The Best Manual Coffee Grinder (Hand Grinders)

As a coffee lover, you know that grinding your coffee beans just before you brew your coffee is the only way you’ll capture the coffee’s full flavour and aroma in your brews. Big electric grinders work well at home, but when you’re on the go, you need something more portable; you need a manual coffee grinder (aka, a coffee mill). We’re going to help you pick the perfect manual grinder for you.

Although these hand grinders seem simple enough, they must be well-engineered if they’re to produce the precise and consistent grind you need. Other considerations include construction materials, size, function, and warranty. Read on to learn more.

Let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

What Should You Consider When Looking for the Best Manual Coffee Grinder?

Don’t skip the temptation to spend a little time and money investing in a better than average hand grinder. You can’t underestimate the importance of the grinding process:

So now it’s time to understand what separates a good grinder from a bad one. Don’t ignore the following when shopping around:

Size (or lack thereof)

If you want to grind on the go, you’ll want to consider buying something that incorporates a sleek, cylindrical shape that makes it easy to store and easy to grip.
Less is more when it comes to portability, however, if you’re not concerned with travelling with your hand grinder, something nice and vintage-looking may suit you more.

Capacity

We talk about portable coffee grinders as being small and compact. This means there’s a limited amount of beans you can crank in one go.

It’s important to be realistic – you want a coffee grinder that has the right capacity for you. If you’re looking to cater coffee for more than 2-3 people, expect to get a good arm workout during the grinding process.

Quality of Material – Will It Last?

We are talking about the burrs here as they go through the most stress. You have 2 options, steel or ceramic, both with its good and bad points (1). Consider stainless steel burrs if you are travelling as they are durable and easy to clean. One example of a hand grinder with a relatively good stainless steel grinder is the Timemore C2, the C3, and the Slim Plus. Ceramic burrs are fine if you plan to keep your grinder at home.

Number of Grind Settings

How many settings does your coffee grinder have and how easy is it to change between them? It’s no good to have something that ‘just grinds’, you’ll need something that grinds to different tastes to make the best coffee. You’ll also want a grinder with functional applications that will produce the same results no matter where you are grinding.

Having said that, no grinder (manual or electric grinders), is absolutely perfect – although, a good quality electric can produce better results. If you want to perfect your grind, you want to consider a coffee sifter. A system of tiered sieves that creates uniformity – which ultimately will enhance your brew.

Related articles:

• For Turkish coffee, you’ll need a super fine grind so look at these special Turkish grinders.
• If you want an electric burr grinder – see the best-rated ones here.
• Grab our free coffee grind chart to help you achieve the right grounds.
• To take your coffee grinding game to the next level you’ll need a secret weapon: the KRUVE.

Longevity – are the parts replaceable?

Electric grinders come with warranties but manual grinders often don’t. You don’t want to buy something you use a couple of times before it stops producing consistent results or even breaks down!

Well-made products will often offer long-term or lifetime warranty as their products are manufactured with precision and expertise. It’s important to note – how often and how well you clean your coffee grinder (2) will significantly impact both the longevity of your burr and quality of your coffee.

Now that you know what to look for in a grinder, download this coffee grind chart to use your grinder to its fullest potential.

The 8 Best Manual Coffee Grinders

Instead of the old ‘trial and error’ method of buying something online and finding out for yourself whether it’s great (or it sucks), we’ve done the hard yards for you and reviewed a bunch of the best hand grinders on the market.

For everything else, the grinders below are perfect (you may want to learn how to grind coffee first!)

Here they are:

And below you’ll see more details about the grinders listed in the table above. We’ve done full reviews of each to, so be sure to click through and learn more about any of the options that you are considering.

1. 1Zpresso Q2 Manual Coffee Grinder – Top Pick

The 1Zpresso Q2 perfectly blends style, quality, functionality, and price.

Quick facts:

• Travel grinder built with premium materials

• Hopper capacity: 20g (1-2 coffees per grind)
• Weight: 385g
• Dimensions: 14x 5 x 5 cm
• Burr: Stainless Steel

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The 1Zpresso Q2 is the smallest of the 1ZPresso grinders. As well as the reduced size, the 1zpresso also comes with a lower price tag too. Fortunately, however, there have been no sacrifices made to build quality or materials, meaning the Q2 is very much a premium product in a tiny, travel-friendly package.

The premium materials used to make this grinder very easy to use for small batches of coffee. The Q2 would be perfect to take camping or to leave at the office, so you don’t have to concede on freshness while working.

The only real problem the 1Zpresso Q2 presents is the small 20g capacity, which could be lower depending on the types of bean you’re using. You’ll get enough for one brew here, but you’ll have to grind more than once if you’re making coffee for more than one other person at a time.

All-in-all, however, the 1Zpresso Q2’s looks, build quality, ease of use, and price-to-quality ratio make it our Top Pick manual coffee grinder.

The expertly crafted Zassenhaus coffee grinder has a beautiful mahogany finish and regarded as one of the finest on the market due to its conical burr, 25-year warranty, and high-quality grind capabilities.

It has other colour options too – including a stunning beechwood, and black beechwood finish. It’s smaller than your typical electrical burr-grinder, however it’s a little larger and bulkier than other hand grinders. For its added size comes added style – especially the beautiful mahogany veneer.

Its grind function produces consistent results and has a HUGE number of grind settings due to its grind size dial – meaning you can grind for every brew method, even Turkish and espresso. It’s perfect for espresso. With a guaranteed 25 year warranty, you know that you’re purchasing a high-performance grinder.

3. Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Grinder – Best For Travelling Light

Made is Osaka, Japan; this coffee grinder is perfect for minimalists and travellers who need something tiny to take with them.

Quick facts:

• For travellers and minimalists

• Hopper capacity: 20g (1-2 coffees per grind)
• Weight: 226g
• Dimensions: 15 x 6 x 4.5 cm
• Burr material: Ceramic Conical Burr
• Number of grind settings: 13

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Travelling coffee drinkers don’t stop raving about the Porlex Portable Coffee Mill that is designed to grind accurately and quickly and is great for those who are travelling or constantly on the go.

What makes this product a great travel companion? For one, the portable easy-to-grip cylindrical shape makes it easy to hike, bike, pack in a suitcase or stash in the car. It fits perfectly into the Aeropress making the convenience of packing easy, plus it weighs in at only 295 grams.

The solid stainless steel body build makes the Porlex easy to clean and virtually indestructible. The adjustable grinder produces accurate grinds for fine, coarse or grinds in between – and has a neat little dial that will ensure you remember that perfect grind you just produced. It has 13 settings, each defined by a ‘click’ on the burr wheel.

Find the right grind for your brewer, remember the number, and you’re good to make the perfect cup of coffee on the go.

Read our full review of the Porlex mini grinder here.

4. Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Coffee Mill – Best Value For Money

Best it you are grinding for 3+ coffee’s at once, either at home or while camping.

Quick facts:

• For home use when grinding coffee for multiple brews at once

• Hopper capacity: 100g (4+ coffees per grind)
• Weight: 566g
• Dimensions: 40.5 x 28 x 33 cm
• Burr Material: Ceramic Conical Burr

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Ticking all the boxes the Hario Skerton pro is a lightweight grinder that has a slip-free rubber base, large storage capacity, ceramic burr for extra grind precision and an ergonomic design.

Super easy to disassemble and reassemble with a hopper that can attach to a mason jar or other storage containers. It’s another great manual coffee mill for those on the go, who also like grinding in advance (Let’s be honest, there’s always time for another coffee!).

Easy to use, easy to clean – this grinder will manually blend your coffee beans without sacrificing the taste. It’s designed for those who want a product that will carry through conditions with ease.

Read our full review of the Hario Skerton Pro here.

5. Akirakoki Manual Coffee Bean Grinder – Best For Design And Desirability

The Akirakoki’s all wood design looks fantastic, and the Cast Iron burr will ensure consistent grinds.

Quick facts:

• Solid wood design will never crack

• Hopper capacity: 85g (3-4 coffees per grind)
• Weight: 610g
• Dimensions: 18 x 7 x 7 cm
• Burr: Cast Iron

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The Akirakoki is a budget-friendly manual grinder that delivers on both design and functionality. The solid wood body comes from a single piece of wood, meaning it will never crack. Unusually, the Akiraroki has a Cast Iron burr, which means it will never rust and will produce less heat than other materials.

The full package here combines to create a reliable travel grinder that looks fantastic. Pulling this grinder out of your backpack will attract attention every time you start brewing with other travellers around. It’s a good job then that the Akirkoki has an 85g grind capacity, meaning you’ll be able to grind enough coffee for up to three friends at once.

6. HEIHOX Hand Grinder

Best for travelling when you’re brewing up to 2 coffees. An accurate and easy to use grinder.

Quick facts:

• Hopper capacity: 30 grams

• Dimensions: 17.0 x 5.6 cm (17.8 cm handle)
• Weight: 912 grams
• Burr material: Conical ceramic burrs

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The HEIHOX hand grinder has a lot going for it, but I bet the first thing you’ll notice is its cool style. Of course, aesthetics aren’t usually a priority when shopping for a grinder, nor should they be. But HEIXOX’s attractive combination of colours and materials showcases the brand’s attention to detail, which extends to the manufacturing quality as well.

The grinder itself is made from food-grade stainless steel and aluminium. This is a great combination that makes it both lightweight and durable. The handle is adorned with a polished wooden knob, giving it an overall sleek and modern look. 

It’s well constructed; all the parts slot together nicely, and it has a solid feel and smooth mechanism.

The hopper capacity is a relatively small 30 grams. So, this is a grinder best suited for brewing a cup or two at a time. Inside, a pair of easy-to-adjust conical ceramic burrs make quick work of whatever beans you throw at them, whether you want a fine or coarse grind. For cleaning, it’s very simple to take apart and put back together, without the need for tools or mechanical skills.

7. Triple Tree Manual Coffee Grinder

Best for home use for manual brewing enthusiasts; especially if you brew 2+ coffees each time

Quick facts:

• Hopper capacity: 50 grams

• Dimensions: 20.5 x 9.0 cm
• Weight: 970 grams
• Burr material: Conical ceramic burrs

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Triple Tree’s manual coffee grinder has the classic stout design you’ll see with many hand grinders. And, for a good reason! It’s comfortable to hold while grinding but still compact and portable.

The hopper holds a fairly large 50 grams of beans, so you can probably get a solid 4 cups of coffee in one go. It’s made from silicone, which is comfortable and sturdy to grip. The lower chamber is glass, so you can see what you’re grinding. The stainless steel handle has been lengthened versus older models, which makes it even easier to grind. 

The grinding is done using conical ceramic burrs, which can easily grind from coarse to fine. But if you’re looking to make espresso, you’ll probably want to splurge on a pricier grinder to ensure more consistent grind size.

This grinder has a lot of added value in accessories, a welcome surprise at this price point. Along with a measuring scoop and cleaning brush, it comes with a second glass base and screw-on lid. This is particularly handy for storing preweighed beans if you’re using this grinder for travel.

8. Kalita Mini Coffee Mill

Best for fans of vintage style.

Quick facts:

• Hopper capacity: 40 grams

• Dimensions: 11.9 x 10.7 x 17.3 cm
• Weight: 730 grams
• Burr material: Conical cast iron burrs

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Japanese brand Kalita is well known for crafting pour over drippers, particularly the world famous Kalita Wave. So it only stands to reason that they know a thing or two about grinding coffee. 

This cute little hand-powered coffee mill has the smallest capacity in their line-up. But it’s just perfect for a cup or two. Plus, it won’t take up much space in your kitchen. It’s well made, with all the parts moving smoothly. No awkward sticking or scratching.

The mill design isn’t as portable as the cylindrical grinders on this list, but the trade-off is its attractive vintage style.  It looks so great sitting on your counter that you won’t want to move it! And the design is more than just pretty; it’s practical. The square wooden base is ultra stable, making grinding a breeze, and the wooden drawer that catches the grounds is static-free.

Unusually, the burrs are cast iron, rather than the more common ceramic or steel. The main advantage to cast iron is its durability. But it’s also rust proof, doesn’t heat up during grinding, and won’t impart any metallic flavours to your coffee.

THE VERDICT: Which Hand Mill Grinder Do We Prefer?

While the above are all good options…but….we can’t go past the 1Zpresso Q2 Manual Coffee Grinder!

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This is the best hand coffee grinder because it does what it is intended to do better than any of the others – grind coffee beans perfectly with your hand!

The incredible price-to-quality ratio and impressive travel-friendly tiny size combine to make it our number one manual hand grinder pick.