Looking for the perfect cup of coffee can be a daunting task, especially when brewing coffee with a French press. The key to achieving the perfect cup is to use freshly ground coffee beans. A high-quality coffee grinder can make a world of difference in the taste and quality of your coffee.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best coffee grinder for French press, which will help you take your coffee brewing experience to the next level. We’ll also discuss their features, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision when choosing the best coffee grinders for your French press.
Table of Contents
Our Recommendations Best Coffee Grinder for French Press
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Breville BCG820BSSXL The Smart Grinder Pro – Best Overall | Stylish and made with technology Top-notch motor and burrs User-friendly There are a lot of extras |
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Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder – Best Quality | A good deal for the money The burrs and motor are of high quality. Makes a very uniform grin |
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Handground Precision Manual Coffee Grinder | Simple to grind Can grind a lot of coffee at once, which is usually what you need for a French Press. A good amount of grind |
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Manual Coffee Grinder by JavaPresse – Best Budget | Very affordable for anyone Very strong and easy to move Quiet grinder |
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Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder – Best Value | Very strong and easy to move Can grind fine enough for a French Press. Pretty cheap |
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Javapresse Manual Coffee Grinder | Burr size: 50 mm Burr material: Steel Hopper capacity: 10.6 oz |
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Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder | Economical 16-settings for grinding Can be used for all kinds of drinks |
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Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder | There’s a catch bin for the grounds Easy to hold Made of static-free borosilicate glass |
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Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Grinder | Compact Grinds coffee grounds consistently Made of stainless steel |
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Top 9 Best Coffee Grinders for French Press:
1) Breville BCG820BSSXL The Smart Grinder Pro – Best Overall:
Breville is known for making appliances that are easy to use and work as well as those made by professionals. The Breville Smart Grinder is our pick for the best coffee grinder for French press, and it’s also one of our favorite burr grinders in general. Why? Let’s find out.
The 40 mm conical steel burrs on this coffee grinder are pretty standard, but what makes it stand out is its great user interface and ability to be programmed. This is a “smart” grinder, just like its name says. Use the big LCD screen to choose a grind setting and program a dose, which can be either the number of cups, the number of espresso shots, or a set amount of time, accurate to 0.2 seconds.
The Smart Grinder has 60 settings for grinding, so it can be used for any type of brewing, from cold brew to espresso. Because of this, it comes with both a ground catch bin and a fork to hold the portafilter.
All Breville appliances have a brushed stainless finish, which gives the Smart Grinder a classy look. It has the biggest hopper of any coffee grinder on this list. This, along with the fact that it can be used without using your hands, means that it can grind a lot of coffee beans at once.
2) Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder – Best Quality:
Baratza is one of the few brands that makes high-end home coffee grinders and is now owned by Breville. It has won awards from the Specialty Coffee Association (4). For a simple French press brew, their more expensive grinders might be overkill, but the Baratza Encore is just right. It still has the expertise of the brand behind it, but the price is much more reasonable.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the winner because it has more grind settings, a better interface, and a bigger bean hopper than the Encore. Still, its 40 mm conical steel burr set is just as good at making consistent coffee grounds for French press, and it costs less.
The Encore is available in black or white, and it looks like a Baratza coffee grinder with its smooth curves and small footprint. It doesn’t have an LCD screen, but instead has simple buttons that make it easy to use. It has a switch to turn it on and off and a manual button to make it grind in short bursts.
3) Handground Precision Manual Coffee Grinder:
The Handground is a hand-cranked coffee grinder that tries to fix some of the most common problems with hand-crank grinders. It has 15 settings for how fine or coarse you want the coffee to be ground. The hopper or top section can hold an impressive 100g of coffee, and it has good ceramic conical burrs. The most unique thing about the Handground is that, unlike almost all other hand grinders, it has a handle on the side.
The makers say this makes grinding easier. The real benefits of this grinder are that it is easier to use than most hand grinders, which is a big deal if you have ever used a hand grinder, and that it can grind more coffee at once than most hand grinders. Because of these two things, it is a good choice for French Press.
If you want a good grinder that can handle coarse grinds well but don’t want to spend the money on an electric grinder, this might be the one for you. But it’s important to note that the picture doesn’t really show how big this thing is. Even though it says it’s a portable hand grinder, it’s pretty big and not very good for traveling.
4) Manual Coffee Grinder by JavaPresse – Best Budget:
Since a long time ago, the Javapresse has been a favorite of many coffee lovers. Basically, it’s just a decent grinder that’s easy to take with you and doesn’t cost much.
It has 18 different grinding settings, and ceramic burrs, and can hold up to 40g of coffee beans. It’s advertised as a hand grinder that doesn’t make a lot of noise so as not to disturb the peace and quiet. It’s also made for traveling and camping.
The only problem with this grinder is that it’s probably the lowest-quality one on this list and won’t be able to match the consistency of the grinders above.
Also, its small size, which makes it great for traveling, doesn’t make it a good choice for people who like to make a lot of French Press coffee at once. So, the Javapresse is something to think about if you usually only make coffee for yourself or you and your partner/spouse and you take your coffee gear with you a lot.
5) Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder – Best Value:
Another popular hand grinder for traveling or camping is the Porlex Mini. It is very small and light, and it can even fit inside an Aeropress! This coffee grinder from Japan has 13 settings, ceramic conical burrs, and a capacity of 20g.
But even though the Porlex mini is small, it packs a lot of power and is a great grinder for the price. It’s also made with a lot of stainless steel, which makes it last longer than many of its rivals.
So, if you like to use your French Press in the wild or while traveling around the world and only make coffee for yourself, the Porlex Mini is a great choice. It’s important to note, though, that like the Javapresse, the cheaper price will mean the grind size will be less consistent.
6) Eureka Mignon Crono
Eureka specializes in pricey high-end grinders, so it may come as a surprise that they have an inexpensive French press grinder. The Eureka Mignon Crono lacks many of the flashy features and programmability of the more expensive Mignon models but retains the Italian brand’s signature build quality and elegant style.
The Mignon Crono is equipped with 50 mm of flat steel burrs that produce homogeneous grounds. In addition, it is the only grinder on this list featuring an infinitely adjustable step-less grind adjustment.
It utilizes the same patent-protected grind adjust technology as pricier models. Additionally, the Crono is outfitted with Eureka’s Anti-Clump and Electrostaticity (ACE) system, which ensures fluffy and static-free grounds.
The timer of the Mignon Crono is programmable from 5 to 60 seconds, or you can grind manually by pressing a button. This grinder’s affordability is a result of its straightforward operation, which also provides a pleasant user experience.
The beautiful Mignon series of grinders are distinguished by their unusual square hoppers and square footprints. The Crono is available in either black or white, and its die-cast aluminum body is far more robust than plastic.
7) Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder:
The Capresso Infinity is a very well-known electric burr coffee grinder for people who are just starting out. I’ve had two of them in my coffee journey, and I’ve told my friends and family to get them. This coffee grinder is cheap, reliable, easy to use, and a big step up from a blade coffee grinder.
The Infinity has conical steel burrs that are made for commercial use and are made in a way that cuts precisely and evenly. The gear reduction motor grinds at a slower RPM than most, which makes the grinder quieter, reduces static buildup and makes the coffee smell better.
It has 16 settings for grinding, ranging from very fine for Turkish coffee to very coarse for cold brew. I wouldn’t recommend it as an espresso coffee grinder because it only has 16 settings, which isn’t enough to dial in a shot. But it works great for the French press because the middle settings give a consistent grind.
It’s a well-made coffee grinder that comes in black or silver and has an 8.8 oz hopper and a 4 oz bin for the ground coffee. Even though I’d like a metal housing or a lid for the coffee grounds bin, these upgrades would make the price go up, and one of the best things about the Infinity is how cheap it is.
8) Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder:
Bodum is known for making designs that are fun and easy to use, with soft silicone grips and bright colors. The friendly Bodum Bistro coffee grinder is also available in black, white, silver, copper, red, and lime green.
The Bistro is a great choice for a grinder because it has the right mix of quality, functionality, and low price. It’s not expensive, but it’s not cheap either. It has 35 mm stainless steel conical burrs that are a little smaller and a few less grind settings than more expensive models. But these won’t make much of a difference when you grind coffee for a French press.
It’s easy to use the Bodum Bistro. Turn the hopper to change the size of the grind, then press the button to start grinding. You can even set a timer so that you always grind the same amount.
The catch bin for the grounds is another nice thing about the Bodum Bistro. It’s better than the Capresso Infinity because it’s made of static-free borosilicate glass and has a colored silicone band that makes it easy to hold.
9) Hario Skerton Pro Coffee Grinder:
The Japanese company Hario is well-known in the coffee industry for making designs that are both useful and affordable (5). Even though the V60 pour-over brewer is their best-selling item, the Skerton manual grinders are just as good. The new and improved Skerton Pro is worth the small price increase because it has some nice improvements over the original Skerton.
Ceramic conical burrs are used in the Skerton Pro, and its 2.1 oz hopper and 3.5 oz container for ground coffee are big for a manual coffee grinder. The Javapress is mostly made of stainless steel, but the Hario Skerton Pro is mostly made of glass and plastic, so you have to be a bit more careful with it. The wide base made of silicone is a great addition because it keeps it firmly on the counter while you grind.
With the Pro model, Hario made the grinding handle stronger and easier to connect to the lid. The mechanism for making adjustments has also been improved, making it easier to find the right grind setting. Most importantly, some small changes to the design have made the drive axle stronger and cut down on burr wobble.
This makes the grounds more consistent, especially at the rougher end. Before, we told you not to use the Skerton manual grinder for French Press, but not anymore!
Buying Guide: What to Consider When Buying the Best Coffee Grinder for French Press?
Consistency Of Grind:
The consistency and uniformity of the grind size is the most important thing about a coffee grinder. As was said above, the coffee tastes better when the grind particles are all the same size. This is because the less likely it is that too much or too little coffee will be taken out, the more uniform the coffee particles are.
There is no such thing as a perfect coffee grinder, and even commercial grinders that cost thousands still crush coffee beans into a variety of sizes. In particular, all coffee grinders make something called “fines,” which are tiny pieces of coffee that look like dust.
The problem with fines is that they tend to over-extract because they are so much smaller than the other coffee grinds. This makes them taste bitter, which is not good.
The better the grinder, the less fines it will make. The cheaper the grinder, the more fines and different sizes of coffee particles it will make. We think that all of the grinders we suggest are good enough to buy and use for French Press, but the more expensive automatic grinders will make a more even grind than the hand grinders.
So, if you are a coffee geek (which is a compliment, not an insult) and want the best coffee possible, you might want to buy one of the automatic grinders.
Grind Settings:
People often ask, “How many different grind settings do I need for my first grinder?” Is the Porlex’s 13 grinds per minute enough, or do I need the Breville Smart Grinder Pro’s 60?
And, as you may have guessed, the answer is that it depends. The main thing that makes a difference is whether you only want to use this grinder for French Press or if you want to use it for a variety of ways to make coffee. If you only want to use it for French Press, 13+ will be enough. It will also mean that you can’t really play around with the size of the grind. You will only have one or two coarse settings.
If you want to use it for different ways to make coffee, we suggest 40 or more grind settings. This will let you grind for almost any kind of brewing (with the possible exception of espresso and Turkish). With more grind settings, you can also play around with grind size.
This is both fun and useful, especially if you are using a variety of single-origin coffees that were grown at different altitudes and roasted in different ways. It will let you change the grind setting more carefully to get the best flavor out of your beans.
Cleaning:
When buying a grinder for plunger coffee, you should also think about how much time and effort you want to spend cleaning it. As a general rule, it’s harder to clean an electric or automatic grinder than a manual one. This is because there are more parts to clean and more places where coffee dust and particles can get in.
No matter what kind of grinder you have, you should clean it often to keep the grind quality high and the grinder and burrs lasting as long as possible. When grinders aren’t cleaned regularly, old, stale coffee grinds end up in the French Press, which makes the coffee taste bad.
Capacity to Grind:
The last important thing to think about is how much coffee you will need to grind at once for your French Press. This will make a big difference in which coffee grinder you choose. If you only ever make one cup of coffee for yourself, you could get by with a hand grinder. But if you usually make a lot of French Press coffee for a lot of people or just for yourself, you probably won’t be able to use a hand grinder. It will be much easier to just buy an electric grinder.
Bottom Line: Best Coffee Grinders for French press
In conclusion, selecting the right coffee grinder is essential for brewing a delicious cup of French press coffee. After researching and testing various coffee grinders, we’ve identified three of the best options to suit different budgets and needs.
Our top pick is the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, which offers precision grinding settings, user-friendly interface, and durable construction. It may come with a higher price tag than some other options, but its quality and reliability make it an excellent choice for coffee enthusiasts.
For those on a budget, the Manual Coffee Grinder by JavaPresse is a great option. It’s portable, easy to use, and can grind coffee to a consistent and even size. It may require more effort to grind the coffee manually, but it’s a reliable and affordable choice for anyone looking to enjoy French press coffee at home.
Finally, for those who want the best quality and are willing to invest in a top-of-the-line grinder, the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is an excellent choice. Its conical burrs grind coffee to a consistent and even size, resulting in a rich and flavorful cup of coffee.
No matter which grinder you choose, investing in a high-quality coffee grinder is a worthwhile investment for anyone who enjoys the art of brewing a perfect cup of coffee.
FAQs:
Here are some FAQs about the best coffee grinder for French press:
Why is a coffee grinder important for French press coffee?
A coffee grinder is important for French press coffee because it allows you to grind your coffee beans to the perfect consistency for French press brewing, which helps to unlock the full flavor potential of the beans.
What should be the ideal grind size for French press coffee?
The ideal grind size for French press coffee should be coarse and even, similar to the consistency of sea salt. This helps to ensure that the coffee is brewed evenly and that the flavors are fully extracted.
What type of coffee grinder is best for French press coffee?
A burr grinder is the best type of coffee grinder for French press coffee because it grinds the beans evenly and consistently, which is important for achieving a balanced and flavorful cup of coffee.
Can I use a blade grinder for French press coffee?
While blade grinders can be used for French press coffee, they are not ideal because they tend to produce an uneven grind, which can result in an inconsistent and inferior cup of coffee.
How often should I clean my coffee grinder?
It is recommended to clean your coffee grinder after every use to prevent any build-up of oils and coffee particles that can affect the flavor of your coffee.
Why Use a Burr Grinder Instead of a Blade Grinder?
The main reason to use a burr grinder instead of a blade grinder is that it makes much more even grounds. A burr grinder turns coffee beans into powder, while a blade grinder cuts them into pieces of different sizes. If your coffee grounds aren’t all the same size, you won’t be able to get the most flavor out of them.
Another reason is that blade grinders tend to make more heat, and heat can destroy some of the flavor compounds in coffee, leaving you with another bad cup.
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