We tested every grinder on this list — here are our top picks for new home baristas.
So you’re ready to buy your first serious espresso grinder? You’ve come to the right place! When we construct our best-of lists we pick gear we have actually used extensively. We test all of these grinders, so we feel confident in advising you on the best buy for your money. As with many pieces of coffee equipment, more expensive doesn’t automatically mean better. In fact, one of the grinders on this list features the same burrs found in grinders that are $300 more, which says something about the value propositions in this list.
Note that we break this list down into 3 top categories and an honorable mention. We’ve got our crowd pleasing fan favorite, a value loaded best features option, then our ultimate pick. Finally, we always share an honorable mention that didn’t quite make the top 3.
Let’s take a look!
In This Article
Which Espresso Grinder Should I Buy? Our Quick Answer
Don’t have time to dive into the full list? The short answer to which espresso grinder is right for you really comes down to what level of performance you’re after. All three of these grinders punch above their weight for the price, but they do differ slightly in speed and retention primarily. The Mignon Zero is the most expensive, which may seem counterintuitive, but it provides the best overall performance while costing the most, the ESP Pro is a great middleground and can handle drip coffee or espresso, and then the Opus 2 gets our ultimate nod due to its exceptional value. Note that this list is constructed with newer users in mind, check out our Top 3 Advanced Espresso Grinders list if you’re a seasoned home barista.
Eureka Mignon Zero — Fan Favorite
Eureka Mignon Zero Espresso Grinder
The Mignon Zero is a stepless adjust grinder featuring 55mm flat steel burrs. This type of burr is the same one found on more expensive grinders, with the only drawback for the lower price being a simpler featureset (i.e. no programming). One of the only issues with a flat steel burr configuration is a slight increase in retention, but the Mignon Zero solves this with its included bellows on the hopper. While they do take a firm hand to operate, they help to clear the grind chamber of any excess grounds. One thing for new users to keep in mind is the stepless adjustment on this and the other grinders on this list. This adjustment means that instead of geared steps like you’d find on simpler grinders, the burrs here screw together and apart with the knob, creating a near infinite number of grind settings. It can be trickier to learn a grinder like this, but it’s worth it in the long run for the precision.
The Mignon Zero also brings you Eureka’s rock-solid, long lasting construction and compact footprint. Just stick to espresso with this one, it’ll struggle to grind coarse enough for drip brewing. In the end the Mignon Zero will be a perfect choice for the home barista that wants high-end performance without that inflated price tag.
Flagship-level flat burr grind quality for espresso, without the flagship price tag.
New to stepless grinders? Want to Step Up Your Grind?: Stepless vs. Step Grinders
Baratza Encore ESP Pro — Best Features
Baratza Encore ESP Pro Espresso and Coffee Grinder
The Baratza Encore ESP Pro gets our best features nod because it actually saves you some money compared to the Mignon Zero, and it does it while adding a digital display and the ability to grind coarse enough for drip coffee. With upgraded materials that make it a bit sturdier than normal Encore models, you don’t necessarily lose any reliability here compared to the Mignon Pro. The main tradeoff is smaller burrs, with 40 mm conical steel instead of the flat steel of the Mignon. This means your grind will take a bit longer, but with other features like a fitted dosing cup, lit grind area, anti-static dosing, and a hopper engineered to better feed beans into the grind chamber, the tradeoff here will be worth it for many.
We recommend the Encore ESP Pro to the beginner who wants some of the features of higher end grinders, but without sacrificing on price or feeling too underpowered.
Espresso-ready precision, a digital display, and enough range for drip coffee, all on a compact footprint.
Go deeper: Baratza Encore ESP Pro Crew Review
Fellow Opus Gen 2 — Ultimate Pick
Fellow Opus Gen 2 Espresso Grinder
It may seem counterintuitive that our ultimate pick is also our most affordable, but it’s for very good reason. The Fellow Opus Gen 2 feels in line with the other grinders on this list, but for a significantly lower price tag. This is Fellow’s second shot at their Opus espresso grinder, and we were already impressed with the first generation. This time out everything is just a bit more premium, and this grinder’s stepless adjust, single dose hopper, auto-stop, and magnetic dosing cup still provide impressive specs. The 48mm conical burrs are a nice middle-ground between the larger flat steel burrs on the Mignon Zero and the smaller burrs on the Encore. The result is a bit less speed than the Mignon Zero and a few fewer features than the Encore ESP, but a much lower price tag. Sounds like a sweet deal to us!
Premium feel and stepless precision at the lowest price on this list.
Ascaso H64 — Honorable Mention
Ascaso H64 Espresso Grinder
The Ascaso H64 is a nifty little grinder with a big 64mm flat burr set, which makes it lightning quick for the size. Also featuring stepless grind adjust, the H64 steps things up a bit with programmable timed dosing using a simple display on its front. It even features a set of bellows like the one on the Mignon Zero, should you want to use it for single-dose grinding. We selected this grinder as an honorable mention because while it is well equipped, it’s also quite a bit more expensive than other grinders on the list. It does offer features and performance that justify this price, and we think this is an excellent pick for the user looking for truly higher end performance and some programmability without breaking the $1,000 barrier.
Big 64mm flat burrs and programmable dosing for the barista ready to spend a bit more, still under $1,000.
Single dose or hopper? Single Dose Grinders Vs. Hopper Fed: What’s Better for Home Espresso?
Video Highlights Summary
Our video version of this list:
- The fan-favorite Eureka Mignon Zero, which feature the same 55mm burrs as grinders that cost $300 more.
- The wide feature-set of the Baratza Encore ESP Pro, and why it took our the best features prize.
- The exceptional value of the Fellow Opus Gen 2 for a steal of a price, and why that makes it our Ultimate Pick.
- Our honorable mention, the Ascaso H64, and why its programming, 64 mm burrs, and bellows/hopper options justify an elevated price point.
- Some advice for how to use the bellows and single-dosing functionality of some of these grinders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which grinder is best for home espresso?
It depends on what you value most. For new home baristas, the Eureka Mignon Zero delivers top-tier flat burr grind quality, the Baratza Encore ESP Pro adds the most features and can also grind for drip coffee, and the Fellow Opus Gen 2 offers the best overall value. If you want programmable dosing and faster grinding, the Ascaso H64 is worth the extra investment.
What does stepless grind adjustment mean?
Instead of clicking between fixed settings, a stepless grinder lets you turn the adjustment knob to move the burrs closer together or farther apart in tiny increments. That gives you a near-infinite range of settings for precise espresso dial-in. It takes a little longer to learn, but the precision pays off.
Are flat burrs or conical burrs better for beginners?
Both can make excellent espresso. On this list, the flat burr grinders (Eureka Mignon Zero and Ascaso H64) grind faster, while the conical burr Baratza Encore ESP Pro and Fellow Opus Gen 2 take a bit longer but come in with extra features or a lower price. For most new home baristas, features and budget are the bigger deciding factors.
Can I use an espresso grinder for drip coffee?
Some can. The Baratza Encore ESP Pro grinds coarse enough for drip coffee as well as espresso. The Eureka Mignon Zero is best kept to espresso, since it struggles to grind coarse enough for drip brewing.
What are grinder bellows and how do you use them?
Bellows are a flexible cover on top of the grinder that you press down to push air through the grind chamber, clearing out leftover grounds so less coffee is retained between doses. On grinders like the Eureka Mignon Zero, use a firm press. A gentle tap won't fully clear the chamber.
Browse Espresso Grinders at Seattle Coffee Gear
Found your favorite? We carry all four of these grinders — and plenty more — at every price point.
Shop Espresso Grinders Still deciding? Read How to Choose an Electric Espresso Grinder →