How to Choose a Coffee Grinder: Manual vs Electric, Burr vs Blade

How to Choose a Coffee Grinder: Manual vs Electric, Burr vs Blade

Burr beats blade — every time

Blade grinders chop beans unevenly. Burr grinders crush them to a consistent size, which is what makes a balanced cup. This is the first rule of choosing a grinder.

Manual vs electric

  • Manual: quieter, cheaper, portable, and gentler on the wallet — ideal for 1-2 cups a day.
  • Electric: faster for many cups, but noisier and pricier at equal quality.

Steel vs ceramic burr

Steel burrs stay sharper longer and are more consistent over time — which is why our Grinder Pro uses a 7-star CNC steel core.

Our short answer

For most home pour-over drinkers: start with the Slow Mill Manual Coffee Grinder; choose the Grinder Pro if you want three grind grades and a magnetic handle from the start. See the collection for everything else.