Best Coffee Grinder for French Press Buyer’s Guide
Coffee beans or pre-ground coffee?- Which one is better suited for you as a coffee enthusiast? If the first option is an auto choice for you, then give yourself a few minutes to go through the entire post.
Because, over here, we've discussed thoroughly on the hand-picked ten best coffee grinder for French Press. To cross-check the real-time perks and demerits of these grinders, we've got feedback from real baristas and made sure every information is worth noting down.
And we're more than certain that this will be your ultimate guide to pick up the right grinder within your budget and demands. So, hop on the wagon, buckle your seatbelts up and let’s go-
What About Pre-ground Coffee?
No matter whichever kind of coffee lover you are, you would definitely fall for a cup of a fresh cup of pre-ground coffee. Whether it's an exotic blend, or a Columbian Blend or a Fresh Vanilla, ground coffee tastes way better when they're through a best quality coffee grinder. So, what makes pre-ground coffee better than any other forms of it? We’ve found two reasons-
1. While grounded, coffee begins to oxidize, which is also termed as ‘staling’ of coffee grounds. This turns on the insider taste of the coffee and changes the flavor in a positive way.
2. The coffee gets smashed into finer coarse particles. So, they are more likely to get diluted into warm water. And that fineness of the coffee ground boosts up the taste and strength.
What Type of Coffee Grinder Should You Buy?
Typically, there are three variations of coffee grinder. And anyone who's in love with pre-ground coffee gets into a dilemma among these three.
Before heading into the in-depth review of today's post, we would like you to have a glimpse at what each of these types does, and what they don't. Have a look-
Blade Grinders
Blade grinders are convenient in producing pretty fine particle size. Even if you desire to get a coarse grind in your coffee, you'll find some powder within. The high spinning RPM is quite boosting when it comes to brewing quick cups of coffee.
But if you keep grinding with these grinders for more than 20 seconds, that will tend to a possible burning to the ground.
Burr Grinders
They're quite old fashioned, but still, convey a strong grinding power. Although they take about 60 seconds to grind coffee beans. But the aggregation of these grinders is still very consistent.
Disc and Conical Grinders
Among all three of them, disc and conical grinding will provide you with the most precise grinding. There are grooves or serrations in these grinders which are cut into discs or cones.
And the sharp edges of the grooves are liable to cut the beans into consistent coffee ground.
Comparison Table: 7 Best French Press Grinders
Product Name | settings | ITEM WEIGHT | EXPERT Rating | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Grinder | Multiple | 15.4-pounds | Expert Review | |
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder | 40-settings | 6.83-pounds | Expert Review | |
Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder | 40-settings | 7.15-pounds | Expert Review | |
Capresso 560.01 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder | Multiple settings (4-primary options) | 4-pounds | Expert Review | |
Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder | 12-settings | 3.22-pounds | Expert Review | |
Breville The Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder | 60-settings | 6.4-pounds | Expert Review | |
OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder | 15-settings | 4.5-pounds | Expert Review |
The Best Coffee Grinder for French Press Review - Our Top Picks
Now let’s jump in and see what the individual coffee presses have to offer.
1. Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
If you are looking for the best electric coffee grinder for French press, then the Rocky Espresso Grinder from Rancilio certainly does have what it takes.
The industrial-grade build quality does have a certain futuristic feel to it. Not only that, you are getting an overall silent operation which certainly is something most people look for these days.
Also, the French press grinding capabilities is certainly on par with some of the high-end brands out there. Overall, it is certainly a worthy French press grinder that gets all the basic right.
Pros
Cons
2. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
While being one of the prominent choices for beginners, the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder comes with an efficient user-friendly control mechanism suitable for beginners.
Thanks to the top-notch build quality and powerful grinding capabilities, it is one of the very few options out there with such a small footprint.
Despite its miniature stature, it offers a very decent overall grind, perfect to qualify as a French press overall. For a conical burr grinder, it certainly is worth it.
Pros
Pros
3. Baratza Virtuoso Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
If you are looking for the best coffee grinder for French press, then the Baratza virtuoso can certainly be a worthy choice. As far as the design goes, then you are looking at a sleek French press grinder with the solid overall build quality.
But that’s not all. Thanks to the motor design and commercial quality burrs, this grinder is capable of producing solid and even grinds.
The integrated gears and speed reducers can slow down the burrs to 450 rpm, offering consistent grinds overall.
Pros
Cons
4. Capresso 560.01 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
Highlighted Features
For those of you looking for the best grinder for French press coffee, then you may want to consider this conical burr grinder from Capresso.
One of the key features of this French press machine is its capability to offer finely ground coffee without any issues. And it’s all thanks to the burr assembly, which is precision-made up to 0.1-inches.
Also, and this is also because of the grinder assembly, the slow grinding (less than 450-rpm) does help out a lot to hold the original temperature and aroma of the beans. Overall, coffee geeks can’t really find a better option than this.
Pros
Cons
5. Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
The folks looking for the best french press grinder can certainly look at the Bodum Bistro coffee grinder. For what it’s worth, it does offer a good deal of balance between usability and convenience.
Apart from the strong build quality, you are getting a user-friendly timer with the proper capacity management.
Also, it does hold a good amount of coffee grounds, with the added bonus of solid aroma holding capabilities thanks to the commercial steel conical burr design. All in all, it’s a pretty capable electrical French press machine if you look at all the features.
Pros
Cons
6. Breville BCG820BSSXL the Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder
Highlighted Features
In case you are looking for the best commercial coffee grinder, then Breville has you covered. When it comes to professional features with a touch of flair, then the Breville BCG820BSSXL has your back.
The high price tag is justifiable with the produced end product. You see, when it comes to fine French pressed coffee, the BCG820BSSXL has no equals. Also, the silent operation paired with an accurate LCD display does make it one of the finer choices for professionals.
Overall, the variety of options along with the consistency makes it one of the very few coveted options for extreme professionals and DIY users.
Pros
Cons
7. OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
In this review for the best French press grinder, the OXO Brew coffee grinder makes an appearance because of certain qualities. First of all, the steel burrs are right on par with some of the high-end options out there.
The slow grinds offer terrific aromatic coffee grinds, keeping quality intact all the way. Also, combined with the design, features like a single-push button and program ability make it a very worthy option to pass.
Pros
Cons
8. KRUPS GX5000 Burr Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
An automatic French press with grinder is something that most people would be happy with. And the KRUPS GX500 does check a lot of boxes in that category.
Although the plastic build quality may not be to your liking, features like adjustable cup numbers, large bean containers do come out as winners.
Also, the fact that the aroma remains intact overall is nothing out of the ordinary. Overall, the GX500 with its security measures and consistency is, of course, a nice option for any user.
Pros
Cons
9. Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Highlighted Features
If someone asks, ‘what is a burr coffee grinder?’-Then I guess the Cuisinart DBM-8 can offer a good bit of insight. The grinder does blend in quite nicely with the surroundings.
Also, the 32-cup grinding capacity is something most prominent French presses lack. Furthermore, the 8-ounce bean hopper is something to keep in mind as well.
Overall, A French press with up to 18-cup selectivity and other features does make a really good argument as to why it should be in your wishlist.
Pros
Cons
10. Ariete - Delonghi Electric Coffee Grinder
Highlighted Features
A suitable option for the best coffee grinder for espresso and french press can be a tough find. Still, when you have the DeLonghi electric coffee grinder with a solid body and adequate adjustability, landing on a grinder becomes a lot easier.
You cannot expect the level of control and finesse with any other option such as this one. From producing aromatic coffee granules to cleaning, it never misses its mark. It is one of our top choices for this very reason.
Pros
Cons
Factor to Consider When Buying French Coffee Grinder
Finding the best coffee grinder French press isn’t always easy, especially with so many options out there. But there are a couple of things you could try though.
Grind consistency
Whenever you come across grind consistency, you may want to choose either a burr coffee grinder or a blade grinder. Both are capable.
However, burr grinders are a level higher when it comes to the overall finesse and consistency. The blade grinders, although cheaper, don’t really offer that same level of accuracy.
Manual Grinder vs Electric Grinder
Although manual grinders are more silent and affordable, they often have issues with grind consistencies. Also, manual labor is something most people don’t acknowledge these days.
On the other hand, an electrical grinder offers much better efficiencies and grinds, which go a lot closer to the consistency of a French press. Either way, both options are available.
Ease of use
This term is pretty broad. Still, it mostly relates to maintenance, which does matter a lot. For a coffee geek, getting multiple grounds can mean one thing: Either a parts replacement or cleaning.
Although cleaning has to be easy enough to accomplish, swappable parts are becoming increasingly popular as well.
Size and Pricing
Both of these are relative terms. Still, size does matter. Your kitchen countertop needs to have adequate space for all your other needs as well. So, you may want to keep that mind. As far as the pricing goes, there’s the feature set to take into account.
The more offerings, the higher the price. Do keep an eye out for the features that you will use on a daily basis. That will certainly make your job a lot easier.
Best Bean and Grounds for French Press Coffee!
Different coffee beans have slightly different taste, essence and can be made into a different type of coffee. It is tough to say precisely which coffee bean will give you the best feeling as different people have different tastes.
The grain which is good for me might be bitter for you. In this case, there are no regular coffee beans that will taste best for everyone. Here we are giving you some widely used coffee beans that are considered best for your French press coffee.
You have to keep in mind that medium and dark roasted beans work best for French press. We all know that Brazil has an outstanding reputation for growing coffee. Brazil Peaberry is considered one of the best beans for French press.
Turkish coffee, Indonesian coffee, Ethiopian coffee and Columbia JO coffee are widely used by the French press lovers. You should never buy pre-ground coffee as they are intended for regular coffeepot uses.
Buy the beans that are rich in oil and medium roasted. Grinding beans for French press is another slightly tricky part as it needs the coarser ground.
There is a lever that needs to be pressed where the berries remain underneath the pot, and only the coffee mixed water comes out. If your ground is not coarse enough they will slip through the holes of the lever which will make your coffee bitter.
The coarser grind releases carbon dioxide gases while steeping, which enhances the flavour.
How to Grind Coffee for French Press?
Step 1: Set the initial grind
At first place, you have to check out the grinder to find the best settings on it. For that, dial the grinder, turn off the burr lock(if it's a burr grinder), and check out the marks that are written on the dial.
This will show you which direction you have to move the grinder to make the ground coarser or finer. Once done, add some coffee beans into the hopper of the machine. Make accurate measurements of beans according to the number of shots you want to have.
Step 2: Give it a test shot
Before producing all of the coffee grounds from the bean, give it a test shot. If you find the coffee to flow too fast or if the coffee comes with a frothy crema, it’s not fine enough from the grinder. If it happens otherwise, you’re free to move to the next step.
Step 3: Adjust the grinding time
In every good grinder, there are controls for how much time it should grind the beans for. Based on whether you're going for a single shot or double shot coffee, you have to set the timer at this point.
The single-shot will contain 6 to 8 grams, and the double shots will contain 15 to 18 grams of coffee beans. And the time would be depended on how much coarse or fine you want it to be.
Step 4: Go for the ground
As you're done with the aforementioned steps, it's time to let your grinder apply its magic on the coffee beans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which one is faster among blade grinders and burr grinder?
In terms of grinding speed, a blade grinder is faster than the other one.
2. How I can set the timer of the coffee grinder?
Usually, there are controllable dials or digital input sections where you can set the grinding time.
3. How much coffee bean should I put into the grinding machine?
It depends on how many shots you want to have at a time, and what are the sizes of the shots. For one single shot coffee, a 6-8 gram of bean is enough.
4. Is ground coffee better than beans?
Both have their merits and demerits. But ground coffee is more oxidized and provides better taste
Final Verdict
Thanks for being there till the dead bottom of the best coffee grinder for french press reviews. we've picked up the best models of 2020 and broken down the details into bite-size chunks. Hopefully, you'll be able to pick up the right one from the list.