LEDs beside the LED-backlit timers. This should make it easier to gauge the receptacle and the capacity it has left.
The footprint is not big, and it should fit under the typical kitchen cabinet. The hopper has a capacity of around 230 g which should be more than enough.
Grind-Size Adjustment
You can rotate it to adjust the grind size settings. There are 40 settings in total, and each step should increase the size by increments of 30 microns. So it can go all the way from 200 microns espresso size grind to 1400 micron french press size grind. For an AeroPress grind, 4-7 clicks should be the sweet spot.
Steel Alloy Burrs
This grinder uses 40 mm steel alloy burrs which should be durable and effective for some time. When they start wearing down, Baratza ameliorates any concerns and says they have designed all their grinders to be maintained like commercial equipment.
Regular cleaning, replacing parts, and even rebuilding the grinder are part of how Baratza looks to provide a durable and practical coffee grinder. And you can see this initiative of theirs in the Baratza Encore as well.
As for the grinding experience, the powerful high-torque DC motors combined with the burr speed calibration system help ensure a quiet and consistent grind. You can set the timer down to a tenth of a second. So once you know how much time it takes to grind your morning dose, you can be precise with the timing.
When you remove the catcher after grinding, you won’t find stray grind debris. All grinds end up in the catcher, and there should be little to no mess on the shelf.
This premium grinder comes with a one-year warranty. And as mentioned above, if you need anything replaced or repaired, it should be easy to do.
Overall, this is one of the best premium coffee grinders for AeroPress. It does cost a pretty penny, but it should deliver on quality and hold value over time.
Pros
- 1- year warranty
- Robust
- Burr should be easily replaceable
- Looks elegant
- Precise electronic timer
- Fine settings
- Consistent grind
- Should not make a mess
Cons
- Expensive
- Steel burrs wear down over time
7. Hario Skerton Pro Manual Grinder
The Skerton range from Hario is a well-known, durable set of coffee grinders. The Skerton Pro is a step up from the Skerton Plus. It is a manual grinder with a pot-like shape. It features a robust Hario glass and plastic construction.
Design and Build Quality
There are flakes that run down the shaft and prevent twisting and turning of the body while grinding. For its size and at under 500 g, this is a relatively large capacity hand grinder. It can hold and grind up to 60 g of coffee beans per dose. You can use the catcher itself as a coffee pot since it comes with a separate lid.
The handle is an improvement over the Hario Plus. It is a thick and sturdy removable handle that should help with grinding. As far as grinding AeroPress size coffee is concerned, it should not take long. However, if you are looking for something with consistency, you might want to look elsewhere.
Grind-Size Adjustment
For the AeroPress size settings, you can adjust the wheel up to 5 clicks. It shouldn’t be loud or take too much time and effort. However, holding it while grinding may not feel as comfortable. You can grind while it sits on the shelf; the non-slip base should help.
Ceramic Conical Burrs
The ceramic burrs should be durable and effective for grinding coffee. However, some people complained that the burrs crushed more than they ground the beans.
Cleaning
Since this grinder is made from plastic, glass, and ceramic, washing it should not be troublesome. Just take off the large catcher, unscrew the adjustment wheel, take out the burr and everything comes apart.
Overall, this is a good large-sized and relatively lightweight manual hand grinder for travelers and campers. Coupled with an AeroPress, it should cater to a couple of people quite easily.
Pros
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Large 60 g capacity
- Non-slip base
- Handy jar-like catcher
- Quick grinder
- Not very expensive
- Non-slip base and hefty handle for grinding
Cons
- Grind inconsistency as burrs wear down
- May not fit into an AeroPress for a compact kit
8. Cuisinart DBM-8
Cuisinart is a familiar name in the home coffee grinding community. It is an inexpensive electric coffee grinder. Compared to the other grinders on this list, it is a bit large. But even then, it should not take up too much space on the shelf. The body is made from brushed stainless steel, except for the transparent extra-large hopper and the grind catcher. So it will look good sitting there too.
The hopper can hold half a pound of coffee, and the catcher can hold up to 32 cups worth of coffee. Capacity should never be an issue with this grinder. And for specifying the dose quantity, you can adjust the dial between 4-12 cups. This should make measuring the beans much more efficient.
Grind-Size Adjustment
There are 18 settings for grind size, which you can go through by rotating the hopper. The grind sizes go all the way from extra-fine to off-the-course coarse.
As for grinding, this device has a powerful DC motor that can be a bit loud. However, it also has an auto shut-off feature. This should ensure the maximum aroma and flavors for a better cup of coffee.
Cleaning
We would recommend getting a coffee grinder cleaning brush beside the small scoop/brush that comes with it. Since this is such a large capacity grinder, the ground beans can get stuck in there, especially if you’re using light-roast coffee.
All in all, this is a great inexpensive coffee grinder that you can use with an AeroPress. It does not take up too much space and has large hopper and catcher capacities. So a family-sized brew in the morning should be no problem.
Pros
- Looks clean
- Large capacity
- Long-lasting
- Inexpensive
Cons
- A bit large
- Loud
- Short power cord
Buying Guide
Now that we have gone through the list, let us look at the features you should consider when buying a coffee grinder for an AeroPress. The priorities here are not the same as a regular coffee grinder. Even some great grinders for general use may not turn out to be the choice for use with an AeroPress.
Portability
People use AeroPress to make coffee both at home and outside. You can also use other methods of brewing while you are at home. However, if you are outdoors, your options get a little limited. So if you plan on using your coffee grinder outdoors, it has to be portable.
This means features like compact, lightweight, and easy to store should be on the top of your list.
For example, the Porlex Mini and the 1Z Presso Q2 check all of the concerned boxes.
Size and Power
If you plan on getting a grinder for outdoor use, getting something small is essential. It would also have to be a manual grinder rather than an electric one. Even if you plan to use it in an RV or a motorhome, an electric grinder would still be better if it was compact.
Other than that, you also need to look at the capacity of the grinder. For example, if you are going on a solo trip, getting the 1Z Presso Q2 would be fine for a cup per grind. However, if you are going around camping with a couple of people, you will need a bigger grinder, perhaps the Hario Skerton Pro.
And lastly, if you get an electric grinder, you need to check how much power it draws. If you use it in an RV, you should ensure it will not make the system trip.
Durability
You also have to make sure that the grinder you choose is robust and can take a few hits. Whether it is out in the wilderness or at home, mistakes are bound to happen. Being prepared for accidents is crucial.
Having coffee grinders like the Porlex Mini and the JavaPresse manual grinder is a major plus. Even for kitchen grinders like the Baratza Encore, having a durable design is always better than something that looks elegant but is fragile. After all, the kitchen is no place for fragility.
Grind Quality
One of the most obvious qualities you would look for in a coffee grinder is the ground coffee itself. Now, the thing with AeroPress grinders is that they often have to be manual and small. So unlike kitchen grinders, they may not have a lot to work with.
This can mean that the grind may not always be consistent. This becomes more and more apparent as the grinder ages.
So one of the things you have to keep an eye out for is excellent consistency. Generally, with hand grinders, the consistency can suffer in the extremes, i.e., the french press and the extra-fine espresso grind sizes. Furthermore, among the two extremes, the french press size may experience more inconsistency when it comes to compact, handheld grinders.
To summarize, if you are looking for a grinder solely for AeroPress, a manual coffee grinder may be the best choice for you. However, if you are looking for outstanding consistency in all sizes, not all grinders can deliver that well.
Burr or Blades
Most of the coffee grinders on this list feature burrs rather than blades. Both burrs and blades serve the same function. They grind the coffee.
However, there is a significant difference between how the burr and the blades work. While blades chop away at the coffee beans willy-nilly, the burr is a bit more surgical. When coffee beans are being ground by the burr, each bean must be milled to a specific size. If the bean is bigger than that size, it gets further ground. As the grinding goes on, all the beans are supposed to end up around the same size.
On the other hand, blades simply cut the beans no matter the size. As a result of this, the consistency of the ground coffee can suffer quite a bit.
Ceramic vs Steel
Now that we have established why you should go with burrs over blades, let’s look into the two main types of burrs. Burrs are typically either made from stainless steel or ceramic.
While stainless steel blades can be outstanding during early use, they start wearing quicker than ceramic burrs. On the other hand, ceramic burrs are not as sharp as steel burrs. However, they make up for it with greater consistency in the grind. Ceramic burrs can also be a little more expensive than stainless steel burrs. You may notice this if you ever have to replace one.
While ceramic burrs do not perform as well as stainless steel burrs at the start, they catch up in the long run. They do this by providing a consistent grind and a greater operational lifetime. Thus, the more expensive cost is offset by eliminating the need for regular replacements.
After-Sales Services
As with any other product, after-sales services are crucial in deciding whether you should buy a product.
For example, with the JavaPresse manual coffee grinder, a huge plus is the excellent customer service. The grinder has been around for quite some time now. You can be sure that swift and effective responses from the JavaPresse customer service have a role to play.
Whatever coffee grinder you are looking up, make sure you go through the reviews it may have. Even if there are complaints about the grinder quality among the negative reviews, if the customer service seems proactive, a coffee grinder can be worth the price.
FAQs
1. What is the best coffee grinder for AeroPress Go?
The AeroPress Go is a mini version of the normal AeroPress. Our top-rated coffee grinders, including the Porlex Mini and the 1Z Presso, should go great with the AeroPress Go. They are just the right size and can fit into the plunger of the AeroPress Go. This makes a great compact coffee kit for traveling.
Other than that, you could also look at the Hario Skerton Pro. It isn’t as small as the Porlex Mini or the Q2. But it does have a larger capacity and is still portable and durable.
2. What is the best traveling coffee grinder?
We think the Porlex Mini, the 1Z Presso Q2, and the Hario Skerton Pro are all great as traveling coffee grinders.
Both the Mini and the Q2 are lightweight, cylindrical, and easy to carry. However, the Porlex does have a slightly larger capacity than the Q2. On the other hand, the Hario Skerton is a bit bigger than both of the other grinders, but it has three times the capacity of the Q2. The Hario is still just as durable and easier to wash since it is made of robust Hario glass and plastic.
So it depends on your specific conditions. If you are short on space and need something small for a solo trip, go with the Porlex Mini or the Q2. However, if you do have a little bit of room to spare, the Hario Skerton Pro is an excellent option for an AeroPress coffee grinder while traveling.
3. What are the other ways of brewing coffee besides AeroPress?
There are a bunch of ways of making coffee besides AeroPress. From French Press to espresso, you have drips, pour overs, and so on. You can find out more about the different ways to brew coffee here.
4. How frequently should you clean your grinder?
This depends on how frequently you use the grinder. Generally, you should clean it every four to seven uses. The more regularly you can do it, the better.
Most grinders come with a cleaning brush. And if they do not, all the better. The ones that come in the box are usually relatively small so having a bigger one around is always helpful.
With stainless steel manual grinders like the Porlex Mini, washing the grinder should be a piece of cake. Simply soak the parts in soapy water or place the parts under running water. Just make sure you take care of all the plastic parts and the ceramic burrs, if any. These parts can get damaged easily.
As for manual grinders with hardened steel burrs, you should be better off using a cloth and a brush. The same goes for electric grinders like the Baratza Encore and the Breville Smart grinder.
Conclusion
There are many different types of coffee grinders you can use with an AeroPress. If you plan on taking a trip out into the wilderness, small manual grinders like the Porlex Mini should do just fine. However, if you are going camping in an RV, small electric grinders like the Baratza Encore should be great.
There are nuances to keep in mind with any grinder. Some are great with consistency, and others provide outstanding portability and versatility. So whichever one you choose, you can pick one according to your specific needs. If you are in doubt, you can refer to the buying guide for some general tips, and it should help you choose the best grinder for AeroPress.