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7 Best Manual Coffee Grinders in 2024

7 Best Manual Coffee Grinders in 2024

If you’re considering purchasing a manual coffee grinder, keep reading, we’ve rounded up a variety of options based on many coffee needs and preferences. Our pick for best manual coffee grinders overall is the Hario Ceramic Coffee Pro. Read on for our complete list of picks! 

Our Top Picks:

Hario Ceramic Coffee Pro Manual GrinderBest Overall: Hario Ceramic Coffee Pro Manual Grinder
Our overall favorite choice for the best manual coffee grinder reliably powers through coffee beans. It will produce coffee grounds with a consistency of your choosing. 
Porlex Stainless Steel Coffee GrinderBest Runner-up: Porlex Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder
Small and compact, this manual coffee grinder is our runner-up choice. It’s perfect for those who want to take their freshly ground coffee on the go. 
Busy Bee Manual Coffee GrinderBest Budget: Busy Bee Manual Coffee Grinder
You can have a quality manual coffee grinder without paying big bucks. Busy Bee manufacturers one of the best at a fair and affordable price. 
JavaPresse Manual Coffee GrinderBest for Espresso: JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
If you love your morning espresso and require a quality manual coffee grinder to achieve the perfect grind size, look no further. Here is the coffee bean hand grinder for you. 
1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee GrinderBest Splurge: 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder
Should budget not be a factor when considering a new manual coffee grinder, this might be a good option. It’s a top-of-the-line coffee grinder. 
Vintage Wood Hand Coffee GrinderBest Vintage: Vintage Wood Hand Coffee Grinder
Give it as a gift, or place it on your countertop as a unique decorative and functional piece. This is the best vintage coffee grinder. 
Fumao Wood Manual Coffee Grinder with Cast Iron BurrBest Portable: Fumao Wood Manual Coffee Grinder with Cast Iron Burr
This manual coffee grinder stands up to frequent heavy use, and you can easily disassemble it for travel. It’s ideal for those who need a reliable grinder while on the road. 
 

A Closer Look: The Best Manual Coffee Grinders

We’ve gone ahead and ground down the competition so that only the highest quality options remain. See why these seven make the cut.

1. Hario Ceramic Coffee Pro Manual Grinder

The best manual coffee grinder overall

Hario Ceramic Coffee Pro Manual Grinder

Brand: Hairo | Capacity: Glass Carafe 100g | Burr: Ceramic | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Price: 💰💰💰

Sleek and modern with ceramic conical burrs give this manual coffee grinder the ability to perfectly grind coffee beans each time. A non-slip rubber base makes sure the grinder doesn’t slide around on the countertop when in use. You can adjust the burr settings to achieve a finer or coarser grind, allowing you to grind coffee for anything from espresso to a French press. Reviewers note that the size of the grounds are not always consistent, but this is standard with manual coffee grinders. We also noted that Hario’s model keeps its grounds more consistent than most. 

  • Ceramic blades are more reliable
  • Blades quickly power through a lot of coffee beans
  • Heavy enough to stay where you need it, light enough to take where you want it
  • Coffee grounds might get jammed when using finer grind settings
  • Crank gets harder to turn over time; make sure you’re cleaning it consistently 

2. Porlex Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder

The runner-up best manual coffee grinder

Porlex Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder

Brand: Porlex | Capacity: Metal Carafe 30g | Burr: Ceramic | Dishwasher Safe: No | Price: 💰💰💰💰

The next best manual coffee grinder is a classic. Porlex ceramic conical burrs can grind coffee to the correct consistency for a French press and espresso machine. Tall and narrow with a sturdy hand crank make this manual coffee grinder perfect for those who want to have freshly ground coffee while on the go. You can easily take it with you while camping or traveling. The Porlex brand is a Japanese company that specializes in a variety of food grinders. It’s designed to be long-lasting and remain rust-free despite its metal container. 

  • Feels like it’s indestructable
  • Small and lightweight make it great for travel
  • Excellent quality grinder for a fair and affordable price
  • Outer burr may shift while grinding
  • Must keep a firm grip on both halves while in use

3. Busy Bee Manual Coffee Grinder

The best budget manual coffee grinder

Busy Bee Manual Coffee Grinder

Brand: Busy Bee | Capacity: Metal Carafe 4 tbsp | Burr: Steel | Dishwasher Safe: No | Price: 💰💰

Manual coffee grinders range in price. If you’re looking for a top-notch grinder on a budget, we have the perfect choice for you. Busy Bee’s manual coffee grinder comes with all the sturdiness and blade strength you want from a manual coffee grinder, but without the hefty cost. This sleek and lightweight option is perfect for travel. Every part, including the crank, is stainless steel so that you can be confident in its durability. It’s the best manual burr grinder for those who are sticking to a budget and want delicious coffee with each brew. 

  • Comes with helpful measuring cup
  • Small size makes it perfect for filling reusable K-cups
  • Works well even if you suffer from hand cramps
  • Caution: sharp edges on stainless steel cups
  • Not ideal for grinding a lot of coffee grounds

4. JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

The best manual coffee grinder for expresso

JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

Brand: JavaPresse | Capacity: Metal Carafe 38 mL | Burr: Stainless Steel | Dishwasher Safe: No | Price: 💰💰💰💰

Many manual coffee grinders struggle through finely-ground coffee beans. The small grounds get lodged in the blades, making cleaning a challenge. JavaPresse does this differently. Reviewers rave about the conical burrs of this grinder and their ability to push through large amounts of coffee beans to achieve a precise grind. It can also be adjusted to grind for pour-over, French press, and a variety of other brew types. This is one of the most popular manual coffee grinders- and for a good reason. It’s reliable and eco-friendly

  • Relatively easy to clean
  • Perfect for off-the-grid lifestyles
  • Built-in window to see how much coffee has been ground
  • May be expensive for a lot of budgets
  • It takes a long time to grind coffee beans

5. 1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder

The best splurge manual coffee grinder

1Zpresso JX-PRO Manual Coffee Grinder

Brand: 1Zpresso | Capacity: Metal Carafe 35g | Burr: Stainless Steel | Dishwasher Safe: No | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰

Powerful blades and an easy-to-turn crank are just two features that make this manual coffee grinder one of the finest you could choose. The wooden crank fits nicely in your grip. It’s easy to clean and comes with a small brush to help dust leftover coffee grounds off the burr. 1Zpresso makes certain their conical burr fits firmly in the metal shaft, so you don’t have to deal with it slipping around while in use. Try to clean the shaft after every use for smooth results. This prevents the burr and shaft from getting clogged with coffee grounds. Reviewers love that this manual coffee grinder makes a near perfect grind each time. 

  • Grind size is always consistent
  • Takes little time to grind through all coffee beans needed
  • Excellent customer service should you ever need their help
  • Likely out of most people’s budgets
  • Instructions are very difficult to read and understand

6. Vintage Wood Hand Coffee Grinder

The best vintage manual coffee grinder

Vintage Wood Hand Coffee Grinder

Brand: COZHYESS | Capacity: Wood Drawer 1 Cup | Burr: Ceramic | Dishwasher Safe: No | Price: 💰💰💰

Keep your manual coffee grinder looking classic with this vintage model. This antique wooden hand grinder comes with the same conical burr and adjustable settings as its modern peers, but with the style of a classic coffee grinder. Insert the coffee beans into the metal bowl at the top of the machine and turn the crank. When the beans are completely ground, open the drawer at the base of the grinder to find your coffee grounds. It comes with three adjustable grind sizes and effectively works just like any other manual coffee grinder. This vintage coffee grinder is perfect if you’re looking to add a unique piece to your kitchen or to give as a gift to a loved one. 

  • Makes for a fun a unique gift
  • Grinds coffee as well as other new grinders
  • Looks great on the countertop as decoration that also sees use
  • Drawer that receives coffee grounds is small
  • Slightly more technique process to change grind sizes

7. Fumao Wood Manual Coffee Grinder with Cast Iron Burr

The best manual coffee grinders

Fumao Wood Manual Coffee Grinder with Cast Iron Burr

Brand: Fumao | Capacity: Wood Carafe 55g | Burr: Cast Iron | Dishwasher Safe: No | Price: 💰💰💰💰

Anything from camping to road trips will benefit from having this manual coffee grinder aboard. Made from cast iron and wood, Fumao’s coffee grinder will withstand frequent movement and use. It can be used to grind up other foods, not just coffee, making it a versatile and worthwhile investment. The cast iron burr easily crushes through coffee beans, and it doesn’t produce friction heat that could negatively impact your coffee’s natural oils. Likewise, the cast iron will never rust, remaining usable even after countless uses. Easy disassembly makes it quick to store away while traveling. 

  • Grinds smooth and quick
  • Easy to hold firmly when in use
  • Cast iron grinds a lot smoother than stainless steel grinders
  • Very touchy when calibrating for each grind size
  • Only spin handle clockwise (never counterclockwise) to avoid damaging it

Is a Manual Coffee Grinder For You?

Three stages of coffee through the use of a manual coffee grinder
Image by Valentyn Semenov / Canva Photos

First, consider that you can take them anywhere. If you want freshly ground coffee while on a camping trip, a hand grinder for coffee is perfect. On the other hand, maybe you’re an early riser in your household. In this case, using a hand crank coffee grinder is quieter. You’ll get fresh coffee every morning without waking everyone in your home. Manual coffee grinders are just as effective as electric versions. They get the job done with a few bonuses and have unique use cases that make them worth the investment. 

Whether you’re using them at home or taking them on the road, manual coffee grinders are helpful to have. They are quiet and compact, with the same coffee bean grinding strength as an electric coffee grinder. Coming in a variety of shapes and sizes ensures that you will find one that perfectly fits your needs. Now, take your pick and make your perfect cup of joe. 

Our Process

For this guide on the best manual coffee grinders, our team spent 1.5 hours researching the most popular options from over 15 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about one hundred and fifty user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each manual coffee grinder. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 7 manual coffee grinders on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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Further Reading

Best Coffee Makers with Grinders
The 8 Best Coffee Makers with Grinders
Espresso French Press
How to Make Espresso with a French Press
Best Fair Trade Coffees
The 7 Best Fair Trade Coffee
Best Coffee Grinders for French Press
The Best Coffee Grinders for French Press
French Press vs Drip Coffee
French Press Vs. Drip Coffee
Best Espresso Machines Under $200
Best Espresso Machines Under $200