Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Timothy Byron Smith
Grinding coffee beans can be challenging. Due to the reason that espresso brewing brings out the finest or worst from coffee beans. So it is important to finely ground espresso beans, for an even espresso taste every time.
If you have an espresso machine at home without a built-in espresso grinder, you are bound to get your hands on a manual or electric espresso grinder. To make things easier for you, we have come up with the best espresso grinders under $500 that are available out there.
Our Top Picks
- Stainless steel conical burrs
- 60 precise grind settings
- Precision electronic grind timer
- 18-ounce bean hopper
- Gold-tone filter basket
- Sound-insulated thick cover
- 50mm Stepless Burrs
- Bottom-Burr Adjust
- Dosing adjustment timer
- Anti-clumping technology
- 50mm commercial-grade grinding
- Powerful quiet operation motor
- 0.65lb capacity tinted hopper
- Variable grinder adjustment control
- Passed quality assurance
Best Espresso Grinders Under $500: In-Depth Reviews
Should you get a blade grinder or a burr grinder for the perfectly pulled espresso shot? Or would an electric or manual grinder be a better option? Is coarsely ground beans better than finer ground coffee?
Here we have aimed this buyer’s guide to answer all possible questions you might have including detailed features for the best espresso grinders under $500.
1. Breville Smart Espresso Grinder
The Breville burr grinder is a state-of-the-art design with an 18-ounce coffee capacity. Featuring 60 unique grind settings, this espresso grinder gives its user the liberty to go crazy with espresso experimenting. It also has an integrated electronic timer that helps maintain grind time and consistency.
The Breville espresso grinder is a smart cookie as it retains the essential oils of the coffee with its specially designed stainless steel burrs. This dial-controlled machine is not only easy to use but is equipped with an easy-to-read LCD, so you can read the display even in dim kitchen lights.
What we like:
60 grind settings
Smart dosing feature for a perfect dose
A clear LCD
Large coffee holding capacity
Minimal machine heating
What we don’t like:
Not fitted for heavy use
Breville Smart Espresso Grinder
2. Eureka Mignon Facile Espresso Grinder
This espresso grinder is a perfect addition to your office space or at home if you often have family and friends over. With a noise-insulated chamber, the appliance makes no disturbing sounds while grinding coffee. It is 50 mm steel burrs that make this espresso grinder durable.
For an easy clean-up, you can also remove the top burrs and get rid of any ground coffee stuck underneath. With 5 different grind adjustments, you can select your perfect grind setting by simply turning a dial. For a perfect espresso shot, the Silenzio ensures anti-clumps, giving a perfect consistency.
What we like:
No noise
Durable
Removable burrs for easy maintenance
Gives perfect consistency ground coffee
Micrometric regulation controls the grind
What we don’t like:
Bit expensive
Eureka Mignon Facile Espresso Grinder
3. Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
This big black beauty gives commercial-quality ground coffee so you can prepare the perfect espresso shot. The rotating plates are powered by a smart productive motor that prevents overheating and also ensures that the coffee is ground with little to no sound possible. An easy rotatable dial controls different grind settings.
The Rancilio comes with a removable catch tray that collects any coffee residue so that your kitchen counter stays clean. With a smart dosing feature, this grinder conveniently dispenses exactly a single shot worth of ground coffee.
With a back panel made of stainless steel and a frame made of cast aluminum, this appliance is bound to last years.
What we like:
Soundproof
Durable
Easily to use and maintain
Hopper keeps coffee beans safe
Prevents overheating
What we don’t like:
Heavy
Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder
4. Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Equipped with a straight-thru grind mechanism, the Baratza Sette gives perfectly consistent ground coffee. The Stepless burrs are easy to remove, without you having to lose your perfect grind setting. Designed in Florence, this elegant machine is a sturdy, state-of-the-art design that will last for years to come.
The Conical Burr Coffee Grinder gives you the freedom to use your grinding knowledge to test by manually dosing your shots. This simple-looking machine is available in a sleek black color which will be a subtle and unique addition to your kitchen countertop.
What we like:
3 programmable dosing buttons
durable
Large hopper capacity
Sensitive grinding accuracy
What we don’t like:
Some component are plastic
Baratza Sette 270 Espresso Grinder
5. Hamilton Beach Electric Coffee Grinder for Espresso
This little beauty packs a punch with its stainless steel blades. It can give a yield of 12 cups of coffee which is surprising as the Hamilton grinder is compact and lightweight. You can easily carry it with you anywhere. The removable grinding chamber is easy to clean and rinse.
The Hamilton electric coffee grinder has a hideaway cord storage so it looks sleek while standing unused. This appliance is very affordable and gives you the liberty to manually time and dose the grinding process.
What we like:
Cheap
Portable
Relatively quiet
Easy to wash
What we don’t like:
It has blades with a single grind setting
Hamilton Electric Coffee Grinder
Why Do You Need a Good Grinder?
If you are going to invest in an appliance, you need to fully understand its importance. Grinding coffee is the first step in making espresso. You might think you could also use store-bought pre-ground coffee but for a full espresso flavor extraction, you need to grind fresh coffee.
Any random grinder will not allow you to explore the perfect espresso blend. A good grinder can give you instantly ground coffee. From fine to coarse ground, a grinder should give its user the ability to grind coffee according to their preference.
Factors to Consider Before Buying an Espresso Grinder
If you think any grinder can give you the same quality of espresso then you are way off the mark. There are certain features that one should consider before buying an espresso grinder so that your money doesn’t go to waste.
If you feel you don’t have the right knowledge for it, we have collected all the basics you need to know before investing in a grinder.
1. Grinding Quality, Speed, & Customization
This is the primary feature to be considered when searching for an espresso grinder. Your grinder should give you instant and quality ground coffee so that it translates into a cup of hot bold espresso.
Make sure that the grinding time is limited to 10 seconds when the appliance gives finely ground coffee. Some machines come with a myriad of grind settings that will allow you to experiment with your espresso.
2. How You Intend to Utilise It
If you are an espresso-only consumer, you would want to look for a grinder with high precision and accuracy. But if you like to experiment with your brewing processes, then a grinder with a wide-ranging grinder setting would be recommended.
It is key to understand what and how you will intend to use your espresso grinder. This way you might not spend extra dollars on a super-automatic machine with multiple features to consider, you don’t even know how to use it!
3. Burrs/Blade Material & Size
If you want perfectly consistent ground coffee, you need to make sure the burrs or blades of your appliance are large. Large blades or burrs have a greater surface area so more beans are ground in every rotation, saving you a lot of time.
4. Hopper Quality
The hopper stores the coffee before it goes into the grinder. You need to make sure the hopper is large to hold enough beans. It is also important that the hopper is air-tight so that it can store the coffee and keep them fresh.
5. Product Material
Good quality parts are imperative to consider when buying an espresso grinder. Strong metal blades or a thick chamber will make the appliance likely last longer.
6. Noise Level
Imagine waking up early and heading to the kitchen to make yourself an espresso, only to realize you are out of ground coffee. You would dare not grind any coffee with all the noise your grinder would make, waking up everyone asleep at home.
To save yourself from this embarrassing situation, you would want to invest in a grinder that is quiet whilst functioning. Factors such as the grinder motor or the blade type play a significant role in determining how loud or quiet a grinder is.
7. Cooling System
If you heavily consume coffee regularly, then it is likely that ordinary grinder blades will heat up and eventually burn your coffee beans. You need to ensure that your grinder has a built-in cooling system so that it can take on regular and frequent grinding. This will ensure freshly ground coffee.
8. Budget
You can find espresso grinders under $1000, $500, or even under $100. What matters the most ultimately is the investment! A durable and good-quality electric grinder will be more expensive than a manual one. You need to analyze your grinder preferences and then assign the budget for them. If you are a coffee enthusiast, a 500$ budget grinder for espresso is worth a long-term investment.
Manual Vs Electric Espresso Grinder
A manual espresso grinder doesn’t use any electricity to run; it solely depends on muscle power. It is smaller than an electric one so it can be easily stored.
Since it is a very simple machine, it is quite affordable. Manual grinders are also known to last longer as there aren’t any electrical components that may break down in the long run. Manual grinders are also loud to use.
An electric espresso grinder will do most of the work for you. It usually comes with a range of grinder settings that you can experiment with to get the perfect espresso. Since it is equipped with metal running parts, it is costly. Some good grinders are also quiet to use.
An electric grinder will save you a lot of time as you can prepare your espresso cups or preheat your espresso machine for brewing espresso whilst your coffee is being ground.
Burr Grinder Vs Blade Espresso Grinder
Blade espresso grinders are cheaper since they are manual machines most of the time. The blade grinder is very similar to blenders or food processors. However, they lack precision and end up giving uneven and coarse grind.
On the other hand, burr grinders are made specifically for grinding coffee. There are 2 types of burrs: flat and conical. The flat burrs are known to give the best yield but are more expensive than the conical ones. The burr grinders give a flowy consistency of grind coffee with every use.
FAQs
Conclusion
From reviewing the simplest grinders to the fanciest, we have shared with you all considerable features that will help you select the best espresso grinder under $500. This detailed guide is designed to answer all your concerns so you can invest your money in the right appliance.
Here is a highlight of our top 3 picks with the best features:
- Breville Smart Espresso Grinder: The Breville burr grinder is a state-of-the-art design with an 18-ounce coffee capacity. Featuring 60 unique grind settings. t also has an integrated electronic timer that helps maintain grind time and consistency.
- Eureka Mignon Silenzio Espresso Grinder: This espresso grinder is a perfect addition to your office space or at home if you often have family and friends over. The appliance makes no disturbing sounds while grinding coffee in a noise-insulated chamber.
- Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder: This big black beauty gives commercial-quality ground coffee so you can prepare the perfect espresso shot. An easy rotatable dial controls the 55 different grind settings.
Starting with freshly ground espresso to a smoking hot brewed shot, we are sure you will master the art of making and drinking espresso just like the Italians.