Do you like the smell of freshly brewed coffee? As a coffee connoisseur, you already know that grinding your beans right before brewing your coffee is the best way to get the full taste and aroma in your brews. In this article, we will discover the finest hand or manual coffee grinders for that refreshing grind.
When it comes to brewing an ideal cup of coffee, the consistency of grind size matters. Your first shot of espresso decides how your day is going to be. It is important to choose a perfect grinder to make the perfect shot of espresso, to begin with.
A grinder has a motive to grind coffee beans, which is to serve you freshly brewed coffee. When you’re at home, big electric ones are great, but when you’re on the go, you’ll need something more compact, like a manual one that you can use by hand.
Even though these hand grinders seem to be simple, they have been well-engineered to achieve an accurate and consistent grind.
When deciding between electric and manual, there are several factors to consider –
- Convenience
- Ease of use
- Cost
- Construction Materials
- Size
- Accuracy
For a perfect espresso when outdoors or when no electricity, you need an even grind, and to make it happen, you’ll need a manual grinder. These are also an extra companion to your brewing setup in case your very best coffee grinder fails for some reason. With a backup of an extra one, you don’t have to stop.
Why Buy a Manual Coffee Grinder?
If you love coffee, you must know when it tastes delicious and when not. When drinking a coffee with uniform-sized grounds, it smells and tastes amazing. Manual coffee grinders play a vital role in producing uniformly sized grounds and make your aromatic cup of coffee. Many of these also come with the feature to grind different-sized grounds for a different kind of coffee.
The strong flavor and fresh taste are the two most important ingredients of a good cup of coffee. And these two can be achieved easily from a manual burr grinder.
Just think, what among the so many kinds of coffee would you like to drink, coffee that was pre-grounded a few weeks ago or freshly grounded?
Of course, the freshly grounded coffee. After all, it smells and tastes the best. To help you get the freshly grounded coffee, you just need to purchase a coffee grinder.
Manual burr grinders do provide the best results. Here are few reasons to buy a one for yourself –
- Above all, you can carry them anywhere, just pack them in your luggage and take it with you. You don’t need to drink mediocre coffee from any restaurant anymore because you have your coffee grinder. These are handy, weigh less, and hence are mobile.
- A manual grinder is also considered to be used in most cases because it doesn’t heat the beans. Therefore, it gives users a slightly better taste than those of electric ones.
- In your home, you always have to think about the amount of noise transmitted from the kitchen to the outdoors. Electric grinders are much noisier as compared to manual ones.
- Another feature is that you will have complete control over the process as to when to stop for desired results.
- They are the perfect companion to your favorite manual coffee brewer where you have complete control over the process. Take them both for an amazing outdoor coffee experience.
- Electric coffee mills consume a lot of power, and being automatic consumes even more, whereas manual coffee grinders are money savers.
- Consistent grinds are the most important factor when making coffee. For a perfect coffee, grinds should be of the same size to dissolve at the same rate. Manual grinders produce even size grounds as they grind slow and have solid burrs to grind uniformly.
- For all coffee lovers, preparing a cup of coffee is a way of calming themselves down. It is something soothing and relaxing. For manual coffee grinder, it is a fact that 40% of coffee connoisseurs tend to invest their time in making coffee because it heals their mental health.
- These grinders are easy to use. These are designed in a certain way that they can give users ease in handling and extracting brewed coffee.
8 Best Manual Coffee Grinders
1. Zassenhaus Santiago
- CARBON STEEL GRINDING MECHANISM: Serious coffee enthusiasts...
- TRADITIONAL LAP MILL: Simply pour whole coffee beans into...
- COLD GRIND FOR EXTRA FLAVOR: Cold grinding your own fresh...
- DESIGN FEATURES: With an ergonomically designed hand crank...
Zassenhaus Santiago has a beautiful mahogany finish with a flawless brass coating on the handle for a more vivid and appealing look. Thanks to its robust craftsmanship, this grinder has cemented a spot in the coffee grinding arena.
This grinder is ultralight and compact, making it easy to transport, and regardless of the scale of your kitchen, it would surely fit in. The high-quality carbon steel conical burr is long-lasting and guarantees stable performance promptly.
The coffee grinder is made of wood and has high-grade tool steel burrs that will not only grind but also extract the goodness and flavor from the beans. Below the crank is a knurled control knob that helps you fine-tune the settings for a smooth and uniform grind, from coarse to super fine.
Zassenhaus has also included a small box on the bottom of the base where coffee grounds accumulate and can be stored until you’re finished grinding. It requires the use of a fine brush to thoroughly clean the machine and clear any clogged ground coffee.
Features
- Made of beech wood
- Tool steel conical burrs
- Vintage looks
- Adjustable grind settings
- Drawer to store falling coffee grind
- Portable and easy to carry
Pros
- Durable
- Offers a consistent grind
- Compact and portable
- Easy to operate and clean
- Offers more flavor retention
Cons
- Adjustment can be quite challenging
- Portability can be hampered because of weight
2. Lido 3
- 48mm Swiss Made Steel Conical Grinding Burr Set
- Diecast Folding Crank Handle with Integrated Funnel for easy...
- Soft grip handle knob
- Large Capacity Food Safe BPA Free Plastic Hopper holds up to...
The OE Lido 3 is a reliable and long-lasting grinder that has been updated from the Lido 2 to make it more versatile. The hopper is made entirely of BPA-free plastic, while the burr set is made of steel conical.
It is designed as a portable grinder. The combination of sturdy plastic, a streamlined design, and a newly foldable crank handle makes it ideal for all types of travelers. The hopper can hold up to 70 g of beans, which can serve up to 4+ cups at a time.
The step-less grind adjustment helps users to be precise about their grind size, and the double ball bearings stabilize steel conical burrs to provide a smooth grind. For faster cleaning, the Lido 3 comes with a soft brush and a hex tool.
Features
- Step-less grind settings
- 48 mm swiss made steel conical burr
- Soft grip handle knob
- BPA free plastic
Pros
- Easy to clean and operate
- Consistent grind
- Accurate grind settings
- Portable
- High-quality, durable body
- Easy maintenance
Cons
- Limited capacity
- Large and heavy
- Not ideal for espresso
3. 1Zpresso JX
- ☕BEST SALE GRINDER - Looking for quality but budget...
- ☕DURABLE and STABILITY BURR– 48mm conical burr makes...
- ☕EASY TO CLEAN - By dismantling pieces without tools,...
- ☕PRODUCT GUARANTEE - The grinder is calibrated and fixed...
The large conical burr on the 1Zpresso JX Pro offers excellent consistency. A high-quality burr is used in these grinders to ensure a smooth grind. To grind your coffee, simply hold on to the cylinder and crank the handle.
The large size provides enough surface area for high-quality hand grinding of beans. The grinder is fixed to the shaft from the inside, guaranteeing long life and reliability. The burr was calibrated and set in place to ensure there were no wobbly pieces or loose burrs over time.
The 40-step adjustments enable you to fine-tune the coarseness of the grounds. Plus, getting into the grind takes only 30 seconds. It’s easy to hold steady, thanks to the wooden handle and silicone sleeve around the grinder’s body.
Features
- 48 mm stainless steel conical burrs
- 40 Stepped grind adjustment dials
- Silicone Sleeve with Ergonomic Handle
- Zero or minimal noise level
- Compact and sleek
Pros
- Controllable grind adjustment
- Easy to clean
- Durability
- Quick grinding time
- Consistency in grind
- Best for espresso
Cons
- Small capacity
- Heavy to carry
- Extra efforts to crank
4. JavaPresse Manual
- ENJOY THE PERFECT CUP OF FRESH COFFEE ― The Manual Coffee...
- CONVENIENT, PORTABLE, AND EASY-TO-USE ESPRESSO GRINDER ―...
- THE BEST WAY TO START YOUR DAY ― This manual coffee bean...
- TREAT YOURSELF TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY MANUAL COFFEE GRINDER...
The JavaPresse Hand Coffee Grinder is a small, lightweight, and compact machine. It is made of sturdy stainless steel and produces smooth grinds in 15 grind sizes. It has a dual plate structure that guarantees reliability and credible performance when grinding.
Underneath the burr is an adjustable knob that allows you to shift the grind settings. It can grind up to ½ cup of coffee beans at a time. This model’s ceramic combo burrs can keep a sharp edge for longer than stainless steel models.
There are a total of 18 click settings, all of which are simple to choose from and extremely accurate. It is perfect for a variety of brewing methods like pour-over, drip, cold brew, French press, percolator, Turkish, and espresso.
Features
- 18 adjustable grind selectors
- Ceramic conical burrs
- Made of sturdy stainless steel
- Compact and portable
- Detachable hand crank
- 15 grind size options; coarse to fine grind
Pros
- Consistent grind every time
- Minimal noise level
- Easy to clean
- Made of durable material
- Easily disassemble
Cons
- Takes more time to grind a large amount
- Grind size setting is quite confusing
- Hand crank is slippery
5. Hario Skerton Plus
- Skerton Plus: A favorite amongst coffee newcomers and...
- New and Improved: An update to the original Skerton-- The...
- Perfect Grind: Ceramic conical burrs ensure a precise,...
- Japanese Design: Designed by Hario in Japan to provide...
Hario Skerton Plus remains the best professional choice for an everyday coffee solution. It has a compact design, large capacity, and detachable parts that make it the perfect grinder for coffee enthusiasts. A slick anti-slip grip on the Skerton Plus guarantees a completely reliable grind.
The Hario Skerton Coffee Mill is a well-made, high-quality hand grinder series. However, since Pro is made of glass, it is more delicate and therefore less compact.
It now has a more durable body and a more easily adjustable grind. The grinding shaft has been strengthened, and the easy-fit handle has been improved to be sturdier than ever before to perfect a smooth, steady grind.
Key features
- Adjustable grinder
- Glass jar to collect grounds
- Ceramic conical burrs
- Non-slip rubber base
- Detachable handle for easy storage
- Strong Grind shaft
- Glass bowl hopper
Pros
- High-quality burrs
- Consistent grind
- Easy to operate and clean
- Precise and uniform grind
Cons
- Adjusting the grind size is confusing
- Multiple parts need to be taken care of
- Occupies more space
6. Porlex Mini
- Ceramic conical burrs with wide range can grind from powder...
- 20 gram capacity
- 47 mm diameter and stands 130 mm tall
- Made in Osaka, Japan
The Porlex Mini is the entry-level ultimate camping grinder because it is both durable and lightweight; kudos to its stainless-steel construction and manual operation. It’s in a cylindrical shape that makes it convenient to carry.
It is easy to clean and almost indestructible due to its sturdy stainless-steel body. The adjustable grinder produces precise grinds for fine, coarse, or medium grinds, and it comes with a handy little dial.
The burr wheel has 13 settings, each of which is determined by a ‘click.’ To grind, remove the cap, pour in the desired volume of beans, cover the cap, turn on the hand crank, and grind until no further resistance is felt. Furthermore, new parts are simple to obtain and attach if some parts crack or wear out due to normal wear and tear.
Features
- Made up of stainless steel
- A small set of Ceramic burrs
- Easy to handle
- Consistent grind
Pros
- The slow grinding process ensures the aromatic flavor
- Sturdy and ergonomic
- Easy to clean
- Compact
- Good quality material
Cons
- Limited capacity
- Longer grinding time
7. TIMEMORE Chestnut C2
- High quality 420 stainless steel burrs: The burrs are formed...
- Grinding degree adjustment function: built-in grinding...
- Easy to disassemble and clean: The compact design makes it...
- Convenient to carry: You can obtain TIMEMORE C2 grinder X1,...
The Timemore Chestnut C2 is a high-speed hand grinder with a stainless-steel burr set of 38mm and double bearings. The burr is stainless steel, while the main body is made of aluminum alloy.
The inner stabilizer, the adjusting knob, the handle knob, and the hopper lid are all made of PCTG plastic. The plastic pieces seem to be sturdy and long-lasting, which helps to lighten the total weight of the grinder.
It’s a lightweight hand grinder with a nice ergonomic crank handle that’s permanently fixed to the lid. The stepped adjustment is often used by Chestnut C2 to alter the fineness setting by turning the adjustable knob.
It has a wide grind variety, allowing you to grind very fine for a Moka pot or even espresso, as well as coarse grinds for a French Press.
Features
- 38 mm stainless steel burrs
- 36 adjustable grind settings
- Dual bearings
- Grind consistency
- Build of premium quality materials
- Portability
Pros
- Consistent grind
- Fast and smooth grind
- Light-weight, great for travelling
- Easy to operate
Cons
- Small capacity
8. 1Zpresso Q2-Series Portable
The 1Zpresso Q2 is the smallest of the 1ZPresso series of grinders, and it comes in a thin, portable pack. It is a stunning and minimalist grinder. The body is made of a brushed aluminum alloy. A 38 mm conical burr package made of ‘grade 420′ stainless steel, hardness, and corrosion-resistant alloy makes up the internals.
The dial is easy to adjust and is placed directly underneath the burr. It’s tiny, lightweight, and fits nicely into an AeroPress plunger. The 1Zpresso grinder is simple to clean; you can disassemble it and dust it without having to re-calibrate it.
Increased stability for improved grind consistency thanks to the dual bearing and triaxial configuration. The general setting needs over 60 clicks. Grinding coffee doesn’t have to be a chore, and it can also be enjoyed while traveling or camping.
Features
- Built with premium materials
- 38 mm conical burr
- Easy adjustment settings
- Compact and light-weight
- Easy to dismantle
Pros
- Easy to grind
- Small and light
- Easy to clean
- Compact
- High-quality burrs
Cons
- Limited capacity
Also Read: Best Espresso Grinders
Things to Consider – Buying Guide
The Size of the Machine
If you wish to grind while traveling, you must consider a machine that is cylindrical and sleek in shape. This will help to store and use much easier. However, if you are not concerned about taking the grinder on the go, you can go for something that is more vintage.
Capacity of the Machine
If you are choosing a compact, small grinder, you will get to crack only a limited amount of beans at a time. With this factor, it is essential to be realistic. Thus, choose a coffee grinder that has the right capacity for you.
The Material Quality
In terms of quality, you must concentrate on the burrs as they undergo a huge amount of stress. In a manual grinder, you will have two options, steel, and ceramic – both with their own pros and cons. If you travel a lot, consider buying a machine with stainless steel burs. If not, you can go with the ceramic burrs.
Grind Settings
You must consider the number of settings the coffee grinder offers and how easy it is to change them. It is not worth it to buy a machine that only grinds. You may need a lot more settings to experience different tastes.
Maintenance
One doesn’t have to worry much about maintaining a manual grinder as they are mostly easy to disassemble and clean. If you are curious about cleaning a manual grinder, we suggest reading our guide about cleaning a grinder.
The Verdict
When purchasing a new grinder, there are several factors to consider. However, the most important question is: does it help me in making tasty coffee? Even the cheapest hand grinders will perform excellently in this respect.
Still, if the budget is no constraint to anything, we would suggest going with 1Zpresso JX or the Lido 3 as they are built to grind with precision. The material quality and features have gained immense popularity among many coffee enthusiasts.
But if you are somewhere limited on budget, Porlex or Javapresse are good to go for. They have been in the market for a long and serving some very good results to the coffee people.
Your grinder has the most impact on the taste of your coffee. Perhaps you need to invest in the perfect grinder if you want to drink a nice coffee. Be in charge of your coffee, grind each bean and take the soothing smell. All in all, a perfect grinder can make you feel relaxed and calm, and drinking that coffee can make your day.