The Top 7 Best Budget Electric Coffee Grinders Reviewed
Quick summary
 Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Grinder A stainless steel 18-level grinding settings system that offers an extra coarse ground.  best overall |
Want great coffee but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it?
It’s no secret that freshly ground coffee is a mainstay in coffee shops and restaurants. So why should it be any different in your home?
Grinding coffee beans and using them with your preferred brewing method is the best way to get flavorful, aromatic coffee. If you’re strapped for cash, your best shot is buying the best budget electric coffee grinder that’s right for you. You’ll notice a difference right away — like night and day.
In this guide, we’ll look at the Top-7 best coffee grinders for people on a budget.
Here are the 7 Best Budget Electric Coffee Grinders - Our Picks
One important thing to note is that blade grinders are generally less expensive than burr grinders. The difference is that burr grinders give you a more consistent grind, while blade grinders are more versatile (you can also use blade grinders to grind spices, herbs, or seeds).
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Grinder
- Type of grinder: Block Burrr
- # of grind settings: 18
We chose the Cuisinart as our #1 best budget electric coffee grinder for a few key reasons. First, it’s a burr grinder for cheap. Second, it has everything you need — 18 grind settings, a large removable bean hopper, and a one-button operation.
One neat thing about this grinder is how you select the grind. Instead of a knob or button, the bean hopper rotates. Also, it comes with a scoop and cleaning brush. Cleaning your grinder is important because oils from beans can clog it up, and small bits of beans can hinder your grinding, too. If you’re making a large pot or pots of coffee, Cuisinart has you covered. It has a storage chamber that can hold up to 32 cups worth of grounds.
Our research found that this device uses a type of burr that is worse than the best type of burr — conical. We recommend this grinder for people on a budget that don’t mind a bit of inconsistency.
Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind 4.5 oz Electric
- Type of grinder: Blade
- # of grind settings: N/A
If you’re confused about the absence of grind settings — blade grinders don’t usually have grind settings. That’s why the coffee community deems blade grinders inconsistent. First, it’s hard to dial in the grind, and it’s also hard to be consistent over time.
There are upsides, too. For example, this can be one of the best electric coffee blade grinders under $30. A real bargain if you consider that it has stainless steel blades, grinds quickly, and can double as a spice grinder. Hamilton Beach claims this is quieter than other blade grinders on the market, but we’ve yet to see evidence of this.
We recommend this for people on a budget that would like the cheapest possible grinder for coffee and spices.
Black+Decker doesn’t need an introduction. They make all sorts of appliances, tools, and other products. Their blade grinder came up on our radar for budget options, and it’s a solid large-capacity grinder for the money.
Among top rated budget electric coffee grinders, you see a trend in the reviews. People go and on about not being able to get a consistent grind. For something priced under $20, you get what you pay for. It may not be able to make Turkish ground coffee (extra fine), but it can do pretty well.
And remember, blade grinders like this one can be used to grind spices and nuts, so if you decide to upgrade to a burr grinder, you won’t be chucking or selling this.
Chefman’s flat burr grinder has 17 grind settings and a selector knob for 2-12 cups worth of coffee. It comes in at #4 on our list, and we consider it one of the best electric coffee grinders under 50. The Chefman has a 2.8 oz bean hopper, which the company claims can make from 2-12 cups.
The flat burr design is a step-up from blade grinders. Instead of chopping up the beans finer and finer, the beans are squeezed/pushed between burrs until a relatively consistent grind is achieved. Cleaning the Chefman is easy. Simply brush away any debris with the included cleaning brush, and wipe it down with a damp cloth.
We recommend this grinder if you’ve previously purchased a blade grinder and now want to improve your coffee game.
The Capresso is one of those types of coffee electric grinders you stop to take a look at. It comes in two colors — black and stainless steel. Also, it doesn’t make as much noise as most grinders out there. And that’s thanks to the motor. It produces a slow burr RPM (how fast the burrs spin), which results in lower noise levels.
Since we don’t know your actual budget, we decided to include a pricier option. Perhaps you’ve gone through the grinder gauntlet of blade to flat burr, and now you think it’s time to take your coffee career a step further. At just under $100, the Capresso Infinity uses quality parts (the stainless steel burrs are made in Switzerland).
The Keenstone is a single-button versatile blade grinder. It can chew through 2.5 oz of beans, spices, seeds, etc. It’s made of BPA-free plastic and has a stainless steel blade. Easily best-in-class design, ultra-compact, and the cord stows away, so it doesn’t get tangled in anything.
While the company claims the motor is “noiseless,” it’s not. Granted, it seems quieter than other grinders (although, as far as we know, no one has done a decibel rating for grinders).
If you factor in the price, it’s a contender for one of the best electric coffee grinders under $30 — it’s only $16.99 on Amazon. Getting the grind right will be tough, and it may take some practice. Also, make sure to clean it thoroughly between use (there’s a cleaning brush included). The best cheap coffee grinder option from our list.
Secura Automatic Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
- Type of grinder: Flat Burr
- # of grind settings: 17
This may look familiar. It’s virtually identical to our #4 pick — the Chefman. We couldn’t get to the bottom of the mystery of who came first, Secura or Chegman. There were some key things about the Chefman that we liked more — it includes a cleaning brush and had twice as many reviews.
We’d like to touch upon the importance of having the ability to adjust the grind setting. The Secura can grind from ultra-fine to coarse. And that means you can pull espressos and have a cold brew if you want.
That said, it uses a lower-quality burr. The next step from here is a conical burr grinder (roughly twice as expensive as the Secura).
What to Look for When Buying Budget Electric Coffee Grinder
We aimed for a budget of $15-$60, with one exception being the Capresso Infinity (~$98). When it comes to budget electric burr coffee grinders, you have many choices available. The most important consideration is burr vs. blade grinder. Other important factors include durability, noise level, motor speed, and cost.
Why You Should Grind Coffee At Home
The short answer is — you get better coffee. If you’re used to buying beans pre-ground, you’re in for a treat. Freshly ground coffee beans fill your house with their nutty, sweet aroma. And once you brew it… Let’s just put it this way — you’re more likely to wake up your family with the smell of coffee and not the sound of the grinder.
Blade or Burr
There are two types of coffee electric grinders — blade and burr. Blade grinders are cheaper, produce a less consistent grind, and don’t have any grind settings. Electric burr grinders usually have multiple grind settings, are more consistent, and also more expensive.
Durability
For budget grinders, high-quality plastic is the best you’re going to get. All of the grinders on our list pass the durability test (multiple years of use). Some grinders have lesser quality parts, which have been known to break (for example, the plastic lids on the Chefman and Secura).
Noise Level
Any grinder you buy will be noisy. We wouldn’t bet on marketing hype for claims like a grinder being “noiseless.” In our opinion, the only difference in noise is between manual vs electric coffee grinders. Manual grinders don’t use a motor, and therefore are quieter. However, low-RPM motors are significantly quieter than their high-RPM counterparts.
High-Speed or Low-Speed Grinder
There’s no clear consensus about what produces a better grind. If you think ultra-low speed, like a manual grinder, it’s still possible to get a fine grind. Our feeling is this has more to do with the quality of the burrs rather than the motor’s speed.
Cost
Blade grinders are the cheapest — our list ranges from $16.99-$19.99. Flat and block burr grinders are $38.99-$59.99. And our only conical burr grinder, the Capresso, is $98.00. Coffee grinders electric vs. manual in price is a no-contest — manual grinders are generally cheaper.
Final Thoughts
Not picky about the coffee you drink? Then spending your hard-earned money on an expensive grinder isn’t worth it. Start with a blade grinder (especially if you also want to grind spice/seed/nuts). Want better grind consistency but on a tight budget? Go for a burr grinder. And if you’ve graduated from flat burr grinders, the next step is conical burr grinders.
There’s always something to learn with coffee. Start with grinding your own beans.
FAQ
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Are cheap electric coffee grinders worth it?
You get what you pay for. Don’t expect a consistent or uniform grind. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy brewed coffee made with a cheap grinder. -
Are electric coffee grinders much worse?
Electric coffee grinders are better than manual grinders because they can process more beans with a comparable result to the manual method. -
Who sells small electric coffee grinders?
Any brand you see on our list makes small coffee grinders (they tend to be small). If you’re concerned about whether it will fit on your countertop, we’d recommend measuring the space and comparing it to the grinder’s footprint. -
Why are electric coffee grinders loud?
Grinding beans isn’t easy work. Every electric grinder has an internal motor that powers it. The higher the RPM and power consumption, the more noise it’s likely to make. -
How do electric coffee grinders work?
There are two types of grinders: blade and burr. Blade grinders chop up beans into fine pieces, and burr grinders squeeze and crunch the beans like a vice.
Renat Mamatkazin
Founder and owner of Lion Coffee and 3ChampsRoastery, 1st place winner of Ukrainian Barista Championship 2017. Interested in travelling, football and Formula-1 (besides coffee, of course).