Best Espresso Grinders for Home – The XL Review

We tested 30 espresso grinders for home use over many months, measured them precisely, and examined them for consistency and espresso quality.

Which espresso grinder is best for home? Which has what strengths and suits whom? Do our professional baristas have personal preferences? We discuss all of this in our detailed espresso grinder test and final video. If you haven't gotten into espresso yet and are generally looking for a grinder, start with the basics of coffee grinders.

The price of the grinders ranges from 80 to 2200 euros, with an emphasis on grinders up to 1000 euros. The espresso grinders were tested according to the test protocol noted here.

Which espresso grinders did we test?

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

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

Individual articles and videos are available for all tested espresso grinders. If you're looking for an espresso grinder, we recommend starting with the final video "Best espresso grinder for home". For further depth and decision-making, individual videos and comparison videos can help.

But which grinder category makes sense for you at all? The manual grinder, the single dosing grinder, or a dosing grinder? This is the decision you should make before deciding on a specific grinder. We have written a comparison article on grinder categories to help you with this decision.

Don't want to weigh each 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 convince – and where the limits of the technology lie.

Special thanks go to Dr. Marco Wellinger and ZHAW Wädenswil for their support in analyzing the particles.

More about grind-by-weight grinders and single dosing grinders.

The best espresso grinders for home

9 espresso grinders qualified for the final round of our espresso grinder test series. We examined them again and also compared them sensorially in a blind tasting. For this, we set a dark espresso (Apas) and a lighter espresso (Doña Margarita) as espresso.

We already presented the most important data on the espresso grinders in the individual videos. In the direct comparison, nothing changed, only was confirmed once more.

The best espresso grinder on the market is, in our view, not one grinder that we determine for you. The best espresso grinder is the one that suits 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 should provide further arguments for a decision.

The espresso grinder blind tasting

To challenge the best 9 espresso grinders from the test series again, a blind tasting was conducted. For this, we invited four of our most experienced coffee sensory experts.

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 a German Cup Tasting Master, and Swiss Brewers Cup Master.

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

The result for each grinder should therefore be seen in connection with the barista's recipe. Additionally, it showed that the time factor of 20 minutes for adjusting a grinder benefited some espresso grinders.

The espresso roasts and coffees tasted

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

With Apas, we chose a medium roast espresso from Brazil. The coffee was processed as a natural. We use Apas as a standard espresso in our courses. It is nutty and chocolatey and forgives quite a bit during adjustment.

• 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 on Finca Santa Rita, fermented in cherries in a cooling room, and then dried as a natural. The coffee tastes of ripe cherries, has a heavy chocolate note, and reminds of tropical fruits. This lighter roast must be adjusted well so that it is balanced and its complexity comes to the fore.

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

The final tasting results

Final tasting results. Recipes and further tasting results to 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

Particularly impressive in this set were the Niche Zero and the Eureka Mignon XL. Overall, the Niche Zero had a slight edge 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.

In terms of particle distribution, the ECM also delivered strong performance. Thanks to its very low fine particle content across all extractions, it is well suited for espresso, café crème, and filter coffee. For filter coffee, it delivered the best results together with the Niche Zero in our test.

For more information on the grinders, we recommend our video reports and 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 good work in individual areas. As many as 3 grinders impressed us enough to move them to the next round.

• One of them is the Mahlkönig x54, which is slow and otherwise only shines with average values, but brewed the second best espresso. In terms of speed, it is the slowest in the set and cannot score on grind adjustment precision and consistency either.
• The Eureka Specialità served only the third best espresso in the set, but the difference to the better grinders is very small. At 28 points, the espresso is still good. The grinder impresses with consistency and noise level. The filter coffee also tasted good to us. The grinding adjustment speed is in the mid-range. Adjusting the grinding setting via the small dial is difficult.
• The G-Iota not only brewed the best espresso (with very close margin), but also impresses with consistency, retention and grinding adjustment precision. Moreover, it is the most affordable and yet very good single-dose espresso grinder we know. For this reason alone, we want to see it in the next round, in a blind tasting against all group-winning espresso grinders.

The fourth grinder in the round also does good work. The espresso tastes good and the Lelit PL72 particularly impressed us with its single-dosing performance. However, the grinder is not very consistent, has high retention in normal use, and is also inaccurate when it comes to repeatability of brewing recipes. Because these attributes are quite essential, the Lelit PL72 does not make it to 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

In the comparison of four espresso grinders between 150 and 250 euros, the Sage Smart Grinder Pro performed best. The grinder once again proved to be a good grinder for beginners that delivers good results in many areas and sometimes even performs very well for the price category.

Comparison group espresso grinders 6: 80 - 150 euros

• Graef CM 800 - Video, Test report
• Rommelsbacher Kaffeemühle EKM300 - Video, Test report
• Delonghi KG 521 M - Video, Test report
• Tchibo Kaffeemühle E mit Waage - Video, Test report

Current interim status across all tests - the group winners

Already tested:

We looked at some grinders in the past. However, in this context, we will examine them more closely again (see list above).

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

Commercial grinder or higher price range

We will also look at these commercial espresso grinders at a later date. For now, we have decided to focus on grinders in the price range up to 1000 euros and use the results from two grinders as a reference from the higher price category.

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

List is continuously updated. What's missing, what should be added? Please add suggestions.

The best grinder is useless without a recipe. How you find the grinding level and adjust the espresso in three shots is described in Preparing espresso.