The 7 Best Pour Over Coffee Grinders of 2020 (for Better Tasting Drip Coffee)
Nothing beats a mug of good old pour-over coffee… Except for a mug of good old pour-over coffee made with freshly ground coffee beans, of course! Let’s waste no time and help you find out which is the best coffee grinder for pour-overs (and take your morning brew to the next level).
Related posts:
- Best burr coffee grinders for all brew styles.
- Best espresso grinders (for espresso only)
- Best coffee grinders for french press brewing
How to choose the best coffee grinder for pour over
Excited to make the best pour over coffee? If you haven’t already got a coffee maker, you can find a good list of brewers here. As for the grinder, here’s what you should keep in mind before making your choice.
Grind
First of all, you always need the grind to be consistent for any coffee maker: when the grounds are all the same size and shape, they get extracted evenly at the same time. As for the size… to each brew method their grind! (1)
With pour overs and batch brew coffee, grind size will affect turbulence: how much the coffee grounds get moved around during brewing. And this also has a huge effect on extraction.
Giselle Guerra, Perfect Daily Grind
Pour overs generally need a medium grind. To be more specific, cone-shaped pour over coffee makers require a medium-fine/medium grind, flat bottom drip machines work best with medium grinds, while the Chemex and Clever Dripper take a medium-coarse grind.
Manual or electric?
Electric coffee grinders are practical, quick and convenient. Choose the grind size, press a couple of buttons and you’ll have your freshly-ground coffee within seconds. Manual grinders are slower, cheaper, and portable (and less noisy), and might be right for you if you want to take your grinder on holiday with you.
Blade or burr?
The short answer: avoid blade grinders at all costs! The reason? (2)
While they certainly do break up the beans, ’randomly smash’ might be a more accurate description; the spinning blades in these grinders produce a variety of particle sizes from large chunks to small bits of dust.
– Ben Bicknell, Five Senses Coffee
With burr grinders, the two revolving abrasive surfaces (burrs) grind all the beans consistently. That’s why any coffee expert will recommend burr grinders (you can find more options here).
Flat or conical?
A conical burr grinder has a cone-shaped burr sitting inside a hollow one: it’s usually cheaper, quieter and wastes less coffee (easier to clean!), but it will produce a bimodal grind, consisting of smaller and larger particles.
Flat burr grinders have two burrs facing opposite directions. They produce an extremely consistent and uniform grind and, for this reason, they’re usually more expensive. They also need higher RPMs (revolutions per minute), which risks overheating your coffee, but large high-quality burrs minimize it.
The 7 best pour over grinders in 2019
Baratza Encore – Best entry-level grinder
This might be an entry-level grinder, but the fact that it’s a Baratza product tells you one thing: you won’t have to compromise on quality! The company has received the blessing of the Specialty Coffee Association through multiple awards and this is one of their most popular models.
The 40mm high-carbon stainless conical burrs are manufactured in Lichtenstein and are of incredibly high quality for such a budget-friendly grinder.
The 40mm high-carbon stainless conical burrs are manufactured in Lichtenstein and are of incredibly high quality for such a budget-friendly grinder.
The DC motor runs at 450 RPMs, meaning reduced static and no risk of overheating.
The Baratza Encore’s minimalistic design makes it convenient and intuitive: it gives you the welcome option to choose between continuous grind or, thanks to the handy front-mounted button, pulse grinding.
As for the grind size, you can simply twist the 5oz hopper counter- or clockwise. The 40 different settings mean that you’ll be able to get grounds for different types of brews. However, since you won’t get the most amazing results with finer grinds, this electric grinder is not the best choice if you also want to grind for your espresso machine.
The Baratza Encore, though, is incredible for medium-fine, medium and medium-coarse grinds (which is what you’re here for in the first place, right?): you’ll get the best results for pour-overs in the 16-26 range.
Specifications:
- Grind settings: 40
- Burr size: 40mm
- Capacity: 8oz
- Grinding button: continuous or pulse
- Size: 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8 in
KRUPS GX5000 Burr Coffee Grinder – Best budget-friendly grinder
You’re ready to upgrade from store-bought pre-ground coffee, but don’t want to invest too much in your very first grinder? Instead of butchering your beans with a cheap blade grinder, check out the Krups CX5000!
It’s a good starting point, with a flat burr system that keeps the unit from overheating and gives you pretty consistent grinds. It has 9 main settings with 5 intermediary steps each, giving you 45 size settings for your grinds. While it’s not ideal for French presses as its coarser grinds tend to have some fines, it works really well for medium and medium-fine pour-over grinds.
Thanks to a handy dial, you can choose to grind from 2 to 12 cups worth of coffee. The Krups GC5000 contains up to 7 ounces of beans, is durable and, thanks to the removable top burr, easy to clean. Did we mention that it comes with a brush, too?
If you’re only just starting to grind your beans and don’t wish to spend too much, this might be what you are looking for.
Specifications:
- Grind settings: 45
- Burr size: 40mm
- Capacity: 8oz
- Grinding button: timer (per cup)
- Size: 4.29 x 7.24 x 10.4 in
Baratza Virtuoso Plus Conical Burr Coffee Grinder – The most versatile
By now you know about Baratza’s well-deserved reputation. This is the updated and improved version of their incredibly popular previous model, the Virtuoso, many coffee lovers’ favorite grinder. (3)
Grinders are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike, but Baratza is the gold standard, and the Virtuoso is the staple grinder for drip roast until you get into pro grinders in the $1,000 range.
– Kyle Glanville
Baratza kept the Virtuoso’s best features, such as the European-made 40mm conical burrs of commercial quality that have always ensured a consistent and accurate grind.
What’s new, then? The old-school dial has been replaced by a convenient digital timer and display. The Baratza Virtuoso Plus allows you to grind for up to 40 seconds with 0.1-second increments. You also have a pulse grind option.
What we like the most about this conical burr coffee grinder is that, unlike many other grinders, it will actually give you great results for all of its 40 settings: you’ll be able to grind finely for your espresso machine or very coarsely for your French press or a cold brew, whilst obtaining fantastic grinds for your beloved drip coffee, obviously. The DC motor has adjustable speed (from 405 to 495 RPMs) and the speed reducers minimize the static and stop the machine from overheating.
We recommend the Baratza Virtuoso Plus if you want to be able to obtain outstanding results for other types of brews too.
Specifications:
- Grind settings: 40
- Burr size: 40mm
- Capacity: 8oz
- Grinding button: timer or pulse
- Size: 6.69 x 6.69 x 12.6 in
Capresso 565.05 Infinity – The most user-friendly
Have you just started to explore the fantastic world of grinding your own coffee beans and find it slightly confusing to understand all those little numbers around most hoppers? You’re gonna love the Capresso Infinity!
This grinder offers 16 settings in a very straightforward way: there are 4 main grind settings (extra-fine, fine, medium and coarse), each divided into 4 micro-settings. You’ll also be able to choose between pulse grinding or timer (between 5 and 60 seconds) and grinding between 2 to 12 cups worth of coffee in one go.
The Capresso Infinity has high-quality commercial-grade conical steel burrs: they are hand-assembled in Switzerland and allow for 0.1mm precision and incredibly consistent grinds.
This grinder is compact and durable without compromising on the looks: it has an elegant design and a classy stainless steel finish. It also comes with a handy measuring scoop and cleaning brush (nice one!).
Unfortunately, the 8.8-ounce hopper hasn’t got an anti-static coating, but we have a tip for you: to avoid static, add a couple of drops of water to the beans once they are in the hopper before grinding them (you’ll thank us later).
Specifications:
- Grind settings: 16
- Burr size: 40mm
- Capacity: 8.8oz
- Grinding button: timer or pulse
- Size: 5 x 7.75 x 10.5 in
Oxo Conical Burr with integrated scale – The most precise
Do you like the idea of having complete control over your grind? Then we think the Oxo Conical Burr might be the right grinder for you.
Combining 15 main settings and more micro-settings, it lets you choose among 38 different grind sizes, allowing you to enjoy different types of brews. The Oxo Conical Burr has a couple of features that make it particularly ideal for pour-overs and electric coffee machines.
It has a built-in scale to let you brew exactly the weight required for your brew, speeding up the calculation of the coffee-to-water ratio.
Should you prefer to grind based on the number of cups that you are going to brew, you can do that too: you can grind for up to 12 cups, ideal for a large pot of joe.
What if you want a weaker or stronger cup? That won’t be a problem: just change the strength adjustment! The Oxo Conical Burr also has a timer that will remember your last settings.
This grinder has a 16-ounce hopper and 40mm stainless steel burrs, perfect to reduce static and ensure a uniform grind. If you like to be in control of the grinding process and wish to obtain the exact weight of coffee to brew, this is the grinder for you.
Specifications:
- Grind settings: 38
- Burr size: 40mm
- Capacity: 16oz
- Grinding button: timer
- Size: 11.1 x 7.3 x 16.4 in
Handground Precision Coffee Grinder – Best manual grinder
If you want to be directly involved with the grinding process and you only want the best of the best, then we recommend the Handground Precision. It even matches the consistency of some high-end automatic grinders.
Thanks to its design and the high quality 40mm conical ceramic burrs, this manual coffee grinder has a better particle size distribution than many electric grinders on the market
Don’t let those 8 numbers on the front fool you: the Handground has 15 different settings (there’s a half-step between the numbers) and can grind for most brew methods.
While it will take you a few minutes to grind for espresso (as with any manual grinder), a cup-worth of grounds for pour-overs should only take you a minute, and the ergonomic side-mounted handle will make your job much easier.
It’s bigger than most manual grinders, so it’s not very portable, but it will look great on your kitchen countertop: we love the way it mixes vintage and contemporary elements in its robust design (you can even choose the color you prefer!). The Handground Precision is the best hand grinder: it’s durable and incredibly precise (the name says it all!). It will guarantee you full-bodied cups of joe for a long time.
Specifications:
- Grind settings: 15
- Capacity: 3.5oz
- Size: 6 x 4 x 8.5 in
Hario Skerton Plus Ceramic Coffee Grinder- The most stylish
If you’re happy to put in some more elbow grease in favor of a more budget-friendly and portable hand grinder, we think you’d love this Hario ceramic coffee grinder. Does the name ring a bell? It should! Hario is the famous Japanese company behind the V60 dripper, one of the most beloved pour over coffee makers!
Keeping its iconic hourglass design, this model is the updated version of their classic Skerton. It has conical ceramic burrs that prevent any heat build-up and ensure a consistent grind.
The durable glass bowl can contain up to 100g of grounds and you’ll be able to grind for different types of brews (even the finest Turkish coffee!). (4)
You can’t go wrong with any model of Hario’s, but we love the Hario Skerton for the elegant glass grinds compartment.
– Blue Bottle Coffee Lab
The only downside of this Hario ceramic coffee grinder is that the size settings aren’t very intuitive: to change the grind size you must unscrew it and manually adjust the knob. There are no marks or numbers, so it does take some practice, but, as a starting point, moving it up by 2 to 4 notches seems to be the best for pour-overs.
Despite the learning curve, the Hario Skerton Plus Ceramic Coffee Grinder is a fantastic modern take on a true iconic classic: light and portable, it’s perfect to take with you on a camping trip or to show off your barista skills on your travels.
Specifications:
- Grind settings: various manual adjustments (no settings/numbers)
- Capacity: 3.5oz
- Size: 4.1 x 3.9 x 8.1 in
The verdict
We think the Baratza Virtuoso Plus would be a great grinder for your pour over coffee as well as other types of brews (its commercial-grade burrs won’t disappoint you!). However, now that you know what to look for in a pour-over grinder, think of what you need before making your final choice.
If you don’t have one already, make sure you get yourself a gooseneck kettle for the best results and, once you get your new grinder, get ready to brew some pour over coffee that will make you wonder why you didn’t start grinding your own beans much sooner!
FAQs
What is the benefit of grinding your own coffee?
The benefit of grinding your own coffee is that it gives you a higher-quality brew compared to pre-ground beans. Because it is not exposed to moisture and oxidation for long periods, freshly-ground coffee retains its oils and compounds, resulting in better-defined flavors and aromas.
Are burr coffee grinders better?
Yes, burr coffee grinders are better than blade grinders because they produce more consistent and uniform grinds. In a blade grinder, blades hit the beans from different angles and at different times, resulting in inconsistent grounds of uneven size and shape.
How much ground coffee do I use for a pour over?
For a pour over you should use 1g of ground coffee for every 18g of water. If you want a stronger coffee, experiment with lower coffee-to-water ratios, such as 1:15 (e.g. 30g of coffee and 450g of water), whereas, if you prefer a weaker cup, try higher ratios, such as 1:20 (e.g. 30g of coffee and 600g of water).
References
- Guerra, G. (2018, June 15). How Grind Size Can Help You Brew Better-Tasting Coffee. Retrieved from https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2018/06/how-can-grind-size-help-you-brew-better-tasting-coffee/
- Bicknell, B. (2018, September 25). Grinding at home. Retrieved from https://www.fivesenses.com.au/blog/grinding-at-home/
- Hochman, D. (2019, January 26). America’s Top Coffee Experts Pick The Best Gear To Brew Your Morning Cup. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhochman/2019/01/26/americas-top-coffee-experts-pick-the-best-gear-to-brew-your-morning-cup/#8eaafa89f9f4
- Mazzarello, B. (2018, April 4). The right grinder for you. Retrieved from https://blog.bluebottlecoffee.com/posts/the-right-grinder-for-you