The Top 7 Best Coffee Grinders Under 100: In-depth Guide

Quick summary

DeLonghi Ariete The grind settings allow the user to pick the favored size of 15 to use for Turkish coffee 5 best overall Check Price

OXO Conical Burr Coffee Grinder One-touch start/stop button easy to operate coffee grinder 4.5 Check Price

Capresso 560.04 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder An eye-catching design that fits all kitchens with conical steel burrs that allow coffee beans to grind consistently. 4.5 Check Price

Everyone knows that grinding whole beans is the best way to go.

Right?

Well, if you didn't know, or you have doubts, it's true. There's a reason why you'll always hear the whir of a grinder in a coffee shop - coffee tastes better when it's freshly ground.

But does that mean you need to buy a grinder that will take up more counter space in addition to your coffee maker? Our answer is - yes. Once you taste freshly ground beans in your own home, you'll never go back to stale pre-ground coffee.

With tons of grinders out there, it's challenging to make a choice, so we narrowed it down to the best coffee grinders under $100.

Let's improve your daily grind!

The 7 Best Home Coffee Grinders Under 100 - Our Pick

Our choices for the Top 7 were based on functionality, cost, and consistent grinding ability. You might think that grinding things is a relatively primitive task, but there are a few things to remember about grind consistency. First, a consistent grind allows you to extract the most out of your beans. And second, having the ability to dial in the grind gives you full control.

DeLonghi Ariete

• Coffee capacity: 13.3 oz
• # of grind settings: 15
• Dimensions: 9 x 5 x 14 inches

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Ariete is a Delonghi brand that produces designer-level home appliances and household products. The Ariete GrinderPro is the epitome of coffee grinding, with its conical burr and simplistic, practical design. Ariete also produces another model, simply called the “Coffee Grinder,” a blade grinder.

The Ariete can grind anywhere from ultra-coarse to ultra-fine. The 15 settings can be adjusted on the machine's right side, thanks to a convenient knob. Coffee capacity shouldn't be a concern because this behemoth can grind up to 13.3 oz of whole beans. One downside to this large capacity is that the ground coffee container can only hold 6.5 oz. But if you need to make a big pot of coffee, you can also empty the ground container and continue grinding.

We consider this one of the best burr coffee grinders under 100 because it has a removable bean hopper and a timer that goes from 10-50 seconds (or continual). Also, it's easy to operate (one-button start/stop), and it's affordable.

The Ariete has a stainless steel base with plastic furnishing, and from the reviews we've read, the company has excellent customer service. This grinder comes with a 1-year limited warranty.

OXO Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

• Coffee capacity: 12 oz
• # of grind settings: 15
• Dimensions: 12 x 7.4 x 16 inches

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The OXO comes in at #2 on our list thanks to the high-quality stainless steel conical burrs (conical is better than flat burr) and a well-designed grinder overall. OXO took it upon themselves to create a grinder that's easy to maintain and clean. The same can't be said about many other grinders, which force you to take the entire machine apart to clean it. This one gives you a consistent grind, so there's no second-guessing or ruining amazing whole beans due to a poor grind. The OXO has 15 settings, like the Ariete, but instead of a small knob, the OXO's top chamber rotates.

There's a 10-30 second timer knob, and a one-touch start/stop button, making it easy to operate. The grinder holds a maximum of 12 oz of beans.

We feel this grinder is a solid choice - a removable hopper with UV-blocking tint (to prevent beans from going stale), convenient grind settings, and it's at the right price point.

A few things we thought were odd was the timer, which only goes up to 30 seconds. It would've been nice to have a cup setting and a continual run option. And frankly, the UV-blocking tint is useless because most people store their beans in an airtight or resealable container.

Bodum Bistro

• Coffee capacity: 7.75 oz
• # of grind settings: 12
• Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.1 x 12.5 inches

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The Bistro grinder also uses stainless steel conical burrs to grind to the perfect consistency. This allows you to ensure you get the perfect cup of coffee every time you brew.

Bodum made ease-of-use a priority with a timer that goes from 5-20 seconds (this is fine considering the bean hopper capacity). They also included a 12-setting adjustable knob to give you the freedom to experiment and choose the grind that's right for you.

The hopper lid locks in place, so you don't have to worry about stray coffee, and the coffee grounds container is made of borosilicate glass that's dishwasher safe. Bodum also considered safety by adding a silicon band on the ground container and a grippy surface on the grinder's sides.

This grinder's downsides became apparent after reading dozens of reviews - it's difficult to clean, and the build quality may be subpar (internal plastic components).

Nevertheless, for the money, it's easily one of the best coffee grinders under 100. Make your daily grind a breeze, and get a consistent cup with every push of the button.

Capresso 560.04 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

• Coffee capacity: 8.8 oz
• # of grind settings: 16
• Dimensions: 5 x 7.75 x 10.5 inches

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Capresso is a big name in the world of grinding. And they're in the top echelon of coffee grinders for a reason. The stainless steel conical burrs they use are top quality, assembled in Switzerland.

Like with the other grinders on our list, we looked for consistency (over time). The Capresso can stand up to pounds upon pounds of whole beans and chews through them in a flash.

One thing to look out for is the selector knob that goes from 1-10. This functions similarly to a timer but uses cups instead of seconds to measure how long to grind for. To choose a grind setting, turn the bean hopper left or right depending on how coarse or fine you need your grounds. This may sound confusing, but once you see it, you'll understand how easy it is.

The Capresso comes in two colors: black and stainless steel. You read that right - it's not faux stainless steel. It's the real thing. Also, it's one of the most stylish grinders on our list, and we feel it would look great on any countertop.

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

• Coffee capacity: 8 oz
• # of grind settings: 18
• Dimensions: 6.00 x 7.13 x 10.75 inches

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Cuisinart makes our #5 spot with the classic DBM-8 Supreme. It's the #1 Best Seller in burr grinders on Amazon and boasts 18 grind settings (because you can never have enough of those). This grinder comes in two different colors: cream and stainless steel finish.

The Cuisinart Supreme grinder has an 8 oz coffee bean capacity and a large grounds container that holds a ton of ground coffee (although we don't recommend this because they get stale fast). The grinder shuts off automatically to preserve power and ensure your safety. The bean hopper and grounds container are removable, making them easy to clean. We like this grinder because of the one-touch operation, consistent grind, and addition of a coffee scoop and cleaning brush.

While reading the reviews, we found many people saying that their grinder stopped all of a sudden, never to work again. From what we could gather, this is a maintenance/cleaning issue. Make sure to read the user manual thoroughly, and set a reminder on your phone to remember when to clean.

Porlex Mini Stainless-Steel Manual Coffee Grinder

• Coffee capacity: 0.7 oz
• # of grind settings: N/A (manual turn-to-click style settings)
• Dimensions: 6 x 2.3 x 1.8 inches

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We had to include a manual grinder on our list simply because some people prefer to get their blood pumping in the morning (before they've had caffeine). Manual grinders like the Porlex Mini can achieve the same grind consistency as an electric burr grinder, but it will take some time and elbow grease.

This model was manufactured in Japan and is made out of stainless steel (with a static-free body), and sports ceramic conical burrs.

Fair warning, most manual grinders have a relatively small bean capacity. This one is 0.7 oz - enough for a single drip coffee or espresso but will require multiple refills/grinds for a large pot.

We think manual grinders have their place. For example, if you need to brew coffee quietly, this is the grinder for you. You'll still get the same excellent uniform grind, but not as much of it.

We recommend this grinder because of its excellent build quality, consistent grind, and how easy it is to take apart and clean. Oh, and there's no electricity required so that you can take it on the go - one of the best coffee bean grinders for under 100.

KRUPS GX5000

• Coffee capacity: 7 oz
• # of grind settings: 45
• Dimensions: 4.29 x 7.24 x 10.4 inches

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And rounding off our Top 7 is the KRUPS GX5000. Remember when we looked at the #5 Cuisinart, and we mentioned you could never have enough grind settings? Well, if you want to have full control of the grind - how about 45 grind settings? Yes, the Germans have done it again. KRUPS has taken grinding to an entirely new level.

While it's not the conical burr fawned after by coffee enthusiasts, the GX5000's flat burr is advertised as creating a consistent grind for any brewing method. Looking at the design, there's not really anything special about this grinder. Two knobs: one for grind and the other for the number of cups, and a big on/off button. Simplicity.

Getting into the reviews, they're mostly positive. The complaints we found were related to grinding consistency (possibly because of the flat burr design), and other complaints about how hard it is to clean.

We consider this an excellent entry-level option. It's priced at around $50, half of what some of the other grinders on this list cost.

Choosing the Best Сoffee Grinder for under $100

We know how important it is for you to choose the best option for your budget. Aiming for a grinder under $100 is great because you have many choices, but this also makes the choice more difficult. In our opinion, it all depends on your needs.

The general things to look for are:
• Manual vs. electric
• Burr vs. blade
• Number of settings
• Motor speed and noise level
• Bean hopper size
• Quality of materials
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Warranty

Now, let's look at each point in more detail.

Difference between manual and electric coffee grinders

Grinders can be lumped into two big categories: manual and electric. With the latest advancements in technology, there are also hybrid grinders, but we'll leave that for another day.

Manual grinders look like pepper mills, except grinders have a more extended handle. The mechanics are the same as an electric grinder - burrs or blades create the preferred grind - except your hands and upper body are the motor. These types of grinders are generally cheaper than electric ones. However, there's a major caveat in that the bean capacity is much less. On the upside, manual grinders are a breeze to clean.

Electric grinders are one of modern man's most significant achievements in coffee. Grind enough for a full pot of coffee in under a minute, whereas the manual method could take you 5 minutes or more. Electric grinders also have caveats - they're more technically complex, hence more likely to break. Plus, they can be hard to clean.

Difference between Burr and Blade Grinder: Which is Best?

Baristas praise burr grinders because (yes, again) they're capable of creating a uniform grind. Burrs literally "chew" beans. When you change the grind settings, you're changing the distance between the burrs. So, if the burrs are farther apart, you get a more coarse grind.

On the other hand, blade grinders use a blade to chop up and shave off pieces of coffee. As you can guess, this isn't as precise as a burr, and it can take longer. Some people claim they can get a nice grind out of their blade grinders, but the evidence doesn't match the claims.

Overall, burr grinders outperform blade grinders in every category - a better grind, less guesswork with how long to grind for, and a more enjoyable cup of coffee.

Number of Settings

Grind settings - why are they important?

Get your science hats on.

Coffee is a simple recipe. And great coffee has to be made with grounds that have a uniform surface area. In other words, the amount of coffee that comes into contact with water. So, if the grind isn't consistent, the coffee will taste off. It could be either tasteless or burnt, acidic or bitter.

With a uniform grind (coffee particles that are the same size), you can get predictable, tasty coffee without trying to rip your hair out, scouring the internet for advice.

The number of grind settings isn't as important as the quality of the grind. Remember that when choosing a grinder.

Motor Speed and Noise Level

Some people believe that motor speed is proportionate to the noise level a grinder makes. There's some truth to this. However, having read through hundreds of reviews, we can confidently say that electric grinders are noisier than manual grinders.

The problem is - if you opt for a low-speed motor in favor of quieter operation, you may find that the grind consistency isn't up to par. The motor has to be powerful enough to chew through the beans, and sacrificing that is worse than a few extra decibels.

Bean Hopper Size

The bean hopper capacity could end up affecting your choice more than anything. If you need to make large pots of coffee multiple times of day, a small bean hopper could end up making your life miserable.

Many manufacturers like to market their coffee grounds containers as being roughly twice the whole bean capacity. A large grounds container is excellent if your coffee maker requires that amount (although you'll have to refill the bean hopper twice). But if you think that the grounds container is good for storing ground coffee, we're sorry to say you're wrong. There is no good place to store it because you should only use freshly-ground whole beans (no more than 15 minutes after grinding them).

The Materials

For most grinders, it's what's inside that counts. Go beyond the superficial and look for stainless steel or ceramic burrs (our list mostly consists of stainless steel). They will give you the best and most uniform grind.

Apart from the burr, it's all up to you. Do you want a stainless steel case or an ABS plastic one? It doesn't matter in terms of functionality but may affect how long the grinder keeps its “new” look.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning a manual grinder is relatively easy. That's because you can unscrew everything, take it apart, clean it thoroughly (with soap and water or special cleaning products), and put everything back together without an engineering degree.

With electric grinders, you'll find it's more tedious with some models. Manufacturers are inclined to conserve space and create an affordable product, and cleaning/maintenance isn't always high on the list of priorities. That's why it's up to you to read the instruction manual before attempting to clean your grinder.

Remember: by regularly cleaning your grinder you're not only prolonging your machine's life but also improving your coffee quality.

Warranty

Almost every manufacturer has at least a 1-year limited warranty. Products under warranty can be replaced or refurbished, and we assume you understand why that's important.

Now, the unpleasant part of buying anything is when something breaks out of warranty. Not every manufacturer offers replaceable parts - if that's a deal-breaker to you, make sure to call up customer support and find out for sure.

FAQ

• What is a coffee grinder doser?

  A doser dispenses the ground coffee into a container of your choice.

• How to remove static from a coffee grinder?

  The best way to remove static is buying adding a few drops of water to the beans or wetting a spoon and mixing the beans around with it.

• Where to buy cheap coffee grinders?

  You can get decent burr coffee grinders under $100 on Amazon.

• What is the cost of coffee grinders?

  Coffee grinders range in price from the super cheap to the super expensive. You can get a reliable, consistent electric grinder for under $100. Manual grinders are generally considerably more affordable.