A coffee grinder under $50 can do its job unevenly and it will result in sour under-extracted coffee from the boulders and bitter over over-extracted coffee from the powders. However, on our list, you won’t find machines like these.
For this reason, our experts have tested 14 products in this limited budget category and have boiled it down to the 6 best coffee grinders. The nomination of our Editor’s Choice goes to the Hario Skerton. Budget considerations aside, these simpler models are also suitable for small kitchens and traveling as well. But just because they are small doesn’t mean you can overlook important features. On our list, you’ll find manual options with ceramic burrs for those who want to keep things under control and electric with stainless steel blades with precise settings. Plus, they all have hoppers with a capacity of 3.5-4 oz. for just one coffee break.
More features: anti-slip rubber base, conical burrs, crank handle comfortable grip, dishwasher safe, burr stabilizer plate
While automatic and electronic home coffee grinders provide convenience and save you time, sometimes you want just the right amount of flavor and freshness that can only be achieved by making the grinds yourself. To better customize your brew to your specific requirements, a manual coffee grinder is best for you. A popular choice and our favorite coffee grinder on this list, the Hario Skerton coffee grinder is a high-quality manual device worthy of our nomination for Editor’s Pick.
Among the advantages of being a manual grinder, the Hario Skerton has many features that make it such a well-liked overall device. For one, the burrs for this grinder are conical and made from ceramic – the best combination you can get. They offer a precise and uniform grind, and won’t heat up like stainless steel burrs or blades that sacrifice important oils and flavors in the process.
The build of this grinder is durable and ergonomic. With a nonslip rubber base, the grinder stays in place and won’t slip as you crank out coffee grinds. Grinding with this device is relatively noise-free, which is a plus, especially early in the morning. The container can hold up to 100 grams of coffee. The crank handle is detachable, making it more travel friendly and compact.
You can make coarse and fine grinds with the adjustability feature, though some buyers note that the larger the grind, the more likely you are to lose a bit of consistency.
More features: stainless steel bowls, overheat protection, safe locking lid, cord storage build-in
If you’re looking for a reliable electronic option that comes decently priced, take a look at the Secura electric coffee grinder. This sleek looking compact coffee grinder is not only affordable, but versatile and safe, making it the best all-round electric coffee grinder under $50 on our list.
Not only can it produce coffee grinds, but the Secura is made to chop up beans, vegetables, spices, and even nuts. It comes with decent stainless-steel blades as expected from a machine at this price range, and like others, you can customize the fineness based on the number of seconds of grinding. The longer the you leave it on, the finer the grinds.
The build of this coffee grinder is almost entirely stainless-steel, from the blades to the removable bowls to the exterior. The two removable stainless-steel bowls that come with this machine make for easy cleaning and each serve their own purpose, with one made for chopping and the other for grinding. The size of the Secura is compact, making it good for users tight on space in their kitchen.
For safety, this grinder comes with a special Safety-lock lid and built-in smart overheat protection which helps extend the motor and blades’ lifespan.
Keep in mind that due to their stainless-steel blades, this grinder is not the best for finer grinds such as espresso or Turkish. A burr grinder is recommended.
More features: 200W motor, lid-press activated, grinding adjustment, stainless steel bowl, safety lock, cord storage build-in
The SHARDOR coffee grinder is a popular home electric coffee grinder for its simple functionality and power, all for under $50. This best-selling device is stylish, user-friendly, and very affordable.
This coffee grinder is equipped with a rather powerful 2000W motor that’s capable of producing fine to coarse coffee grinds in less than 20 seconds. All types apply: French press, pour-over, moka pot, cold brew, or espresso. Simply press down the lid for the right amount of time to create the right grind for your preferred coffee type. With a powerful motor and fast-turning stainless-steel blades, you get continuous and consistent grinds that conserve more oils and aromas for a better, richer, and fresher flavor.
To add to its performance, versatility is a feature as this machine can handle foods other than coffee as well. Like its Secura counterpart, SHARDOR can also handle, nuts, spices and beans equally well, making it the best all-purpose coffee grinder on this list.
This grinder also includes a 70-gram storage capacity and a food-grade stainless-steel bowl that can be removed for easy cleaning and mess-free pouring and removal of coffee grinds.
Also included are a safety lock and sealing ring on in the lid prevent powder spills and splashing.
One common complaint about this grinder is regarding the noise – its motor is quite loud when in use and may be disruptive, especially if you’re making a brew early in the morning.
More features: grinding adjustment, automatic shut off, removable grinding chamber, cord storage build-in
Hamilton Beach is a popular brand for their great consumer-grade appliances that come at a price that anyone can afford. The Hamilton Beach 80393 is one such appliance, providing you with quality and a fully automated grinding experience.
The only thing you need to worry about with this easy to use grinder is setting your preferred grind and pressing the on button. The accurate dial allows you to choose the precise grind setting, and you can customize the number of cups you plan on brewing. The 80393 is capable of grinding enough beans for up to 14 cups at a time. After that, you simply press on, and the machine will shut off automatically once the time is up. This hands-free grinding is perfect for those crunching for time or just don’t like the hassle and want a decent cup in the morning.
This grinder is equipped with durable stainless-steel blades that grind your beans with speed and ease.
The inside grinding chamber can be easily removed to make filling and cleaning less difficult and totally mess-free. Pouring ground coffee directly from the chamber becomes much easier.
The 80393 is a fairly strong grinder, though the plastic of the lid can break easily if not handled well.
This stainless-steel blade grinder is naturally not ideal for finer grinds such as espresso, and works best for medium to coarse coffee brews.
More features: glass container, dishwasher safe, anti-slip rubber base
The Kyocera Advanced multi-purpose grinder is another great manual grinding option, often compared to the Skerton as one of the best hand grinders there are. The Kyocera grinder is advertised as capable of grinding more ingredients including coffee, pepper and salt, tea, even sesame seeds, and more.
Like the Skerton, the Kyocera Advanced grinder comes equipped with a ceramic burr grinding system that offers freshness and consistency to your brew. Not to mention these durable burrs will stay sharp longer and won’t rust versus stainless steel, adding longevity to this grinder.
The size and design of this grinder are both compact and functional. The container has a decent capacity of 100 grams, while the functions are simple and easy to understand. A dial is included for easy adjusting and adds variety to your grinds depending on your preference. It can make near any size grind well, from fine espresso to coarser French press and pour-over.
Though some users find that manual grinding with this device takes longer, they also report the flavor of their coffee has been better than before, so it’s definitely worth the effort.
The non-slip base allows for stability when grinding, though one issue that may occur is the crank getting hung up, resulting in possible jerking and spilling grinds.
The Kyocera Advanced coffee grinder is also dishwasher safe and wins accolades for the best adjustable manual coffee grinder.
More features: stainless steel exterior, grinding adjustment, pulse action, safety-lock
The Krups GX4100 grinder is quite the bargain deal for an all-purpose grinder. With the same slick looks, ease of use, powerful motor, and grind versatility as many other home grinders, you’re getting a bang for your buck with this Budget pick that promises even grinding for more than just coffee beans.
This grinder has a slick stainless-steel exterior with black accents for a sophisticated look that’ll look great in your kitchen. All components are made from durable stainless steel, from the grinding chamber bowl to the sharp blades. You can grind a good amount of beans, spices or herbs at a time with an 85-gram storage capacity. For those who might want to travel or have little space in their kitchen, this compact-sized appliance is a non-issue.
Equipped with an impressive 200-watt motor, the machine grinds and minces quickly – in around less than a minute – keeping your grinds fresh and flavorful. A pulse action button lets you customize and determine the degree of fineness of your coffee. The amount of grind time determines the type of grind you get.
An issue some users have with this machine is with the lid. If one is not careful, coffee (especially finer grounds) can stick to the lid and between its sealing ring and be difficult to clean. In terms of cleaning, this machine is somewhat tricky as the cup inside is not removable.
Most people who love coffee usually stick with ready-made ground coffee. But once you’ve tasted a freshly-ground type, you’ll never want to go back to pre-grounded one. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics your coffee grinder can have in order to make the most out of your coffee, all under the budget of $50.
A budget coffee grinder is nothing too extravagant. What you really want is something that can perform consistently and properly. It should last you longer than half a year at the least. There aren’t going to be as many flashy accessories that other grinders may have, nor are you getting a whole barista stand that makes the coffee and froths it. Keep a modest mindset when you’re shopping under a budget, but don’t buy something unreliable.
Not too expensive, not too weak, but just right.
The first thing to remember before you purchase anything is to create a budget. Fifty dollars is not a lot of money, but if you’re careful you can find something worthwhile. There are some vital features you should be able to recognize when you search for a quality coffee grinder. Some of the following features can really help you get the most out of your money and your coffee grinder.
The choice of electric and manual is a tricky one. Some people will jump straight to electric since it’s quick and easy. You select all your preferences in the settings and sit back as your machine works its magic. The biggest downfall to electric grinders is that under a budget of $50, it’s hard to find a reliable one. Most of the time, an electric coffee grinder worth its money is over $100, which is way over the budget. That said, the Secura and the SHARDOR models are some good choice to consider in this option.
With a manual grinder, you must crank the machine until the beans are all ground to your liking. There is greater control, but it does take quite a bit of time. Not everyone has the time to grind their own beans in the morning when they want their coffee. Finding a reliable manual grinder under $50 is not as hard as searching for an electric one, however, so it’s worth investigating your manual options. Take a look at the Hario Skerton or the Kyocera Advanced models if you want a quality manual grinder.
How much coffee do you want to make all at once? Some people would rather have an abundance to last them a couple of days while others try to make a fresh batch of ground coffee beans for each cup.
The size of the hopper will determine how much you can make all at once. Of course, you don’t have to fill the hopper all the way each time you use it. In the case of electric grinders however, they work better when the hopper is filled fully. Once again, with a manual grinder you have much more control over how much coffee you want ground and how fine you want it ground. With an electric model, it’s always better to go by the book, and sometimes the book isn’t what you had in mind.
Here is another way you would classify grinders; blade vs burrs. Keep this in mind, these are not the same thing at all.
Burr grinders come in two different types, conical and flat burrs. Burrs are what you would find in cafes and on barista machines. You have greater control over how coarse or fine your coffee is. The burrs can be moved further apart or closer together. This is not an option you have with blades. Instead, you only have the size the blade comes in which may not be adequate for variety’s sake.
Electric and manual grinders can both come with a blade or a burr. Depending on how seriously you take your coffee, a burr and blade will make a huge difference on your final choice.
The warranty should always be there; never buy something that has no coverage. You aren’t looking at too extravagant of a product under fifty dollars in the first place, so a warranty in between 1-2 years is a good enough coverage timeframe.
This will depend on the type of grinder you are getting; electric or manual?
If you have decided a manual model is more fitting for you, then the grinding speed will depend on your strength and the blade you use. Blades usually work faster than burrs, but burrs do give a more preferable outcome. If you have a manual burr grinder, then take you time, quality grinds take time.
If you’re better suited with an electric grinder, then you can expect a faster result, regardless or the blade or burr. Electric grinders are supposed to convenience you, not take up your time. The settings you apply will affect the general time, but you should have a snappy result.
PowerThis point is not illuminated in most cases, but it is an important factor. The amount of power your grinder takes up will come back to you when you pay your bills.
On average, an electric coffee grinder will use from 300 watts to 600 watts when grinding 2 cups worth of coffee beans. The exact wattage should be on the packaging of the coffee grinder.
To get the perfect brew, you start with the perfect grind size. There are proper grind sizes you’ll need if you want variety in your coffee.
Your coffee grinder is going to be used every day. For this reason, it should be considerably easy to clean. Don’t get a coffee grinder with too many moving parts, otherwise it’ll be a nightmare putting them back together.
Get one that is robust and easy to wipe clean. You can thoroughly clean your coffee grinder twice a week with soap and water. Throughout the week, simply use a tissue to wipe clean all the remaining grinds.
This is important in both manual and electric models. A manual grinder should be extremely straight-forward, with its crank, hopper, and basin to catch the grinds.
An electric model should have a large display (if there is a given display screen) and easy to understand buttons. The settings should not be complicated, and your time should not be wasted on trying to decipher the instructions. Anything too hard to understand is not worth the time.
Your coffee grinder, if you plan to use it every day, is going to be out in plain sight all the time. It doesn’t hurt to get one that looks nice.
You also have to consider how much space it’s going to take up on your counter. You don’t want one that’s too big. It’ll take up valuable space whether it’s in the cabinets or on the table.
To make sure you get the best out of your coffee, the best thing to do is make sure you have total control over it. The amount of coffee beans you are using, the size of the grind, the settings you have on your coffee grinder, all of these things matter.
For five basic steps towards a perfect cup of coffee each time, follow this short tutorial
Our favorite choice of coffee grinder on this list would have to be the Hario Skerton coffee grinder. Manual coffee grinders definitely have their own advantages over electronic ones, including the ability to make the best possible brew customized for you. This grinder can do that for any brew type with its superior conical burr system.
The Secura Electric Coffee Grinder is an electric coffee grinder that is perfect for coffee and spices. With a durable stainless steel bowl and multiple built-in safety features, this product is one of the best coffee grinders under $50 on the market.
Finally, there’s the SHARDOR Coffee Grinder, which is built with versatility in mind. It can handle not only coffee beans but also such products as nuts and spices, making it truly a multi-purpose model.
