You’re probably one of those people that drink coffee almost on a daily basis but maybe, just maybe, you haven’t yet decided to get your first grinder.
I was perfectly happy making pre-ground coffee on a daily basis in my cheap drip machine until one day I was given a bag of whole bean coffee as a gift. It was at that point that I realized I needed to have a proper grinder even if I wasn’t planning on grinding whole beans all the time.
The fact is, a good burr coffee grinder is an important piece of equipment that’ll make your coffee taste a lot better and your day feel simpler not having to go to your favorite coffee shop.
Expensive as coffee grinders can be, it’s perfectly reasonable to have one yourself especially if you get a small hand grinder which are much more affordable than the larger electric machines.
Here are Our Favorite Small Hand Crank Coffee Grinders
Although these grinders take a lot more elbow grease than their electric counterparts they still do an excellent job… and there’s no way any electric grinder could ever be so quiet!
Hario MSS-1DTB Mini Mill Plus Hand Coffee Grinder
Hario MSS-1DTB Mini Mill Plus Hand Coffee GrinderIf you want a small hand grinder for your daily coffee fix then this is an awesome choice. It’s tiny but still makes enough for a single person’s serving of coffee regardless of the brewing method.
To compare the Mini Mill Slim to the Plus I can say that the handle (crank) on the Plus is built stronger with reinforcement to prevent slippage and breaking. That’s why it is a nicer model.
This mill is great for all grind sizes although coarse grind is better made with the Skerton Pro which is featured below.
You can’t beat the price though!
Porlex JP-30 Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder
Porlex JP-30 Stainless Steel Coffee GrinderIf you are able to spend a few dollars more to get a really really good hand grinder then please opt for this Porlex coffee mill.
It’s stainless steel body is completely static free so the grind doesn’t cling to it. The burrs are very stable giving you excellent grind consistency and the ceramic burrs can easily be moved from fine espresso grind to coarse french press grind.
Check out the reviews too – they are about as good as reviews get!
Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Burr Manual Coffee Grinder Mill MMCS-2B
Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Burr Manual Coffee Grinder Mill MMCS-2BThis is the newest hand grinder from Hario. It’s a huge upgrade from the original (and cheaper) base Skerton.
This model is well designed to handle coarse ground coffee, a requirement for a good french press. They incorporated the stabilizer disk that was sold as an enhancement to the original model which keeps the movable ceramic burr from moving while grinding the larger particle sizes.
There are a number of other upgrades to all of which are outlined on our Skerton vs Mini Mill article.
This model costs more than the Mini Mill but it’s worth it if you need to grind more beans at a time.
Here are a Few More Small Hand Crank Grinders to Review
Some of these units are more basic models of the one’s featured above.
Hario Coffee Mill Slim Grinder, MiniMore InfoKuissential Manual Ceramic Burr Coffee Grinder, Hand-crank Coffee MillMore InfoHario Manual Coffee Grinder CanisterMore InfoPorlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee GrinderMore Info
Three Reasons Why You Should Have Your Own Coffee Grinder
These three reasons below should be enough to convince you to buy yourself even just one of those small manual coffee grinders.
- Ground Coffee Goes Stale Quickly
Oxygen is ground coffee’s number one enemy. In just 30 minutes, the bag will go stale and will not be as fresh unless it’s hydrogen flashed and resealed.
Given the choice between hydrogen flushing machines and a coffee grinder to keep ground coffee fresh, it’d be a no brainer to choose buying a coffee grinder.
- Good Coffee = Good Start for the Day
Have you ever met someone who drank a good cup of coffee in the morning and didn’t have a good start? Chances are, you haven’t and if you want to feel good every day, I’d recommend buying yourself a trust-worthy coffee grinder to let you brew your own high-quality coffee right from the moment you wake up.
- There’s a Coffee Grinder for Everybody
Don’t have enough space? Then buy yourself one of those high quality small manual coffee grinder. Or, if you’ve got money and space to spare, then buy one of those larger ones.
Fact is, there’s always a coffee grinder for everybody, regardless of taste, preference, space available and most important of all, budget.
Are Burr Coffee Grinders Worth the Extra Cost? Of course they are!
Let’s admit it, burr coffee grinders aren’t the sexiest coffee brewing equipment that a home barista can own. But, despite how “bulky” looking they are, manual burr coffee grinders serve baristas and even simple coffee aficionados well and are a lot smaller.
See our comparison of burr vs blade grinders here.
In fact, a good barista will be the first to tell you that a good burr coffee grinder and a cheap melitta will produce one of the best tasting coffee. This is in comparison to buying a cheap blade grinder and splurging on the most expensive device you can find in the market.
So, it’s safe to say that a cheap brewer and an expensive grinder is far better than any other combination out there.
But, if you’re not convinced, then be sure to read on more below for more information as to why spending big on manual burr coffee grinders makes a lot of sense.
The Finer the Particles, The Better
It’s no secret that the best coffee are those produced using even extraction and even this is the result of the use of a nice grinder. And, when it comes to particle sizes, nothing is better than a burr coffee grinder.
Sure, you’ll find yourself tempted to buy something that may be far more convenient to use, but you’ll just getting the short end of the stick because it won’t taste as good.
Besides, when we’re talking about burr coffee grinders, there’s always going to be one that’s going to be great for you, your budget and your needs.
What is important now is that you consider ditching your previous thoughts about what makes good coffee. And, well, when and where you’re going to buy your own burr coffee grinder.
But, before you do so, make sure that you do your own research and decide on a budget first so that you don’t buy the wrong one for you.
