Best Espresso Grinder: My Top 5 Picks

I know a lot of you are looking for an espresso-specific grinder to amp up your home coffee bar. With that in mind I’ve put together a list of my top 5 best espresso grinder picks in 2025!

Most casual coffee drinkers can cope with just having one jack-of-all-trades burr coffee grinder at home. But those of us who think about coffee all day, every day?

Nah, we’d prefer at least two, maybe even three. A grinder for pour-over, a manual grinder, an espresso grinder … did I miss one?

Needless to say, I couldn’t help but write this guide, for your sake and mine. So, keep reading to discover the best coffee grinders for espresso!

Best Espresso Grinders at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at the espresso grinders I’ll be reviewing today.

What Defines an Espresso Grinder?

I suppose this guide begs the question: what even is a home espresso grinder?

Like regular burr coffee grinders, an espresso grinder has a pair of uber-sharp burrs to chop up coffee beans into itty-bitty pieces. Most quality coffee grinders have the capacity to grind for a range of brewing methods. This includes a coarse setting for French press and a super fine setting for espresso.

All this means is that you can move the burrs closer together or further apart, depending on your needs. The closer the burrs are to each other, the finer the coffee grinds will be.

What makes an espresso grinder distinct is usually twofold: the ability to make micro-adjustments and consistency in grind size at finer settings.

Microns (μm) are the relevant unit of measurement here. For a good espresso grinder, the grind settings need to produce a range of at least 200 μm to 500 μm. The grinder also needs to be able to achieve consistently precise and homogeneous grind sizes at those settings.

How well a grinder achieves these features is a test of its quality.

Keep this in mind as you read through the rest of my guide for the best espresso grinders. Precision and consistency are two of the main qualities that make any espresso grinder one of the best.

Choosing the Best Espresso Grinder: What to Consider

Budget

It’s no surprise that budget is often the primary deciding factor when choosing any home coffee grinder.

However, in the case of espresso grinders, price usually does correlate with higher quality. This means sharper stainless steel burrs, a durable body and – for manual grinders – an ergonomic design.

Still, many of the espresso grinders I’ve chosen for this list hover around the $200 mark. In my experience, this seems to be the lower limit for good quality grinders.

What’s more, a good grinder is the most impactful investment you can make for your home coffee bar. Even the best prosumer espresso machine and the highest quality coffee beans won’t be able to perform without a quality grinder for espresso.

Incidentally, I’ve also thrown in a couple of more expensive grinders, which I think are worth the extra cash if you have it. You’ll see why later on in this review.

Design

The next big factor when choosing the best home espresso grinder for you is its design and aesthetics.

Don’t forget, you’ll be looking at this machine more often than you’ll use it – so it needs to appear sleek and stylish on your kitchen counter. On a related note, the size of an espresso grinder is important; you don’t want it taking up too much real estate.

After all, you’ve got bigger appliances to tetris into your kitchen: a home espresso machine, a coffee maker … I suppose we should leave room for a refrigerator and stove, too!

Oh, and there are also a couple espresso grinder-specific elements to consider.

Some grinders feature a cradle so you can grind directly into your portafilter. Aside from making you feel like a professional barista, this feature also avoids any messy transfers that could result in a pile of coffee grounds on the counter.

Meanwhile, other grinders have dosing cups instead of portafilter holders. These are often the perfect size and shape for dumping into a 58mm portafilter with no fuss.

Finally, we’ve got the last design element to consider: an espresso grinder with a big hopper or a single dose espresso grinder.

While some prefer hoppers for their convenience, single dose grinders are all the rage right now. They’re celebrated for their consistency, versatility and efficiency.

What’s more, it’s easier to dial in the perfect espresso if you can quickly change your grind size between shots. With a fully-loaded hopper, you’d have to purge any coffee beans that are trapped in the grind chute.

Burrs

This may be the most important feature when choosing your home espresso grinder.

First, there’s the material to consider; high quality burrs are made out of stainless steel or ceramic. The latter material is often sharper than stainless steel, but can be more brittle. Meanwhile, stainless steel burrs are very sharp and durable.

Moreover, there’s the shape of the burrs to consider. You can buy a grinder with either flat or conical burrs. As with many things in the coffee world, this is quite a divisive subject. I’ll give you a brief rundown of the appeal of flat vs conical burrs.

Flat burrs are more common in commercial-grade coffee grinders. They tend to be more consistent and faster due to their shape, which encourages the burrs to remain parallel. However, flat burrs are louder and more expensive than the conical variety. For this reason, conical burrs are often preferable for home use.

In my opinion, both flat and conical burrs can achieve great grind quality and consistency. After all, the burrs do not function in a vacuum. The overall design and construction of the grinder and its motor play a huge role in how well those burrs can perform.

Now, as far as the size of the burrs, there isn’t much variability in home machines. As a general rule, bigger burrs are more consistent. Still, the bigger the burrs, the bigger the grinder has to be – thus, the more it costs. Most home espresso grinders start at a 40mm burr size, while commercial burrs are usually a minimum of 60mm.

Grind Settings

Any coffee grinder needs to be calibrated for its first use and recalibrated throughout its life. This is particularly necessary for espresso grinders.

Calibration ensures that the burrs are where the grinder says they are, and that they’ll respond accurately to any grind adjustments. Essentially, the burrs need to be “zeroed,” so the finest grind setting aligns with the “1” on the grinder, and so on.

This generally happens during manufacturing, but some grinders are more likely to fall out of calibration than others. This can happen as a result of heat, motor vibrations and normal wear-and-tear. Understandably, espresso grinders with inconsistent calibration require more skill and attention to maintain.

Another important feature of an espresso grinder is burr resolution. You want to look for a burr grinder with high resolution at the smallest grind settings. This allows for super precise micro adjustments, which are essential when dialing in espresso.

Speaking of dialing in the grind, there are two main categories for grind size adjustments: stepped and stepless. The difference is pretty self-explanatory.

Espresso grinders with stepped adjustments have a pre-set number of grind settings, which are clearly marked on the grinder. Often, you can hear a “click” when your top burr settles into a step.

Stepped burr grinders are more common because they are easier to use. Plus, they are generally less expensive than stepless grinders.

On the other hand, stepless burr grinders are often more precise. You can make teeny-tiny adjustments without having to shift to the grinder’s pre-set steps. It would make sense, then, that stepless burr grinders are ideal for espresso preparation.

Still, stepless grinders generally require more skill to use, so they aren’t suitable for all home baristas.

Grind Retention

Finally, we can’t forget to discuss grind retention. Most electric coffee grinders produce static when grinding; this makes some grinds get stuck against the burrs or in the grind chute.

Now, some of these particles we don’t want in our portafilter baskets, anyway. These include chaff or silverskin, which tastes papery and can clog filters. And even the best espresso grinders can produce fines – super-fine coffee grinds that are easily over extracted.

Still, what we don’t want is for a grinder to retain the delicious, precious coffee grinds. High-end electric coffee grinders are specially manufactured to reduce static and dead space. Meanwhile, manual grinders produce virtually no static and retain only a negligible amount of coffee grinds.

The 5 Best Espresso Grinders

Whew, those were a lot of techy details. I hope I didn’t lose you there.

Now we can get into the fun stuff: talking about the best espresso grinders themselves!

It was hard to choose just five of the best espresso grinders for this review. After all, there are so many good ones to choose from!

But after a lot of research and testing, I’m confident that I’ve found the best coffee grinders for espresso. Read on to see for yourself.

Baratza Sette 270Wi

You won’t be surprised by this selection. The Baratza Sette 270Wi is often counted among the best home espresso grinders. I’m telling you, it really does deserve the recognition it receives.

This espresso grinder has a built-in scale so you won’t have to fiddle with an external coffee scale while preparing your portafilter. While some folks find this function error-prone, my testing proved that the Sette 270Wi is accurate to within 0.1 grams. This is far better than any other home espresso grinder on the market.

Even better, the Sette 270Wi has – you guessed it – a whopping 270 grind settings. This 40mm conical burr grinder has all the adjustments you’d need for espresso, and then some. 

But don’t let the stainless steel conical burrs fool you: this espresso grinder is incredibly consistent and speedy, grinding up to 5.5 grams of coffee per second. Are you particularly impatient before you’ve had your morning cup of joe? Well, look no further than the Baratza Sette 270Wi for your home espresso grinder.

I should mention at this point that the Sette 270Wi has a stunning design and user interface. Featuring a sleek black and polished silver body, this coffee grinder is a real beauty. The unique shape is easier to clean and keeps the heat-producing motor away from the coffee beans. Plus, with intuitive controls, this grinder is a breeze to use.

At $479.95, this is the most expensive grinder on my list.

Still, I’m a sucker for a stellar coffee grinder, and the Baratza Sette 270Wi is a beast. In fact, this is my favorite espresso grinder in my collection. If you drink espresso daily and have the cash, I’m of the opinion that this upgrade pick is worth it.

See Also: Baratza Sette 270Wi Review 2025

1Zpresso J Max

If you’re in the market for a travel-friendly and super precise manual coffee grinder, look no further than the 1Zpresso J Max.

This is another stunner from the Taiwanese manufacturer 1Zpresso. In fact, I’d recommend this grinder as your primary home espresso grinder, not just for travel.

The $199.00 price tag seems pretty low when you consider all that you’re getting. Let me explain.

The 1Zpresso J Max is, naturally, compact and portable. It even comes with a convenient and durable travel case, plus an air blower and cleaning brush.

The J Max has a slim profile and a polished black body. The stainless steel and aluminum alloy construction feels durable and sturdy in your hand. Oh, and the foldable handle helps with weight distribution, so the grinder won’t easily topple when it’s standing on your kitchen counter.

It’s clear that ergonomics are a key part of this manual espresso grinder’s design. The fabric cover on the body makes it easy to maintain a good grip while grinding. Even better, 1Zpresso recently re-designed the wooden knob, so even those with small hands can use this grinder with ease.

Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty of this espresso grinder. If you were floored by the Sette 270Wi’s 270 grind settings, get ready: the 1Zpresso J Max has an impressive 450 total grind settings.

But wait – there’s more! Each click moves the burr just 8.8 microns, so you can make precise micro-adjustments to dial in even the trickiest shot.

Plus, the grinder’s 48 mm titanium-coated stainless steel conical burrs were specially designed for espresso. This baby will make creamy, smooth shots – my mouth is watering already!

See Also: 1zPresso J Max Review 2025

Breville Smart Grinder Pro

I’m a big fan of Breville for their easy-to-use and high quality home espresso machines and coffee grinders. It’s no surprise, then, that I’m smitten with the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.

In fact, for $199.95, I think this is one of the best budget picks for home espresso grinders.

Though it’s relatively affordable for an electric burr grinder, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro does not compromise on quality.

Now, let’s look inside of this home espresso grinder. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro’s high quality 40mm stainless steel conical burrs grind efficiently and precisely. What’s more, dosing technology allows you to program in pre-set grind times.

Though this technology isn’t as precise as the Baratza Sette 270Wi’s built-in scale, it certainly is convenient. Plus, for less than half the price of the Sette 270Wi, I’d say this slight downgrade isn’t a dealbreaker.

Speaking of the dosing function, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro comes with three portafilter cradles of different sizes. And with the 18-ounce (510-gram) hopper, you can load up your favorite coffee and easily pull shots for a crowd.

Let’s not forget that this well-designed grinder has a beautiful aesthetic, too.

The stainless steel body is durable and sturdy. What’s more, the Smart Grinder Pro has a seamless user interface, spotlighted by a large LCD display. Oh, and it’s available in three colorways – Brushed Stainless Steel, Oyster Shell and Royal Champagne – so this grinder will look great in any kitchen.

One caveat: at 15.3 inches (39 centimeters) tall, this espresso grinder may not fit on counters with overhanging cabinets or shelves. So get out your measuring tape before pulling out your wallet!

See Also: Breville Smart Grinder Pro Review 2025

Fellow Opus

Fellow fans will already be reaching for their wallets at the mere mention of the brand. But wait a second and read through the scoop on the Fellow Opus coffee grinder, so you can reach for your wallet with even more enthusiasm!

This $195.00 electric burr grinder has all the aesthetic features we already love about other Fellow products. I’m talking Matte black coloring, sleek design and slim lines. I’m tempted to display this beauty front and center on my coffee bar!

But let’s get into the technical features. For me, the 40mm stainless steel conical burrs are the stars of the show. These burrs do a great job grinding not just for espresso, but for pour over and French Press too.

Such well-conceived versatility is uncommon in most home coffee grinders. So, if you are looking for an espresso grinder that is just as good at being a generalist, the Fellow Opus may be the one for you.

This grinder achieves such versatility with its impressive range and adjustability. The Opus has two rings to adjust the grind. The outer ring makes it easy to quickly switch between brewing methods with big grind adjustments. Meanwhile, the inner ring is great for the micro-adjustments necessary when dialing in espresso.

I’m sure you can tell that I love just about everything about this espresso grinder. Still, there are a few features that annoy me a bit.

For one, the Opus grinds relatively slowly, taking 20 seconds to grind 20 grams of coffee. There’s also the issue of some significant grind retention. But if you’re less picky than I am, these may not be problems for you.

And besides, like any true Fellow fan, I love this grinder despite its little flaws.

See Also: Fellow Opus Review 2025

MiiCoffee DF64 II

The MiiCoffee DF64 II is the least well-known of all the grinders I’ve mentioned so far. But read on to discover why I think this coffee grinder could be a great choice to pair with your home espresso machine!

First things first: the MiiCoffee DF64 II is the only grinder on my list with 64mm stainless steel flat burrs. So, if you’ve been rolling your eyes at the conical burrs in my other picks, this purchase will be a no-brainer.

Sure, the $399.00 price tag is higher than that of most of my other picks. However, the DF64 II is very affordable for a grinder featuring flat burrs.

Oh, and if you’re a real coffee geek, you can buy MiiCoffee’s fancier SSP burrs and swap out the included set.

Again, this is only an option if you can’t help but introduce fuss and high-tech features into your morning brew. For most people, the included burrs will work just fine for espresso. Plus, the DF64 II is a breeze to use.

Since the DF64 II is a single dose grinder, there are no fancy programming features to mess with. Simply press the on/off button, grind your coffee beans, and press the button again! In a market inundated with high-tech features, this simplicity is a breath of fresh air.

On a similar note, it is super easy to adjust the grind, since there’s a clearly marked dial. Still, don’t be fooled by these slimmed-down features; the aesthetic of the DF64 II is as modern as it gets. This may not be to everyone’s taste, but I think it looks quite cool!

See Also: DF64 Grinder Review 2025

Decision Time

Now that we’ve reached the end of my guide to the best espresso grinders, I hope you feel confident enough to choose your next fancy coffee gadget.

I truly believe that a quality coffee grinder is worth the investment. So, if you’ve been pulling shots every day on your Ascaso Steam Duo or Stone Mine but haven’t yet bought a specific grinder for espresso, now’s the time.

If you’re looking for more affordable additions to your home espresso bar, you can check out my guide to the best espresso accessories. And while I’m on the subject, don’t forget the power of a well-designed espresso cup!