Manual coffee grinders are very interesting to a lot of people. This has to do with their pricing, portability, convenience and the fact that they are manual. If you, like many others, prefer manual grinders over electric ones, you’ve come to the right article. We have a list of the best manual coffee grinders on the market for you, and trust us, you don’t want to miss it.
#1 JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder – People’s choice
The JavaPresse is a manual coffee grinder that is extremely popular among people. This is, undoubtedly, one of the most affordable, most lightweight and most portable grinders out there. That said, you can find it in the backpacks of travelers, campers, and people who are outdoors for some reason.
The grinder has more than 15 grind settings that are available to you at a click. This means that it helps you perfectly customize the grind to the coffee drink of your preference. Its capacity of 40 grams, furthermore, allows you to grind enough coffee for multiple people at once. The grinder is also quiet and comes with a code for a free bag of coffee. Needless to say, this is a great grinder to have around when you want to make coffee in the early morning without waking anyone.
You might need a bit more effort to grind with the JavaPresse and you might doubt the durability of its plastic parts. However, the fact that so many people like the grinder should be enough proof that the grinder is worth buying.
Key features:
- Patented ceramic combo burrs
- More than 15 grind settings
- Housing made of brushed stainless steel
- Capacity of 40 grams
- Dimensions: 1.8’’ x 7.5’’ x 1.8’’
Pros
Allows you to adjust the coffee grind to the coffee drink of your preference with great precision
Very small and portable
Doesn’t make a lot of noise when grinding
Highly affordable
A 12-ounce bag of coffee as a free gift
Cons
Grinding with the JavaPresse requires a bit more effort than some other grinders require
There are some plastic parts in the grinder that might not be very durable
#2 Porlex Jp-30 Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder – Made in Japan
The Japanese have been placing good-quality products on the market for years now. Such products are made by companies like Porlex, hence the lack of surprise when one hears how popular the Porlex coffee grinders are.
The 1-ounce Jp-30 is one of Porelx’s most famous stainless steel grinders. The grinder grinds your coffee coarse or fine with the help of its 12 grind settings and the ceramic conical burrs. People usually prefer ceramic burrs over stainless steel ones because they don’t tend to wear off that easily. This, of course, is a telltale of the good quality of the grinder, and we honestly can’t expect less the grinder being Japanese. The proof of its quality is, however, found in the great grinding consistency of this grinder, making it great for all sorts of coffee drinks.
Other than the aforementioned, the Porlex J-30 features a very-easy-to-use cranking mechanism making coffee preparation nothing but pure joy. The grinder is, furthermore, very portable thanks to its near-pocket-size dimensions. Now, this is a pricey product and its handle can sometimes accidentally detach. However, we think that its consistency and easiness of use definitely come before the two downsides.
Key features:
- Ceramic conical burrs
- About 12 grind settings
- Capacity of 1 ounce
- Made of stainless steel
- Dimensions: 1.9’’ x 7.6’’ x 1.9’’
Pros
Very durable
Perfect for grinding coffee for different coffee drinks
Grinds the coffee with great consistency
An easy-to-use cranking mechanism
Portable due to its small size
Cons
The handle of the grinder might come off while you’re grinding
Pricey
#3 Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder – The best grinder for one coffee shot
The Porlex Mini is a stainless steel coffee grinder that could be considered as a smaller version of the Porlex J-30. Mini’s bean holding capacity is smaller than the one of the J-30, but this makes it the perfect grinder for a single shot of coffee. Furthermore, its capacity doesn’t require the bean chamber to be excessively large. This is why the grinder was designed with a smaller size—a size adequate for a grinder you could take on your travels. Add to that its removable handle, and you are ready to go without a bump in your backpack.
This manual grinder has 13 settings, ranking high on the list of manual grinders that can make you the perfect coffee drink. Its consistency is the best when it doesn’t grind the coffee too coarse or too fine. Now, its grind settings are not exactly marked, but we think that you’ll get to like this grinder so much that you’ll learn the settings by heart. The Mini is, overall, very easy to use, grinds the beans quickly, and will satisfy your need for coffee, whether you are on a business trip or traveling for fun.
Key features:
- Ceramic conical burrs
- 13 grind settings
- Capacity of 0.7 ounces
- Made of stainless steel
- Dimensions: 6’’ x 2.3’’ x 1.8’’
Pros
Very portable due to its removable handle and small size
Nice consistency
Very easy to use
Has many grind settings
Cons
Cannot ‘brag’ with being able to hold a large quantity of beans
Grind settings are not marked
#4 Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Coffee Mill – A very well thought out grinder
Not everybody needs smaller grinders. For those who need a larger grinder in their kitchen, we have a great one of those on the list. The grinder we’d like to talk about is the Hario Skerton Pro—an upgrade to the previous Hario Classic, and, oh, what an upgrade. The Pro features improved ceramic conical burrs with a stabilizing plate and has an improved handle. These two improvements help the grinder to grind as much as 3.5 ounces of coffee coarser and finer with a nice consistency, just the way coffee lovers like it.
As you can notice, this is a grinder with a big capacity and that translates into larger dimensions. This means that you can’t really fit it in your purse when you go to travel, but you can certainly make it a part of your luggage thanks to its removable handle and. Speaking of the handle, not only is it removable, but it is also very large and helps you grind the coffee easily. Another thing that makes the grinding easy is the slip-free base of the grinder. Now, this is a grinder that has glass parts that are potentially fragile. However, glass is a material that is used for the making of many great products related to food and drinks. Furthermore, we have to admit that it also makes the Pro look nicer.
Key features:
- Ceramic conical burrs
- Capacity of 3.5 ounces
- Dimensions: 16’’ x 11’’ x 13’’
- Made of glass, silicone, plastic and steel
- Large and removable handle
Pros
Large capacity
Lightweight, even though larger than some other grinders on the list
Hopper can be attached to other containers in case you want to store the ground coffee there
Improved design of its burrs and handle for easier grinding
Slip-free base which makes grinding easy and safe
Cons
Made of glass, meaning that it is more prone to breaking than stainless steel grinders and grinders made of other materials
#5 Hario MSS-1B Ceramic Coffee Mill – A slim grinder with a very nice consistency
Sometimes you need a grinder that can fit in between the millions of items in your kitchen, but that also has a nice capacity. Finding a grinder like that might not be easy, but the Hario MSS-1B definitely fits those requirements. This grinder is so slim, you will think it’s one of your glasses when you put it on your counter. You need more storage? Great! The MSS-1B comes with a removable handle which you can detach once you’re done using the grinder.
The grinder has a capacity of two cups. This means that it is one of the things that could help keep the relationship with your partner great. Its ground coffee container has the coffee quantity marked in cups and is removable like the handle. The thing with coffee grinders having removable parts is that this way you can easily clean and maintain them.
Now, even though cleaning and maintenance is very easy, you might have a tougher time trying to fine grind your coffee. However the results are worth it. And about the user manual being in Japanese only— there’s a lot of information on how to use the grinder available in English everywhere online.
Key features:
- Ceramic burrs
- Capacity of two cups
- Removable handle
- Removable container for ground coffee
- Cup marks on the coffee ground container
Pros
Ceramic burrs that will last long
Very good consistency
Very slim and great for crowded cupboards and kitchens
Lightweight
Affordable
Cons
The user manual doesn’t come in English, but in Japanese
It will take you some time to fine grind your coffee with this grinder
#6 Khaw-Fee HG1B Manual Coffee Grinder – A grinder with an infinitely adjustable grind
The Khaw-Fee HG1B is a very affordable manual coffee grinder with an infinitely adjustable grind. This, intuitively, speaks about the comfort of being able to adjust the grind to the exact level of coarseness you prefer. Once you do that, you have a nice handle on your disposal to grind the coffee with. The grinder then lets the coffee fall inside its glass container. Unfortunately, the container doesn’t have marks for the coffee quantity. However, since the container is made of glass, it is very easy to see how much coffee is in it.
The Khaw-Fee HG1B uses a conical ceramic burr to grind the coffee nicely without striping it off of its flavor and aroma. The grinding process itself is safe and easy to the silicone base of the grinder and its quiet coffee grinding system. In case something happens to the grinder, however, you can use the lifetime guarantee and warranty that it has. This could be useful if, for example, the bolt at the top of the shaft starts feeling lose, which seems to be a pretty common concern among customers when it comes to this grinder.
Key features:
- Conical ceramic burr
- Infinitely adjustable grind
- Glass container
- Silicone base
Pros
Works quietly when grinding
Easily portable
Durable because of its stainless steel parts
Lifetime guarantee and warranty
Silicone base for easier grinding
Cons
No marks for the grind settings
Some people complain about the bolt at the top of the shaft being too lose
#7 KONA Manual Coffee Grinder – Incredibly affordable
If you are looking for a good manual coffee grinder that costs less than a flash drive and works nicely, you can get the KONA grinder. This grinder has conical burrs made of ceramic that make sure that the freshness of your coffee doesn’t get lost during the grinding process. This freshness is preserved no matter which one of the 18 levels of coarseness you decide your coffee should have.
The KONA manual coffee grinder has a static-free glass container that has a capacity of 1.7 ounces. That said, the grinder can easily grind you enough coffee for a few coffee shots, not letting it stick to the walls of the container. Once you’re done grinding, you can easily clean it and store it back inside your cupboard. Don’t worry about the grinder taking too much space because it has a very slim design and a removable handle that add to its compactness.
Key features:
- Ceramic conical burrs
- Over 18 grind settings
- Glass container with a capacity of 1.7 ounces
- Removable crank handle
Pros
Extremely affordable
Many grind settings available for customizing the coffee grounds to your coffee drink
Static-free glass container makes sure you can use almost all of the coffee grounds for making coffee
Slim design and removable handle help the grinder take as little space in your home as possible
Nice capacity
Cons
Not the most comfortable of handles
The grind settings are not marked
#8 NORPRO Coffee Grinder – A grinder with a beautiful drawer-like design
The NORPRO coffee grinder is definitely a grinder that stands out from the grinders on this list because of its design. This bottom of the grinder is actually a wooden drawer that looks stylish and can be a great decorative element for your home. And if you think that the manufacturers of the grinder focused more on its design than on the grinding quality, you are wrong. Yes, the design is definitely in the first place here, but the grinder actually grinds the coffee with great consistency.
There are, however, two things that some people perceive as downsides when it comes to this grinder. Even though the NORPRO grinds coffee with great consistency, it is not the best grinder to use on a daily basis. However, it is amazing if you use it to grind some coffee from time to time. Furthermore, its hopper is kind of small and has no lid, so you might experience some beans flying out of it while grinding. If you put smaller quantities of beans in the hopper, however, you will probably be fine. This will also make the process be a bit more manual, and people who love manual coffee grinders love this.
Key features:
- Ceramic conical burrs
- Indefinite grind settings
- Made of wood
- Dimensions: 4.5’’ x 4.5’’ x 8’’
- Capacity of 2.6 ounces
Pros
Great design with the grinder being made like a wooden drawer
Nice consistency
Small and saves on space
Affordable
Cons
Not durable enough to be used on a daily basis
Beans can jump out of the bean hopper during grinding because the hopper doesn’t have a lid
#9 Zassenhaus “Santiago” Mahogany Manual Coffee Mill – Vintage and great for espresso
The Zassenhaus “Santiago” is the perfect grinder for everyone who enjoys being in the presence of vintage things. The design of this manual coffee grinder will fill your house with classy vibes as the grinder’s drawer bottom sits on your kitchen shelf, ready for the next grinding. And it should be ready, since it is, honestly, quite pricey. But you definitely get the value for the money with the Santiago, and that is thanks to many of its features.
The Santiago has a carbon steel conical burr that, when combined with the infinite grind settings, grinds your coffee with an almost impeccable consistency. You should, of course, not expect any less from a product that has a reputation as one of the best manual coffee grinders out there. The grinder is great for grinding the coffee coarse or fine, but it is especially great for espresso. It is made of great-quality materials, one of which is mahogany wood. However, the grinder does have a 25-year warranty in case it starts to malfunction.
Key features:
- Carbon steel conical burr
- Infinite grind settings
- Made of mahogany wood
Pros
Beautifully designed in the shape of a drawer and made of mahogany wood
Nice consistency
Great for different kinds of coffee drinks (especially espresso) because of its infinite grind settings
25-year warranty
Cons
Pricey
Heavy
FAQ
Which manual coffee grinder is best to use at home?
This will largely depend on how sophisticated you want your grinder to be and your budget. Even though, in general, manual coffee grinders are less expensive than the electric ones, you still want to consider their price. Pricier grinders usually have more features to offer. For a more detailed explanation on what to look for in manual coffee grinders, check out our buyer’s guide that follows after the FAQ section.
Why would someone pick a manual coffee grinder instead of an electric one?
People prefer manual coffee grinders because they are quieter, portable and don’t consume electric energy. Furthermore, many people like being immersed in the coffee-making experience, and they feel like manual grinders help them with that. Coffee enthusiasts also say that manual coffee grinders can improve the flavor of the coffee by preserving the freshness of the beans. Finally, most manual grinders are more affordable than electric ones.
Are manual coffee grinders easy to clean?
Yes, these grinders are pretty easy to clean in general. Most of them are easy to disassemble, and, of course, none of them uses electricity. This means that you don’t need to worry if some water landed where you didn’t want it to land. As far as what you need to clean a manual grinder, usually some water, dish washing detergent and a few q-tips will do.
Things to consider when buying a manual coffee grind
Grind settings – The more grind settings, the better. This will help you better customize the grind for the coffee drink you’re about to make.
Burrs – You can go ceramic or stainless steel, but we do recommend ceramic. This is because ceramic doesn’t wear off and it’s easier to remove the coffee oils from it. However, stainless steel is a good choice for people who like to travel and need a more durable grinder.
Capacity – This will depend on your preferences. If you need to grind more coffee at once, you might want to buy a grinder with greater capacity. However, if you don’t intend to use the grinder too much or need it for a shot of coffee or two, a grinder with a smaller capacity will do. Keep in mind that this will probably affect the portability of the grinder. Grinders with smaller capacity are often smaller in size and are hence more portable as far as size is concerned.
Ergonomic handle – You’ll be using your hand to grind the coffee, so the grinder’s handle should be comfortable to you. Longer handles with a comfy top are usually the best.
Durability – You want a grinder that will last long. Pick grinders that are made of stainless steel, wood and that don’t have many glass parts. Also, go for a grinder with a sturdy construction. You don’t want flimsy parts, after all.
Portability – Grinders smaller in size and with removable parts are usually the most portable ones. Also, stainless steel grinders are more likely to ‘survive’ on a travel because they’re more durable.
Conclusion
We hope that you liked at least one of the grinders that we put on our list of best manual coffee grinders. After all, these are the grinders that many people find to be good on a daily basis. As far as what the best manual coffee grinder is for you, we will let you come to your own conclusion about that.