Best espresso grinders for home – the XL test

Which espresso grinders did we test?

Initially, 24 espresso grinders were tasted in six groups, each covering a range of price points. The best grinders from each group (nine in total) were compared 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 (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 ." The individual videos and comparison videos can help you gain more insight and make a decision.

Many thanks go 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

Nine espresso grinders qualified for the finals of our espresso grinder test series. We reviewed 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 the espresso.

We've already presented the most important data on the espresso grinders in the individual videos. Nothing has changed in the direct comparison; it's simply been confirmed once again.

In our opinion, the best espresso grinder on the market isn't a grinder we've chosen for you. The best espresso grinder is the one that suits your preferences based on the information we've gathered. Michel and Benjamin therefore have different preferences when it comes to the right espresso grinder for their home.

A sensory blind tasting should provide further arguments for a decision.

The espresso grinder blind tasting

To reassess the top nine espresso grinders from the test series, we conducted a blind tasting. We invited four of our most experienced coffee sensory experts to participate.

The sensor panel

Michel Aeschbacher is a Q-grader, coffee trainer, and Swiss Vice Barista Champion. Felix Hohlmann is a multiple Swiss and German Vice Barista Champion, Brewers Cup Vice Champion, and Aeropress Champion. Philipp Schallberger is a two-time Swiss Barista Champion and a World Barista Championship semifinalist. He has been a WBC judge and Q-grader for many years. Benjamin Hohlmann is an Arabica and Robusta Q-grader, was a German Cup Tasting Champion, and a Swiss Brewers Cup Champion.

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

The results for each grinder should therefore be viewed in conjunction with the barista's recipe. It also showed that the 20-minute time factor for setting up a grinder benefited some espresso grinders.

The espresso roasts and coffees tasted

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

Apas , a medium-roast espresso from Brazil, was chosen. The coffee was prepared as a natural espresso. We use Apas as our standard espresso in our courses. It's nutty and chocolatey and quite forgiving when it comes to adjustments.

• 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 cherry barrels in a cold room, and then dried as a natural. The coffee tastes of ripe cherries, has a heavy chocolate note, and is reminiscent of tropical fruits. This lighter roast requires careful adjustment to ensure balance and reveal its complexity.

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

The final result of the tasting

Final tasting results. Recipes and further tasting results to follow.

Comparison group espresso grinders 1: 760 - 2250 euros

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

Comparison group espresso grinders 2: 640 - 750 euros

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

In this set, we were particularly impressed by the Niche Zero and the Eureka Mignon XL. Overall, the Niche Zero had the edge, depending on your perspective. However, since a single-dosage grinder doesn't meet all your needs, and the Eureka Mignon XL also performed very well, we decided to give both grinders a try.

The ECM also performed well, not only in terms of particle distribution. Thanks to its very low fines content across all extractions, it is well-suited for espresso, café crème, and filter coffee. For filter coffee, it delivered the best results in our test, along 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 , Review
• Eureka Mignon Magnifico - Video , Review
• Baratza Sette 270 Wi - Video , Review
• ROCKET Faustino - Video , Review

Comparison group espresso grinders 4: 400 - 470 euros

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

In this round, four espresso grinders performed well in individual areas. Three grinders impressed us enough to include them in the next round.

• First, there's the Mahlkönig x54 , which, while slow and otherwise only average compared to many others, brewed the second-best espresso. In terms of speed, it's the slowest in the set and doesn't score highly in terms of grind accuracy or consistency.
• The Eureka Specialità only serves the third-best espresso in the set, but the difference compared to the better grinders is very small. Even with 28 points, the espresso is still good. The grinder impresses with its consistency and noise level. We also enjoyed the filter coffee. The speed is mid-range. Adjusting the grind is difficult due to the small adjustment dial.
• The G-Iota not only brewed the best espresso (by a very narrow margin), but also impressed with its consistency, dead space , and grind setting precision. Furthermore, it's the most affordable yet very good single-serve espresso grinder we know. For this reason alone, we want to see it in the next round of blind tasting against all the best espresso grinders in the group.

The fourth grinder in the round also performs well. The espresso is delicious, and the Lelit PL72 particularly surprised us with its single-dosing performance. However, the grinder is not very consistent, has a high dead space 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 to the next round.

Comparison group espresso grinders 5: 150 - 250 euros

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

In a comparison of four espresso grinders priced between €150 and €250, the Sage Smart Grinder Pro performed best. This grinder once again proved itself to be a good entry-level grinder, achieving good results in many areas and even scoring very highly in some of its price ranges.

Comparison group espresso grinders 6: 80 - 150 euros

• Graef CM 800 - Video , Review
• Rommelsbacher coffee grinder EKM300 - Video , review
• Delonghi KG 521 M - Video , Review
• Tchibo coffee grinder E with scale - video , review

Current interim results of all tests - the group winners

Already tested:

We've reviewed some of these mills in the past, but we'll take another look at them in this context (see list above).

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

Gastro-Mill or higher priced

We'll also look at these commercial espresso grinders at a later date. For now, we've decided to focus on grinders in the price range up to €1,000 and include the results of two grinders in the higher price range as a reference.

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

The list is constantly being expanded. What's missing, what should be added? Please add it.

* 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 to put together a differentiated picture for yourself from different sources.

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