Best Coffee Grinder For French Press Reviews And Buying Guide [UPDATED 2022]
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Our recommended coffee grinder for a French press is OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder!
If you’re looking for the fastest and easiest method to make better-tasting espresso at home, invest in a good burr grinder. You’ll be amazed by how much better your morning brew tastes when you use one.
Even though that pushy salesperson might try to convince you otherwise, using a French press is a forgiving method of brewing coffee. As a result, you do not need to spend much money on a top-of-the-line grinder. A plethora of reasonably priced and even more reasonably priced options are ideal for the task, and we have chosen the nine best ones.
For use in a French press, the finest pre-ground coffee grounds generated by a grinder should be consistently coarse. Considering how cheap the French Press is, I believe this function should be offered at a reasonable price. Moreover, we made an article just for you on How To Burn Coffee Grounds.
Finding a good coffee grinder that works well with a French press is not as challenging as doing the same with a more particular brewing method like espresso. James Hoffmann, one of the world’s best-known and respected experts on espresso, says the French press makes an excellent cup of espresso.
This indicates that consumers may easily get reasonably priced coffee grinders designed specifically for use with French presses. Avoid all contact with blade grinders. The following is a selection of nine reviews of coffee grinders for use with a French press. You can also check out here if Can You Use Regular Coffee In An Espresso Machine.
1. OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder – Editor’s Choice
OXO is a name synonymous with quality kitchen appliances. Their burr electric coffee grinders are no exception, and the Brew Conical Burr is one of the most popular high-end home coffee grinders in its league. This model’s attractive feature is its conical burr that produces fine ground beans, perfect for the French press brew method.
It also includes a removable bean container that holds up to 12 ounces of coffee beans. The container is dishwasher safe and can be used with other types of coffee grinders.
It has a large bean hopper that allows users to store enough beans for several cups of coffee connoisseurs. The hopper is made of stainless steel, and it has a lid that prevents beans from spilling out when the hopper is removed.
In addition to these fancy features, The Grind Control dial adjusts the size of the grind, while the Pulse manual button for grinding turns the automatic espresso machine on and off. There is also a power switch located on top of the unit.
2. VSSL JAVA Manual Hand Coffee Grinder – Best Selling
VSSL is a relatively new player in the market, but they have already established itself as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality hand grinders. The Java Manual Hand Coffee Grinder is one of their best products. It comes in the best espresso coffee beans grinders, which is a manual machine. We also have an article on how to Grind Coffee Beans In A Nutribullet. Find out here!
It is compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel. Its durable plastic body resists scratches and dents, and the handle is ergonomically shaped for a comfortable grip.
The grinder has two different grind sizes: coarse and fine. Both options produce a medium uniform grind, which is the perfect brew strength for the French press. The coarse setting produces larger particles, while the fine produces finer ones.
There is a built-in storage compartment where you can keep your beans. A rubberized bottom keeps the grinder stable on any surface.
3. SHARDOR Coffee Grinder with Precision Electronic Timer – Runner Up
SHARDOR is a German company known for its innovative designs and high-quality electric burr grinders. They make some of the best espresso machines, so it was only natural that they would create a great French press coffee maker too.
Their latest product is the SHARDOR Coffee Grinding Machine. It is designed to provide precise control over the grind size, allowing users to get exactly what they want every time.
This model’s precision electronic timer lets users set the desired grind time. The timer will automatically turn itself off after the time has passed.
4. Artemis & Rhodes Camping French Press Coffee Grinder
Artemis & Rhodes is a well-known brand of camping equipment, and this French press coffeemaker is just one of many items they offer. This particular item is a French press coffeemaker that uses a ceramic burr grinder.
Its unique design provides a sleek look that complements its rugged exterior. It is made of heavy-duty metal and has a sturdy base that makes it easy to use as a grinder for coffee.
The grinder is equipped with an adjustable grinding plate, which allows users to adjust the perfect grind size according to preference. The included bean container holds up to 8 ounces of coffee beans, and there is a separate storage area for extra beans.
5. Secura Coffee Grinder
It’s an electric grinder that produces high-quality coffee grounds for up to 12 cup sizes, with the ability to choose from roughly 17 grind size options.
The Secura coffee grinder produces consistent grinds and protects the coffee’s original flavor and fragrance thanks to its performance-oriented design. In addition, it contains a function that will turn it off by itself if you overlook turning it off manually.
In addition, the Secura has a few additional functions that, in our opinion, are among the most practical of those available.
For instance, tabs that prevent the grinder from sliding are positioned on the bottom of the device. These tabs ensure that the grinder remains firmly on the kitchen countertop.
Things to consider when selecting a coffee grinder for the French press
To begin with, get yourself a burring grater, not a blade grater. Next, the specifics depend on your financial situation; how you like the flavor compounds in coffee, how you live your lives; and if you’re also brewing with other methods. With the help of this buyers’ guide, you will be capable of addressing all the elements that go into choosing the perfect espresso maker for the French press.
1. Burr Shape and Bur Size
When you’re looking to buy your first true burr grinder, it might feel extremely overwhelming. Should you go with conical or flat burrs? Does it make a difference? Does the size of the burr matter as much as some manufacturers would like you to believe it does?
If you are grinding coffee for a French press, the single most critical thing you can do is invest in a burr coffee grinder instead of a blade grinder. This is especially true if the coffee beans you are using are not of specialized grade. The size and form of the burrs do have an effect on the flavor of your coffee, and I’ll explain how that happens in just a moment, but the ordinary person who drinks coffee probably won’t be able to tell the difference between the two.
Regarding the size of the burr, it is common practice to choose larger sizes. A larger burr set grinds quicker. Grinding coffee beans quickly speeds up the delivery of caffeine to the bloodstream and reduces the amount of heat produced by the heat generation process. You risk removing certain taste molecules in the coffee beans if you grind spectrum after heating them. Regardless of the size of the burrs you use, the brew time for a single cup of coffee brewed in a French press won’t take very long.
What about the shape? Conical burr grinders are well-known for their ability to produce a greater quantity of particles. Fines are the dust you may discover at the bottom of your cup after using a French press. This is because the metal filter in the French press does not collect the fines. Some coffee lovers like fines because they add body to their coffee, and users of coffee made using a French press, especially like their coffee to have a substantial amount of body. You can also check out this article about Coffee Filter Substitutes that you can use.
On the other hand, flat burr grinders have a reputation for being very consistent. There are fewer penalties, and the grounds are more consistently maintained. Some coffee consumers prefer this method since it results in a cleaner cup. It all comes down to individual preference, so we have provided you with some excellent alternatives for coffee bean grinders that use either flat or conical burrs.
2. Will you prefer a manual or an automatic coffee grinder?
Depending on your needs, there are several good reasons to choose one type of coffee grinder over another. There is a widespread prevalence of manual grinders in houses where coffee is consumed due to their low cost.
Let’s start with the benefits of using a manual coffee grinder. Because you are primarily paying for a burr set and not a motor, they are rather affordable.
This point has previously been made. Because it does not have a low speed motor, a manual grinder does not make any noise. This is the second big advantage, which is a huge step. Do you want to get that first cup of coffee ready without rousing everyone? This is the correct response.
Hand coffee grinders are great for traveling since they are portable, lightweight, long-lasting, and do not require power, which is also a considerable step for saving human time.
Although using a manual coffee grinder requires some physical exertion of the beans into grounds the coffee beans, producing the coarse grind levels necessary for a French press is the least difficult of the three options.
The fact that the motor does the job for you is the primary benefit of using an electric coffee grinder. Some people don’t want to or cannot get their arms moving first thing in the morning. For the same reason, electric coffee grinders are superior to manual ones when grinding a large quantity of coffee simultaneously. They also have bigger hoppers and grinds bins, in addition to the fact that they spare your arms.
Looking for answers about things to consider in buying built in machines? Read this article, Built-In Coffee Machines Worth It.
3. Grind by weight or by time
Grinders of the quality that we often suggest dose or measure coffee in one of two ways: either by the amount of time it takes or by the amount of weight it contains. When it comes to brewing coffee, the weight measurement in grams is considered the gold standard. Pour-over brewing calls for 30 grams of coffee for 350 grams of water, which works out to approximately one gram for every 12 grams of water (the ratio is 1:11.6, but we’ll round it up). The coffee experts at Blue Bottle recommend this method of brewing coffee, but other people use different ratios. Although there are a few coffee grinders on the market with built-in scales that can measure uniform coffee ground down to the gram, these machines are often quite costly. The Oxo coffee grinder is the only one we suggest that costs less than $300.
Despite this, you may still achieve repeatable results using a grinder that dosages based on time. Carry out a test correct grind at the selected grind size setting, weigh the product, and use this information to determine how long the timer should be set for (make sure to weigh the final results to ensure your math works out). We ground for a total of four seconds with each of the time-dosing grinders we examined, and then we worked our way out.
If you don’t already own a digital kitchen scale, you should consider purchasing one. However, if I were completely honest, you should have one regardless because they’re useful for many things besides just weighing out coffee beans.
Moreover, you should also read our previous articles about the best coffee canisters to buy in 2022.
Frequently asked questions – FAQs
1. Burr Grinder vs. Blade Grinder vs. Manual Grinder
The grind size needed for a cup of coffee might vary depending on how it will be brewed. Coffee brewed with a Chemex should have the consistency of medium-large gravel rather than the fine powder needed for espresso. A standard blade grinder, similar to a tiny blender or food processor, cannot grind coffee consistently for any brewing technique.
There are several different methods of grinding beans into espresso; however, if you want to get the best results, we recommend using a conical steel burr grinder. While these machines can cost thousands of dollars, they’re worth every penny because they produce consistently delicious shots. Our top pick is the Baratza Encore ($250), but there are plenty of good options out there for under $200.
Hand-cranked burr grinders are similar to their electric counterparts in that they use a stainless steel burr to decent grind the beans, but the handle is turned instead of an electric gear reduction motor. These are convenient for the person who drinks coffee occasionally but only makes one cup at a time using a pour-over method. Suppose you want to avoid using the hotel’s subpar drip machine or the office’s environmentally questionable single-serve coffee pods. In that case, this is also a handy item to pack for a trip.
2. Is it easy to set up a coffee grinder?
A coffee grinder that costs $75 will likely be less solid than one that costs $750, but given that these machines are likely to receive a daily workout, it is worthwhile to look for one that seems made to last, even at the more affordable end of the wide range. We paid close attention to the weight of the coffee grinders, their steadiness on the counter, and the apparent longevity of the parts as we set up and tested the system. We also thought about how simple it was to set them up and whether or not their controls were straightforward to understand and utilize. Before making our first cup of coffee, we didn’t want to spend hours reading the manual since we didn’t mind skimming them. We don’t want to spend hours studying.
3. Is the coffee grinder simple to clean?
After the beans had been processed, we thought about how the grinds might be transported from the grind catcher to a brewing container in an orderly and uncomplicated manner, as well as whether or not it would be easy to reach the burrs for periodic maintenance and cleaning.
Moreover, you should also read our article about the best automatic pour over coffee maker.
Our #1 Coffee Grinder for the French press
Our number one coffee grinder for the French press is the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinderbecause of its large size and high speed motor.
On number two, I will recommend VSSL JAVA Manual Hand Coffee Grinder for those of you who prefer a manual coffee grinder.
Furthermore, we also have an in-depth article about French Press Vs Pour Over. Read this article.