Buying guide for Best mini coffee grinders
Fresh coffee beans yield the best-tasting coffee, which is why grinding your own beans is such a game-changer. A coffee grinder allows you to grind beans at home, thereby preserving the taste and flavor. While there are plenty of full-size coffee grinders on the market, many people are better suited with a mini coffee grinder.
With a mini coffee grinder, you can grind only the amount of beans you need for each cup. On top of peak freshness, mini coffee grinders also offer portability and space-saving size. A coffee grinder is just as important, if not more, than the coffee beans you buy. If you don’t grind the beans properly, you’ll lose flavor. That’s why selecting the right mini coffee grinder is so important.
Key considerations
Type
There are two types of coffee grinders: blade grinders and burr grinders. They both come in standard or mini sizes.
Grinders using blades tend to be fast and high-powered, and they are similar in design to blenders or food processors. However, they can produce unevenly sized grounds, resulting in coffee that lacks some flavor. That’s because the blade is at the center of the grinder and mixes around the beans as it spins, meaning it doesn’t come into contact with every bean in the same way. Blade grinders are useful for those who want to save time and make more than a couple cups of coffee. The blades may need to be sharpened over time.
On the other hand, burr grinders move all the coffee beans through two grinding surfaces, known as burrs. Every bean comes into contact with the burrs. As a result, the grounds are evenly sized. Changing the distance between the burrs changes how coarse or fine the grind is. Burr grinders may be conical or flat. Conical grinders are slower. Coffee connoisseurs prefer burr grinders for the best taste.
Power
Coffee grinders may be manually operated or electric. Manual grinders take more effort, but they don’t require a power source, which is useful for camping or road trips. They also tend to be less expensive and easier to store. Manual burr grinders are easy to use and the best choice if you’re only making coffee for one or two people. These grinders become more arduous to use if you’re trying to grind coffee for a large group of people. Manual grinders produce less noise than electric options and may have adjustable grind settings.
Conversely, electric grinders are pricier but sport more power and can grind beans faster, especially larger quantities. Mini electric grinders can rapidly grind enough beans to yield four or more cups of coffee. As they require a power outlet, electric grinders won’t work on hikes or camping trips. Higher-end electric grinders offer more precision, with a variety of grind specifications. Cheaper models, particularly blade options, do not grind beans evenly. Some of these options can be especially noisy as well.
Coarseness settings
A mini coffee grinder may have as few as two or three coarseness settings or as many as 20. Depending on the variety of coffee you drink, you may need more grinding options as different beans require different levels of coarseness. If you stick to a specific type of coffee, these options may be superfluous. More options tend to result in a higher price.
However, the more settings a mini coffee grinder has, the more varieties of coffee you can make. By playing around with a number of options, you may find that there is a specific setting that results in the most enjoyable cup of coffee.
Capacity
Mini coffee grinders vary in capacity. Some are geared toward quickly making one or two cups, while others can grind enough for four cups. Of course, you can always refill the grinder until you have all the coffee you need.
Did You Know?
Grounds that are too coarse will taste salty, sour, and acidic. If you’ve ground your coffee too finely, it may taste bitter and hollow.
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Features
Wet grinder
Some electric mini coffee grinders come with a separate blade and bowl that can be inserted and used with wet ingredients. While the dry bowl is used for coffee, the wet bowl can be used for grinding spices or garlic, which can produce a bit of moisture when chopped. This addition also avoids cross-contamination between food and coffee.
Ceramic burrs
While blade grinders and some burr grinders are made of durable and sharp stainless steel, a growing number of burr grinders use ceramic burrs instead. Generally, ceramic will last longer than stainless steel, and it doesn’t rust. Some consumers believe that steel grinders conduct a little bit of heat, too, enough to negatively affect the taste of the beans, while ceramic grinders do not.
Ceramic burrs are also great for achieving the fine grind associated with espresso. However, ceramic burrs should not be used with hard spices. They don’t hold up as well to stronger contents. These grinders can also be easily damaged if they fall.
Did You Know?
Unevenly sized grounds result in flavor being extracted inconsistently, which is especially problematic if you enjoy flavored coffee.
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Accessories
Coffee beans: Lavazza Super Crema Coffee Beans
Start enjoying high-quality coffee right away with your new grinder. We recommend these creamy, nutty, medium-roast beans from the premium Italian brand.
Coffee drippers: Melitta Pour-Over Coffee Maker
You’ll also need a device to brew your freshly ground coffee. We like this porcelain pour-over coffee dripper for a simple, great-tasting cup.
Camping coffee makers: nCamp Portable Camping Coffee Maker
Mini coffee grinders are ideal for traveling, and they pair well with camping coffee makers. We love this compact, easy-to-use option from nCamp.
Coffee mugs: Better For Your Stainless Steel Coffee Mugs
To complete your coffee experience, you should opt for a couple of durable mugs. These stainless steel coffee mugs are sleek, insulated, and shatterproof.
Did You Know?
One cup of coffee tends to be around two tablespoons of ground beans. Adding more or less water during brewing affects the strength of your coffee.
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Mini coffee grinder prices
For under $20, you’ll find simple and effective mini coffee grinders. These grinders probably won’t have too many options in terms of coarseness. They may be blade or burr grinders.
Mini coffee grinders from $20 to $40 vary in size and coarseness options. Mid-range grinders are manual or electric, with a blade or burrs.
For $40 to $60, you’ll find long-lasting mini coffee grinders that grind coffee to your exact needs. These are powerful electric blade grinders or elegantly designed burr mills.
Tips
- Know your coarseness. Different beans require different levels of coarseness. Espresso beans, for example, should be ground very fine and brewed immediately after grinding. Beans for cold brew and French press coffee are ground coarser.
- Pulse, don’t blend. If you’re using a blade grinder, pulsing is the way to go. Pulsing better mixes the beans for a more even grind. It also diminishes heat output. Too much heat and beans can taste overcooked.
- Clean your grinder. Make sure to clean and wipe out your grinder. This prevents contamination if you switch coffee and keeps stale grounds from getting into fresh pots.
- Grind nuts and spices. Your grinder can also take care of most spices and some nuts. This is useful for soups, salad dressings, and any number of other dishes.
FAQ
Q. How should I store beans before grinding?
A. Keep your coffee beans sealed in an airtight bag or container away from sunlight, warmth, and moisture. Storing beans in a cool, dry place will extend their livelihood once the bag is opened. Beans can last for months, provided they are kept in the right conditions. Ground coffee can last for months as well, but it will significantly lose its flavor and taste over time.
Q. Are more expensive mini coffee grinders better?
A. With mini coffee grinders, cost does not necessarily correlate with a better grind. Instead, more expensive grinders usually have more options and conveniences. For example, electric coffee grinders, especially those with lots of grind options, are the most expensive, while simple manual burr grinders cost less. However, mini manual burr grinders will likely produce better-tasting coffee. It’s important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of burr versus blade grinders and manual versus electric.
Q. How do I clean my mini coffee grinder?
A. Cleaning mini coffee grinders can be tricky as they are not dishwasher-safe. Add a bit of dish soap to a slightly damp cloth or paper towel and gently wipe the insides of the grinder. Be careful around the blade. Before storing, the grinder must be completely dry. Cleaning can be done once every week or two and any time you’re changing beans. Be sure to unplug an electric grinder before you start to clean.
Some users have another hack to eliminate any residue or odor. Grind a bit of white rice in your mini coffee grinder, which should attract any oils from the sides of the grinder.
