The Great Grinder Test 2023

This is a short blog with a reading time of 5 minutes. You can find the even more detailed article with additional data and background information here on our Swiss website.

We tested 30 espresso grinders for home use.

The results of our test series, which we conducted in detailed work over many months, were published on 12.03.2023. The grinders used cost between €80 and €2200, with a focus on espresso grinders under €1000.

Which is the best single dosing grinder? Which espresso grinder is best for home use? Which espresso grinder is right for me?

We address these questions in this article and in even more detail in our final video on the entire test series.

Which is the best espresso grinder for home?

The total of 30 espresso grinders are divided into 6 groups. In the final round of our espresso grinder test series, nine espresso grinders qualified as the best grinders for home use.

These grinders were once again sensorially compared in a blind tasting by our most experienced baristas and coffee sensory experts, using a dark espresso (Apas) and a lighter espresso (Doña Margarita) as our reference espressos.

We already showed the most important data on the espresso grinders in the individual videos, and in the direct comparison no changes were detected, only confirmed.

From our perspective, there is no single best espresso grinder on the market, but rather the best grinder is the one that best suits your preferences. Michel and Benjamin, for example, have different preferences when choosing the right espresso grinder for home.

A sensory blind tasting can provide additional arguments for making a decision.

How was the sensory panel composed?

The sensory panel was composed of renowned coffee experts, including Michel Aeschbacher, Felix Hohlmann, Philipp Schallberger, and Benjamin Hohlmann. Each of them adjusted one or two espresso grinders to the best possible espresso recipe for each grinder.

We chose individual recipes because not all grinders achieve their optimum with the same recipe. The result for each grinder should therefore be viewed in connection with the barista's recipe.

For adjusting a grinder, we worked with a strict time window of 20 minutes, which benefited some espresso grinders.

Which coffees did we use?

During the two-day tasting, two different espresso roasts were used. The first espresso, our Apas training espresso, comes from Brazil and is a medium-dark roast. The Apas has a nutty and chocolatey flavor profile and forgives minor adjustment errors.

The second espresso, Doña Margarita, comes from our own farm in Nicaragua. The coffee is fermented in a cooling room after harvest and then dried as a natural process coffee. Doña Margarita has a complex flavor of ripe cherries, chocolate, and tropical fruits. Because it is a lighter roast, it must be carefully adjusted to unfold its full complexity.

The tasting results

Comparison group espresso grinders 1: €760 - €2250

• Mahlkönig E65S GBW 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

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

Comparison group espresso grinders 3: €500 - €530

• 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

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

Comparison group espresso grinders 5: €150 - €250

• 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

Comparison group espresso grinders 6: €80 - €150

• 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

Higher-priced grinders and commercial grinders

We decided to focus initially on espresso grinders in the price range up to €1000 and use the results of two grinders from higher price categories as a reference.

However, we plan to test commercial espresso grinders at a later date.

The grinders we have tested so far and whose results are incorporated into our evaluation are:

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

We will update and expand the list on an ongoing basis, and we welcome recommendations for what else should be included.

Please note that our evaluations are based on working with one grinder each, and you should gather differentiated opinions from various sources. In the preliminary round, we evaluated two espressos from two tasters, and in the next round, a larger panel will taste a different espresso.