The 7 Best Budget Espresso Grinders for 2024

So, you've decided to dive into espresso and you find yourself in a world of espresso machines and grinders. Well welcome, friend! Since the espresso world can be quite intimidating, let me just confirm right now that when it comes to espresso-making equipment, the grinder is just as important as the machine. If you want tasty espresso with good consistency, your grinder is the most important equipment. An espresso machine with all the bells and whistles will improve your espresso experience - but the taste comes from the grinder.

Be careful of cheap grinders!

Espresso aficionados understand that the secret to the perfect espresso lies in precision grinding. Only grinders designed for espresso can offer the grind distribution and the range of adjustments necessary to fine-tune your coffee. Cheaper models fall short, often leaving you with a bitter taste that's miles away from the espresso quality you want.

If your grinder has clumping issues, we recommend having a WDT Tool to break them up.

Pressurized vs Unpressurized Portafilter Baskets

There's a world of difference between pressurized and unpressurized espresso. Pressurized vs unpressurized baskets may sound like small but crucial detail, yet it dramatically affects the taste of our coffee. If you want to make real espresso, you will need the grind fine enough for the coffee to create water resistance, not the basket.

To get the best espresso, we recommend going with a precision basket!

Coffee Grinder Adjustments

Experienced baristas know that tweaking the grind size is essential to crafting a perfect espresso shot. With modern technology, there are now microsteps and stepless grind adjustment which enable even small changes in grinding for major results - as much as 5-10 seconds on an extraction time! Dialing up your coffee craft has never been easier or more precise.

Cheap Grinders & Grind Quality

If you're looking for a dependable coffee grinder that can reliably produce the same grind every time, then it's worth investing in one of higher quality. While cheaper models will occasionally yield great results, they tend to be much more inconsistent with their outputs – something which could ruin your daily cup! Consistency is key here; ensure each shot tastes as good as the last by choosing a reliable and accurate machine - day after day.

How to work with stepped grinders

If espresso is your goal, a Baratza Encore grinder may be able to get you there - it might but it won't be a straightforward journey. You will need to meticulously calibrate the settings and work between two steps by grinding until clogged then reducing dose in 0.5g increments until shot flows correctly. It's still possible, but definitely not ideal! Consider shopping for another grinder or saving up so that brewing coffee can make things painless again.

Best First Espresso Grinders

All of these options will do a great job and exceed expectations in terms of grind quality!

Baratza Encore ESP

This is the grinder people have been waiting for! The Baratza Encore ESP is the latest addition to Baratza's line of coffee grinders, reengineered for entry-level espresso enthusiasts. With its precise grind and durable build, the Encore ESP stands out among its competitors in terms of performance and user experience. It boasts 40 grind settings, with 20 dedicated to espresso and 20 for filter coffee, allowing users complete control over the grind size.

The grinder is equipped with 40 mm M2 conical burrs that ensure grind consistency and reduced heat buildup. Additionally, the included dosing cup and adapter make it convenient to transfer grounds directly into a portafilter. While it may require occasional maintenance and exhibit slight noise, the Baratza Encore ESP offers unmatched performance at its price point and is highly recommended for those seeking a reliable espresso grinder.

Pros

• Grinding performance for espresso and pour-over
• Etzinger conical burrs
• Metal top burr plate
• Unmatched at this price point
• Great customer service (from Baratza & Café Fabrique)

Cons

• Some retention
• Slightly noisy

Read our full review. We also have it available here for you!

Varia VS3

This new grinder is one of the least expensive grinders available to make great espresso. This small grinder features 38mm conical burrs and offers precise stepless grind adjustments with 0.02mm of burr shift per increment. Plus, the sloped geometry and acute angle means zero retention and minimal purging when switching between different coffees - goodbye hassle, hello deliciousness!

It's best for medium roast coffees as it does produce more fines than a flat burr grinder. It's hard to go wrong with the Varia VS3. It's all metal construction and stylish profile is sure to look good on your counters.

Read our full review. We also have it available here for you!

Pros

• Reliable
• Works for espresso and brews
• Inexpensive
• Variety of burr options

Cons

• Not very good for lighter roasts
• Bellows are chunky

Eureka Mignon Tradizione

Eureka is a well known brand and the Tradizione coffee grinder is a charming machine with many pros that coffee lovers appreciate. It showcases a 50mm flat burr, a stepless design, and minimal coffee bean retention at only 1g.

Additionally, it’s designed to work quietly and reliably, while offering the flexibility to switch between espresso and coffee brew modes. There are also some minor setbacks, such as the lack of a timer and the difficulty switching between espresso and coffee grind settings.

Overall, this coffee grinder has many great features that make it an attractive option for those who want to taste their coffee's freshness daily.

We have it available here for you!

Pros

• Quiet
• Reliable
• Works for espresso and brews

Cons

• Hard to switch from espresso to brew

Baratza Sette 270

If you're looking for a coffee grinder to help make barista level coffee at home, the Baratza Sette 270 could be just the answer. This coffee grinder comes with some impressive features, including an Etzinger Conical Burr, a timer, and microstepping options that let you mill coffee precisely and consistently with every grind. It’s also fast - it can grind coffee in seconds and has less than 1g of coffee retention - meaning less waste.

While this coffee grinder does have some major pros like great grind quality and reduced popcorning, there are downsides too. Fans of peace will be less impressed since it’s quite loud and there have been reports of gear box issues over time. Also, keep in mind that during its lifespan you may need to fit shims to get the most from your machine.

Pros

• Fast grinding
• Great grind quality
• Very low retention
• Doesn’t popcorn much

Cons

• Gearbox issues
• Very loud
• Shims needed over lifespan

Fellow Opus

The Fellow Opus espresso grinder is a great option for coffee lovers who want an all purpose grinder. Equipped with powerful conical burrs, this grinder delivers a grind quality that is hard to beat for the price point

One of the standout features of the Fellow Opus is its micro adjustment settings, which allows for easy and precise adjustments. Additionally, the grinder's hopper can hold up to 80 grams of beans, making it perfect for those who want to grind a large amount of coffee at once.

While the Fellow Opus does come with a lower price tag, many users find that its features and superior grind quality are well worth the investment.

Pros

• Great grind quality
• Precise adjustments

Cons

• Loud
• Dual grind adjustments are tricky

Read our full review. We have it available here for you!

Best Espresso Hand Grinder

Timemore Chestnut C3 ESP

Need an affordable coffee grinder that won't disappoint? The Timemore C3 ESP Grinder might just be it! Yes, manual grinders do take more time but for the money, you get great qulality espresso and it doubles as a portable filter grinder Its 38mm conical burr construction and nearly zero retention, you can still extract quality espresso. So if time isn't of the essence (or is less important than flavor), then don't miss your chance at getting this bargain find!

Pros:

• Quiet
• Makes espresso and filter
• Portable

Cons

• Long grind time
• Doesn't have a folding handle

Timemore Chestnut ESP

If you're looking for a coffee grinder that won't drive the neighbors crazy, then you should take a look at the Timemore Chestnut ESP. It is a pretty fast grind time for a hand grinder (around 45 seconds to one minute for a 14-18g dose), its 42mm conical burr construction and near zero retention make it suitable for quality espresso coffee extraction. Retention is nearly zero and grind sizes are achieved in small steps.

The grind quality is excellent and on par with higher end electric grinders. The Chestnut ESP is definitely worth checking out!

Pros:

• Quiet
• Makes espresso and filter

Cons

• Doesn't have a folding handle

Grinders Not Recommended for espresso

Unfortunately, some coffee grinders are just not up for the task. It's a tough job, so if you want your espresso to be top notch, then you want to steer clear of coffee grinders like the Baratza Virtuoso/Encore (not the ESP version), Baratza Sette 30, Rancilio Rocky and Breville Sage Smart Grinder Pro – they simply don't have enough adjustability and precision to make an excellent shot. It may seem like a silly thing but trust us - if you're wanting great espresso, these coffee grinders won't cut it.

Glad you made it this far! If you're in the market for some grinders, take a look at our selection!