We tested 30 espresso grinders for home use over many months, measured them and examined them for consistency and espresso quality.
Which espresso grinder is the best for home? Which has what strengths and who is it suitable for? Do our professional baristas have personal preferences? We discuss all of this in our detailed espresso grinder test and final video. If you're not yet into espresso and are looking for a grinder in general, start with the basics on coffee grinders.
The price of the grinders ranges from 80 to 2200 euros in purchase price, with the focus on grinders up to 1000 euros. The espresso grinders were tested as part of the test protocol noted here.
Which espresso grinders did we test?
Initially, 24 espresso grinders were tasted in 6 groups. 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 (for the espresso tasting protocol).
For all tested espresso grinders, there are individual articles and individual videos. If you are looking for an espresso grinder, we recommend you first watch the final video "best espresso grinder for home". Individual videos and comparison videos can then help with further insight and decision-making.
Special thanks go to Dr. Marco Wellinger and ZHAW Wädenswil for their support in analyzing the particles.
The best espresso grinders for home
9 espresso grinders qualified for the final 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 espresso.
We already presented the most important data on the espresso grinders in the individual videos. In direct comparison, nothing changed, only confirmed once more.
In our view, the best espresso grinder on the market is not a grinder that we determine for you. The best espresso grinder is the one that suits your preferences based on the information gathered together. Therefore, Michel and Benjamin have different preferences when it comes to the right espresso grinder for home.
A sensory blind tasting should provide further arguments for making a decision.
The espresso grinder blind tasting
To challenge the best 9 espresso grinders of the test series once more, 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 vice champion and Aeropress champion. Philipp Schallberger is a two-time Swiss barista champion and semifinalist at the World Barista Championship. He was a WBC juror 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 a Brewers Cup vice champion and third place in Switzerland), each one set 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 result for each grinder should therefore be seen in connection with the barista's recipe. It also became clear that the time factor of 20 minutes for setting up a grinder was beneficial for some espresso grinders.
The tasted espresso roasts and coffees
Tasting took place over two days with two different espresso roasts.
Apas was chosen as a medium roasted 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 a lot when setting it up.
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 is reminiscent of tropical fruits. This lighter roast needs to be set up well so that it is balanced and its complexity comes to the fore.
The final tasting results
Final results of the tasting. 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
We were particularly impressed by the Niche Zero and the Eureka Mignon XL in this set. Overall, the Niche Zero had a slight edge depending on the perspective. However, since a single-dose grinder does not meet all needs and the Eureka Mignon XL also performed very well, we decided to take both grinders through to the next round.
The ECM also delivered good performance, not just in terms of particle distribution. Thanks to its very low fine content across all extractions, it is well suited for espresso, café crème, and filter coffee. In our test, it produced the best results for filter coffee together with the Niche Zero.
For more information about the grinders, we recommend our video reports as well as the individual reports linked above for the espresso grinders.
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 performed well in individual areas. A total of 3 grinders impressed us enough that we decided to take them through to the next round.
- First is the Mahlkönig x54, which is slow and otherwise shines only with average values in most respects, but brewed the second-best espresso. In terms of speed, it is the slowest in the set and cannot score points with grind quality consistency either.
- The Eureka Specialità serves only the third-best espresso in the set, but the difference to the better grinders is very small here. With 28 points, the espresso is still good. The grinder impresses with consistency and low noise levels. We also enjoyed the filter coffee. The speed is in the mid-range. The grind setting adjustment is difficult due to the small adjustment dial.
- The G-Iota not only brewed the best espresso (with a very narrow margin), but also impresses with consistency, retention and grind setting precision. Furthermore, it is the cheapest and yet a 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-best espresso grinders.
The fourth grinder in the round also performs well. The espresso tastes good and the Lelit PL72 particularly impressed us positively with its single-dose performance. However, the grinder is not very consistent, has high retention in normal use, and is also imprecise when it comes to repeatability of brewing recipes. Because these attributes are quite important, 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
The Sage Smart Grinder Pro performed best in the comparison of four espresso grinders priced between 150 and 250 euros. The grinder has once again proven to be a good entry-level grinder that delivers good results in many areas and even performs very well in its price category in some respects.
Comparison group espresso grinders 6: 80 - 150 euros
- 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
Current status across all tests - the group winners
Already tested:
We have reviewed some grinders in the past. In this context, however, we will take another close look at them (see list above).
- Graef CM 800 – already tested
- Niche Zero - already tested
- Sage Smart Grinder Pro – already tested
Commercial grinder or higher-priced
We will also take a 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 are incorporating 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 being continuously expanded. What's missing, what should be added? Please send suggestions.
The results were obtained after testing and working with one grinder each. The summarized results describe our measurements and our impressions.
Please also read the comments under our videos and compare various test reports to get a differentiated picture from different sources.
The espresso quality rating in the preliminary round was based on the tasting of two espressos by two tasters. In the next evaluation round, a different espresso will be tasted by a larger panel.
The best grinder is useless without a recipe. How to find the grind size and adjust the espresso in three shots is described in Preparing espresso.
