Looking to start every day with great coffee but don’t want to put a dent in your wallet doing it? Wondering what the best coffee grinder under $50 is? Then this article is for you!
In addition to a good coffee maker, you also need a reliable grinder to get consistent grounds in line with your preferred grind size. Today, we’re helping you find the best coffee grinder under $50 as we review the top 6 options on the market and share a detailed buying guide.
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks…
1. JavaPresse Manual Burr Coffee Grinder
If you’re in the market for a burr grinder, but you need it to be budget-friendly, then you should consider buying a manual model. This one by JavaPress is one of our all-time favorites that fit the criteria.
Besides offering a powerful operation and going easy on your bank account, this Manual Burr Coffee Grinder is so reliable that it has tens of thousands of coffee enthusiasts fanning about its performance.
The thing we appreciate the most with this unit is the impressive precision it delivers when it comes to grinding your preferred coarseness. It features a built-in size selector with 18 levels to help you better control the size of the resulting coffee grounds.
This allows you to experiment and enjoy just about any type of coffee including espresso, drip coffee, and French press. The grinding action is accommodated by durable conical burrs made out of durable ceramic. These are designed to serve you up to 5 times longer compared to stainless steel blades.
Using the JavaPresse manual grinder is rather fool-proof. You just need to rotate the hand crank at the top of the device.
Not only does this mechanism makes for a 90% quieter operation than electric models, but it also saves you the trouble of using cables and finding power outlets to get some fresh coffee grounds.
What’s more, you can remove the hand crank for easier transport and storage.
What We Like
- 18 grind size options
- Sturdy burrs
- A work-out chance for your arms
- Less noisy than electric grinders
- Detachable crank handle
- Helpful customer service
What We Don’t Like
- Grinding may be time-consuming, especially if you want fine or ultra-fine grounds
2. KRUPS Precision Flat Burr Coffee Grinder
If you’ve been shopping for a coffee grinder for a while, you’ve probably noticed that most electric burr grinders cost more than our $50 limit.
Luckily, there’s a for you way to own a burr grinder without having to give up the automated operation — and that’s by trading in conical burrs for flat burrs. Sure, you may have to compromise a bit in the life expectancy department, but for the price, this is hardly an issue.
Our research led us to come across the Precision Flat Burr Coffee Grinder by KRUPS. This unit will help you achieve high-quality ground coffee for your favorite brewing technique including espresso, French press, pour-over, drip coffee, and more.
It’s equipped with flat burrs made out of metal to provide you with better control over the size and uniformity of the grounds. To offer enhanced performance and precision, this unit currently has a 33% wider grinding range.
Speaking of which, the KRUPS Precision Coffee Grinder features 12 major grind levels as well as micro settings to ensure super accurate adjustment of the fineness degree. As for capacity, the bean hopper can hold up to 8 ounces while the grinding container can fit enough grounds for 32 coffee cups.
Besides customizing the size of your grounds, you can also select the dosing by choosing the number of cups you’re planning to brew, from 2 and up to 12 cups. The auto-shutoff guarantees that the grinder will give you exactly the amount you want.
Once you have all your settings ready, using this machine is a piece of cake as you only need to press the on button and wait for the magic to happen. Cleaning is also a breeze thanks to the removable grounds cup, detachable top burr, and the included brush.
What We Like
- Electric burr mechanism
- 12 grinding sizes plus micro adjustments
- Generous capacity
- Very precise and consistent
- Easy cleaning
What We Don’t Like
- Can be a bit loud
- A little messy when removing the grounds cup
3. Kaffe Electric Coffee Grinder
We could’ve made today’s list all about manual or electric flat burr-style grinders and we’d stay within the set budget, but we decided to also include blade grinders because even though they’re inferior to burr grinders, they’re excellent options for beginners as well as very affordable.
Still, we were pleasantly surprised to come across the Kaffe Electric Coffee Grinder since it offers a pretty impressive performance that’ll leave the average coffee lover quite satisfied.
Measuring at 3.3 x 3.7 inches, this machine is compact enough to fit on any countertop regardless of your kitchen’s size. It weighs just above 1.5 pounds, which also makes it convenient to travel with.
The capacity of this electric coffee grinder is 3 ounces. To use it, simply dump in the coffee beans, close the lid, press the button until you reach the desired coarseness/fineness, and then empty out the machine with the included brush. In seconds, you’ll have fresh grounds to make a range of coffee beverage types such as French press, drip coffee, and coffee percolator.
To ensure a safe and mess-free operation, the unit won’t work unless the lid is in its place properly. We also like that the cover is transparent so you see the progress as you grind.
Additionally, this coffee grinder is multipurpose. You can effectively use it for grinding spices and nuts. It comes with a 2-year warranty and it’s available in black, white, copper, and stainless steel colors.
What We Like
- Straightforward operation
- Safety lid lock
- Multipurpose unit
- Backed with a 2-year warranty
- Multiple colors available
What We Don’t Like
- Cleaning can be tricky
- Grounds tend to cake if you add too many beans, even within maximum capacity
4. SHARDOR Electric Coffee Grinder
Another impressive blade grinder is the highly-rated SHARDOR Electric Coffee Grinder. It offers you the convenience of the automated experience of an electric unit without costing you the expensive price tag of a burr model.
This machine is a good match if you’re on the hunt for a practical and affordable grinder, not to mention, one that actually performs well. We realize it’s won’t deliver the same quality as a burr grinder, but it can get the job done for average coffee drinkers.
It’s equipped with stainless steel blades, which are powerful and sturdy with relatively uniform results. As for the grounds container, it’s made out of food-grade stainless steel with a maximum capacity of 2.5 — not as big as other candidates on the list, but still acceptable for some users.
We appreciate how simple the operation is. All you have to do is load your coffee beans then press down on the cover. This will fire up the 200-watt motor to start grinding.
The longer you keep pressing down on the lid, the finer the resulting grounds. As such, controlling the grind size is up to your timing. For example, if you want a coarse grind for the French press method, you should press for about 6 seconds.
The SHARDOR Electric Coffee Grinder package includes a 2-in-1 coffee brush and spoon. It also comes with a 2-year warranty.
What We Like
- Suitable for beginners
- Decent grind results
- Very simple instructions
- Includes a 2-in-1 brush and spoon
- Covered by a 2-year warranty
What We Don’t Like
- A bit too loud
- Doesn’t grind as uniformly as a burr grinder
5. Khaw-Fee HG1B Manual Coffee Grinder
Making one last stop in the manual scene, we have another top-rated and highly reliable option from Khaw-Fee. Their HG1B Coffee Grinder is ideal if you want a quiet, easy-to-figure-out operation. The simple mechanism is lead by a smooth hand crank.
One of the most special aspects of this grinder is the way it looks. Its stylish design combines stainless steel and glass, where the grounds cup is see-through so you can keep track of the grind size as you’re working. This allows you to make adjustments on the fly.
As such, the HG1B is probably one of the most precise manual coffee grinders you can get your hands on. What’s more, it’s built to serve your grinding needs for many years given that you handle it with care.
We say mentioned that last bit because despite having a sturdy, the glass on the bottom compartment is still glass. This means that if you’re prone to kitchen clumsiness, you may accidentally break it unit and cut its life short.
That being said, we like the compactness of this grinder. It’s won’t take up much counter space and it’s pretty convenient to take on the go.
If you’re looking to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee at the office or when traveling, then the Khaw-Fee Manual Coffee Grinder should be right up your alley. Additionally, it ships with a rubber top to make sure the coffee beans stay inside the hopper as you grind, and a removable silicone base for hassle-free cleaning.
What We Like
- See-through manual design
- Precise results
- Looks nice
- Doesn’t take up too much space
- Easily portable
What We Don’t Like
- The glass grinding cup is prone to breakage
6. DmofwHi Cordless Series Electric Coffee Grinder
Last but not least, the DmofwHi Electric Coffee Grinder is what you should get if you want a unit so portable and so practical that you can use it on the road or when the power is out.
This electric coffee grinder has a cordless design, so you don’t have to plug it into a wall outlet to turn it on. It uses a USB connection to recharge and has a large battery capacity of 2000mAh.
There’s a battery indicator that lets you monitor the charge level whenever you start the machine. Plus, you can use it to grind spices, nuts, seeds, grains, or pepper.
The featured removable grinding cup can hold up to 5.7 ounces of coffee, which is enough to make 12 cups of coffee. We also like the anti-splash lid as it keeps the coffee grounds from flying out while the grinder is doing its thing.
To activate this cordless electric coffee grinder, just add in the beans, place the lid, and press on it to begin grinding. The grind size depends on how long you maintain pressure.
Construction-wise, this blade and removable container are made from food-grade stainless steel. So you know the unit is both safe and durable.
The motor operates with less noise and the cup detaches to allow direct washing. The package includes a specialized brush for more thorough cleaning.
What We Like
- Doesn’t require a cord
- Very portable
- Long battery life
- Charge level indicator
- Sizable capacity
What We Don’t Like
- Pressing down can be hard
How to Choose the Best Coffee Grinder Under $50
When trying to find the best coffee grinder under $50, you need to first consider a few points to make the most out of your purchase. Here are the most important ones:
Blade vs Burr Grinders
There are 2 major types of grinding mechanisms out there: blade grinders and burr grinders.
Blade Grinders
These use a blade that looks like a propeller to size down the coffee beans. It’s very effective in chopping whole beans into smaller pieces.
Author Note: The mechanism of the blade action involves slicing the beans and you get to control the grind size via timing. So, the longer you run the grinder, the finer the resulting grounds.
Blade grinders are known to be more affordable than burr grinders. Their operation is usually straightforward to figure out.
For this reason, blade grinders are usually a great option for brewing beginners. However, coffee veterans wouldn’t come near these machines (well, unless burr grinders go extinct!).
There are a couple of reasons behind such dislike. First, blade grinders almost always produce uneven coffee grounds varying between chunks and powder. This is a no-no if you’re making a quality cup of coffee.
Secondly, blade grinders cause coffee to pick up a lot of static. This has “messy” written all over it.
Burr Grinders
On the other hand, blade grinders are equipped with burrs that crush, instead of slice, the coffee beans. Located at the bottom of the grinder, these burrs are powered by a motor.
Author Note: This type of coffee grinder produces a high-quality grind with remarkable precision and consistency, which is why they’re the number one choice for avid at-home brewers as well as commercial platforms.
The downside to using burr grinders is their larger footprint, higher energy consumption, and more expensive price tags. If you can get past these points, you’d still have to choose one of the 2 types of burrs, flat and conical:
1. Flat burrs — the burrs here are in the form of as 2 identical, parallel rings with serrations on the sides where the rings face each other. When running, the rings pull the beans towards the center to come in contact with the burr teeth. To adjust the grind size, the rings move closer together or further apart.
2. Conical burrs — the burrs here are in the form of 2 cone-like structures with ridges that combine efforts to crush the coffee beans with better precision compared to flat burrs. To adjust the grind size, you’ll need to set a certain degree which translates into a particular teeth layout. Conical burrs are a bit more costly than flat burrs, but they have a longer life expectancy.
Stepped vs Stepless
“Stepped” and “stepless” refer to the adjustment style of the grind size. They differ mainly in the allowed number of settings and the ability to “save” said settings once you’ve made your choice.
Stepped grinders support a “save” feature but their range of settings is less extensive compared to stepless grinders. This is important to consider if you plan to experiment with different brewing methods.
Hopper Capacity
Finally, remember to check the capacity of the grinder’s bean hopper and ground container. This determines the amount of coffee you can store as well as the refill frequency you should expect. This is important when considering what the best coffee grinder under $50 is.
Author Note: The larger the bean hopper and the grinding cup, the more coffee it can hold. This, however, means a bigger machine, which can be an issue if your kitchen is on the smaller side.
Wrap Up
Choosing the best coffee grinder under $50 isn’t a simple task. This is why we included only the top-performing units on the market to make sure get the most value for your money.
That being said, we recommend the JavaPresse Manual Burr Coffee Grinder as today’s winner. This manual unit isn’t only durable and precise, but it’s also quite customizable so you can try out try different methods of making coffee.
However, if you’re after an automatic unit, then the KRUPS Precision Flat Burr Coffee Grinder is an excellent option. We hope you enjoyed our guide on the best coffee grinder under $50.
Stay caffeinated friends!