Welcome to my guide to the best coffee grinders that you can take on the go.
I’ve been using coffee grinders for many years and recently, have been researching all the latest ones on the market. Now, I’ve picked out seven amazing manual coffee grinders for ultra portability.
The best in the business right now is the 1ZPresso JX-Pro-S. That’s because it’s a great value product for a fair price.
1Zpresso JX-Pro-S: Best Overall
- Price: $$
- Grind quality: Adaptable, very high
- Capacity: 30-35 g
- Burr info: 48 mm conical, Stainless steel
- Best for: Anyone
- Best for coffee type:
- Espresso, pour-over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew
- Warranty: 1 year
But it is a little on the expensive side, so you could save money with my budget pick. Or, you may prefer another one from my top seven.
Read on to find out which one is going to be best for you.
7 Best Portable Coffee Grinders
- Best overall: 1Zpresso JX-Pro-S Manual Coffee Grinder
- Best premium model: Comandante C40 Nitro Blade Grinder
- Best for under $100/best budget option: Timemore Chestnut C2
- Best for under $50/strictest budget option: Yama Manual Coffee Grinder
- Best for espresso: Zassenhaus Santiago Coffee Mill
- Best for UK and Europe: Kinu M47 Classic
- Best for Australia: 1ZPresso Q2 S
2023’s Best Portable Coffee Grinders
We’re about to take a look at each of those grinders in more detail.
#1 Best Overall – 1Zpresso JX-Pro-S Manual Coffee Grinder
| Price | $$ |
| Grind quality | Adaptable, very high |
| Capacity | 30 g |
| Burr info | 48 mm conical, stainless steel |
| Best for | Anyone |
| Best for coffee type | Espresso, Turkish, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- High quality burrs for espresso
- Robust and sturdy
Cons
- Larger than some grinders
- Slightly expensive
If you want a coffee grinder that’s portable, you’re going to need a manual one. And I believe the best manual coffee grinder available in terms of value for money is the 1ZPresso JX-Pro-S.
This coffee grinder is going to be good enough for any type of coffee drink. It uses 48 mm conical burrs which are large for a manual grinder. If you grind for long enough, you’ll get a nice and even fine grind for the likes of espresso or even Turkish coffee.
The bean capacity is pretty good as well at 30 g. This will allow you to grind up enough coffee for three cups at a time.
One downside to the large burrs and bean capacity is that the grinder as a whole is a bit bigger than average for a manual grinder.
The only other real ‘con’ to this grinder is that it’s a little pricey. But even then, I think it’s good value overall considering the price of it. I’d recommend the JX-Pro-S to anyone looking for a portable grinder!
#2 Best Premium Model – Comandante C40 Nitro Blade Grinder
| Price | $$$ |
| Grind quality | Adaptable, very high |
| Capacity | 40g |
| Burr info | 39 mm conical, Nitrogen stainless steel |
| Best for | Pros, but easy for beginners as well |
| Best for coffee type | Espresso, pour over, filter coffee, aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew, Turkish |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Pros
- Great for fine grinds
- Super high quality stainless steel
Cons
- Very expensive
- May be excessive for beginners
Perhaps the best portable coffee grinder money can buy is the Comandante C40 Nitro Blade. But that’s based on quality alone, as this grinder is very expensive indeed.
You can see where your extra money goes immediately though. The C40 is visually stunning and made out of very high quality materials that feel like they could last a lifetime.
In fact, this is one of the only manual coffee grinders on the market with a lifetime warranty. That just goes to show how much Comandante trusts the quality of this product.
The grind output is as good as it gets as well. The C40 has 39 mm conical burrs that are made out of nitrogen stainless steel. These are super sharp and will grind up coffee perfectly. Plus, they’ll last forever thanks to their strength.
The C40 has a good sized bean hopper at 40 g but because of clever design work, it’s not super big. Sure, there are smaller grinders out there, but I’d still consider this one to be very portable.
Because of the very high price, I’d only generally recommend the C40 to those who have a little experience with coffee making. It might be overkill for beginners. But, then again, it is a beautiful piece of kit so if you have the budget for it, then why not?
#3 Best for Under $100/Best Budget Option – Timemore Chestnut C2
| Price | $ |
| Grind quality | Adaptable, consistent |
| Capacity | 25 g |
| Burr info | 38 mm conical, stainless steel |
| Best for | Anyone |
| Best for coffee type | Espresso, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Very affordable price
- Sleek design
Cons
- Hard to get a finesse grind
- Small bean capacity
Who says you need to spend a fortune to get a great portable coffee grinder though? Timemore certainly doesn’t, as they’ve developed the Chestnut C2. It’s a high quality portable coffee grinder for under $100.
You might think that you’d have to compromise on quality at this price point but that’s not the case. The C2 looks the part and feels sturdy.
It also has 38 mm conical burrs that work well for fine grinds, even up to espresso. I wouldn’t go so far as to use this one for Turkish coffee though.
The bean hopper here is smaller at 25 g so you’ll only be able to make a couple of cups of coffee at once, or three at best.
I did find that it’s a little tricky to turn the C2 as well so it might be best not to fill the bean capacity all the way to the top.
But if you’re only going to be making coffee for yourself and a partner at most and you want to save some cash on your portable coffee grinder then the Chestnut C2 may well be the one for you.
#4 Best for Under $50/Strictest Budget Option – Yama Manual Coffee Grinder
| Price | $ |
| Grind quality | Difficult to get fine but okay for coarse |
| Capacity | 30 g |
| Burr info | N/A, conical, stainless steel |
| Best for | Beginners |
| Best for coffee type | Filter coffee, French press, cold brew |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Very affordable
- Quite easy to use
Cons
- Only works for coarse grinds
- Not great build quality
It is, in fact, possible to go even cheaper with your portable coffee grinder purchase if you opt for the Yama manual coffee grinder. It comes in at a touch under $50!
You’ll notice the difference in quality at this price though. The conical burrs in the Yama could be a lot worse but I’d only recommend them for more coarse grinds. This grinder would therefore only be most suitable for the likes of French press and filter coffee.
The build quality doesn’t feel as good as more expensive grinders either so be careful when you’re transporting it as it could be more at risk of damage.
Nonetheless, the Yama is surprisingly easy to use so it would be a fitting purchase for beginners, especially those who like coarse grind coffee.
I probably wouldn’t recommend the Yama grinder to those with more coffee grinding experience as it’s not versatile enough. If you did try to use it for espresso, you’d notice the taste being off.
#5 Best for Espresso – Zassenhaus Coffee Mill
| Price | $$$ |
| Grind quality | Very fine, even |
| Capacity | 30 g |
| Burr info | 38 mm conical, stainless steel |
| Best for | Pros and espresso lovers |
| Best for coffee type | Espresso, pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew, Turkish |
| Warranty | 25 years |
Pros
- Looks beautiful
- 25 years of warranty
Cons
- Overkill for beginners
- Expensive
If you want to make an elite cup of espresso coffee while you’re out traveling then the Zassenhaus Coffee Mill will do that for you. It’ll go further for Turkish coffee, too.
It achieves this by using its 38 mm conical burrs to make light work of any coffee presented to it.
We’re back to the expensive side of things again here though. The Zassenhaus is the second-most expensive coffee grinder from my top seven. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners as it will probably be overkill for those with less experience.
It is an amazing grinder in terms of quality though. It feels very well manufactured. And, this grinder comes with 25 years of warranty which is just about as good as a lifetime warranty.
One of the best things about the Zassenhaus mill is that it looks amazing. The vintage design is very charming, so you’ll be likely to turn some heads in the campsite when you take it out to make your morning brew.
So if you are willing to spend a little extra cash for an amazing cup of espresso or even Turkish coffee (and you want a great looking piece of kit as well), take a look at the Zassenhaus.
#6 Best for UK and Europe – Kinu M47 Classic
| Price | $$$ |
| Grind quality | Very high, even |
| Capacity | 40 g |
| Burr info | 47 mm, conical, stainless steel |
| Best for | Beginners and pros |
| Best for coffee type | Espresso, Turkish pour over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew |
| Warranty | 5 year |
Pros
- Large burrs for even grind
- Five years of warranty
Cons
- Expensive
- A little bulky
Customers in the UK and Europe are going crazy for the Kinu M47 Classic. This is an elite, portable coffee grinder made in Germany.
This grinder is going to cost you a reasonable amount of cash but it’s good value for the quality it offers. For a start, it has 47 mm conical burrs which are about as big as you can get on a manual grinder.
With these, you’ll be able to make any type of coffee drink (all the way up to Turkish) with ease.
The M7 Classic also comes with a slightly bigger than average bean capacity. It’ll hold 40 g of beans, enough for four cups of coffee easily.
But the downside to this, combined with the large burrs, is that the grinder as a whole is a little on the large side. It’s still more than portable though!
The fact that the company is based in Europe will make it easier if you need to reach out to the customer service team for any reason.
But I don’t think you’ll need to do that as this grinder feels very durable. If that wasn’t enough, Kinu is offering five years of warranty on all purchases.
European customers looking to travel in style and make some great coffee as they do will love the Kinu M47 Classic. That is if it’s budget, of course.
#7 Best for Australia – 1Zpresso Q2 S Manual Coffee Grinder
| Price | $$ |
| Grind quality | Fine but adaptable |
| Capacity | 15 g |
| Burr info | 38 mm conical, stainless steel |
| Best for | Everyone who loves to travel |
| Best for coffee type | Espresso, pour over, filter coffee, aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Very sleek design
- Durable materials
Cons
- Only makes a couple of cups at once at most
- Strangely expensive for size
1Zpresso is a super popular brand down under. It’s stocked all over Australia and one of the most popular models is the ultra portable Q2 S.
This coffee grinder is kind of like a mini version of my number one overall pick, the JX-Pro-S. This means it’s even more portable, but it does come with a smaller bean capacity.
You’ll only be able to grind up 15 g of beans at a time with this. That’s only really good for one cup of coffee, or two small ones at a stretch.
The burrs aren’t exactly small though. They’re 38 mm in size and they’ll be absolutely fine for most types of coffee drink. You’ll be able to make a good cup of espresso if you use this thing.
You might think that because this grinder is smaller, it’d be cheaper, but that is not the case. This is the main downside of this grinder… it’s a tiny bit overpriced.
You do get great durability with this grinder though. It feels built to last.
I do recommend this grinder a lot to the Australian audience. Not that I need to, as it’s very popular over there already.
Portable Coffee Grinder Buying Guide
I’m about to show you my decision making process when reviewing portable coffee grinders so that
If you get to the end of this buying guide and find yourself wanting to know more, you can view more detail 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 less convenience |
| Grinder Brand | Better brands means better quality, warranty and support |
1. Manual vs electric
The best option for portability is a manual grinder. You’ll need mains power for an electric grinder and therefore, they’re not portable.
Electric grinders can be small and fairly movable but you’ll always need to plug them in, so they’re never fully portable like my top picks today.
To learn more, read our article on manual or electric coffee grinders.
2. Burr materials
Most portable coffee grinders have stainless steel burrs. They don’t snap easily which is great for portability and they’re easy to clean.
Stainless steel can vary a lot in quality though. Highly premium stainless steel like that of the Comandante C40 can be coated in titanium and such for extra endurance and a sharper grind. But, it’ll cost you a lot more money to buy this.
Another option of burr material is ceramic. This can actually last longer as it doesn’t tend to wear out so quickly, but it is also at a higher risk of snapping which might not be the best option if you’re off traveling.
To learn more, read our article on steel burr vs ceramic burr.
3. Flat burrs vs conical burrs
Most portable grinders will have conical burrs. In fact, there’s only one manual grinder that uses flat burrs and it’s very expensive. You’ll usually only find flat burrs on premium, electric grinders.
Some electric coffee grinders will also use blades instead of burrs. But, you don’t tend to get those in manual, portable coffee grinders.
The burrs are the pieces of metal inside the grinder that actually grind the coffee.
To find out more about the differences between the two types of burrs and the blades, check out this article.
4. Grind levels
If you want to be making Turkish coffee, espresso or aeropress then you’re going to want a fine grind. To do this, be sure to get a good quality coffee grinder. Budget coffee grinders won’t be able to keep the grind even when super fine.
With manual, portable grinders, the only way to control the grind finesse is with time. You’ll simply need to keep grinding and visually check out output every now and then to see if it’s fine enough.
5. Your budget/price
It’s worth spending enough to get a good quality coffee grinder rather than going for a super cheap one that could break easily and may ruin the taste of your coffee. But, you don’t have to spend a fortune by any means.
These are the kinds of price points I recommend:
| Experience Level | Avg Price Recommended (Electric) | Avg Price Recommended (Manual) |
| Beginner | $100 | $50 |
| Experienced home user | $200 | $80+ |
| Pro barista | $1000 | $80+ |
Remember, manual coffee grinders can cost hundreds of dollars if you want the ultimate quality. And even if you’re a beginner, this could be a worthy investment.
It’s also true that more expensive coffee grinders are likely to last for longer so they might not work out that much more expensive if you don’t have to replace them as often.
6. Bean capacity
Portable coffee grinders tend to have much smaller bean hoppers than at home, electric grinders. It’s in their nature!
But if you want to be making a larger batch of coffee in one go then you might want to consider opting for a larger portable grinder. Or, you could just carry out two or three grinds in a row.
Generally, one cup of coffee requires about 10 g of beans. So you could do the math based on that.
The downside to having a large bean capacity is that your coffee grinder is going to be less portable. There are some manual coffee grinders with large hoppers that you might struggle to get in your suitcase if you’re already packing heavily.
7. Grinder brand
Buying a portable coffee grinder from an established brand is more likely to guarantee quality than it is from an unknown brand, even if it’ll probably cost you more money.
If you do have any issues, it’ll likely be easier to claim on warranty with an established brand too. That’s because these brands will often have better customer service teams.
Here are a few portable coffee grinder brands to look out for:
- Zassenhaus
- Kinu
- Timemore
- 1Zpresso
- Wacaco
- Comandante
- Java
- Porlex
FAQ: Portable Coffee Grinders
Make sure you think about the following important pieces of information before you buy your new portable coffee grinder.
How long will a portable coffee grinder last?
If you look after your portable coffee grinder, you should be able to make it last 10 or more years even with semi-regular use. More expensive grinders could last longer than that but if you opt for a cheaper one, it might wear out more quickly.
When do I need to clean my manual coffee grinder?
I recommend cleaning your coffee grinder every couple of weeks if you use it every day. But for less frequent use, you could get away with doing it less often. However, it’s still worth giving it a quick wipe down each time you use it either way.
This is a great way to improve the lifespan of your coffee grinder. To find out more about how to do it, check out this guide.
My Verdict
Here are the top three portable coffee grinders in comparison for your consideration:
- Best Overall – 1Zpresso JX-Pro-S: The best pick overall in terms of pure value for money.
- Best Premium Model – Comandante C40 Nitro Blade: One of the best portable grinders ever made but it will cost you a lot of money.
- Best for Under $100 – Timemore Chestnut C2: You don’t have to spend a whole ton of money to get a high quality, portable coffee grinder.
So which one do you want to buy? While most people will probably be best with the JX-Pro-S, it could be a good idea to splash the cash on the C40 or be a little more conservative with your money and opt for the C2. They’re all great portable grinders!
1Zpresso JX-Pro-S: Best Overall
- Price: $$
- Grind quality: Adaptable, very high
- Capacity: 30-35 g
- Burr info: 48 mm conical, Stainless steel
- Best for: Anyone
- Best for coffee type:
- Espresso, pour-over, filter coffee, Aeropress, French press, moka pot, cold brew
- Warranty: 1 year
