Aqil Amjid
You will be able to find the most worthy coffee grinder fit for your use from a wide range of available options. It includes electric grinders, manual grinders, burr, and ceramic grinders. We have thoroughly explained each type of grinder, which is necessary for you to know to choose the best budget coffee grinder. Likewise, several commonly asked questions have been answered in light of best utilizing coffee grinders.
Having a coffee grinder at home is way better than buying ground coffee. A coffee grinder has a vital role in brewing the best cup of coffee. In fact, even a good coffee maker will be of no use if your grinder is not good. Now among coffee grinders, you can always find affordable, such as the best coffee grinder under 50.
You should invest a good amount in a grinder, just the way you do for a coffee maker. However, if you are tight on budget, then you can also go for a cheap one. You just need to make sure that it is the best one in the lot. But before jumping into what these best coffee grinders under 50 are, let’s get to know about a grinder in detail. There are several things about a coffee grinder that you need to know, and it has several types that can really affect your coffee based on what type you have.
You have noticed that most of the coffee makers come with a built-in grinder while some don’t have it, and for that, you will have to separately buy a coffee grinder. Each one of them has its own pros and cons. A coffee machine with a built-in grinder is convenient than that of a separate grinder. But the cleaning and maintenance of a built-in grinder are a bit difficult than a separate coffee grinder. Another advantage of having a separate grinder is that it gives you wide grinding options for coffee, espresso, drip coffee, and other kinds. Even you can grind spices with it, while built-in grinders don’t give you that many options. Apart from these, if a built-in grinder breaks, you will have to buy a new coffee maker. Still, in the case of a separate coffee grinder, you will have to only buy it, not the whole coffee machine.
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OUR TOP PICKS
Editor’s Choice
Chefman Coffee Grinder
Fency and Durable Design
Amount Control
Types of Coffee Grinders
A coffee grinder can be divided into many categories based on several factors. Mainly, three different types are good enough for you to decide which coffee grinder you will go for. We will discuss the three categories: burr vs blade, conical vs flat, and manual vs electric. Let’s look at the differences and get to know what you will be needing the most.
Blade vs. Burr Coffee Grinder
Talking about how a coffee grinder grinds the coffee beans, it can be of two types. The first is a blade, and the other one is a burr.
A blade coffee grinder has a sharp blade in it. It is the same as blenders which you must have seen or even used. They are fast at grinding your coffee beans and even cost less compared to burr grinders. But they come with certain drawbacks due to which the majority of the people do not prefer them. So, the wrong side to a blade grinder is that it cannot provide you with a consistent grind. The size of your coffee grounds will never be the same; this makes the coffee grounds hard to be used for things like espresso or french press, etc. Also, the blade heats up when you use it, and there are chances that your coffee, when brewed, will taste as if it is burnt. And lastly, in a blade grinder, you get no option for controlling the grind size. Your coffee beans will be unevenly ground. The size won’t be in your control but rather how the manufacturer has placed the blade.
On the other hand, burr coffee grinders are widely used. People love them for many reasons, even though they are expensive compared to blade grinders. They grind the beans slowly, in some cases over a minute. But it has certain advantages which make it people’s favorite. First and foremost, the size of your ground coffee will always be consistent. You get to control the size, and whichever size you select, your coffee grounds will always be evenly sized. This also means that you could use coffee grounds from a burr grinder for many things like a french press, espresso machines or even cold brew.
Manual vs. Electric Coffee Grinder
Perhaps you know that a coffee grinder can be found in both forms, i.e. electric or manual. Both of these are used by people, and they have their own pros and cons. Let’s dig into how they differ and what perks you get from each of them.
The thing with manual grinders is that they are lightweight and small. You can easily disassemble them and place them anywhere in a drawer or something. Plus, using them is very simple; you just have to rotate its handle using your hand. But this means it requires a lot of muscle work. This leads to the point that using a manual coffee maker for yourself is a good idea, but if you have to prepare coffee for more people, then it can get tiresome. Finally, as an obvious thing, they will always cost less than electric because they have no motors or digital screens.
Now about electric coffee grinders, firstly they are easy to use, there is no hard work involved. You simply add your coffee beans, and it does the rest. Additionally, they are faster than manual grinders; you will always get the coffee grounds ready in under a minute. And they also allow you to control the grind size on a much detailed level. Another good thing about an electric coffee grinder is that some come with an integrated digital scale. It helps you grind the exact amount every time for consistent brewing. However, they will always cost more compared to the manual.
Flat vs. Conical Grinder
A burr inside any coffee grinder will be either of the two types, conical or flat. Generally, there is no difference which we would see with the naked eye in the coffee grounds. But when it comes to specialists and experienced coffee people, they tend to be picky about the type of burr.
The difference between them is very vague; some say that a conical burr will have a much even ground size compared to a flat one. Others argue that adjusting and setting up a conical burr is easier than a flat one. Everything aside, you will hear that you should be going for a conical burr most of the time. But being honest, the fact that you own a burr grinder and not a blade grinder is enough to be happy and enjoy your coffee. You should be least worried if the burr of your grinder is conical or flat.
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Best Coffee Grinder under 50 in 2022
1. Chefman Coffee Grinder Electric Burr
Editor’s choice
PROS:
Fancy Design, 17 Grind Settings, Amount Control
CONS:
Finest grind size not recommended
Chefman RJ44-A2 tops the list of best burr grinder under 50 because it is a complete package. From design straight down to the coffee grounds you get, it is perfect. And despite all the good things, it still costs you below 50 bucks; this is what makes it one of the best among cheap coffee grinders. OK, now speaking of the design, it comes in full black and has a nice glossy finish. Which makes it suitable to be placed anywhere at your home or even workplace. It is compact in nature, making it occupy less space and really is a good view when placed on a countertop.
Starting from the top, as always, is the bean hopper. Unlike many others, it does not stick out of the machine but rather is fixed inside it. It has a lid that is very easy to open, and you can add your beans there. The amount of coffee beans you can add here is 8 ounces which will produce enough coffee grounds for 10 – 12 cups. The amount control button is just below the hopper on the front; you can choose how many beans you want to grind. You can go for anything between 2 to 12 cups; this really is a handy feature. On the left of this coffee grinder is another knob, more of a scrolling wheel. Using this, you can adjust the grind size, and amazingly, it gets you to choose among 17 different grind settings. And just below the amount control knob comes the power button; it’s a one-touch system, press it, and the grinding process begins.
Its container at the bottom is rather fancy; you will be able to see the coffee grounds in it because it is transparent. Besides, it is a good view when half-filled with the grounds. Now speaking of the burr used inside for grinding, it actually is a good one. It is most of the time able to avoid overheating, which is useful when you grind lots of beans at once. And the grind results are good, too; your coffee grounds will always be the same size you have selected. There won’t be any uneven particles. However, using the finest grind setting may allow certain particles to just drop even when they are not ready to be added to the grounds. Now, all these good things for just 50 bucks is what really makes Chefman RJ44-A2 Coffee Grinder one of the best.
2. Hamilton Beach Electric Coffee Grinder
Runner up
PROS:
Compact Design, Multiple Grind Settings
CONS:
Average Durability
This blade grinder by Hamilton Beach is a compact coffee grinder that takes very little space in your kitchen and looks good too. It comes in all black, having a silver button and a transparent bean hopper with a glossy finish. And it is a perfect one to include in your kitchen accessories. Apart from its beautiful and appealing design, Hamilton Beach is a nice coffee grinder where you get to customise and grind the beans to your perfection.
On the top is the beans hopper, and you can see the beans in it from the outside. You can add up to 10 tablespoons of beans to it, which is more than enough for 14 cups. At the center is the power button and below this is the cup setting where you get to select the number of beans you would like to grind. You can choose anywhere between 4 to 14 cups. So you don’t have to grind all the beans you have added; you can only grind the amount you need. The grinder actually adjusts to the size you choose, and your ground coffee comes out in the exact same texture you would love.
The lower chamber where ground coffee is kept gives the machine a bit more fancy look. This chamber is easily removable, and you can very easily put it back in place too. Finally, the settings you set, i.e. cup size and grind size, are nicely precise, giving you more control over the cup of coffee you will brew later on. Plus, the grinder will shut off automatically when grinding is completed. Indeed, it’s a well thought out feature by Hamilton Beach.
3. Hario Skerton Plus
Budget manual coffee grinder
PROS:
Ergonomic design, Stepped grind adjustment
CONS:
Better to go for pro
Hario Skerton Plus is the best candidate among the manual coffee grinders and crushes its competitors and the basic version with good performance. What’s so good than an old version here? It’s ergonomically designed and owns a detachable crank handle to be carried easily everywhere. Its base is covered with nonslip rubber, so there will be no movement during grinding like other manual grinders. In addition, if you are expecting a uniform grind here, just like electric coffee grinders, you will not be just disappointed with a stronger grind shaft and burr stabilization plate inside it. Its ceramic conical burrs play a further role in a precise and uniform grind. At last, this manual coffee grinder under $50 didn’t expect much manpower because of the easy to use stepped grind adjustment.
4. SHARDOR Electric Coffee Grinder
Budget grinding with SHARDOR quality
PROS:
Rapid Grinding, Dishwasher safe
CONS:
Noisy sometimes
If you are going to deal with extra cost for a coffee grinder, this means your demand is a more precise and uniform grind than a built-in grinder of the coffee maker. Have a look at this best home coffee grinder under 50 by SHARDOR. Its ultimate performance gives your brew a taste just like a coffee café at home. From grinding coarse to fine coffee beans, everything is possible by pressing a lid for different time intervals depending on the demand. More, with 24000 r/min high power on this machine, your desired ground will be ready in a few seconds. Wait, it’s not just the coffee beans grinder; it also crushes nuts, pepper, salt, and other spices for you. In addition, the detachable stainless steel cups it owns are dishwasher safe, and you can easily clean them with no effort. At last, let’s look at what’s included in the packing by manufacturer, a 2-blade cup, 2-in-1 coffee spoon with a brush, and a user manual to better guide you for overall usage.
5. Hamilton Beach 4.5oz Coffee Grinder
A best portable grinder
PROS:
Portable, Retractable Cord, Safety Power Button
CONS:
Slides when in use, Blade Grinder, No Grind Size Control
Let’s look at another Hamilton Beach coffee grinder that is very handy and is not only for coffee but anything you would like to grind like spices, etc. It does not have much to offer in terms of customization, but it makes it to the top 5 because it is very handy. You can literally hold it in one hand, wrap it up easily and carry it with you anywhere. It comes with steel blades and not a burr, but for something so cheap and useful, who cares if it is not a burr. Realizing that your coffee grounds will be uneven, let’s look into what good things it has to offer.
Design-wise, it is lightweight, portable, and pretty basic. All it has is the lid you put on the top, the machine itself, and a retractable cord. So, remove the lid, put in the coffee beans, put the lid back on, and then there is a safety button that you have to keep pressed unless the grinding is done. Once done with grinding, you can hold the machine in one hand and rotate the lid clockwise using the other hand; this will roll back the cord on the inside. This feature makes it pretty neat where there is no mess of wires and cords everywhere. Moreover, you will be able to add around 9 tablespoons of coffee beans to it. This means that Hamilton Beach Electric Coffee Grinder can get you enough grounds for 12 cups of coffee each time.
Overall, it has a very minimal design compared to other grinders and grinds your beans quickly. However, as mentioned above, you do not get to do any customization on the bad side. But it’s a good one to carry around if you are the type of person who always wants their coffee from freshly ground beans.
Does Price affect the Grind capacity?
Generally speaking, the price definitely affects the grinding capacity of a coffee grinder. Because the higher the price of a coffee grinder, the larger the capacity of grinding it offers and vice versa. Suppose you want to grind a large amount of coffee at the same time. In that case, you will go for that coffee grinder with a large grinding capacity, and for that, you will have to invest some extra bucks in your new coffee grinder. Also, suppose you are low on a budget. In that case, a $20 or $30 coffee grinder will do the work but will come with less grinding capacity, which is suitable for grinding fresh beans each time you brew a cup of coffee.
Do I get multiple grind settings in a grinder under 50?
You should know that different brewing method requires different particle sizes. So, suppose you drink different types of coffee. In that case, you will have to go for a coffee grinder that offers multiple grind settings for the perfect consistency for each drink. Additionally, a coffee grinder under $50 surely comes with multiple grind settings. And all of the above-reviewed coffee grinders offer multiple grind settings. And thus allowing you of different grind sizes to have your preferred cup of coffee.
Does consistency of grind matters?
Among many factors, the consistency of grinds is the primary factor that mainly affects the taste of coffee. Further, suppose your ground coffee contains a mixture of larger and smaller grinds. In that case, these will extract at different rates, meaning that the smaller particles will over-extract and the larger ones will under-extract. Thus, this will result in unpredictable extraction rates; hence your cup of coffee will taste totally different from your preferable one. Also, if the grind is too fine, the coffee will taste bitter, while if the grind is too coarse, the coffee will turn out weak. Now, the consistency of the grind doesn’t depend on the coffee grinder; it always depends on your preferred grind size.
What are the popular coffee grinder brands?
Many coffee grinder manufacturers make the top of line grinders and are also praised by coffee aficionadoes. But it will be good that you choose a coffee grinder of such a brand that also manufactures espresso makers and coffee machines. Some of the world-known brands that manufacture excellent coffee products like coffee makers, espresso makers, coffee grinders, etc., are Hamilton Beach, De’Longhi, and Breville. Other contenders that are popular for excellent manufacturing grinders are:
- Cuisinart
- OXO
- Bodum
- Shardor
- Hario
- KitchenAid
- Sboly
- Baratza
- Krups
- Porlex
Is the noise of the coffee grinder annoying?
Almost all coffee grinders produce noise; some coffee grinders make a lot of noise while others work discretely without producing much noise. Before going for any coffee grinder, you have to decide what noise level suits your environment.
Zeeshan Ayaz
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