Best Espresso Grinders for Home – The XL Review

Which espresso grinders have we tested?

Initially, 24 espresso grinders were tasted in 6 groups. The groups cover different price ranges. The best grinders from each group (nine in total) were compared with each other again in a final round.

For this purpose, the groups were evaluated in two blind tastings by our most experienced baristas and coffee sensory experts (go to Espresso tasting protocol).

Individual articles and videos are available for all tested espresso grinders. If you are looking for an espresso grinder, we recommend starting with the final video "Best espresso grinder for home". The individual videos and comparison videos can then help with deeper insights and your decision.

But which grinder category makes sense for you anyway? A hand grinder, a single dosing grinder, or a doser grinder? That is the decision you should make before deciding on a specific grinder. We have written a comparison article on grinder categories to help you make this decision.

Don't want to weigh every portion individually? Then a grinder with an integrated scale is an option. In our comparison of seven grind-by-weight grinders, we show which models are convincing – and where the limits of the technology lie.

A big thank you goes to Dr. Marco Wellinger and the ZHAW Wädenswil for their support in analyzing the particles.

This article will be updated after the final video is released.

The best espresso grinders for home

9 espresso grinders qualified for the final of our espresso grinder test series. We took another look at these and compared them sensorially in a blind tasting. For this, we dialed in a dark espresso (Apas) and a lighter espresso (Doña Margarita).

We had already presented the most important data on the espresso grinders in the individual videos. Nothing has changed in the direct comparison, but it has only been confirmed again.

In our view, the best espresso grinder on the market is not one that we dictate to you. The best espresso grinder is the one that fits your preferences based on the information gathered. Michel and Benjamin therefore have different preferences when it comes to the right espresso grinder for home.

A sensory blind tasting was intended to provide further arguments for a decision.

The espresso grinder blind tasting

To challenge the top 9 espresso grinders from the test series again, a blind tasting was carried out. We invited four of our most experienced coffee sensory experts for this.

The sensory panel

Michel Aeschbacher is a Q-Grader, coffee trainer, and vice barista champion in Switzerland. Felix Hohlmann is a multiple Swiss and German vice barista champion, Brewers Cup runner-up, and Aeropress champion. Philipp Schallberger is a two-time Swiss barista champion and semi-finalist at the World Barista Championship. He was a WBC judge and Q-Grader for many years. Benjamin Hohlmann is an Arabica and Robusta Q-Grader, was the German Cup Tasting champion, and Swiss Brewers Cup champion.

Together with David Wistorf (a Brewers Cup runner-up and third place in Switzerland himself), everyone dialed in one to two espresso grinders to the best possible espresso recipe for each grinder. We chose individual recipes because not all grinders reach their peak with the same recipe.

The result for each grinder must therefore be seen in conjunction with the barista's recipe. It also became apparent here that the 20-minute time factor for dialing in a grinder benefited some espresso grinders.

The tasted espresso roasts and coffees

Tasting took place over two days with two different espresso roasts.

Apas was chosen as a medium-roast espresso from Brazil. The coffee was processed as a natural. We use Apas as our standard espresso in our courses. It is nutty and chocolatey and quite forgiving when dialing in.

• Apas in our German shop (shipping also to Austria and the EU)
• Apas in Switzerland

Doña Margarita is a complex espresso from our own farm in Nicaragua. The coffee is grown at Finca Santa Rita, fermented in cherries in a cold room, and then dried as a natural. The coffee tastes like ripe cherries, has a heavy chocolate note, and is reminiscent of tropical fruits. This lighter roast must be dialed in well so that it is balanced and its complexity comes into its own.

• Order Doña Margarita in Germany, Austria, and the EU
• Doña Margarita in Switzerland

The final result of the tasting

Final result of the tasting. Recipes and further tasting results will follow.

Comparison group espresso grinders 1: 760 - 2250 euros

• Mahlkönig E65S Grind by Weight - Video, Test report
• Ceado E37S nero - Video, Test report
• Rocket Fausto 2.1 - Video, Test report
• BARATZA Forté - Video, Test report

Comparison group espresso grinders 2: 640 - 750 euros

• ECM S 64 - Video, Test report
• Niche Zero - Video, Test report
• Mazzer Mini Electronic A - Video, Test report
• Eureka Mignon XL - Video, Test report

In this set, the Niche Zero and the Eureka Mignon XL were particularly convincing. Overall, the Niche Zero was slightly ahead, depending on the perspective. However, since a single dosing grinder does not meet all needs and the Eureka Mignon XL also performed very well, we decided to take both grinders to the next round.

The ECM also performed well, not just in terms of particle distribution. Thanks to its very low fines content across all extractions, it is also well-suited for espresso, café crème, and filter coffee. In our test, it delivered the best results for filter coffee together with the Niche Zero.

For more information about the grinders, we recommend our video reports as well as the individual reports on the espresso grinders linked above.

Comparison group espresso grinders 3: 500 - 530 euros

• Quamar M80 E Touch plus - Video, Test report
• Eureka Mignon Magnifico - Video, Test report
• Baratza Sette 270 Wi - Video, Test report
• ROCKET Faustino - Video, Test report

Comparison group espresso grinders 4: 400 - 470 euros

• Mahlkönig X54 - Video, Test report
• Eureka Mignon Specialità - Video, Test report
• Lelit PL72 - Video, Test report
• G-Iota or DF64 Probarista - Video, Test report

In this round, four espresso grinders did a good job in individual areas. 3 grinders convinced us enough that we are taking them into the next round.

• Firstly, there is the Mahlkönig x54, which, while slow and otherwise only shining with average values, brewed the second-best espresso. In terms of speed, it is the slowest in the set and also fails to score on grind precision and consistency.
• The Eureka Specialità only served the third-best espresso in the set, but the difference to the better grinders here is very small. Even with 28 points, the espresso is still good. The grinder is convincing in terms of consistency and volume. The filter coffee also tasted good to us. The speed is in the middle range. The grind adjustment is difficult due to the small adjustment wheel.
• The G-Iota not only brewed the best espresso (by a very narrow margin) but also convinced us in terms of consistency, retention, and grind adjustment precision. Furthermore, it is the cheapest yet very good single-portion espresso grinder we know. For this reason alone, we want to see it in the next round, in the blind tasting against all the group-best espresso grinders.

The fourth grinder in the round also does a good job. The espresso tastes good and the Lelit PL72 positively surprised us, especially with its single-dosing performance. However, the grinder is not very consistent, shows high retention during normal use, and is also inaccurate when it comes to the repeatability of brewing recipes. Because these attributes are essential, the Lelit PL72 does not make it into the next round.

Comparison group espresso grinders 5: 150 - 250 euros

• Sage - The Smart Grinder Pro - Bcg820 BSS - Video, Test report
• Lelit PL044MMT - Video, Test report
• Lelit PL043MMI - Video, Test report
• Sage - The Dose Control - SCG600BTR - Video, Test report

The Sage Smart Grinder Pro performed best in the comparison of the four espresso grinders between 150 and 250 euros. The grinder proved itself once again as a good entry-level grinder that achieves good results in many areas and sometimes performs even very well for its price range.

Comparison group espresso grinders 6: 80 - 150 euros

• Graef CM 800 - Video, Test report
• Rommelsbacher coffee grinder EKM300 - Video, Test report
• Delonghi KG 521 M - Video, Test report
• Tchibo coffee grinder E with scale - Video, Test report

Current status of all tests - the group winners

Already tested:

We had looked at some grinders in the past. In this context, however, we will put them under the microscope again (see list above).

• Graef CM 800 – already tested
  
• Niche Zero - already tested
  
• Sage Smart Grinder Pro – already tested

Gastro grinder or higher-priced

We will also look at these gastro espresso grinders at a later time. For the moment, we have decided to focus on grinders in the price range up to 1000 euros and are including the results of two grinders from the higher price class as a reference.

• Lagom P64
• Etzmax (various models)
• Ceado E37S
• E65S GbW
• EK43
• Eureka Zenit
• Bentwood Vertical 63
• Anfim Practica
• Quamar Sirio Q
• Mythos Grinder

The list is constantly being expanded. What is missing, what should be added? Please suggest.

*Important note

The results were obtained after testing and working with one grinder at a time. The summarized results describe our measurements and our impressions.

Please also read the comments under our videos and compare different test reports in order to put together a differentiated picture from various sources for yourself.

The espresso quality assessment in the preliminary round was based on the tasting of two espressos by two tasters. In the next round of testing, a different espresso will be tasted by a larger panel.