In our previous tests, the coffee brewed with the Baratza Encore had the best extraction percentage of all grinders we examined—19. Baratza offers great warranty and out-of-warranty service, even for refurbished versions, and these grinders are an industry standard for a reason. In contrast with many entry-level machines, the Encore and the Virtuoso+ tend to have a broader grinding range, which is desirable—you want as broad a range as possible, especially if you regularly use different brewing methods. Timemore has been making high-end manual grinders for several years, which have earned strong reviews from coffee experts. Disclaimer: Whilst we work hard to provide correct information for products, all information displayed may not be 100% accurate or up to date.

In testing, we found we still prefer using the C2 and just refilling it if needed, because it was easier to hold. We intentionally designed the Encore to fit nicely under most kitchen cabinets without sacrificing power or quality and to bring value to your daily grind. Burrs: Manufactured in Europe, the Encore’s 40 mm conical burrs will grind for many styles of coffee. Almost every part of the Baratza grinder is repairable or replaceable, which is rare among grinders designed for home use, and the company has detailed video guides for many fixes. An amazingly speedy deilvery and so far the machine performs really well with a more even grind (less sludge in the cup) than that which it replaced.The OXO totally clogged up on me, to the point where it couldn’t grind anything,” she said, but she fixed the problem by taking out the burr and cleaning it and the clogged chute with a stiff brush. I hope that it also outlasts its predecessor which gave up after fifteen months and four scoops per diem.

But we’d rather you have a machine that can make you better tasting coffee for up to a decade instead of one that’s mere eye candy. The space between the two burrs determines the final size of the coffee grounds, so the grounds end up being a much more consistent size than anything buzzed in a blade grinder. So what you end up with is 20 very fine adjustments for espresso and 20 much bigger adjustments for manual brew methods. Unlike blade grinders, which randomly blitz coffee beans into smaller and smaller pieces, burr grinders cut coffee beans between a set of two grooved burrs, the same way flour is milled.

Like the electric models in this guide, the C2 is not designed for espresso making, and because it is much smaller than an electric grinder, it can make only enough grounds for a cup or two of coffee at a time. These remain the most popular and best-selling coffee grinders, and for good reasons: they’re simple, they’re cheap, and they do the job well-enough. During the grinding process, we timed how fast each grinder was at different settings, as well as how easy each was to use and clean.

The top-ranked manual grinders, those with the broadest range, best design and most precision, are still more expensive than our budget pick, but there are now at least a few options at the lower end that produce excellent results. The drive gear is made of 15% glass-filled thermoplastic so it is quieter than a metal drive gear, wears better and is more shock resistant. The OXO Brew’s canister sits snugly below the exit chute, neatly catching all of the grounds, and the shape makes it super-easy to pour fresh-ground coffee into your filter. In our original coffee lab trials, only the professional-grade Mahlkönig EK43 yielded a more uniform grind than Baratza’s machines.

Its simple features and consistent grind will help you get a good start in the world of specialty coffee without hurting your wallet more than necessary. Baratza has significantly increased the strength and durability of the drive transmission while decreasing noise. OXO sells a replacement top burr, but unlike Baratza, does not sell any other parts for repairing your machine.