Alternative brewing methods take over the world of coffee. Coffee menus are overloaded with these fancy drinks with even fancier names (but don’t you worry, we got you). One of them is pour-over, looking like a drip coffee machine, but made manually. The pour-over method is slowly becoming the new Chemex. To start your pour-over brewing journey, you’ll need a quality grinder.
To help you out, we’ve tested 14 models and compiled a list of the 5 best coffee grinders for pour-over. The Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Coffee Grinder took our Editor’s Choice nomination. All coffee grinders on the list are with conical burrs for a uniform medium grind and consistent taste in your cup. Almost all of them are electric with various settings and manual ones to give you mid-level consistency and high-level precision.
More features: 40-second digital timer; anti-static technology; high-torque 240-watt DC motor
Whether you use an espresso, filter, or French press, you will be able to prepare the right grind to enhance your coffee. What sets the Baratza Virtuoso + apart from the competition is its impeccable precision. You have forty degrees of grinding, the finer is suitable for making tasty espresso, the coarser is ideal with a pour-over or French press: whatever your habits, you will be satisfied.
The Baratza Virtuoso + is the new version of the Baratza Virtuoso, one of the most famous coffee grinders on the market which is used by true aficionados and several baristas. If you are uncompromising on the quality of your drink and want to enjoy optimal versatility, this is the right choice. Thanks to the steel grinding wheels, the grinding obtained is particularly impressive. The grinding speed is specifically designed to reveal the full potential of your grains. A lighting system is provided so that you can monitor what is happening in the tank. This offers a capacity of 5 ounces, while the hopper can hold up to 8 ounces of beans.
More features: < 450 rpm grinding speed; 5 to 60-second timer
Are you allergic to noise, and you mainly drink espresso or filter coffee? We recommend the Capresso Infinity Plus to you. This electric grinder is betting on a moderate grinding speed to preserve your ears and the aromas of your coffee. The great peculiarity of this coffee grinder is its operating system. Capresso has chosen to make its model a little slower than most of the competitors. This has happy consequences: preserved aromas, reduced noise, and attenuation of electrostatic effects.
The Capresso Infinity Plus is the improved variant of that old Infinity grinder. The Infinity Plus also offers a comfortable capacity: the hopper accommodates 11 ounces of beans. The Infinity can only take 8.8 ounces of beans. There are 16 configurations possible on the Infinity Plus, divided into four categories of four measures each: extra-fine, fine, regular, and coarse. Extremes are promoted as suitable for Turkish percolator brewing.
More features: dial-selected grinding time
Stainless steel conical burrs are at the center of this burr mill, and the motor is specially designed to have high torque to crush coffee beans, but very low flow so that the beans do not get too hot. It has a 16-ounce hopper capacity and 3.9-ounce container capacity, sufficient for 10 cups of java.
The OXO Brew Conical Burr Mill is a superb coffee grinder for Pour Over coffee. Perhaps the main feature of this grinder is the built-in scale, which you can use to grind a specific amount of coffee each time. As coffee grinders move, the scale function itself makes it an impressive and exceptional option. Rather than grinding for a predetermined amount of time like other coffee grinders, OXO Brew grinds with weight as a benchmark for when to stop.
More features: digital control panel with backlit LED display; innovative bean shut-off feature; built-in convertible holder and molded spout
The Baratza Sette 30 electric grinder is a versatile grinder with 40mm conical grinding wheels and a single-dose adjustment system with a digital display timer. Baratza developed the Sette 30 AP in partnership with Etzinger, a world-renowned brand. The Sette 30 mill has 40mm conical grinding wheels designed and manufactured by the Liechtenstein company Etzinger, recognized worldwide for the quality and durability of their grinding wheels thanks to strong stainless steel.
This mill is suitable for lovers of gentle methods (Aeropress, Chemex, or even Hario V60), as well as for espresso. The Baratza 30 is the little brother of the 270 and the 270w but is also of good quality in terms of grind. The body of the mill is innovatively shaped, Baratza wanted to break the codes and it is successful thanks to this unadorned design combining curves and dynamism. This sleek body allows you to quickly understand that the loss of space has no place in the Baratza Sette 30, and this optimization also makes it possible to make the retention of grind almost zero.
More features: ceramic burrs; quiet operation; portable
The Java Press Manual Coffee Grinder is exceptionally functional. The crank on the top is not difficult to turn and generates coffee beans to almost ideal specifications. The milling mechanism is a ceramic taper bur, using a single stationary mill, one that JavaPresse claims are the result of rigorous study. And this seems to be true as most users of this JavaPresse manual shredder are extremely happy.
There are 18 click preferences to provide you with immediate control over how rough you want your grind to be, no matter if you drink Pour Over or AeroPress, this little grinder has you covered.
Coffee is almost a science in itself. Since it is grown worldwide, there are numerous types of coffee, all of which are different from one another. The main growing areas are in South America, Africa, and Asia, but there are also coffee plantations in some Arab countries. When choosing a suitable coffee grinder, it is, therefore, advisable for coffee connoisseurs to find out in advance about the various models and options for coffee preparation. We have dealt extensively with the best type of grinder if you like pour-over coffees. Here you have more information which will put you through your purchase process.
With pour-over coffee, the best grind is the medium-fine coffee grind. The bean should be freshly ground just before preparation. This is best done by hand because this is the only way to fine-tune the grinding degree and adapt it to the taste. If your coffee tastes too silly, the grind was probably too coarse. If it tastes too sour and bitter, then the grind was too fine! So adjust!
The coffee grinder is an increasingly common item in most homes. However, many people had never considered its use. If you are one of them and you don’t know which model to choose, pay attention. Next, we will solve all your doubts in this regard.
As with the beans themselves, there are significant differences in the coffee grinders.
These hand coffee grinders, which the user has to crank by hand to make coffee powder from coffee beans, are available, quite popular, and inexpensive. The manual grinders are available in different designs. Some manufacturers consciously rely on retro design – some mills are therefore visually reminiscent of hand mills from the first half of the 20th century.
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If you want to portion your coffee precisely and don’t want to grind it yourself, you’d better get one electric coffee grinder. The range of such grinders is much larger than that of hand-held coffee grinders. The electric models differ not only in terms of drive type, shape, and size, but also in terms of functions. In addition, electric coffee grinders have significant price differences. In addition, no muscle strength is required here. The OXO Brew Grinder and the Baratza Virtuoso Plus are some of the best electric coffee models, especially for pour-overs.
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The blade grinder, which is also known under the term propeller grinder, can be found in many electric coffee grinders. With this grinder with two rotating knives, the two knives that rotate gradually crush the bean. The coffee is, therefore, more likely to be smashed and not ground. Adjusting the grinding degree is only rarely possible with this grinder. Note that the longer it grinds, the finer the powder becomes. The grinder is usually best for filter coffee.
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In addition to the blade grinder, coffee grinders can be equipped with a disc grinder. With this grinder, two ceramic or stainless-steel disks lie on top of one another, which are curved inward, i.e., two concave grinding disks. The grinder with the discs works quickly. Users should make sure that they only grind small amounts of beans with a disc grinder. Here, too, the coffee can be roasted due to heat development due to grinding too long. A coffee grinder with a disc grinder is suitable for both pleasure and casual drinkers.
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The conical grinder is a variant of the disc grinder and can be found primarily in high-quality machines. This type of grinder grinds the bean finer and finer towards the tip. The shape of the grinder resembles that of a cone. Hence the name conical grinder. In mills with a conical grinder, the grinding degree can be set very easily and is infinitely variable.
Since conical grinders have a larger grinding surface, they require fewer revolutions for grinding than a hammer or disc grinders.
Heat can hardly be generated in this way, and therefore there is usually no loss of coffee aroma. Conical grinders usually work very quietly. In addition, they produce a uniform powder and differ here primarily from mills with a hammer grinder. Conical grinders are made of either stainless steel or ceramic. The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder is a typical example of a good conical grinder.
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Anyone who decides to buy an electric or a manual coffee grinder should find out about the grinder in advance. With it, the coffee beans are processed into the fine powder from which the coffee is then prepared. There are big differences in grinders that should be known before buying a coffee grinder. The grinder has a great influence on grain size. The same applies to the aromas of the coffee that are released during brewing.
A functional electric coffee grinder has two separate settings. The first concerns the fineness of the grind: from very fine (for the espresso) to coarse (for the French press) through a medium grind (for filter coffee makers). The second setting concerns the quantity: entry-level models are frequently graduated in cups. For a more precise adjustment, prefer a weight adjustment. Of course, the more graduations, the more precise the setting will be.
If this is a top criterion for you, electric grinders are such as the Capresso Infinity Plus are easier to use. On most electric coffee grinders, you only need to turn or press a button or flip a switch to start grinding. The vast majority of these devices are very intuitive, and some have safe automatic shutdown systems. Meanwhile, with manual models, you have to propel the machine with your hand which can be demanding.
Regular cleaning is important as the bean contains fats that can contaminate the grinder. Although this is not harmful to health, passionate coffee drinkers will still taste it when older fats from the beans or old bean residues are also ground. Electric mills should be cleaned in the area of the surfaces with a damp cloth. A disc and conical grinder can be cleaned under running water. Most electric grinders come with a brush or paintbrush. They are also suitable for cleaning particularly sensitive parts of the grinder. Removable bean or ground coffee containers are usually dishwasher safe.
The grinder must be dry before use. All screws should be tight. Only then is the grinder ready for operation again and can grind properly.
There are electric grinders on the market that clean themselves at the push of a button. These use special detergents.
After this type of cleaning, it is advisable to grind a few beans first and dispose of their powder. In this way, the coffee drinker can be sure that the last residue of the cleaning agent has disappeared from the grinder.
Before buying an electric coffee grinder, you should think about the volume of the bean container. A grinder with a small container can be sufficient for a single household. If your partner also likes to drink fresh coffee or if you often expect guests, a device with a large container is recommended. These should fit at least beans for 2.5 ounces of coffee powder.
By the way, it is also important to pay attention to the dosage. Under the manufacturer’s information, you will find information on whether the coffee grinder is suitable for a maximum of ten, twelve, or even 50 cups of coffee. The latter is mainly used in open-plan offices or the catering sector.
Pick an electric coffee grinder that you find pretty, and that won’t get bulky in your kitchen. Granted, this is not directly related to performance, but there are so many models available online that you can choose from, so there is no good reason to compromise! For travels or small counter space, a compact model such as the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder with its small 1.8 x 7.5 x 1.8 inches of dimension will be ideal for you. However, if you want functionalities, you have to ensure there’s a place to keep a large grinder such as the Baratza Sette 30.
The coffee grinder is a device that should have fairly long durability. To make sure of this, you must look at the manufacturing materials and their quality. As a general rule, coffee grinders are usually made of stainless steel. Although you can also find them in aluminum.
Stainless steel is the most recommended material for its great strength and durability. In addition, with it, you will avoid overheating that we talked about earlier. Apart from the materials, you must make sure that the grinder meets the minimum safety requirements, and it comes with a reasonable manufacturing warranty.
Our Editor’s Choice is the Baratza Virtuoso Plus. Rated 9.9 out of a possible 10 points, it has impeccable precision. You have forty degrees of grinding, the finer is suitable for making tasty espresso, the coarser is ideal with a pour-over or French press. It is therefore our overall best coffee grinder for pour-over.
The Capresso Infinity Plus, rated 9.8, has one of the best values among our picks. It is the improved variant of that old Infinity grinder, and it has a larger capacity for up to 11 ounces of beans.
Last but not the least, the OXO Brew Coffee Grinder has the most versatile settings. Rated 9.4, It has a dial-selected grinding time function. Stainless steel conical burrs are at the center of this burr mill, and the motor is specially designed to have high torque to crush coffee beans.
