I'm not here to judge those who buy or prefer ground coffee (ahem). But as a coffee devotee, I believe you need appliances like the Wilfa Uniform grinder to level up your daily routine.
I’m not here to judge those who buy or prefer ground coffee (ahem). But as a coffee devotee, I believe you need appliances like the Wilfa Uniform grinder to level up your daily routine.
Coffee grinders are an essential part of the home brewing experience. And the Wilfa Uniform, a barista-designed, filter-focused coffee grinder, claims to deliver a dream grind every time. It differentiates itself as an all-rounder, grinding across the chart for everything from espresso to cold brew.
So, as a confirmed java head (and former professional barista), I’ve decided to investigate these lofty claims.
So, without further delay, let’s grind our way through an initial Wilfa Uniform grinder review. By the time we’re done, I hope you’ll have all the information you need to decide if this baby’s for you.
A superb new grinder
Wilfa Uniform Grinder
Lives up to the hype
Superb design
Easy to use
High-quality build
41 grind settings
Close to zero grind retention
Good value
Not the best for espresso
Wilfa Uniform Grinder Review Overview
The Wilfa Uniform coffee grinder is what you get when the world of coffee meets the world of modern Scandinavian design. Tim Wendelboe, coffee superstar and barista par excellence, collaborated with Norwegian manufacturer Wilfa. The result is the Wilfa Uniform, which they’ve positioned as the ultimate home grinder.
Wilfa isn’t new to this game. The company has been manufacturing high-quality electrical appliances, including coffee products, since 1948. Their gadgets consistently receive positive reviews for design, performance, durability and convenience.
It’s no wonder coffee lovers in Europe have been raving about the Wilfa Uniform grinder since its launch in 2019. Courtesy of Lardera Coffee Roasters, so have Americans and Canadians since 2023.
So, what’s the deal with this coffee grinder?
Firstly, the 58-millimeter stainless steel flat burrs grinds beans precisely and uniformly. The result is consistent grind size, a must-have for a great cup of joe.
Another thing I love about this single-dose coffee grinder is its 41 grind settings. This gives the Wilfa grinder an impressively wide grind size range, making it suitable for a variety of brewing methods.
You can use the Wilfa Uniform to grind coffee for everything from an Aeropress and the occasional espresso, to filter coffee, Chemex and cold brew. This precision and versatility is a rare combo, believe me.
Simple controls are another winning feature of the Wilfa Uniform grinder. All you need to do is power up and press the on-off button. That’s it!
For $349.00, the Wilfa grinder appears to be one of the best burr coffee grinders in its price category. While it’s not perfect (I’ll point out some flaws later), it promises exceptionally good value for money.
Wilfa Uniform Grinder Features
Now onto the nitty-gritty of this Wilfa Uniform grinder review.
I’ll explore everything from build quality and grind settings to ease of use. And because this coffee grinder is an electric rather than a manual coffee grinder, I’ve also touched on convenience features.
Let’s get into it!
Size and Design
As I already mentioned, Wilfa products are famous for their solid build quality and durability. This single-dosing coffee grinder is no exception.
More than anything, I love the Nordic minimalist vibe that channels Alvar Aalto, Josef Frank and Arne Jacobsen. I think Tim Wendelboe must have drawn inspiration from these Nordic greats!
In essence, the Wilfa Uniform’s design focuses on exceptional functionality and aesthetics. It has a built-in smart lid, on-off button and grounds bin. And with a diameter of just 8 inches (20 centimeters), this grinder has a relatively small footprint, making it a suitable addition to any kitchen.
User Interface
One of this coffee grinder’s killer features is its simple controls. The Wilfa Uniform boasts only two controls, perfect for no-fuss coffee enthusiasts: an on-off button and a dial for adjusting the grind size.
Whether you need a fine grind for an espresso machine or a coarse cold brew grind, this smart coffee gadget’s got you. Simply twist the hopper while the grinder’s running.
This flexibility, so taken for granted by many coffee grinder manufacturers, helps achieve the desired extraction for different brewing methods in the simplest way. It’s a neat design concept that also contributes to the overall bare-bones aesthetic.
Bean Hopper
The Wilfa Uniform is a single-dosing grinder. As such, you shouldn’t expect a large bean hopper capacity for brewing multiple cups or storing your whole coffee beans. If this feature matters to you, you might be better off checking out coffee makers with grinders attached.
With a decent hopper capacity of 75 to 80 grams, this grinder easily brews a single dose (or more if you wish). The lid sits flush atop the grinder, blending in seamlessly. Incidentally, the lid’s design really helps with sound dampening when the grinder is in operation.
Stainless Steel Flat Burrs
One of the hallmarks of this high-quality grinder is its stainless steel flat burrs. They grind quite differently from conical burrs. For instance, while conical burrs are quieter and cooler, flat burrs grind fast and hot but guarantee a consistent grind size with every cycle.
Incidentally, the precision of the 58-millimeter burr set guarantees a uniform grind that gives 21.5 to 22 percent extractions with most coffee makers.
This is especially important with light roast specialty coffee beans. A flat burr set excels at bringing out their nuanced flavors and yields a cleaner cup (cleaner compared to many conical burrs, that is).
I wouldn’t recommend these beauties for grinding espresso. That’s not to say that you can’t use Wilfa Uniforms for the occasional espresso. But, honestly, this really is a brew grinder. While capable for use with an espresso machine, you’ll need to adjust your brewing technique to extract a drinkable shot.
Grind Speed
One thing to note is that the Wilfa Uniform coffee grinder has a slower motor than many other grinders on the market. While this feature helps keep noise down, it also results in a slow grind speed.
Mind you, this slow speed can be super frustrating, especially if you’re in a hurry in the morning or using this appliance as an espresso grinder.
Tim Wendelboe says that this grind speed also has another important function: it’s deliberately slow to avoid heating the beans during operation. This, he insists, preserves the flavor profile of light roast specialty coffee in particular.
The jury’s still out on these claims. But, in Tim’s defense, these slow-ground Nordic-style coffees are what he’s become famous for.
Grind Settings
Another killer feature of the Wilfa Uniform is its wide range of grind settings. This, apart from its ease of use and superior flat burrs, is one of its greatest selling points.
The convenient dial feature adjusts for the coarseness or fineness of coffee grounds effortlessly. This versatility makes it suitable for brewing anything from filter coffee and pour-over to Chemex and French press.
Remember, this grinder can grind fine coffee for an espresso machine, but as I’ve said before, it’s not the best. The grinding steps are a tad too wide for dialing in espresso shots. So, if it’s a niche espresso grinder you’re after, I’d suggest the Baratza Sette 270 Wi or Breville Smart Grinder Pro.
Grounds Bin
One of the most useful aspects of this grinder’s design is the black stainless steel grounds bin. Wilfa specifically chose stainless steel because it mitigates static buildup. Beans can pick up static as they pass through the grinding mechanism, causing chaff and grounds to get everywhere. Not fun!
Another design win is that the bin fits snugly under the dispensing chute. It also features an inside depression for a spring-loaded tab. This tab keeps the bin still while grinding, which is quite handy.
However, you should note that the bin doesn’t have a solid build. Water seeps out of the bottom of the container during cleaning. As a result, this may lead to some slight retention of grounds. But honestly, this is hardly a dealbreaking issue.
How to Use the Wilfa Uniform Grinder
As coffee grinders go, the Wilfa Uniform grinder is pretty easy to use. Once you’ve powered it up, grab your trusty coffee scale and weigh out enough beans for the coffee you need. Then, fill the burr chamber with your whole coffee beans.
Next, pick the best grind setting on your Wilfa Uniform grinder. This will depend on your taste preferences and brewing method. Do this by turning the hopper to dial in to the most suitable setting.
For instance, anything between 2 and 8 on this grinder would be ideal for espresso and between 14 and 22 for Aeropress. For a pour-over coffee maker I’d recommend staying somewhere in the middle.
After this, simply press the on-off button to start grinding. The coffee beans discharge into a small metal box inserted into the grinder. This enclosed action makes for a simple, mess-free coffee grinding experience. Efficiently Scandinavian if you ask me!
With the handy auto-off feature, you won’t have to wait after all the beans have passed through the grinder. This auto-off function detects the levels of resistance in the motor. Then, it shuts down the appliance when there are no beans in the hopper. Now, that’s some smart coffee action!
A word of caution here: Unlike with some other electric grinders, this auto-off feature can sometimes lag, which is a pain. Still, you can stop grinding coffee by pressing the on-off button yourself for peace of mind. That’s if the coffee grinder doesn’t beat you to it.
After this, remove the grounds bin from the grinder, open the plastic lid and retrieve your ground coffee for brewing.
Wilfa Uniform Grinder Cleaning
Maintaining any piece of coffee equipment’s cleanliness is essential for optimal performance. The Wilfa Uniform grinder makes this process effortless. It offers easy disassembly for quick, fuss-free cleaning. Often this coffee grinder simply needs a wipe down to keep the exterior looking good.
But for complete cleaning, you’ll need to go a little bit deeper. First disconnect the power source. Then easily access the burr chamber and burrs by twisting open the upper lid. Use the soft-bristle brush provided to sweep away any excess coffee grounds.
For any hard-to-reach residue, a clean, wet cotton swab will do the trick. But if the grounds have embedded oils you may need to use a product like Urnex Grindz to get your grinder clean. In addition, wash the bin with warm water to remove old ground coffee.
When it comes to cleaning this grinder, what I like best of all is the sleek, uncomplicated design. It reduces the likelihood of coffee grounds getting trapped in hard-to-reach places. However, I must say that the black thermoplastic finish tends to pick up dirt, oils and fingerprints easily.
Wilfa Uniform Grinder Technical Specifications
| Wilfa Uniform Grinder | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Wilfa |
| Name | Uniform Grinder |
| Type | Electric coffee grinder |
| Grinder | 58mm stainless steel flat burrs |
| Grind levels | 41 |
| Power | 80 watt |
| Voltage | 120 volt |
| Weight | 7.4 lb / 3.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 6.0 x 6.0 in / 29.0 x 15.0 x 15.0 cm |
| Suitable for | Espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour over, drip machines |
| Accessories | User manual, cleaning brush |
| Current price on Amazon | $349.00 |
Wilfa Uniform Grinder vs Fellow Ode
The Fellow Ode Grinder is one of Wilfa Uniform’s closest rivals on the market. Both brew grinders are minimalist in design, evoking Nordic simplicity.
Like the Wilfa Uniform, the Fellow Ode is a flat burr grinder. It has a large 64-millimeter flat burr set and 31 adjustment settings. It also features a single-dosing capability for maximum freshness.
About price: both coffee grinders are at pretty much the same price point. The Fellow Gen 2 Ode comes in at $345.00, while the Wilfa Uniform will set you back $349.00.
However, that’s where the similarities end. Unlike the Wilfa Uniform, the Fellow Ode finds it much harder to grind for espresso. In fact, the manufacturers’ marketing material flat-out excludes it for finer grinds, and this includes espresso.
Furthermore, if you prefer a sleeker model, I’d opt for the Wilfa Uniform. Its cylindrical shape with built-in hopper and bin may suit your style preference better. There are no protruding hoppers or dials, just a clean, cylindrical, Alexa-like silhouette.
It’s worth noting that Fellow rectified some serious static retention flaws by releasing the Ode Gen 2. It seems they listened to customer feedback and tweaked this new model. As such, the Gen 2 has new anti-static technology, reduced grounds retention and a magnetic-aligned catch up for cleanliness.
Still, in my book, the Wilfa Uniform delivers all-round, filter-focused grinding performance that’s hard to beat.
See Also: Fellow Gen 2 Ode Review 2024
Wilfa Uniform Grinder vs Fellow Ode Comparison Chart
| Wilfa Uniform Grinder | Fellow Gen 2 Ode Grinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Wilfa | Fellow |
| Name | Uniform Grinder | Gen 2 Ode Brew Grinder |
| Type | Electric coffee grinder | Electric coffee grinder |
| Grinder | 58mm stainless steel flat burrs | 64 mm stainless steel flat burrs |
| Grind levels | 41 | 31 |
| Power | 80 watt | 140 watt |
| Voltage | 120 volt | 120 volt |
| Weight | 7.4 lb / 3.4 kg | 10.1 lb / 4.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 11.5 x 6.0 x 6.0 in / 29.0 x 15.0 x 15.0 cm | 9.4 x 9.5 x 5.7 in / 24.8 x 24.0 x 10.5 cm |
| Suitable for | Espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour over, drip machines | Pour-over, Chemex, drip machines, French press, cold brew |
| Accessories | User manual, cleaning brush | User manual, catch cup, cleaning brush |
| Current price on Amazon | $349.00 | $345.00 |
Verdict: Wilfa Uniform Grinder
A superb new grinder
Wilfa Uniform Grinder
Lives up to the hype
Superb design
Easy to use
High-quality build
41 grind settings
Close to zero grind retention
Good value
Not the best for espresso
Initially, I was against getting this grinder as I felt it would just be another vanity purchase. But, how wrong was I, huh? The Wilfa Uniform coffee grinder seems noteworthy for ultra-precision grinding at home. Let’s just say I really want to get my hands on it!
However, you should note that this grinder doesn’t hit the mark as an espresso grinder. Neither should it! It’s a filter coffee-focused grinder and it does exactly what it says on the label.
Additionally, its sleek design, superior build and consistent grind quality, make it a valuable coffee accessory. I highly recommend it for coffee lovers who brew coffee daily. And while it may not be the most budget-friendly, its consistent performance and range of grinding capability justifies the investment.
I hope you enjoyed reading this Wilfa Uniform coffee grinder review. I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether you’d consider buying it or, indeed, already have. Let’s meet in the comments section!
