By now, it’s the rule that fresh coffee beans ground just before brewing is the best way to make your coffee at home.
For that, you may not want to invest in an electric grinder so this is going to be a comprehensive list of the best hand coffee grinders you can get.
Let’s get started!
Types of Grinders
First, there are two main types of grinders; burr and blade.
You mostly have to worry about these when picking out an electric grinder. For handheld ones, it’s not super important but if you can, you should opt for a burr grinder.
Burr grinders will give a more consistent grinder and are comparatively quieter. Although, almost all hand grinders are pretty noiseless.
If you want to know more about the various types and are willing to consider electric grinders, you can check out our article on quiet coffee grinders.
Why Choose a Manual Grinder?
If you are reading this, chances are that you have already weighed your options and want a manual grinder.
Still, here are the few pros and cons of getting a hand grinder that might help you in finalizing your decision.
Advantages
There are many advantages to getting a hand grinder especially if you have your own living space.
Storage
Hand grinders are often smaller in size compared to their electric counterparts. This is why it is easier to store them.
If you have a small space then this could be a great benefit.
Cheap
It’s obvious that manual grinders are cheaper because there are very few parts involved. So, if you are just getting into the art of coffee brewing, you may not want to spend a lot.
Again, a huge plus for those starting out.
Quiet
As mentioned above, hand grinders are most often quieter. Since there is no machinery involved, it doesn’t vibrate much so it doesn’t make noise.
If you live with someone else, then a manual grinder ensures that you won’t wake them up with your early morning ritual.
Durable
As there are a few parts of a hand grinder, it is easier for the product to last longer. Especially if you get a high-end product, it will last a longer time.
But even cheaper ones are durable provided that you take care of it properly.
Disadvantages
With all its perks, there are a few downsides to getting a hand grinder.
Time Consuming
If you are in a rush and want to get a coffee quickly, it’s nearly impossible to do so if you are using a manual grinder.
You can’t just press a button to grind, you have to do it yourself. So, as the heading suggests, using a hand coffee grinder is definitely time-consuming.
Effort
Electric grinders are expensive not only because of their machines but because of the ease they can give. With manual grinders, you have to put in a lot of effort.
There is an upside to this though. You get the feeling of accomplishment and can set up your coffee ritual with this being the first step.
Less Capacity
Manual grinders can only grind so much at one time. Most can probably grind enough for one to two cups of coffee at a time.
Not to mention that you will need to put in more effort to grind more beans.
What Should You Look For in a Manual Grinder
Now that it’s settled that you want a manual grinder, here are a few key things you should look for.
Quality of Material
To ensure that your grinder lasts for as long as possible, you should invest in one that has a quality burr.
The burr is going to do all of the work so it should be good enough to handle it. There are two main materials; steel and ceramic. Both have their own pros and cons but there are different qualities of the two. So, make sure you get a good one.
Size
Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the grinder to see how much space it would take up.
You can get sturdier ones if you will keep it on your counter. If you are looking for portability or looking to keep it in a cupboard then getting a smaller size will be better suited.
Capacity
As we have already established that hand grinders have less capacity so you should look for that suited for your use.
Again, you can grind in multiple turns but that would require more effort. If you are up for that then, by all means, get it!
Grind Settings
While you won’t get an extremely precise grind with hand grinders, there are a few grinder settings on some.
So, see what’s better suited for you and get the one with the setting you need. For example, if you mostly use a French Press, make sure there is a coarse grind setting.
List of Best Hand Coffee Grinders
Finally, we come onto a list of the best hand coffee grinders in the market.
Here are the top 10:
1. Timemore
Timemore Manual Coffee Grinder is a stainless steel, conical burr grinder which is basically checking all the boxes.
It has adjustable grind settings from fine to coarse. The design is smart as will prevent the grinder from slipping while grinding.
You can easily brew two cups of coffee in one grinder go as it has a capacity of 25 grams.
Furthermore, it comes with a cleaning brush and cloth bag so maintenance won’t be an issue!
2. Hario Ceramic
Hario Skerton Plus is a ceramic manual coffee grinder.
It has an ergonomic crank handle that can be detached. You can also attach a silicone grip on the lid which helps in holding it.
This grinder has a large capacity of 100g.
A few people have complained about inconsistent grinds so it may not be 100% precise.
3. 1Zpresso
1Zpresso JX is another stainless steel, conical burr manual grinder.
It has a capacity of up to 40gm.
It is a small grinder so it is easily portable and won’t take up too much space.
You get 30 clicks per rotation therefore, there are many types of grinds you can get.
Lastly, it comes with a cleaning brush and all of its parts are detachable so you can easily clean them.
4. Normcore
Normcore Manual Grinder is also a stainless steel, conical burr.
It offers 24 clicks per rotation with precise grinding.
It’s also easily portable with a durable build so you don’t have to worry about breaking it.
The design is well made with ball bearings that ensure you won’t have to put on too much pressure. A fixed silicon thumb pad also allows your hand to be more relaxed.
Sadly, its capacity is low with only 20gm available but they might have newer products in the future that are improved in this department.
5. Javapresse
Javapresse is quite a popular one in the world of hand grinders.
It has over 18 grind settings and is fairly precise according to the reviews.
This is a ceramic, conical burr hand grinder that is “built to last” (their product description says that).
It has detachable parts and the company sells the parts separately as well so in case you break something, you won’t have to replace the whole thing.
6. Porlex
Porlex JP-30 is a stainless steel grinder with conical, ceramic coffee burrs.
This is a Japanese company but there are a few knock offs so make sure to get one that says ‘Made in Japan’.
You can set it to different settings for various types of grinds. It comes with a 30gm capacity.
7. Akirakoki
Akirakoki is a wooden mill with a cast iron burr.
It’s not only a coffee grinder, you can grind nuts, spices, and beans in it as well.
It offers adjustable grind settings from fine to coarse. With its design, it is easy to clean.
There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee!
8. Heihox
Heihox Hand Coffee Grinder is a conical, stainless steel burr grinder.
You can turn up to 24 turns in one rotation. 6-12 will give a fine grind while 23-24 turns will give a coarse grind.
It is easy to disassemble so it is easy to clean. You can grind up to 30gm of coffee in one go.
It has a one-year warranty with great customer support.
9. Paracity
Paracity Manual Grinder is a ceramic burr grinder.
All other grinders on this list are over $40 currently but this is a good budget option for $20.
It has adjustable grind settings but isn’t too precise.
All parts are detachable and washable so cleaning it is easy.
It’s a great choice for beginners who aren’t looking to make an investment but want to try it out.
10. Vevok Chef
Vevok Chef is a conical, stainless steel burr grinder. It actually has 4.6 stars from a number of reviews.
They claim that it takes only 45seconds to grind 15-20gm.
It has 6 adjustable settings for various grinds.
They also offer a long warranty.
The Verdict for the Best Hand Coffee Grinders
Based on my research, I would pick Normcore Manual Grinder. It seems to be a quality product and in my biased opinion, it is extremely aesthetically please so that’s a plus.
It comes with its own travel box and everything so it is easy to carry and store.
The capacity can be a downfall for some in which case you can pick any of the other nine from this list. You can also choose any other now that you know what you are looking for.
Finishing Thoughts
This concludes everything there is to know about hand coffee grinders.
With all your knowledge, you can now get one for yourself!
Your coffee game will definitely improve once you start using freshly ground coffee. Enjoy!
