Kitchen counter space is limited in many homes. Why clutter it with an oversize coffee grinder? Many grinders with ceramic burrs have a small footprint, allowing them to be easily stored in a cabinet or left on the countertop without taking up too much space. Some can be quite boxy and large, though, so check the available space with a tape measure or ruler before purchasing a ceramic coffee grinder. You’ll then be able to find the right one for your kitchen.

Coffee grinders with stainless steel blades can be quite large and grind several cups of beans at a time. Ceramic coffee grinders typically grind much smaller quantities of beans, usually only enough for a few cups of coffee. If you’re making coffee for two people, a ceramic grinder will be perfect for you. If you’re making coffee for a group, a larger capacity automatic grinder with metal blades will probably be a better choice.

Blades: A blade grinder, also called a propeller grinder, chops coffee with metal blades that rotate at high speed, like a countertop blender. These grinders are commonly used in commercial settings, such as coffee shops, where large quantities of beans need to be ground up quickly.

Burrs: Burr grinders use serrated plates that crush the beans rather than cut them. The distance between the two burrs determines the fineness of the grind. Burrs produce a more uniform grind than blades.

Some coffee grinders can be used to grind items other than coffee beans. Some grinders are specifically designed to grind herbs, spices, or nuts, too. If you’re on the keto diet, you can set the grinder to a fine setting and grind your own nut flour.

Stainless steel is ubiquitous in coffee grinders, although you can find a few vintage-inspired grinders with cast iron handles. The containers are normally glass or clear ABS plastic, while the body of the grinder is usually metal or plastic (or wood in vintage models). Most important, though, is the burr or blade material.

Stainless steel: Metal blades or burrs conduct heat, and metal grinders are impacted by warm ambient temperatures. Heat can gradually warp metal, so these grinders may have a shorter lifespan than grinders with ceramic burrs.

Ceramic: Ceramic is a heat-resistant, nonmetallic mixture of clay, water, and other elements fired at high temperatures in a kiln. Ceramics can be found in many items that need to stand up to high heat, such as pottery, spark plugs, and the heat tiles on spacecraft. Ceramics are strong and hard but brittle. Ceramic burrs aren’t affected by heat the way stainless steel blades or burrs are, which means ceramic coffee grinders last longer.

Settings: Pay attention to the number of grind settings. One of the benefits of grinding your own coffee beans is the ability to control the fineness to suit your personal taste. The more settings a grinder has the better.

Speed: Grinding coffee beans too quickly can burn them, ruining the flavor. Many aficionados prefer grinding the beans more slowly to release the full flavor of the beans. Manual grinding gives you more control over the speed, whereas automatic grinding is harder to regulate.

Loudness: Coffee grinders can be loud or quiet depending on how well they’re constructed. Volume is subjective, and manufacturers tend to overemphasize the relative quietness of their machines. Read online customer reviews for a better idea of the noise made by each grinder you’re considering.

Take a look at how easy the grinder is to disassemble. It should be simple to take apart, clean, and reassemble. The more separate pieces, the better you’ll be able to clean it. Some manufacturers include a cleaning brush. Because manual coffee grinders aren’t electric, many can be washed in the dishwasher.

Cleaning brush: MSART Coffee Grinder Cleaning Brush
If your coffee grinder doesn’t come with a cleaning brush, you can buy an inexpensive one. this brush from MSART with natural fiber bristles and a wooden handle will clean the ceramic burrs without damaging them.

Coffee scoop: 1Easylife Coffee Scoop
You’re going to need a scoop for the beans and grinds. This ergonomic 2-tablespoon stainless steel scoop comes with a generous warranty.

Coffee bean storage: 77L Glass Canister
This thick glass jar has an airtight bamboo lid to seal in freshness. It’s also perfect to display on your kitchen counter.

Ground coffee storage: Frescura Coffee Canister
This airtight, stainless steel canister from Frescura Coffee has a sleek, modern design that makes it beautiful as well as functional. It has a built-in date tracker on the lid so you can monitor the freshness of your ground coffee.

Inexpensive: The low price range for ceramic grinders is anything under $15. These grinders are generally small and portable and intended for camping or other outings. Most of these are limited to four or fewer grind settings.

Mid-range: Spend between $15 and $40 and you can find larger, more robust ceramic coffee grinders with more grind settings. These usually have a larger capacity than the less expensive models.

Expensive: These ceramic coffee grinders cost $40 to $63 and more. Many of these are well-constructed designer grinders sculpted for appearance as well as functionality. Some are small enough to be portable, while others are meant for countertop use.

• Measure your beans. Use about 1/2 ounce of coffee beans for one cup of coffee.
• Grind the beans slowly. Slow grinding produces a better flavor than grinding the beans quickly, and it doesn’t take that much more time.
• Take care of the burrs. Ceramic burrs can be washed in warm water and dried by hand or left to air-dry. Don’t tap them on anything. Ceramic is brittle and can break easily if you hit it.

Q. Are there any automatic ceramic coffee grinders?
A. No. All the automatic coffee grinders have metal burrs or blades.
 

Q. Does the hopper for the beans need to have a lid on it during grinding?
A. No. The slow grinding normally used on ceramic grinders doesn’t kick beans out of the hopper. If you start having that problem, it means you’re grinding too quickly.
 

Q. What is the typical grinding speed on a ceramic grinder?
A. One complete revolution of the grinding handle per second.