The Best Manual Coffee Grinders Of 2022

There's nothing easier than stocking up on pre-ground coffee or having a roaster grind your beans. However, this may not be the best approach. Not many realize this, but the aroma and flavor of coffee start to deteriorate just 30 minutes after grinding (via Coffee Bros). This is the reason some coffee connoisseurs grind only as much coffee as they use for each brew.

Manual coffee grinders are perfect for everyday or casual home use. Unlike many electric coffee grinders, they are usually highly portable and easy to store. Manual coffee grinders are also more affordable and convenient than their electric counterparts. After all, they don't require batteries, long cords, or power outlets. Last but not least, hand grinders are relatively quiet, which means that you'll be able to grind your favorite roast at any time of the day — even when your loved ones are still sleeping.

Ready to level up your coffee game? Keep reading to learn more about the best manual coffee grinders of 2022.

Manual coffee grinders come in different shapes and sizes. What grinder you opt for should depend on both your lifestyle and coffee preference. While some manual grinders are better at producing fine coffee for espressos, others are more suited for delivering coarser grounds for the French press. Each manual coffee grinder also comes with a different hopper capacity, which is something to keep in mind if you're planning to make large batches of coffee.

When selecting the best coffee grinders, we looked at both community and expert reviews, as well as a variety of criteria. Aside from grind settings and hopper capacity, we took into account production materials and design — most manual grinders are made from a combination of stainless steel, aluminum, wood, glass, and plastic. And these often affect their durability and ease of use. We also looked at each grinder's portability, burr quality, and grind consistency. Last but not least, we took into account each grinder's price since for many people, value for money is a paramount consideration when buying kitchenware. All prices are accurate as of this article's publishing date.

Suitable for up to 35 grams of coffee, the 1Zpresso JX Pro Manual Coffee Grinder is a high-quality device that's not going to cost you an arm and a leg. Made with an aluminum alloy outer casing, the elegant coffee grinder features a rubber sleeve to ensure a secure grip and a comfortable wooden crank handle. The grinder comes with a sturdy 48-millimeter stainless steel conical burr and 40 adjustment levels — each click shifts the grind by 12.5 microns — so you can tailor the size of the grounds to your specific requirements.

The 1Zpresso JX Pro has been praised for its precision, quality, and quick grinding time. According to The Home Coffee Expert, using the machine to grind enough beans for an espresso or a pour-over only takes around 30 seconds. The grinder has also impressed Amazon reviewers who have given it an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One Amazon customer recommends the 1Zpresso JX Pro, commenting, "It is a dream to use ... There are about 40 different grind sizes, so lots of opportunity for experimentation ... The grind mechanism is incredibly well made, so it is smooth and easy to use ... I know this is a 'buy it for life' quality tool that will serve for years to come."

Purchase the 1Zpresso JX Pro Manual Coffee Grinder from Amazon starting at $159.

At just over $40, the Hario Skerton Plus Ceramic Coffee Grinder can add some sunshine to your morning coffee ritual. Compact yet efficient — it can hold up to 100 grams of coffee grounds — the grinder is composed of a mill, a hopper, and a heat-proof glass bowl base. The Hario Skerton Plus is an updated version of the Hario Skerton, featuring a stronger and more stable grind shaft and a ceramic conical burr for a more uniform grind at fine, medium, and course settings. The unit's stainless steel crank handle is detachable for travel and storage (via Amazon).

The Hario Skerton Plus isn't just affordable, it's also simple and precise. Perhaps Dylan Ettinger from Insider sums up the virtues of the device best, saying, "Most coffee grinders are expensive and more complicated than they need to be — I prefer this $45 manual grinder for its consistent results and ease of use." One Amazon reviewer agrees, saying, "I mainly use a French press and it grinds the beans very well. The consistency of the grinds is perfect ... My electric grinder made the grinds too fine even when set to coarse ... Takes a little longer than the electric one, but it just adds to the morning coffee ritual."

Purchase the Hario Skerton Plus Ceramic Coffee Grinder from Amazon starting at $42.68.

Designed by coffee experts and manufactured in Germany, the Comandante C40 Nitro Blade Grinder is a fine investment if you're happy to shell out around $400 on a piece of kitchenware. What sets the Comandante C40 Nitro apart from the pack is its 39-millimeter conical high nitrogen martensitic steel burr, which is designed to retain sharpness longer than its ceramic counterparts.

The Comandante C40 Nitro features a wood veneer wrap, a glass jar base, and a wooden handle. And, as its name suggests, the manual grinder can hold 40 grams of coffee grounds. The grinder is also simple to use, featuring a knob with 35 settings that adjust the grind size by 25 to 30 microns per click. The Comandante C40 Nitro isn't the best choice when it comes to grinding speed, however, with Asser Christensen from The Coffee Chronicler saying that it took him 50 seconds to grind 20 grams of coffee.

So is the Comandante C40 Nitro worth its price? Well, it depends. According to Chris Clark from Brew Coffee At Home, while there are cheaper manual grinders offering similar quality, the Comandante C40 Nitro is a classic for a reason. He says, "Comandante grinders are revered among coffee professionals for ... their build quality and consistency. So, if you can afford a Comandante coffee grinder, it won't let you down in either reliability or grind quality."

Purchase the Comandante C40 Nitro Blade Grinder from Amazon starting at $399.

The fact that you're traveling doesn't have to change your daily coffee routine. Weighing just 12 ounces, the VSSL Java Manual Hand Coffee Grinder features a crank — or a Clip and Flip lever — that can be turned into a convenient carry handle. Better still, the handle has a load-bearing capacity of 200 pounds and can be easily attached to your pack during camping trips.

The VSSL Java comes with a stainless steel burr that can be adjusted to 50 different grind settings. Due to its compact size, the device has a capacity of 20 grams, which can be ground in under a minute. And if you're concerned with durability, the VSSL Java has you covered. Crafted from military-grade aluminum, the grinder is built to last. In fact, the product comes with a limited lifetime guarantee for complete peace of mind, no matter the adventure (via Amazon).

So how does the VSSL Java fare with caffeine lovers? Kate MacDonnell from Coffee Affection believes that while the grinder is on the pricier side and can be tricky to clean, it's also very elegant and functional. "It's compact, sturdy, and thoughtfully designed, with excellent stainless steel burrs and a comfortable handle," she says. Joe Plenzler from Task & Purpose agrees, saying, "It works smoothly, grinds consistently, is built ruggedly, and looks cool. I recommend it for travelers, car campers, climbers, rafters, and cyclists."

Purchase the VSSL Java Manual Hand Coffee Grinder from Amazon starting at $160.

Combining space aluminum and walnut wood, the Timemore Chestnut G1 Manual Coffee Grinder is both aesthetically pleasing and efficient. In fact, the grinder once won the Red Dot Design Award for its use of materials and striking square outer contour. In terms of functionality, the grinder features a 38-millimeter stainless steel burr for effective grinding, as well as dual bearings that hold the central shaft in place to ensure uniformity. Plus, it has a grinding capacity of 30 grams and eight grind settings (via Coffee With Conscience).

The Timemore Chestnut G1 has received consistent praise from critics. Chris Clark from Brew Coffee Home calls it "a fantastic product that positively demands the consideration of anyone looking for a high-end hand grinder," saying that the grinder's only drawbacks are its small capacity and weight. Meanwhile, the writer for Coffee With Conscience refers to the TimemoreChestnut G1 as "an award-winning, lovingly and beautifully crafted coffee grinder ... that will consistently impress you with delicious, creamy, freshly brewed coffee every time."

The Timemore Chestnut G1 has also done well with Amazon customers, receiving 5 out of 5 stars from 86% of reviewers. One Amazon customer calls the grinder a great product, saying, "It has a very solid feel in the hand. ... The grinding action is incredibly smooth and stable, leading to very pleasing operation as well as a very consistent grind."

Purchase the Timemore Chestnut G1 Manual Coffee Grinder from Amazon starting at $159.99.

Specifically designed for espresso, the Orphan Espresso Lido E-T Hand Grinder comes with a 48-millimeter Swiss-made conical steel burr that's precise enough to produce a fine grind size. The Black Ink Coffee Company, which gave the Orphan Espresso Lido E-T 4.3 out of 5 stars, highlighted that the grinder delivered precision no matter how coarse or fine the grind.

Made almost entirely from plastic, the Orphan Espresso Lido E-T's transparent body lets you see your grounds as they are being produced. It also comes with a 70-gram capacity and features a foldable crank handle. While most other grinders have pre-determined grind settings, the Orphan Espresso LIDO E-T offers step-less adjustments for maximum customization. The grinder is also relatively fast, letting users grind between one and three grams of coffee per second.

The Orphan Espresso Lido E-T Hand Grinder has been praised by reviewers, with one Prima customer saying, "I'm loving my Lido E-T. Makes quick work of grinding beans ... Perfect for espresso. I love the portability of it. It is a little large, but I like the feel of it. I currently use it strictly for espresso but I like knowing that it has the capacity to grind for larger brews."

Purchase the Orphan Espresso Lido E-T Hand Grinder from OE Hand Grinders for $185.

Featuring a stylish stainless steel design, the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Bean Grinder comes with a ceramic conical burr that delivers a consistent grind. According to the JavaPresse website, the grinder's conical burr can be expected to last five times longer than its stainless steel counterparts. The grinder offers a 40-gram capacity and 15 settings from fine to coarse, making it suitable for all brewing methods from espresso to French press. On the downside, the JavaPresse is not the fastest grinder on the market. According to The Coffee Maven, grinding your beans to a medium-fine grind can take up to five minutes.

The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Bean Grinder is an inexpensive manual grinder for those who don't need kitchen gadgets with bells and whistles. One Amazon reviewer believes that when it comes to the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Bean Grinder it's the ceramic conical burr that is the unseen star of the show, saying, "From coarse (which I never use) to medium coarse (which I use a lot) to fine (which is surprisingly excellent), all the grinds are uniform, no static, and brew wonderfully. ... This is a wonderful compact tool to have in your coffee kit if you don't need large batches, and want to sample whole bean coffee."

Purchase the JavaPresse Manual Coffee Bean Grinder from Amazon starting at $40.

The ROK Coffee Grinder doesn't just look sturdy — it's constructed from durable die-cast aluminum and comes with a 10-year warranty on metal parts (via Coffee Barrister). The grinder comes with 48-millimeter hardened steel conical burrs and a vertical, rather than a horizontal crank, to make grinding easier (the crank is suitable for left-handed users). You can easily grind beans for two espressos in around 30 seconds without investing too much elbow grease (via Coffee Folk). Plus, the ROK comes with both step-less and stepped adjustment systems.

In terms of aesthetics, the ROK features an open hopper and a bamboo cup for the grinds. Unlike most other hand coffee grinders, however, the ROK isn't portable. Rather it's designed to sit on your kitchen bench — and we will go as far as saying that it may just become the centerpiece of your kitchen.

While the ROK delivers a good grind consistency at the fine to mid-range levels, according to The Coffee Barrister its grind consistency reduces with coarser settings. Nevertheless, if you're not a French press enthusiast, this shouldn't be a major problem. One espresso lover who reviewed the ROK for Amazon has praised its effectiveness, saying "It ACTUALLY does what so many electric burr grinders claim to do but can't: grind fine enough for espresso machines! I actually had to dial it up because it was grinding TOO fine for my machine."

Purchase the ROK Coffee Grinder from Amazon starting at $199.

The Zassenhaus M040128 Coffee Mill may just be the ideal gift for the coffee enthusiast in your life — after all, for many of us, there's nothing better than the aroma of freshly hand-ground coffee beans. Made in Germany from European beech wood, the Zassenhaus M040128 is both striking and functional. The grinder comes with a high-grade carbon steel burr for precision and consistency. It's also very easy to use — simply open the lid, pour coffee beans into the hopper, and turn the crank. Once ready, the ground coffee beans are deposited in the grinder's stylish wooden drawer. The Zassenhaus M040128 comes with a 70-gram capacity (via Amazon).

So how does the Zassenhaus M040128 Coffee Mill measure up? One Amazon reviewer has called the kitchen gadget the perfect gift for her coffee-loving son, saying, "this old school coffee grinder went down a treat ... What is nice about it, is that he needs to do a little work for his morning coffee, which involves a little bit of elbow grease. Don't let this put you off this fantastic old-school coffee grinder, it is so perfect for a nice cuppa, ground down with fresh beans."

Purchase the Zassenhaus M040128 Coffee Mill from Amazon starting at $148.

Embodying the aesthetic of yesteryear, the Kalita Coffee Mill KH-3 combines an open wrought iron hopper and a stylish wooden base. However, this retro grinder has a lot more to offer than just appearance. Made in Japan, the Kalita Coffee Mill KH-3 features great grinding consistency for fine and mid-level grounds, making it ideal for espressos and pour-overs. It doesn't perform as well when it comes to course grounds, however, so it may not be the ideal choice for fans of French press coffee (via The Coffee Barrister).

The majority of Amazon reviewers agree that the Kalita Coffee Mill KH-3 has a lot going for it besides its retro aesthetic. One Amazon customer has called the grinder a winner, saying, "It takes about as long to grind for a good strong pour-over cup as it does to boil the necessary water in an electric kettle, ... making [the brewing process] a tidy and somewhat meditative experience." Another satisfied Amazon reviewer has called the Kalita Coffee Mill KH-3 very durable, adding that the "wood is thick. The steel is durable, not cheap. [And it] looks nice in the kitchen and uses no energy to produce fresh beans."

Purchase the Kalita coffee Mill KH-3 from Amazon starting at $103.