Best Manual Coffee Grinder in 2024:
From Our Hands to Yours

Not too long ago, there was no such thing as the best manual coffee grinder. Just a list of compromises that were no better than a pepper mill, only worth using if you were traveling or in a pinch. But we’ve come a long way in a short space of time – now the market is saturated with high-quality hand grinders that give their electric counterparts a run for their money.

Having put all the top models (and a LOT of terrible ones) through their paces, we’re here to spill the tea coffee on the best options. Coming in at the top of that list is the 1Zpresso J Ultra: an exceptional manual grinder for any brewing method.

That said, there’s a huge variety of handheld coffee grinders out there to suit all types of coffee drinkers. Some excel for espresso, others for pour over, whilst some are best on a budget or for campers. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s an option to suit. So let’s get to it:

1. 1Zpresso J Ultra – Overall Best Manual Coffee Grinder

The latest installment in 1Zpresso’s impressive “J” series of manual grinders is the 1Zpresso J Ultra. When we saw our beloved J Max had been discontinued we were upset. That’s until we got our hands on the J Ultra and were completely blown away.

It’s a serious step up over its predecessor with a phenomenal 8 microns per click and a functional grind range of around 365 clicks. This makes it a great all-rounder, covering everything from Turkish coffee up to French press and cold brew.

But it excels as the best hand grinder for espresso.

The only downside of the large grind range is that it’s cumbersome to frequently switch between brewing methods.

The 48mm titanium-coated stainless steel burrs should realistically last a decade.

And the catch up simply pops off the strong magnets connecting it to the chamber.

Our complaint over the J Max was the bulky body which was hard for small hands to grip. But 1Zpresso has upgraded this with a slimmed-down body for the J Ultra. It’s 2.2″ in diameter at its widest point, weighs just 24.7oz (700g), and is very easy to grip. My wife, Katie, is just 5’2″ with very small hands and can use it without any issues.

At less than $200 (RRP), this is easily the best manual coffee grinder you can buy right now. It’s our grinder of choice at home and whenever we travel (thanks to the handy travel case.)

2. Comandante C40 MK4 – Runner Up

Comandante has almost as big of a cult following as 1Zpresso. And the Comandante C40 MK4 Nitro Blade put up a strong fight for the crown of best manual coffee grinder.

Don’t be put off by its position as ‘runner up’ though. This grinder is an absolute joy to use. The consistency is excellent, it’s easy to use, and the grind range is superb.

As an added bonus, it also looks great and is available in a wide range of colors.

Inside, you’ll find 39mm Nitro Blade burrs which are incredibly strong, sharp, consistent, and built to last. The stepped adjustment has 35 settings which isn’t the most expansive, nor will it allow you to precisely dial in, but it’s still a decent range.

Where the Comandante C40 MK4 excels is for pour over. Though it’s also good as a French press grinder or for cold brew.

Espresso lovers will be better off with the J Ultra. Or you can get the Red Clix mod which doubles the number of grind settings.

The big downside of this manual grinder is the big price tag it comes with. Not only is it expensive but it doesn’t have any cleaning accessories included.

For the build quality and consistency though, it absolutely justifies its price tag. If you drink pour over, filter coffee, or use a drip coffee machine you won’t be disappointed.

3. JavaPresse Manual – Best Budget Hand Grinder

If you’re looking for a good manual grinder that won’t cost you the earth, the JavaPresse is The One. Considering its wallet-friendly price, it blows many of its competitors out of the water.

I’d particularly recommend it as a first grinder or a step up from a blade grinder/ pre-ground coffee.

For the quality of the build and grind, it’s hard to complain too much. But picking apart the best hand grinders is what we’re here for, so…

For starters, you’ll have to work for your ground coffee. It’s slow particularly if you need a large amount of coffee. It’s also frustrating how easily the handle comes off/ loose during grinding. After a while, this drove me nuts.

Being so budget-friendly, it doesn’t perform across the full spectrum of grind sizes and there are only 15 grind settings. But the JavaPresse manual coffee grinder excels at the coarser settings.

So, if you’re looking to make espresso, then this isn’t the best option for you. However, if you prefer one of the many coffee brewing styles that call for coarser ground coffee (like French press or cold brew) then you won’t find anything as good as this for as great a price.

The stainless steel design is small and lightweight – great if you travel a lot. And the clickable grind adjustment dial is simple to use.

As a cheap hand coffee grinder, you can’t go wrong.

4. Porlex Mini II – Best for Travel

Porlex has created a superb grinder for anyone looking to grind fresh coffee whilst on the move. I’ve taken it on plenty of hikes and camping trips and have always been impressed by the quality.

The small size makes it ideal for backpacking or camping. So, it’s a no-brainer as the best manual coffee grinder for travel (though there’s some tough competition from the 1Zpresso Q2). Just as long as you’re a pour over, AeroPress, or French press lover as it’s not accurate enough for espresso.

It’s even small enough to fit inside your AeroPress coffee maker for easy transport (and less mess).

Being so small, however, means there’s a limited capacity of only 20g of coffee grounds – 1 or 2 cups at a time. But you don’t buy a grinder with “Mini” in the name because you’re looking to grind enough coffee for your squad.

It will easily stand up to life on the road with its high-quality ceramic burrs and sturdy stainless steel body. Although ceramic will chip if you accidentally pick up a small rock whilst camping.

The spring system keeps the conical burrs remarkably steady during grinding. It’s also much faster (and smoother) than its predecessor, the Porlex Mini.

Given its low price, it’s cheap enough to allow you to have the Porlex Mini II as a dedicated travel grinder and then a different, more precise, option for your kitchen.

5. 1Zpresso K Ultra – Easiest to Use

The 1Zpresso K Ultra is another seriously impressive “do-it-all” grinder from our favorite manual grinder company.

It features 48mm heptagonal stainless steel burrs, 20 microns per click, and a range of around 100 clicks. This makes it suitable for all brewing methods from espresso to French press – an attractive option for any coffee lover.

The trade-off that you make with the K Ultra is a loss of some precision to gain greater ease of use.

The full grind range is available in a single rotation of the numbered external adjustment dial. So you don’t need to count 300-odd clicks to find your pour over settings like you do with the J Ultra. But it also means it’s not possible to dial in with the same level of precision.

Whilst it’s still good enough for casual espresso brewing, if you use a Flair manual espresso maker, for example, it won’t give you enough precision to dial in.

Considering the cost, we prefer the slightly more awkward but more precise J Ultra over the K Ultra. But that’s because we like to use multiple different brewing methods at home, including espresso, and it offers us that extra versatility.

The K Ultra is still a superb grinder and if you don’t plan on getting into espresso, it will likely be the better option for you. If you plan to stick to drip or AeroPress, we recommend checking out our 1Zpresso X Ultra review instead.

6. Kinu M47 Simplicity – Best for Espresso

Stepless adjustments from a manual grinder? That’s what the Kimu M47 Simplicity offers making it perfect for those who need the most precise dialing in possible, like the manual espresso machine crowd.

The consistency is excellent. And the burrs are coated in a proprietary hardening substance to ensure they last longer than standard stainless steel ones. We’re talking an extremely long life.

That’s not to say it’s perfect, there are some downsides. Like the fact that it gets a bit inconsistent as soon as you move away from the espresso end of the grind spectrum. It’s also one of the most expensive on our list and quite heavy.

If espresso precision is your primary goal then this is the best manual coffee grinder for you. That extra weight and cost are easily outweighed by the M47 Simplicity’s superior grind quality compared to its manual competitors.

However, if you prefer pour over or French press, there are better and cheaper options out there.

7. TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 Manual Coffee Grinder – Best Bang for Your Buck

Founded in 2012, TIMEMORE makes budget coffee products with a premium feel. This includes grinders, scales, and brewing equipment.

But it was the Chestnut C2 that, arguably, put their name on the map (and we’re a big fan of). So when they released a newer, upgraded model – the Chestnut C3 – we knew we had to try it out.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t instantly blown away.

Whilst it’s an upgrade in almost every way over the C2, it was wildly more expensive and I didn’t think it justified the price tag. But they’re now almost identical in cost, making the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 the superior choice.

It’s a premium-looking hand grinder with a textured aluminum body (which also helps with grip). I prefer the sleek matt black color to the white, but that’s purely my personal preference.

It doesn’t just look good though, it performs well too:

The handle is comfortable to hold and turns very smoothly on its ball-bearing mount. Plus it’s relatively fast and the 38mm stainless steel burrs are consistent, particularly at the coarser grind settings.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the precision needed to be a good espresso grinder. But for any other brewing method, this is a great budget option.

My main complaint is that changing grind settings involves some guesswork. There are just 36 settings but no numbers on the adjustment dial which I found awkward if you swap brewing methods frequently.

8. Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Coffee Mill

The Skerton Pro is the third generation of the Skerton manual coffee grinders from Hario. And they have improved the design with each iteration to better solve the everyday pain points coffee makers experience. 

This model benefits from improved stabilization of the burrs which greatly improves grind consistency across all grind sizes. But we find it performs best for drip coffee and the Hario V60.

They’ve also changed the grounds bin to a universal thread. That has two benefits. Firstly, if the glass catch cup breaks, you can quickly and easily replace it with a regular mason jar. Or you can swap it for a more sturdy plastic option, making it better to travel with.

It’s not the cheapest hand grinder available, but it’s not the most expensive either. And, for the price, it performs well offering a nice, simple option for those new to manual coffee grinding.

Compared to other options currently on the market, the Hario ceramic coffee mill is a little slower and a little more expensive. But it’s a smart little coffee grinder that looks good and does a pretty good job. So, these things are by no means deal-breakers.

9. Handground Precision Coffee Grinder

The Handground Precision coffee grinder falls into the ‘like but don’t love’ category for me.

It started as a Kickstarter campaign and is different from most other manual coffee grinders thanks to the side-mounted handle which turns vertically. In theory, this makes it easier and nicer to turn but it’s just a little too short to live up to expectations.

You’ll need to use the Handground Precision on a countertop with one hand turning the handle and the other stabilizing the grinder. It’s simply not possible to hold it in two hands whilst grinding. That said, it’s very comfortable to use thanks to the wide, rubber-coated base.

Changing the grind settings is very easy though with the numbered adjustment dial. There are 8 numbered settings with an additional half-step between each one. So a relatively small range of grind sizes but not awful either.

For pour over or drip, it performs well.

Once you start to get coarser, it’s not overly consistent which isn’t great if you’re a French press coffee lover. But, it does also sit at the more budget end of the spectrum so we have to be willing to compromise.

Overall, this is a solid manual grinder that will do a nice job and can be cleaned easily too. It’s better suited for use at home as, unfortunately, is a little bulky and fragile for traveling. But the extra bulk does mean a large 100g capacity.

10. Orphan Espresso Lido 3

Orphan Espresso is an American, family-run company run by Doug and Barb Garrott. They make spare parts for espresso machines. Plus they have their own line of manual coffee grinders including the Lido 3 which launched in 2015.

At the time, it was the best manual coffee grinder available. But things have moved on since then and it now lags behind the pack.

To make their grinders, they use superb stainless steel burrs made in Switzerland. So, the Lido 3 is an impressive beast in terms of grind range and the consistency it produces.

And beast is the operative word – this is a big grinder, weighing in at 2.2lbs. So, not exactly a portable coffee grinder despite being the smallest in the Lido range. I find the bulkiness makes it a little awkward to use as the body is just too wide and the handle’s too short.

That said, this is a good option for you if:

• You’re looking for something that can handle a wide range of brewing methods, though it’s best performance is between pour over and French press
• You’re happy to fiddle with the slightly awkward stepless adjustments (you’ll need to mark the outside somehow to remember where you last set it)

Whilst this is undoubtedly a great performer, there are new coffee grinders that have improved over the Lido 3 in other areas.

11. Zassenhaus “Brasilia”

Zassenhaus caters to a very specific audience of people: those who like old-fashioned styled products.

The full Zassenaus coffee grinder range looks and feels very 19th Century – in a good way. But they are also superbly made and well thought out. The eye-catching designs conceal the high-grade stainless steel burr inside.

We find their Brasilia model to be the best compromise of looks, price, and functionality. Ours (shown above) is the Dark/ Chrome option which (in my oh-so-humble opinion) is the better colorway but there are lighter options too.

As most Zassenhaus grinders are very similar on the inside, it’s more about how they look as to which one you prefer. For example, the Zassenhaus Santiago coffee mill grinder is slightly sleeker whilst the La Paz model looks like it stepped out of a science lab.

They all have a small grounds drawer and are quite slow to grind. So it’s not the one for anyone grinding a reasonable volume of coffee or if you need speed.

Instead, they are designed to be a permanent fixture on your countertop or old-school coffee setup – and a significant upgrade to pre-ground coffee. Although not precise enough for the coffee enthusiast.

Being very stable makes grind consistency easier to achieve. And, whilst it will take some playing around with the settings to get the grind size you’re after, it won’t take long to perfect.

So if you’re looking for a more relaxed coffee affair and love the aesthetic, then this is definitely one to consider.

Budget

As they say, ‘money makes the world go round’. So this is always going to be your biggest constraint.

If you’re a coffee fanatic on a limited budget, then manual is the way to go. Generally speaking, you can get a grinder with far better consistency, range, and precision for the same price if you choose manual over electric coffee grinding.

This is particularly true at the cheaper end of the spectrum. There is so much variation in the quality of cheap electric grinders ($100 or less) that they’re rarely worth the price tag.

Portability

Do you want to make great coffee anywhere? Or are you looking to up your home coffee-making game?

Electric grinders take up a lot more room and they need access to a power outlet. So, you need to consider where it will sit on your countertop.

Whereas, manual grinders offer a more compact and lightweight solution and many are designed with traveling in mind.

Accessibility

Using a manual grinder requires physical force. Not a huge amount, but enough that some people won’t be able to grip hard enough. Or they may struggle to generate enough force to turn the handle. This is particularly true for fine grind sizes.

If this applies to you, it means that an electric grinder will be your only option.

Time

Manual grinders require you to weigh out your beans and crank the handle each time. This takes much longer and is less convenient than simply pushing a button on an electric one, particularly if it has a dosing feature.

Precision

Whilst the hand grinder market has come a long way over the years, if you’re looking to dial in your espresso, nothing beats an electric stepless grinder.

Almost universally, manual grinders are adjusted in set increments. So, even if the difference between each step is less than 10 microns (like the J Ultra’s 8 microns), that’s still bigger than on a stepless electric grinder.

The grind consistency can also be better when using an electric grinder. This is usually through the use of higher-quality burrs and greater gear stabilization. But extra quality means extra cost.

What is Your Budget?

Set your budget then stick to it. I know only too well how easy it is to get carried away and end up spending way more than you meant to!

Fortunately, there are options to suit all budgets:

• Budget: There are plenty of great grinders offering surprising consistency for less than $100, particularly for manual brew methods. Take a look at the JavaPresse or Timemore Chestnut C3.
• Mid-Range: To get the best bang for your buck, the 1Zpresso J Ultra is phenomenal – it performs like a top-level grinder but with a mid-range price.
• Premium: Comparable to electric grinders with offensively high price tags, the Comandante C40 MK4 offers incredible precision.

Force Needed to Turn the Handle

All manual coffee grinders require some physical force to use. Although it isn’t usually a lot of force, you must be able to hold something stable and turn a handle for around a minute or so.

If you have arthritis or any kind of pain or weakness in your arms or shoulders, a hand grinder may be painful and difficult to use. And coffee is definitely not worth that. Especially when there are good electric alternatives out there like the Rancilio Rocky or Breville Smart Grinder Pro.

What Style of Coffee are you Brewing?

Different brewing methods call for different grind sizes. And many manual coffee grinders perform best at either the finer or coarser end of the spectrum, rarely both.

So, to make the best-tasting cup of coffee, look for a manual grinder that’s suited to your favorite style of coffee. This is far preferable to one that has a wide range of settings for brew methods you’ll never use.

Not sure what grind size you need for your preferred coffee maker? Check out our handy guide.

Where will you use your Manual Coffee Grinder?

Are you looking for a grinder you can chuck in a bag and take on vacation? Or a long-term traveler looking for something that won’t take up too much precious space in your backpack?

On the other hand, maybe you want a manual grinder for your kitchen because they’re cheaper, quieter, and (generally) take up less space than electric ones.

The size and weight of grinders vary massively from the compact Porlex Mini II to the more robust Orphan Lido 3. So work out where you’ll be using it to help you narrow down what you’re looking for.

There are also a lot of in-between models like the 1Zpresso K Ultra. This is the perfect compromise to use predominantly at home, whilst still being possible to take away with you on the occasional trip.

Handle Length

This consideration is fairly straightforward:

Longer handles are easier to turn. But they take up more room.

On the flip side, if the handle is too short, grinding will need a lot more force and energy. But it will be more compact and portable. It’s all a game of compromises.

Bearings

Some grinders, like the 1Zpresso range, have bearings that make grinding a lot smoother and easier. These models tend to be heavier and more expensive but you can really feel the difference compared to ones without.

Ceramic or Stainless Steel Burrs

The burrs are the most important part of your grinder. The size, shape, and material make a huge different to the quality of your freshly ground coffee. So deciding between ceramic and stainless steel is a biggie:

Ceramic burrs are lighter and don’t generate heat as the beans are ground. This ensures all the flavorful oils from the beans are preserved and make their way into your cup. The downside is that they’re brittle. So if a stone or hard coffee bean gets into your grinder, they can chip.

Stainless steel burrs, on the other hand, are heavier and will generate some heat as they are turned (though it’s negligible with hand grinders). Whilst they have a better chance of survival against a rogue stone, they will blunt faster than ceramic. Although, quality stainless steel burrs will still last 5-10 years.

Speed of Grinding

How long it takes you to grind your coffee depends on how fast or slow you can turn the handle. But some manual grinders have the potential to be much faster thanks to smoother mechanisms and the burr quality.

If you are looking at grinding a lot of very fine coffee, you could end up turning the handle upwards of 5 minutes if you opt for a slower grinder like the Hario Skerton Pro. But if you’re only grinding for French press for 1 person each day, then a slower grinder won’t make much difference to you.

Size of Hopper and Grounds Bin

Ask yourself: how many cups of coffee will you be making at a time?

Refilling the hopper and starting again is a real pain, especially if you have to do it multiple times. So, if you’re going to be consistently grinding coffee for several people you don’t want a compact grinder designed for one cup at a time.

After all, it doesn’t matter if it’s the best manual coffee grinder out there if it doesn’t meet your needs.

For us, hands down, it is the 1Zpresso J Ultra – we wouldn’t be without ours at home or when we travel. The quality of the build and the consistency of the grounds for the price are unmatched. We truly believe that it’s the best hand coffee grinder money can buy right now.

But it has some very stiff competition. And the one that’s right for you will depend on factors like the cost and how you plan to use it. So having read the reviews of all our favorite manual grinders, we hope you have a better idea of which one’s best for you.

Matt Woodburn-Simmonds

Matt's coffee obsession started in 2006 when working as a Barista. A tendency to turn up to work hungover kickstarted his coffee journey which quickly turned into a love affair. As he moved on to work as a Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, the obsession continued to grow. Now, his passion is helping others to enjoy better coffee at home.