Thanks for tuning into my guide to the best grinders for drip coffee.
I’ve been researching and trying out dozens of coffee grinders and now I’ve picked out seven of the best options for drip coffee.
The best option overall has to be the Fellow Ode Gen 2. It’s super easy to use and it delivers a fantastic medium-coarse grind which will be perfect for drip coffee.
Fellow Ode Gen 2: Best Overall
- Price: $$
- Grind quality: Coarse to fairly fine
- Capacity: 100 g
- Burr info: 64 mm flat, stainless steel
- Best for: All home users
- Best for coffee type:
- Drip coffee, Pour over, espresso, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew
- Warranty: 2 years
Perhaps you don’t want to spend that much though. Or, maybe you want a manual coffee grinder? To help, I’ve picked a total of seven grinders that cover all eventualities.
Come and check them out!
7 Best Drip Coffee Grinders
- Best overall: Fellow Ode Gen 2
- Best premium model: Weber EG-1 Flat
- Best for under $100/best budget option: Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic
- Best manual grinder: 1Zpresso JX-Pro-S
- Best budget manual grinder: Timemore Chestnut C2
- Best for UK and Europe: Fellow Opus
- Best for Australia: Breville Smart Grinder Pro
7 Best Coffee Grinders for Drip Coffee
Here are short reviews of the best coffee grinders for drip coffee.
#1 Best Overall – Fellow Ode Gen 2
Price | $$ |
Grind quality | Great for coarse through to fairly fine |
Capacity | 100 g |
Burr info | 64 mm flat, stainless steel |
Best for | All home users |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, cold brew, French press, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, moka pot, espresso |
Warranty | 2 years |
Pros
- Near perfect medium-coarse grind
- Quiet and well built
Cons
- Not fine enough for espresso
- More expensive than some options
I’ve found that the best coffee grinder for drip coffee is the Fellow Ode Gen 2. It makes an amazing cup of cold brew for a sensible price.
There are cheaper options out there but I still believe that the Ode Gen 2 offers the best value for money. It feels more sturdy and more well built than a lot of more expensive coffee grinders. This helps keep the noise down too, as this grinder is super quiet.
The Ode Gen 2 comes with large 64 mm flat burrs which produce a very high quality medium-coarse grind for your drip coffee. That being said, I found that it wasn’t amazing for the most fine grinds like those you’d want for espresso and Turkish coffee.
Its bean hopper is a little on the small side at 100 g but you should still be able to grind around 10 cups of coffee with it.
I also found this grinder to be really easy to use. It has intuitive settings so you can set up your drip coffee grind at the touch of a button.
So there really isn’t much to not like about the Fellow Ode Gen 2. I recommend it for any home users!
#2 Best Premium Model – Weber EG-1 Flat
Price | $$$ |
Grind quality | Effectively perfect at all levels |
Capacity | N/A |
Burr info | 80 mm flat, very high quality stainless steel |
Best for | Professionals |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, espresso, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew, Turkish |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Elite grinding experience
- High quality build and materials
Cons
- Excessive price for just drip coffee
- Only a year of warranty
At the top of the quality spectrum is the Weber EG-1 flat burr grinder. This is one of the best coffee grinders in the world right now so it’s well suited to the top professionals down to advanced home users.
There’s no wonder it was picked as one of the best five grinders by James Hoffman. For a start, it has 80 mm flat burrs that will perfectly blend any coffee put in front of them.
This is great for the finest blends like Turkish coffee but you can also set this grinder to do a great job with medium and coarse grinds, including for drip coffee. It’s a perfect all-rounder.
But as you might have expected by now, you’re going to have to pay a lot for it. The Weber EG-1 is far from cheap so it’s going to be overkill for beginners looking to make drip coffee alone.
Before you buy this coffee grinder, make sure you also consider the fact that it’s a single dose grinder. This means it’s only able to grind up a portion of drip coffee at a time. It’s designed like this in the interest of maximizing freshness.
The build quality is fantastic. The EG-1 looks amazing and feels super sturdy, but I was a little surprised to find out that it only comes with a year of warranty.
Nonetheless, this amazing coffee grinder will likely last you a long time even if you use it every day. If your budget is not much of an issue and you want to make the best cup of drip coffee in the world then the EG-1 will do that.
#3 Best Under $100/Best Budget Option – Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic
Price | $ |
Grind quality | Fair for medium and coarse grind |
Capacity | 225 g |
Burr size and type | N/A conical, stainless steel |
Best for | Beginners |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, cold brew, French press, filter coffee, moka pot |
Warranty | 18 months |
Pros
- Super affordable
- Stainless steel burrs can last for many years
Cons
- Quite loud
- Not the most robust
Who says you need to spend a lot of money to get a great cup of drip coffee though? Cuisinart certainly doesn’t, as they’re allowing customers the chance to do that with a grinder that costs less than $100. It’s called the Supreme Grind.
For sure, the quality isn’t as high as our top two so far but it’ll still deliver a good grind. The Supreme Grind has stainless steel conical burrs that will ensure that. They’ll also last for many, many years but they will get dull over time.
You’ll also be able to grind up a fair amount of coffee. The bean hopper here is 225 g, allowing over 20 cups of drip coffee.
The fact that this is a cheap coffee grinder does come with a couple of issues though. It’s loud as it vibrates a lot and this also makes me feel like it won’t be super robust.
But things like this are to be expected when you’re spending under $100 to get a good drip coffee grind. You could do a lot worse than pick up this coffee grinder if you’re on a budget, and if you’re not a professional.
#4 Best Manual Coffee Grinder – 1Zpresso JX-Pro-S
Price | $ |
Grind quality | Adaptable, very high |
Capacity | 30 g |
Burr info | 48 mm conical, stainless steel |
Best for | Anyone |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, cold brew, French press, espresso, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, moka pot |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Easy to use and control grind
- Large burrs for a manual grinder
Cons
- A little bulky for traveling
- Slightly expensive
If you’re into traveling (or you just like the idea of turning a coffee grinder without power) then a manual coffee grinder will be a great fit for you. They’re less convenient than electric grinders but you can still get a great coffee drink from them.
The best manual grinder for drip coffee right now is the 1ZPresso JX-Pro-S. It might be a little expensive but it does deliver one of the best quality drip coffee grinds you can get from a manual grinder.
The JX-Pro-S achieves this with its 48 mm conical burrs. They’re pretty large for a manual coffee grinder and they ensure a consistent grind.
One downside to the large burrs is that it makes the grinder a little bulky which might not be so ideal for traveling. It’s hardly oversized though.
The bean hopper is about average for a manual grinder as well. It can hold 30 g of beans which will make 2 or 3 cups of coffee.
So with all that in mind, I’m confident that the JX-Pro-S is going to be the best option for people of all skill levels looking to make drip coffee manually.
#5 Best Budget Manual Grinder – Timemore Chestnut C2
Price | $ |
Grind quality | Adaptable, consistent |
Capacity | 25 g |
Burr info | 38 mm conical |
Burr material | Stainless steel |
Best for | Anyone |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, cold brew, French press, espresso, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, moka pot |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Looks more expensive than it is
- Very fair price
Cons
- Grind quality not as good
- Small bean hopper
It’s possible to go a little cheaper with a manual grinder but still get an awesome quality product. That comes in the form of the Timemore Chestnut C2.
A quick look at this grinder won’t give away the fact that it’s a budget grinder. It looks super sleek and well built, and that’s impressive considering the low price.
The grind itself isn’t going to be as good as that of the JX-Pro-S but it’s still not half bad. The C2 comes with 38 mm conical burrs that can grind up to a medium-coarse degree for drip coffee with no problems at all.
The bean hopper is a little smaller here with a capacity of up to 25 g so don’t expect to be able to make more than a couple of cups of cold brew coffee at a time here.
But if that’s okay for you and you want to save some money on a great budget grinder for drip coffee then the Chestnut C2 could well be the best option for you.
#6 Best for UK and Europe – Fellow Opus
Price | $ |
Grind quality | Very adaptable but not super fine |
Capacity | 110 g |
Burr info | 40 mm conical, stainless steel |
Best for | All levels, but not super pros |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, cold brew, French press, espresso, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, moka pot, espresso |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Endorsed heavily by James Hoffman
- Super quiet
Cons
- Not fine enough for espresso
- Bean hopper not so big
Over in the UK, one of the most popular coffee grinders is the Opus from Fellow (the people who produced my number one pick). This is another affordable but very high quality coffee grinder.
Part of the reason for its popularity is that it was endorsed by James Hoffman. The most popular expert in the UK will certainly have an influence out there.
Even though it’s an American grinder, Fellow offers good customer support for the European audience.
And it is one great grinder! Its specialty is medium-coarse grinds, making it a perfect option for drip coffee. But it’s also great for the French press, which is one of the most popular ways to make coffee throughout Europe.
Another benefit of the Opus is that it’s really quiet, just like the Ode Gen 2. That’s a testament to the solid build quality.
This small coffee grinder is good news for those looking to save some space in their kitchen. The downside to it (for some) is that the bean capacity is a little small at 110 g. This would be enough for around 10 cups of coffee.
But other than that, there’s not much I don’t like about the Fellow Opus. British and other European customers are going to love this thing.
#7 Best for Australia – Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Price | $ |
Grind quality | Not mega fine but good for coarse |
Capacity | 510 g |
Burr info | 50 mm conical, stainless steel |
Best for | Beginners and experienced home users |
Best for coffee type | Drip coffee, French press, espresso, pour over, filter coffee, drip coffee, Aeropress, moka pot, cold brew |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Massive bean hopper
- Fair price
Cons
- Settings can be fiddly
- Loud grinding sound
Over in Australia, the best option for drip coffee will be the Breville Smart Grinder Pro. This affordable coffee grinder with a large bean hopper makes a reasonably good cup of drip coffee.
It uses 50 mm conical burrs specializing in a medium-coarse grind, perfect for that drip coffee blend.
I recommend it for Aussie readers because it’s also good for espresso, the country’s most popular coffee drink. Plus, Breville was actually founded in Sydney, Australia, so it’ll be easy to get hold of their customer service team out there.
I also like that you can make a whole lot of coffee with a single grind using the Smart Grinder Pro. The bean capacity is enormous at over half a kilo. You could really make around 50 cups of coffee here!
One small downside is that the settings are a bit limited, so it might take some getting used to. Plus, it’s rather loud, which is worth considering if you live with others.
However, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a surprisingly well-priced coffee grinder with some impressive pros that’ll be a great fit for Australian drip coffee fans.
By the way, if you’re based in the UK, Europe, or some other parts of the world, you might recognize the Breville brand as ‘Sage’.
Drip Coffee Grinder Buying Guide
Stay tuned, as I’m about to show you all the things you need to think about when buying a coffee grinder for cold brew. This will help you make the right decision.
If you want to know more when you get to the end of this buying guide, be sure to read my more detailed buying guide here.
Checklist | Why it’s Important |
Manual vs. Electric | One’s more convenient, one’s more portable |
Materials | Which is more durable and better performing? |
Burr Type & Size | Different burrs are better for different coffee grinds |
Grind Levels | Each grind finesse will be better for different coffees |
Price | Are you willing to spend a little more to guarantee quality? |
Bean Hopper Size | Larger hoppers equal more coffee but can be bulky |
Grinder Brand | Better brands means better quality, warranty and support |
#1 Manual or electric grinder
Electric coffee grinders will often be able to produce a better quality cup of cold brew in general. That’s because they offer more control than manual ones and are easier to use.
That being said, a good manual grinder won’t be far off the pace in terms of quality. And, they’re totally portable which is great for the travelers out there.
Manual and electric grinders start at a similar price point but electric grinders go to a much higher scale.
Electric grinder benefits
- Much more convenient
- Better quality grind in some cases
Manual grinder benefits
- Take it on the go
- Often less expensive
To learn more, read our article on manual or electric coffee grinders.
#2 Burr material
Burrs made out of stainless steel are the most popular type as they can cost less money overall and are much less likely to break. High quality steel (e.g. titanium-plated) can last dozens of years and creates an amazing grind.
But low quality steel can wear down more quickly which is something ceramic does not tend to do. However, ceramic burrs can snap more easily so make sure to be careful if you go for this option.
Ceramic and steel burrs can both be really good for drip coffee.
Steel burr benefits
- Much harder to break
- Can be a lower price
Ceramic burr benefits
- Longer lasting if not broken
- Better grind than cheap steel
To learn more, read our article on steel burr vs ceramic burr.
#3 Flat burrs vs conical burrs vs blade grinders
Flat burrs and conical burrs will both do a great job for cold brew but I’d recommend a conical burr for most people. They use rotating metal to crush the beans and this can deliver a fantastic medium-coarse grind.
In general, flat burrs are more expensive and that’s because they can grind to a finer degree for elite espresso and even Turkish coffee sometimes.
But conical burrs are more popular as they’re more affordable and more versatile in terms of the coffee drinks they can produce.
A final option is a blade grinder but I’d recommend that drip coffee fans stay away from this. These types of grinders use spinning blades to cut the beans up but it’s not easy to control the grind level like this. These are only really good for French press and other filter coffees.
To learn more, read our article on blade vs burr coffee grinder.
#4 Grind level
As mentioned, the best type of coffee grind finesse is medium-coarse. Here’s a look at some other types of coffee, the level they grind best to and the burrs that produce the best result for them:
Coffee grinder | Grind finesse | Best for |
Flat burr | Extra fine | Espresso, Turkish, pour over, aeropress |
Conical burr | Fine but versatile through to medium/coarse | French press, Drip coffee, some espresso, cold brew, moka pot, drip coffee |
Blade | Coarse, uneven | French press, filter coffee |
#5 Your budget
The amount you should spend on your new coffee grinder depends on your experience level as a barista. Beginners should probably spend less as they won’t get the best out of more expensive grinders. Especially if they want to make drip coffee only.
But if you’re a professional working in a coffee shop, you’re going to want more versatility and higher quality. So, more money should be spent.
I’d recommend aiming for somewhere around the following price points when you buy your new drip coffee grinder.
Experience Level | Avg Price Recommended (Electric) | Avg Price Recommended (Manual) |
Beginner | $100 | $50 |
Experienced home user | $200 | $80 |
Pro barista | $1000 | $80 |
#6 Bean hopper capacity
How much coffee do you want to grind up at a time? If you want to make a lot of coffee for a lot of people in one go, you’re going to want a large bean hopper.
As a rule of thumb, I’d calculate 10 g of coffee as one drink. So if you have a 200 g bean hopper, you should be able to make around 20 cups of coffee.
Some people actually prefer to use single dose grinders that only grind up enough coffee for one dose at a time. This is in the interest of preserving maximum freshness but it can be a little long-winded.
#7 Grinder brand
I recommend buying a coffee grinder from an established brand if it’s within your budget. You’re likely to get a better quality product this way. Plus, if you do have any issues, you’re probably going to end up dealing with a higher quality customer service team.
Here are some examples of great coffee grinder brands to look out for:
- Krups
- KitchenAid
- Breville
- Barista & Co.
- Monolith
- Option-O
- Fellow
- Cuisinart
- Rancilio
#8 Speed of grind
You’re going to want to aim to grind your coffee at somewhere between 200 and 1000 RPM.
Grinding much faster than this will likely make your grind too fine for cold brew. And if you grind more slowly, the coffee particles will be too uneven in size.
Some people also say that grinding slowly adds heat to the coffee which can ruin the taste. I personally don’t think this has too much of an effect though.
RPM Range | Suitable coffee types |
Up to 200 RPM | French press, filter coffee, cold brew |
200 – 1000 RPM | Pour over, moka pot, drip coffee, cold brew |
1000 – 3000 RPM | Aeropress, espresso, pour over |
3000 RPM + | Espresso |
The fact that you can keep the speed low is better for quieter households as slower grinds means quieter speed.
To learn more, read our article on grinder speeds.
#9 Quality of life features
There are a few extra features to look out for that will improve the ease of use for electric coffee grinder users.
- Timer: Provides the time of grind in seconds.
- Auto stop: Stop the grind after a predetermined amount of time.
- Digital interfaces: Provides the information about the timer and other settings on a display.
The best coffee grinders are going to have all of these features and this is what most people will probably want. But even one or two of them would make your life a little easier.
#10 Noise level
Early riser living with housemates or family members? You’ll probably not want to worry about waking people up as you make your morning brew. In that circumstance, it’s best to find a quieter grinder.
Better quality grinders tend to be quieter as they’re well built but this is not always the case. The two Fellow grinders we looked at today are very quiet but if you want to go for something else then it’s worth looking at some reviews before you buy.
Remember, slower grinds are also quieter so that’s another reason to look at the RPM.
To learn more, read our article on coffee grinder’s noise levels.
Drip Coffee Grinder FAQ
Want to know more about drip coffee grinders? Here’s some more important information.
How often should I deep clean my drip coffee grinder?
It’s best to clean your coffee grinder properly every couple of weeks by using coffee grinder cleaning tablets. Plus, you should get in the practice of giving it a wipe down after every use to prevent buildup of coffee residue.
You can find out exactly how to clean your coffee grinder in this article.
When will I need to replace my drip coffee grinder?
Typically, coffee grinders will last 5-8 years if you use them every day. But they can last a lot longer than this if you go for a well built, premium model. Or, if you don’t use the grinder every day but still clean it often.
My Verdict
Here’s one last look at my podium positions:
1. Best Overall – Fellow Ode Gen 2: The best option in terms of pure value for money. It makes a great cup of cold brew quietly and without breaking the bank by any stretch.
2. Best Premium Option – Weber EG-1 Flat: But you can go for the more premium option here. It’s going to cost you a lot more though, so only go for this one if you have some experience.
3. Best Budget Option – Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic: The budget option will also appeal to many people. This is the one for you for cold brew coffee fans who want to spend less than $100.
I have no doubt that the Fellow Ode Gen 2 is going to be best suited to most cold brew coffee drinkers but it’s definitely not the only great option. Be sure to check out all my top picks and make the right call for yourself.
Fellow Ode Gen 2: Best Overall
- Price: $$
- Grind quality: Coarse to fairly fine
- Capacity: 100 g
- Burr info: 64 mm flat, stainless steel
- Best for: All home users
- Best for coffee type:
- Drip coffee, Pour over, espresso, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew
- Warranty: 2 years