While pods and supermarket-ready blends are considered to be more convenient, good things come to those who wait and when it comes to your morning cup of Jo, nothing beats the taste of freshly ground coffee.
Taking your cuppa to the next level, the difference is in no way subtle where a fresh grind has a richer, stronger and more aromatic flavour. Pre-ground coffee beans oxidise as they interact with air, thus loosing the tasty stuff before it is even brewed.
The art of making good coffee starts with one simple purchase that doesn’t actually take up that much time or need to cost you an arm and a leg. A coffee grinder is the piece of tech that your kitchen is sorely lacking, whether you are a coffee connoisseur or just dabble in a daily dose.
What are the different types of coffee grinders?
There are various types of coffee grinders on the market that fall into two main categories: burr or blade.
Blade grinders use a spinning blade – much like a blender – to slice and chop the beans but can result in an inconsistent grind.
Burr grinders are either manual or electric and have a more precise and consistent grind as the beans are crushed between two abrasive tools.
Manual burr grinders have a hand crank that require a touch of elbow grease but are quiet, portable and easy to store. The electric variations tend to have handy functions where you can set the size of the grind, your cup size and more. Cost-wise, blade grinders tend to be cheaper.
Get through the daily grind with a perfect home-brewed coffee.
De’Longhi KG79 Electric Coffee Grinder
For a robust, reliable and efficient grinder, this is exactly what you have been looking for. The De’Longhi KG79 has a 120g capacity and adjustable grinding with 16 settings from fine to coarse.
The user friendly control panel with touch buttons is simple and straightforward — no pouring over an instructional manual at 6:45am.
You can also select up the number of cups you want to make, from two to 12 where it automatically stops grinding after you have the perfect amount.
The burr grinding keeps the flavours packed into the beans for a fresh and flavoursome coffee every time. Prices a hair shy of £40 — this is the one to beat.
£38 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Price compare at Currys
Krups F20342 Coffee Grinder
The Krups F20342 has an impressive grinding capacity of 75g (that’s 15 cups of coffee), which is appropriate for entertaining but better suited for smaller households where countertop space might be tight.
The beans have a fairly uniform grind — no frills, fuss or fiddly parts so that it is ready in a matter of seconds. It is sturdy and well-designed with a smart-looking facade and a two year guarantee.
If you just need something to get the job done minus the expectation of winning a Barista competition anytime soon, this is an excellent cheap buy.
£20 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Dualit Burr Coffee Grinder
Add coffee shop quality cups to your morning routine with this Dualit grinder that features a conical burr that uses a slower spin.
A slower spin creates less heat, which means more flavour remains packed into the beans. It has a 250g capacity with a portion control so you can weigh out exactly what you need.
The different settings allow you to pick between the finest grind for an excellent expresso with a rich crema or coarse grind for a French press. There is also a two year guarantee included.
£49.99 | John Lewis | Buy it now
Hario Medium Glass Hand Coffee Grinder with Ceramic Burrs
Put in the work for your morning coffee with this manual grinder. While it does require more time and patience, it is compact and so easy to store and you can control the level of coarseness.
The coffee grinds quickly and the device has a large capacity. The ergonomic design is easy to operate and it fitted with an anti-slip base and a silicone lid to prevent mess.
£38.75 | Amazon | Buy it now
Hunt Brothers Coffee Grinder
In this handy manual coffee grinder has 18 grind settings where you can adjust the coarseness for precise results.
The product is composed of stainless steel, which makes it durable but the best feature has got to be the compact size, which means that you can slip it into your suitcase so jetsetters are never without great-tasting coffee. It even comes with an organic cotton string pouch for storage.
£19.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Melitta Molino Electric Coffee Grinder
This coffee grinder is fitted with a professional grinding mechanism that ensures a uniform grind that would rival that of your favourite coffee shop.
The device has 17 settings that range from espresso level fine to coarse that is ideal for filter coffee machines or cafetière. It is quick and efficient and very easy to use. There is a 200g capacity where you can opt between two to 14 cups with a quantity setting so it always grinds to the perfect amount with no wastage.
£44.99 | Currys | Buy it now
Cooko Manual Coffee Grinder
If you are on the market for a no-nonsense type product, look no further. This product is fitted with a stainless steel handle that you can turn for an even grind. The small and lightweight grinder does not require any electricity and so is ideal for adventure trips like camping, hiking and backpacking so you can still enjoy your morning brew. It is fitted with an easy grip and non-slip base as well as silicone cover and heat resistant glass. There is a 12 month warranty.
£11.98 | Amazon | Buy it now
Aigostar Breath 30KYI
Complete with a one press button, this essential piece of kitchen equipment will give you perfectly ground coffee in five to 10 seconds.
The quality yet affordable product leaves evenly size particles packed with aromatic flavour. It has a transparent lid so you can that the consistency is correct and a durable stainless steel blade. You can also use the device for spices, herbs, nuts, and a variety of seeds as well as coffee.
£14.69 | Amazon | Buy it now
Shardor Electric Coffee Grinder
In just eight to 15 seconds, you can have more flavoursome coffee – and it won’t cost you an arm or a leg.
The powerful Shardor grinder has a sleek design where you press on the lid to operate and the longer you do, the finer the beans will grind.
The lid is transparent so you can check the level of coarseness as it grinds. It has a 70g maximum capacity (around 12 cups of coffee) with measure lines in the removable bowl to always ensure you have the perfect amount.
£27.99 | Amazon | Buy it now
Verdict
Obvious good looks aside, the De’Longhi KG79 Coffee Grinder is the best affordable burr coffee grinder we found. The wide range of settings allows everyone can get their perfect cup and the transparent bean container means there's no need to dip back into the coffee bag each morning.
