If you want to get the optimal flavor out of your coffee, you’ll need a coffee grinder that’s adjustable so you can fine-tune the grind size just the way you like it.
That’s why you’ll want to get a coffee grinder that’s ideal for pour over coffee. We’ll share our top picks shortly, but first…
The most important thing you should know as you’re shopping for the best grinder is that you’ll want to get a burr grinder, not a blade grinder. With a burr grinder, you’ll get a much more consistent size of grounds, whereas you can’t really control the uniformity of the grounds with a blade grinder (picture coffee powder mixed with grinds of varying sizes – not ideal).
We’ve done quite a bit of research and narrowed it down to our top two picks for the best coffee grinders for pour over coffee, one electric and the other manual.
Thankfully, there are just as many good quality electric grinders as there are equally great quality manual grinders. So the choice between manual vs electric is very subjective.
For example, you might want a manual grinder if you go camping a lot, since it’s easy to take with you and doesn’t require electricity. Or you may want an electric grinder if you keep it at home all the time and don’t feel like putting in the extra effort to grind the beans.
Let’s get started with our favorite electric burr grinder…
Baratza Encore: Best Electric Burr Grinder For Pour Over Coffee
This admittedly isn’t one of the cheapest options on the market, but it’s also not the most expensive. If you’re passionate about the quality and flavor of your coffee, we recommend this model because of its consistent grind size, adjustable settings, and it’s reputation for lasting a long time without breaking (if you care for it properly).
Just remember, if you put old poor quality coffee beans into any grinder, it could wear down the grinder over time. Invest in fresh, high quality coffee beans to help your grinder last longer.
We also like that numerous customers have commented on the high quality of customer service that Baratza offers, from quick response time to going above and beyond by sometimes replacing malfunctioning parts even outside of the warranty.
So if you’re looking for an easy to use electric burr grinder that’s easy to use and can be adjusted quickly for just the right grind for anything from pour over to french press to cold brew coffee and more, we recommend the Baratza Encoure.
Check Pricing – Baratza Encoure
Porlex Mini: Best Manual Coffee Grinder For Pour Over Coffee
If you travel quite a bit (particularly camping or overnight hiking) or you simply appreciate the good old feeling of putting your back (or hands, in this case) into your work, then a manual burr coffee grinder might be for you.
They’re generally much less expensive than their electric counterparts, which is another reason you may want to choose this option, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
We recommend the Porlex Mini because of it’s reputation for being very strong and sturdy. It’s made from very durable stainless steel, and has been proven time and time again to withstand the test of time.
The only thing we wish we could change about this grinder is its input capacity. It will only take 20 grams of beans at a time, which typically produces only 12 ounces of coffee, depending on your preferred strength.
Which Grind Setting Is Best?
Both of the grinders mentioned above work great for making pour over coffee. But it’s important to realize that choosing the right grinding machine is just the first step. You also have to adjust the settings to get the perfect flavor coffee.
For pour over coffee, we recommend starting with a medium size grind and adjusting the grind setting based on your preference, tending toward a slightly finer size.
A good rule of thumb is to remember that too fine of a grind can produce a bitter coffee flavor, and too large of a grind can produce a sour coffee flavor. In other words…
If the coffee turns out bitter, try a larger grind size. If it turns out too sour, try a finer grind size.
Have you tried either of the grinders we recommended above? If so, do you like them? If not, what do you think is the best coffee grinder for pour over coffee? Leave us a comment below and let us know!