The best manual coffee grinders we tested
Best manual coffee grinder: Timemore Chestnut C3
Best upgrade manual coffee grinder: Comandante C40 MK4
Best portable manual coffee grinder: VSSL Java G25
Pair a $5,000 chromed-out Italian espresso machine with old or poorly ground coffee and your ristretto will taste mediocre — or worse, like a cup of salty battery acid. But invest in a good manual coffee grinder and you can turn that sludge into a rich, sweet cup of espresso.
“To a coffee person, a grinder is what a knife is to a chef,” says Peter Giuliano, the chief research officer at the Speciality Coffee Association and executive director of the Coffee Science Foundation. In other words, an excellent grinder is essential to making good coffee at home.
Manual coffee grinders are an oft-overlooked entry-level option for aspiring coffee snobs. Yes, they’re labor intensive, but the best handheld grinders are also cheaper, more portable and quieter than their electric counterparts. They’re also fun to use. But since shopping for specialty coffee equipment isn’t easy, I compiled a list of the highest-rated handheld coffee grinders and tested 13 of them over three months. On top of preparing over 50 cups of coffee, disassembling each grinder and scrutinizing their parts, I spoke to industry experts to ensure I nominated the absolute best manual grinder on the market.
You can’t find a better grinder for the money than the Timemore Chestnut C3. This well-built, minimalist grinder overtook models five times as expensive and was also one of the easiest grinders to use. Only espresso drinkers might find its stepped precision lacking.
The Comandante C40 MK4 is as close to perfection as you’ll get for under $300. Not only did it deliver the most consistent grind but it was a pleasure to use, whether we were preparing coffee or disassembling it for cleaning. Comandante converts will also benefit from the grinder’s many designs and accessories, including the Red Clix add-on, which is a must for espresso nerds.
With a retractable crank arm, stowable magnetic knob and tiny footprint, the Java G25 is optimized for storage and portability, making it our pick for grinding on the go. Its design shines when paired with the compatible Nest Pour-Over Coffee Kit or the AeroPress Go. But if most of the coffee you drink is at home — and not on a backpacking trip — then the Timemore C3 will deliver better results at a lower price.
Best manual coffee grinder: Timemore Chestnut C3
The Timemore Chestnut C3 offers the best price-to-quality ratio of all the grinders I tested, making it my first choice for everyday coffee drinkers.
In my grind consistency test, it ranked second out of 13 grinders, besting models that cost well over $300. That consistency and precision translated in my taste tests too, with the grinder producing solid cups of pour-over and French press coffee as well as decent shots of espresso.
Thanks to its minimalist, easy-to-use design, it was also the grinder of choice for bleary-eyed morning pour-overs. Since the hopper lid is built into the crank arm, setup was as easy as removing the handle and filling the grinder with beans. Disassembling and reassembling the grinder —?something you’ll have to do to clean the burrs — was also a breeze. You unscrew the adjustment nut, and the grinder’s guts drop out. No fussy maneuvering is required.
Grinding coffee was a pleasure too. The Chestnut C3 reduced 15 grams of beans into a uniform mound in 25 seconds with little stuttering or resistance. And the all-metal body — a grippy, textured aluminum — looked and felt more durable and high-end than you’d expect from a $79 grinder. That’s what surprised us about the C3: It outperformed expensive grinders across most tests.
That said, the most exacting coffee snobs and espresso perfectionists might find the Chestnut C3 lacking. As a stepped grinder — one that uses preset steps to adjust the grind size — you can only choose one of 36 settings with an internal dial rather than an infinite number of stepless microadjustments. Plus, only a few of those 36 steps will be suitable for espresso. But casual coffee drinkers who don’t have an espresso machine might see this as a boon. Stepped settings are easier because you need only remember one number while recording grind adjustments.
The Timemore C3’s 20-gram capacity is a drawback as well. The hopper is large enough to satisfy a bachelor or bachelorette, but grinding coffee for a group would be a chore. That’s true of most manual grinders, though my upgrade pick below, the Comandante, holds twice as many beans.
Despite its flaws, I recommend the Timemore C3 because it offers the best value of all the grinders tested, nailing a compromise between affordability and performance.
Best upgrade manual coffee grinder: Comandante C40 MK4
Ask any coffee enthusiast to list their favorite hand grinders and the Comandante C40 will be at the top of their list. It’s a specialty coffee heavyweight, the sort of product that’s lauded on forums for its top-notch grind consistency and buy-it-for-life build. It’s also stupidly expensive, costing more than the Baratza Virtuoso+, our pick for the best electric coffee grinder. But if you’re serious about coffee, there’s a compelling case for the Comandante C40.
The argument for the Comandante begins with its performance in our grind consistency testing, where it nabbed the top spot with 9.1 out of 15 grams landing in the target range. While that’s only a smidge better than the runner-up, the Timemore C3, the Comandante also produced one of the tastiest, most balanced cups of pour-over coffee with its German-made heptagonal burr.
And that was true across the board, whether I pulled shots of espresso or brewed with a French press. No matter what I threw at it, the Comandante made great coffee. But it wouldn’t be a top pick if the design wasn’t impeccable too.
Apart from the wasteful packaging it comes in, Comandante has perfected every detail about the C40. The metal arm comes with a sturdy, preattached plastic lid and magnetic crank, both of which make setup fast and seamless. Unlike the other removable knobs that would detach mid-grind, the C40’s remained locked in.
Loading the 40-gram hopper (enough for a little more than two cups) was easy too, thanks to a larger circumference. It didn’t matter that it took 43 seconds to grind 15 grams of beans because the C40 boasted the smoothest experience from start to finish.
Comandante also includes a handful of meaningful extras: two reservoirs (one made from amber glass and another made from plastic), a rubber band that fits on the body to add grip and a useful manual that wasn’t a chore to read. All these thoughtful touches amounted to one thing: The C40 was the easiest grinder to use, whether I was loading or dismantling it.
It’s also handsome. The Liquid Amber model I tested came with a wooden laminate that had a nice rustic look. However, it does scratch easily, though you can opt for other colors like Sunset orange or the more subdued Black model. Comandante sells replacement parts and enhancements too. Espresso heads will want the $38 Red Clix upgrade, allowing for finer 15-micron stepped adjustments, but more frivolous upgrades like a pink bean jar are also available.
The point is that Comandante has thought of everything, designing a customizable, attractive grinder that’s made to last a decade. If you love coffee and have the budget, it’s the best quality hand grinder you can buy.
Best portable manual coffee grinder: VSSL Java G25
When I first saw the VSSL Java G25 — a strange, little grinder I’d never heard of — I was skeptical. It’s quite small, and initially, I couldn’t figure out how to use it. But once I understood the quirks of its modular design, the grinder delighted me with its portability.
The oddest thing about the G25 is the crank arm, which looks and acts like a carabiner when it’s not in use. But unscrew the retractable arm and the grind handle opens and extends. Removing the reservoir reveals another space-saving trick. The grinder’s crank arm knob hides underneath the burr, attaching to the adjustment nut.
After adding this magnetic knob, the G25 functions like a proper grinder, pulverizing 15 grams of beans in 39 seconds. The experience and grind consistency isn’t on par with the other top picks — the small, retractable crank arm is awkward — but the G25’s stainless steel burrs do a decent job, landing in the middle of the pack with 7.7 grams of coffee in the target range.
Adjustments are stepped, but I’m confident the Java G25 can grind for pour-over, French press and espresso. It’s worth noting that you can’t expect the same results you’d get from more precise grinders like the Comandante C40 or Kinu M47. In other words, the G25 is good but not great when dialing in your grind.
So, why buy the Java G25, especially when the Timemore C3 is a better grinder and half the price? The answer lies in the G25’s potential as a travel grinder. As annoying as it is to set up, you can attach the G25 to a backpack with its carabiner arm or slip it into a carry-on bag. VSSL has even optimized the G25 for use with its Nest Pour-Over Coffee Kit and the AeroPress Go, though it would also pair well with a portable espresso maker like the Wacaco Nanopresso.
The G25 can also take a beating without shattering on the way to your campsite or hotel room.? The entire grinder is metal and comes with a stellar limited lifetime warranty.
Of course, most hand grinders are portable, so if you’re not sold on the G25’s strengths, you’re better off saving money and buying the Timemore C3, which weighs slightly more. But for the few coffee nerds who want a rugged grinder to make coffee on the go, you can’t do better than the Java G25.
How we tested
After combing through specialty coffee forums and reviews, I selected 13 of the highest-rated grinders on the market. Each of these grinders went through several phases of testing over three months.
The most important criteria were grind consistency and taste. But I also considered each grinder beyond its performance. Does it look good in the kitchen? Is it easy to disassemble and repair? How fast does it grind? I stuck to the following to rank our picks:
- Grind consistency: I used Kruve’s Sifter Plus to make my testing more objective. Kruve’s device uses two sieves to sort ground coffee based on particle size. To test each grinder for consistency, I dialed them in for pour-over, ground 15 grams of coffee and sifted with the Kruve for one minute using 700-micron and 1200-micron sieves. I then weighed each chamber to determine how uniform the grinds were. The more consistent the grinder, the more ground coffee landed in the sieve’s middle chamber between the 700- and 1200-micron sieves. While this test isn’t perfect — particle shape also plays a role in coffee extraction — it provided a baseline.
- Brewing range and versatility: You can’t properly test coffee grinders without brewing and tasting coffee. So to test brewing range, versatility and performance, I dialed in each grinder and made coffee using three methods: espresso, V60 pour-over and French press. I picked these three brew methods because each uses a different-sized grind, from super fine (espresso) to coarse (French press). I also considered hopper/reservoir capacity, awarding points to grinders that could prepare coffee for more than one person. The beans I used included Equator Coffees’ Mocha Java, Tigerwalk Espresso, Decaf Shakeout Organic Blend and Decaf Eye of the Tiger Espresso.
- Ease of use: All manual coffee grinders are pretty easy to use … until you have to adjust the grind size and clean them. Consequently, I noted how easy it was to dial in and maintain each grinder, paying extra attention to adjustments, disassembly and the work of grinding beans. To test that last point, I also timed how long it took to grind 15 grams of beans for pour-over.
- Durability and build quality: A manual grinder should be an investment that lasts years. But seeing as I had three months to test, I looked at each grinder’s components and conducted a drop test to determine durability and build quality. The most durable grinders use sturdy, high-quality metal components, not glass or flimsy plastic.
- Setup and breakdown: I asked myself how long it took to set up each grinder and dismantle it for storage. I also considered time-saving features like integrated hopper lids.
- Portability: While most manual grinders are more portable than the popular Baratza Encore, there are a few standouts that are compact and pair well with portable coffee makers. I weighed each grinder and considered its footprint, and then noted portable design features.
- Aesthetics: Hand grinders are utilitarian. Even so, you don’t want an eyesore in your kitchen. I favored versatile grinders, either because their designs were minimal or because they were available in many colors/designs.
- Warranty and customer service: Companies that excelled in this category had clear long-term warranties and easy-to-find contact information.
Coffee grinder tests.
How to choose a manual coffee grinder
Choosing the right manual coffee grinder means navigating the jargon-heavy world of specialty coffee. But before narrowing your list, it’s worth asking yourself a simpler question: Does a hand grinder make sense for you?
“From a practical perspective, it’s nice to have a manual grinder when electricity isn’t available. Many people start manual grinding when camping or traveling,” Giuliano says.
Most manual models are also smaller, lighter, quieter and generally less expensive than electric grinders, Giuliano says. In other words, if you have limited counter space or a tight budget but still want freshly ground coffee, an analog grinder offers a compromise between quality, price and size. Finally, Guiliano says that some enthusiasts prefer manual for the routine of “hand crafting” their coffee. That’s something I can attest to. The entire process — from heating the V60 to measuring and grinding beans — becomes a pleasant, meditative morning ritual.
If you’re sold on using a manual coffee grinder, you’ll want to consider the following details while shopping:
- Stepped versus stepless adjustments: Hand grinders allow either stepped or stepless adjustments. Verve Coffee Roasters CEO and co-founder Colby Barr explains that stepped adjustments are incremental with reference points to remember your settings. You might note that pour-over coffee is 16 clicks on your grinder, for example. On the other hand, stepless grinders offer continual adjustments. Imagine a dial without fixed settings. While the “options are limitless” and great for dialing in espresso, this can be intimidating for beginners, Barr says.
- Microns per click: When a company lists a grinder’s microns per click, they’re referring to how much the burrs move with each adjustment. Fewer microns per click will afford more precision while dialing in coffee. That’s important for espresso.
- Internal versus external adjustments: When a grinder says that its adjustments are internal, that means you have to open it up to change the grind settings. While this takes only a few seconds, we prefer external adjustments, which you can make without removing the grinder’s reservoir. That said, grinders with external adjustment mechanisms tend to be more expensive.
- Size, weight and portability: Most hand grinders are small and lightweight. But if you’re buying a manual grinder for travel, you’ll want to pay special attention to the model’s size, weight and features that make it portable, such as a holster for the grinder’s crank arm.
Barr says you should “prioritize what’s important to you.” A home barista with an espresso machine will have different needs compared to a frequent traveler or a coffee novice with a drip coffee maker. Think of your needs first, set a budget and go from there.
Other manual coffee grinders we tested
While the Kinu M47's build quality and precision are unparalleled, we still cringe at its extravagant price tag. If you want to spend over $200 on a grinder, the Comandante or one of Kinu's more affordable models offer more bang for your buck.
Kinu’s parent company makes dental equipment. That makes sense once you see the M47 for the first time. The expensive, high-end German grinder — which comes in a foam-lined travel case — looks like something you might find in an operating room, with each of the M47’s hefty stainless steel parts fitting together without screws.
As you’d expect from Kinu, the build quality is outstanding, akin to a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz. The trade-off is that the M47 is tall, heavy and way too expensive, costing more than four times as much as the Timemore C3.
If the M47 was four times as precise as the C3, I could make an argument for Kinu’s grinder. But in my grind consistency testing, both the C3 and the Comandante bested the M47 when it came to pour-over.
That isn’t to say that the Kinu M47 Classic is a bad grinder. With its stock burr, it produced one of the most consistent grinds, with 8.4 grams landing in my target range for pour-over. (Kinu’s pour-over-specific burr performed worse in the sift test after swapping it in, with 7.8 grams landing in the target zone.) Thanks to its stepless construction, which you adjust by loosening a screw and rotating a dial underneath the grinder’s arm, you can make adjustments as precise as 10 microns. That’s a home barista’s dream. But for coffee drinkers with deep pockets, I recommend the Comandante, which delivers better results at a lower price.
Much like its cousin, the Rebel is built and priced like a Mercedes-Benz. Still, we can't justify its price, especially when you consider it fell behind the Timemore C3 and Comandante in our grind consistency testing. At $219, Kinu's M47 Phoenix seems like a much more reasonable deal.
The Kinu M47 is a cheaper version of the M47 classic, boasting the same 47-millimeter conical burrs, magnetic grounds catch and top-notch build quality. The only differences I found were the body’s grooved design, the hard plastic rim around the hopper and a cheaper-feeling knob. Otherwise, the grinders seemed identical in design and size, though the Rebel scored lower on my grind consistency test, yielding 7.9 grams in the target zone.
Since the Classic and Rebel are more or less the same grinder, my assessment of the two models was similar, though the Rebel is the better deal at around $50 cheaper. However, the best-value Kinu grinder is the?M47 Phoenix, which is?the cheapest grinder in the M47 line. Like its more expensive sister models, the Phoenix comes with a travel case and high-precision 47-millimeter conical burrs — except it’s way cheaper, starting at $219. You do miss out on the thumb-stopper, stainless steel beans funnel and other extras, but it’s still a highly engineered, precise grinder. The huge caveat is that I haven’t tested the Phoenix, but if it’s anything like the Classic or Rebel, it’s an investment that’ll last a generation.
The Knock Aergrind was one of my favorite grinders, offering stepless adjustments, a consistent grind and an attractive, ultra-portable design. But VSSL's Java G25 narrowly overtook the Aergrind, thanks to its grind consistency performance and more compact design. Even so, if you want a well-made travel grinder, you can't go wrong with the Aergrind.
This slim, portable grinder does just about everything right, particularly when it comes to build quality. The entire grinder is handmade in Scotland, plastic-free and backed by an impressive year-long “back-to-base” warranty.
As great as the warranty is, I don’t think you’ll need it. This glossy grinder is built to endure years of use and is second only to the Kinu grinders in build quality. That’s evident in the all-metal construction, the removable walnut wood knob and the titanium conical burrs.
The external, stepless adjustments — made by turning the crank arm while holding the dial lid — also deserve praise, as they’re easy to make without removing the 30-gram catch.
But its compact design sets the Aergrind apart from the other well-built grinders on this list. It sits at just over 6 inches tall and weighs about a pound, and like the Porlex Mini II, it has a rubber holster for its crank arm. But the coolest feature is that the body fits right into an AeroPress, meaning you can combine the two into a single unit for a travel setup.
The Knock Aergrind comes with a few flaws, however. As nice as the magnetic lid/adjustment dial combo is, it’s also somewhat annoying you have to line it up with the axle in order for it to fit — ditto for the crank arm. The Aergrind didn’t ace its grind consistency test either, coming in just behind the VSSL Java G25. Had the Aergrind performed better or come in at a lower price, it would have conquered the Java G25. But the competition was fierce and the Aergrind didn’t make the cut, despite being an excellent grinder.
With premium features like 16-micron external adjustments and metal construction, KINGrinder's K6 impressed us with its price-to-quality ratio. But its disappointing consistency performance and frustrating disassembly process held it back from nabbing one of our top spots.
KINGrinder may look like a questionable Amazon brand, but this company makes well-made grinders at affordable prices. Fitted with a stainless steel burr, 16-micron stepped adjustments and around 30 grams of hopper space, the K6 is its top-of-the-line model. That’s impressive given the price tag.
What I loved most about this grinder was its easy-to-use, numbered external adjustment dial, which lets you change the grind size without unscrewing the reservoir. Since the 16-micron adjustments are so precise, the K6 is an excellent grinder for espresso.
The K6 also deserves praise for how fast it ground coffee, transforming 15 grams of beans into pour-over-ready ground coffee in 20 seconds. I wasn’t surprised that stuttering wasn’t a problem, as the K6 feels like a well-built, expensive grinder — one that another company might sell for $200.
You might wonder why, then, the K6 didn’t beat the Timemore C3 or the Comandante. Despite producing coffee shop-quality pour-overs, the major issues with the K6 were its grind consistency and disassembly.
Only 7.6 grams of coffee ended up in my target range. While that’s not bad, it’s far worse than the Comandante C40, Timemore C3 and the cheaper KINGrinder K2. Disassembly was also a pain due to a difficult-to-remove metal piece that holds the grinder together.
These aren’t necessarily deal breakers until you consider that the Timemore C3 delivers a more consistent grind and is significantly cheaper. Nevertheless, at its price, the K6 might be a compelling option for espresso drinkers who don’t want to shell out for a Comandante or a Kinu M47 Phoenix.
If you buy a grinder from KINGrinder, make it the K2. Though you lose out on external adjustments, it produced better results than the K6 across our performance tests and benefits from the same excellent build quality.
The KINGrinder K2 looks much like the K6, except it’s slightly smaller and requires internal adjustments. Given its lower price, it’s also slightly less precise, with 18-micron adjustments per click. And yet, I found that the K2 was more consistent than the K6, yielding 8.2 grams between 1200 and 700 microns.
Since the K2 is similar to the K6, offering the same great build quality and a more consistent grind, I think it’s a superior product, especially considering its price. What’s more, the K2 is much easier to take apart and clean, though you can’t fully remove the axle during disassembly.
What’s left, then, is a grinder that’s very close in quality (and value) to the Timemore C3, making it a great choice for budget-conscious coffee drinkers. In the end, however, the C3 edged out the K2 because of its nearly unmatched grind consistency and more transparent warranty and contact info.
If the 1Zpresso J had been a tad cheaper, it might have been our top pick. It rocked our grind consistency test and felt like one of the highest-quality grinders of the bunch.
1Zpresso’s dizzying array of hand grinders has been a fixture of specialty coffee forums online. I tried the J, a newer model that sits in the middle-to-high-end range among 1Zpresso’s many grinders. Apart from a few cosmetic differences, it feels like the KINGrinder K2, boasting a stainless steel burr, approximate 30-gram capacity and a stainless steel body with a rubber midsection. The materials feel a bit more premium, however, and I appreciated that you can rotate the grinder’s crank arm to make it more compact and portable.
But where 1Zpresso’s J shined was during grind consistency testing, where it landed in third place behind the Timemore Chestnut C3 and in front of the K2.
The issue I had with the 1Zpresso was its price rather than its performance or design, both of which put the J in the top half of the hand grinders I tested. For far less, you can get the C3, which, apart from a slightly inferior build quality and smaller capacity, competes with the J while selling for under $100.
Compared to the other grinders I tested, the Lido Basic was giant — and not in a good way. As unwieldy and bizarre as its design is, it might make sense for (masochistic) coffee drinkers who insist on hand-grinding beans for large groups, as its 70-gram hopper was one of the largest I encountered.
Orphan Espresso’s Lido Basic hand grinder is huge, weighing 2.5 pounds and measuring over a foot tall. Given that one of a manual grinder’s main draws is its size, I found that to be a significant weakness. And though it survived my drop test, I took issue with the Lido’s glass base (plastic, steel and glass replacements are available), which compromised its otherwise durable construction.
But this giant grinder — by far the biggest I tested — was among the most versatile. Because it boasts a massive 70-gram hopper and stepless external adjustments, you can make a lot of coffee.
I can’t promise the process will be fun — this thing is unwieldy and grinds slowly — but it is capable of making multiple cups of espresso, which is something that many of these grinders can’t do.
And then there’s the exorbitant price. While I appreciate that Orphan is a small business based in the US, $200 is too high for this grinder when alternatives like the Timemore C3 and KINGrinder K2 exist.
Alongside the Knock Aergrind and VSSL Java G25, the Porlex Mini II is one of the most portable grinders you'll find. But as cute and lightweight as it is, the Mini II has several drawbacks, including an inconsistent grind and cheap components.
Had the Porlex Mini II scored higher on my grind consistency test, it would have been a contender for the best portable manual coffee grinder. At just over half a pound, it’s tied with the Hario Mini-Slim+ for being the lightest grinder in the testing pool, and it also boasts the smallest footprint, measuring a tad over 5 inches tall.?Like the Knock Aergrind, another travel-friendly grinder, you can also attach the crank arm to the side of the grinder for extra portability.
But for everything Porlex does right, there are plenty of shortcomings. Worst of all is the grinder’s performance on the grind consistency test, where it scored the second lowest with 6.5 grams of coffee landing in the target range. It also feels more like a toy than an $80 grinder, especially when you make stepped adjustments using the plastic nut.
That’s too bad because Porlex has an otherwise impressive grinder. It’s the most portable grinder of the bunch, it looks great with its stainless steel finish and the limited seven-year warranty (only applicable to grinders sold by Porlex sellers) is one of the best I found. And while there may be a small number of coffee drinkers for whom it would make sense (backpackers who want to grind beans on the trail?), Porlex needs to fix its performance to have a chance against the Java G25. Even if the Porlex topped the list in every other way — and it didn’t — that wouldn’t make up for its lack of grind consistency.
I know Hario can make great products like the V60 and Mizudashi cold brew maker, which is why the Skerton Plus is such a disappointment. It was the worst grinder we tested in both design and performance. Its only admirable quality is that it can hold up to 100 grams of beans.
Every so often the underdog trounces the competition. That was not the case with the Hario Skerton Plus, which performed abysmally. Only 5.2 grams of coffee landed in the target range in my testing, putting the Skerton Plus in dead last. But its poor performance was clear even before I sifted, with plenty of huge, jagged boulders protruding out of my ground coffee.
I also took issue with the grinder’s flawed design, beginning with the breakable glass base and flimsy plastic construction. But worse than its poor build was its adjustment mechanism. To change the grind size, you have to remove a fixing screw, the handle and a metal stopper to reach the adjustment nut, which moves freely along the threaded central axle.
This process is fussy and annoying, adding a few extra steps to the adjustment process. What’s worse is that adjustments are imprecise and unrepeatable because there are no clicks or marking system.
That said, the Skerton Plus isn’t all bad. Out of the 13 grinders I tested, it had the largest hopper, holding up to 100 grams of beans. The price is commendable too. But neither the price nor its capacity is enough to make up for the Skerton’s egregious failure to produce a consistent grind. Given the company’s lineup of excellent brew devices — namely the V60 pour-over and the Mizudashi cold brew maker — I know Hario can do better.
With its poor grind consistency performance and lightweight plastic design, the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is just OK. That said, it might be a decent option for shoppers with limited budgets and enthusiasts looking for a cheap backup grinder for travel.
If spending over $50 on a manual grinder seems unnecessary, the Hario Mini-Slim Plus is for you. Though it didn’t perform well on my grind consistency test, it wasn’t the worst of the lot, with 6.8 grams falling into the target range. But as you might expect, the cheapest grinder on our list is also the most cheaply made. Everything, save for the burrs, handle and a few internal parts, is made of plastic.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Yes, it feels cheap, but it’s also far more durable than the grinders in this list that use glass. Plus, it’s tied with the Porlex Mini II for being the lightest grinder. Throw the Hario Mini-Slim Plus in a suitcase, and you won’t have to worry about it breaking into a million pieces. And if it does, you could buy another.
But cheap and easy to replace aren’t convincing selling points, especially when you know that the Mini-Slim Plus can only make mediocre pour-over coffee and terrible espresso. Still, it’s an easy-to-use and easy-to-disassemble grinder that might make a great gift for a coffee novice who isn’t picky about their brew.
