2024 Best Coffee Grinder Under $100: 7 Budget Coffee Grinders

If you’ve spoken to anyone passionate about coffee, you’ve almost definitely heard them go on and on about how crucial it is to grind your coffee at home, ideally right before brewing. While it may be annoying, I can say from experience that it is the single most important investment you can make to get better-tasting coffee at home.

However, not everyone can afford a high-end grinder at home. So I decided to use my experience with various grinders over the years, along with some research on the ones I haven’t yet tried, to compile a list of the best budget burr coffee grinders.

I included manual and electric models, knowing that many people won’t want to add hand grinding to their morning routine. So get yourself in coffee geek mode, and let’s find an inexpensive coffee grinder that best meets your needs!

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⬇Want to Skip the Geeky Details? Go directly to the top recommendation!⬇

Do Coffee Grinders Make a Difference?

Before getting into the detailed reviews, you might wonder, why the hype about coffee grinders? Do coffee grinders really make a difference, or can you still brew delicious coffee with the pre-ground stuff?

Feel free to do the deep dive into this ultimate coffee-grinding guide if you really want to geek out. But the short answer is yes, owning a grinder at home is the most crucial upgrade you can make to your home coffee setup.

Besides freshness—ground coffee can go stale in as little as 30 minutes—grinding coffee at home also lets you dial in the perfect grind size for each brewing method. And even within one brewing method, burr grinders allow you to control coffee extraction by subtly altering grind size.

My Pick For The Best Affordable Coffee Grinder

Most folks are probably searching for the best electric burr grinder under $100 for home use. And, considering that finding the best budget coffee grinder is all about affordability, I tried to make the overall best choice the perfect blend between price and quality. Basically, I wanted to choose something affordable without making it no better than a blade grinder.

At a Glance: 2024 Best Budget Coffee Grinders

Before getting into the detailed reviews, let’s get a quick overview of the top-rated budget coffee grinders and the primary reason why I chose them:

• Cuisinart DBM-8P1 Supreme Grind: Overall Best Price/Quality Ratio
• TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO Manual Burr Grinder: Best Burr Grinder & Quality Under 100
• OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder: Best Budget Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
• Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder: Runner-Up for Best Budget Electric Grinder
• SHARDOR Electric Burr Grinder: Most Affordable Electric Burr Grinder
• Capresso Infinity Plus: Best Budget Burr Grinder for Espresso
• Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill: Best Coffee Grinder for Under $50

Best Budget Manual Burr Grinder

I’ll cover the choice between electric and manual grinders in more detail after the reviews. But for now, I want to make sure you understand the vast price difference between top-rated manual coffee grinders and their electric counterparts.

If you are truly stuck with a budget below $100, the best quality coffee grinding will come from one of the manual grinders. In my brewing experience, hand grinders like the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO and the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill produce much better grinds and extraction than any of the cheap electric models here.

Trust me, I understand the convenience and speed of electric grinding. However, with manual grinders, the lower price does not inherently mean worse coffee flavors. Electric grinders cost more because of the extra parts like motors and other electrical components, not necessarily because they have a quality burr design that makes even particle sizes.

So for an ideal grind quality amongst budget options, you should choose a manual grinder. I just wanted to clarify this common confusion before jumping into the reviews.

See Also: How To Choose The Best Manual Coffee Grinder: 2024 Guide

Best Coffee Grinders Under 100: Reviews & Buying Guide

Now that you’ve seen an overview of these top-rated budget burr grinders, let’s get into the details of each. I’ll cover the pros and cons, plus a takeaway of who should strongly consider each product.

Cuisinart DBM-8P1 Supreme Grind: Overall Best

The Cuisinart DBM-8P1 Supreme Grind is the overall best budget grinder I could find that will satisfy most people’s needs. The grind quality is not as high as some of the manual grinders in this lineup, but for a budget electric grinder, you get more than you pay for. The stainless steel material is sturdy enough and has a sleek and modern look. With no unnecessary features like touch screens that can drive the prices up, your money goes to coffee grinding.

There are 18 grind settings and convenient markings to denote general territories of fine, medium, and coarse. You might not choose this particular model if you regularly make espresso, since the lack of grind settings might frustrate you. But besides electric burr grinding, the standout feature is the 8-oz hopper large grind chamber that can hold up to 32 cups.

Pros

• Fantastic price
• Sturdy stainless steel
• Electric burr grinder= consistent grinds
• 18 grind settings
• Sleek modern look

Cons

• Plastic components can create static (aka grind retention at finer settings.)
• Can be noisy

Takeaway

Overall, I chose the Cuisinart DBM-8P1 as the best budget grinder not because it has the most amazing grind quality but because of its balance of price and quality. It is an electric burr grinder with 18 settings, enough to work on a range of home brewing methods. This lineup of the best coffee grinders for every budget will give you a sense of the range of prices if you want professional grind quality. But this affordable grinder is worth it for a newcomer to specialty coffee looking to upgrade from pre ground coffee without breaking the bank.

TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO: Best Hand Grinder Under 100

The TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO is an upgraded version of their C2 Hand Grinder. Since both are under $100, I chose this model for its upgraded S2C steel burrs. When it comes to getting a consistent particular size, the burr quality is crucial. And these burrs give fantastic grind quality, are durable, and are sharp enough to make the manual grinding extra fast.

Visually, this newer model has a sleeker/modern look, and the aluminum body makes it durable enough for traveling/packing away in a bag. There is an anti-slip material to get an extra secure grip, meaning you can grind faster without it slipping out of your hands. Lastly, and most crucial, the grind adjustment knob is step-less, which allows you to make precise adjustments when dialing in the perfect extraction.

Pros

• Step-less grind adjustment knob
• Labels for grind settings
• S2C steel burrs for consistent grind size
• Anti-slip grip
• Cleaning brush

Cons

• Smaller capacity

Takeaway

The TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO is on the expensive side compared to other hand grinders. But in terms of grind consistency, it wins as the best burr grinder under $100. Assuming manual grinding is okay for you, the high-quality burrs and step-less adjustment allow you to fine-tune the grind size to find that perfect extraction. Plus, you can travel with it as it is compact and durable!

OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder: Best Budget Electric Burr Coffee Grinder

Next is the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, my choice as the best grind quality for electric burr grinders under $100. Barring any sizeable discounts, you will be spending more than you would on the Cuisinart DBM-8P1. But you do get a slightly better grinder.

Firstly, the weight is at least two pounds heavier, and I’ve learned that I can decently judge a grinder by the weight—it signals durable construction, legit parts, and especially higher-quality burrs. There are 38 total grind settings (macro and micro,) and there’s a powerful DC motor that works fast without overheating the beans.

Pros

• Stainless steel conical burrs
• Large hopper (12oz.)
• 38 grind settings
• Grinding trap door to prevent messes
• Static-fighting grinds bin to prevent sticking

Cons

• Expensive for a budget coffee grinder

Takeaway

Compared to the best electric coffee grinder for under $50, you can tell just by holding this product that it is higher quality. Better burrs, a stronger motor, and tighter overall construction make this grinder heavier and more durable. So if you set a maximum budget of $100, this will be the best electric burr grinder you can find, at least until I update the article next year!

Bodum Bistro: Runner-Up Budget Burr Grinder

I chose the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder as the runner-up best budget coffee grinder amongst electric models. The price is almost identical to the OXO Brew grinder, and it still is an acceptable price for getting a decent electric burr grinder. Again, I only tend to recommend this type of grinder if you are set on electric models. Otherwise, you will get a much better grind quality from similarly priced manual grinders—the plastic material and overall lightweight construction speak to the less consistent grind quality.

And even though Bodum is a well-established company in the coffee world, I don’t like the limitation of only 12 grind settings. I have brewed decent Chemex brews with the Bodum Bistro when staying with a friend who owned it, but I can’t say I would choose this over a quality hand grinder at the same price.

Pros

• Compact design
• Low noise level
• Dishwasher-Safe Borosilicate glass grounds bin
• Stainless steel conical burrs

Cons

• Lightweight plastic construction
• Limited grind settings

Takeaway

Since this comes from Bodum, a brand I’ve purchased for years, I decided the Bodum Bistro would win as runner-up for the best electric coffee grinder under $100. It seems to perform best on the coarser end of grind settings (Chemex & French Press,) and the lightweight plastic construction was disappointing. But compared to a blade grinder, this thing will lead to much better coffee.

SHARDOR Burr Grinder: Best Cheap Electric Coffee Grinder

Next is the SHARDOR Electric Burr Grinder, my choice as the cheapest electric coffee grinder. This compact machine can squeeze anywhere in your kitchen, and compared to pre-ground coffee, you should notice a huge upgrade in flavor. The flat burrs are also a nice touch, something you usually see in more expensive grinders.

But keep in mind that an electric burr grinder this affordable has to cut corners. The lightweight plastic material and cheaper burrs mean that the grind consistency won’t be amazing. I do not recommend this grinder for espresso, although it can work fine for people looking to get fresher coffee in their drip machine. But for a similar price, you can get a fantastic Hario hand grinder that will make a much better grind quality.

Pros

• Metallic flat burrs
• 16 grind settings
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Lightweight plastic material
• Inconsistent grinds, especially with fine grind setting

Takeaway

You can tell by holding this grinder that it is one of the cheapest electric burr grinders you will find—anything below this price for an electric grinder is not worth the money in my opinion. But this is the most affordable way to upgrade a typical drip coffee routine at home with fresh grounds.

Capresso Infinity Plus: Best Budget Coffee Grinder for Espresso

The Capresso Infinity Plus is the brand’s top grinder, and you will usually see it for just under $100. While this is no doubt still a budget coffee grinder, it has a more solid feel to it. And the commercial-grade steel burrs seem to perform much better on the fine grind settings. While serious espresso drinkers might consider more expensive grinders, this thing can definitely get the job done.

The motor and gear design are quiet and produce less friction/heat, which is always a plus when in fine-grind settings. And speaking of settings, the labels showing grind size categories are a nice touch for less experienced coffee brewers. Lastly, the top burr is simple to remove which makes cleaning super easy.

Pros

• 16 grind settings & espresso capable
• Low heat & quiet motor
• Easy cleaning (removable upper burr)
• Durable commercial-grade steel burrs

Cons

• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene material (not as heavy as stainless steel)
• Less nuance in coarse grind settings

Takeaway

For some reason, this Capresso Infinity Plus seems to have more nuance and precision in the finer grind settings, making it an acceptable budget espresso grinder. The burrs are higher quality than a typical budget electric grinder, and the quiet motor is a nice touch.

Hario Skerton Plus: Best Coffee Grinder for Under $50

The Hario Skerton Plus is the updated version of the original Hario Skerton, which gives us some nostalgia as the Skerton was my first grinder in 2012! And this redesign has an upgraded grind shaft and a burr stabilization plate that makes even more consistent grinds. There are fewer boulders and fewer fine particles in all grind settings.

Again, if you are willing to deal with the annoyance of hand grinding, for less than $50 you are getting a grind quality that is much better than the $100 electric burr grinders. It’s compact enough to travel easily, although you should avoid breaking the glass bowl.

Pros

• Large 100-gram capacity
• Upgraded grind shaft and burr stabilization plate= consistent grinds
• Compact
• Easy grind adjustment

Cons

• The glass material can be fragile

Takeaway

If you don’t mind hand grinding, this Hario Skerton Plus has to be the most affordable way to get a high-level grind quality. There are more precise (and expensive) hand grinders out there. But since I’ve used this model while traveling many times, I am super confident in recommending this as the best coffee grinder for under $50!

Buying Considerations: How To Choose A Budget Coffee Grinder

Whether or not you read through the fine details of each budget grinder, the plan for this section is to provide some general considerations when shopping for the best budget coffee grinder. Knowing what to look for ensures you don’t choose poor-quality designs or materials.

Capacity

When it comes to a coffee grinder’s capacity, there are two primary considerations:

• Can it hold enough coffee for your brewing method/recipe?
• Do you want to store coffee beans in the hopper?

I say the first question is the only important one. Make sure your grinder can hold enough coffee so that you can grind everything at once. For example, a tiny hand grinder is not ideal if you usually make a large Chemex in the morning.

And if you brew on a large drip machine, you need to make sure the bottom grounds bin will hold your typical dose.

In terms of storing beans in the top hopper: it might be convenient at a coffee shop, but there’s no need to do it at home. Coffee shops are constantly grinding beans faster than they can go stale. But at home, follow proper coffee storage principles and measure your beans just before brewing.

Grind Settings

The number of grind settings determines how much flexibility you have when brewing. As you adjust a burr grinder, the distance between the burrs changes, altering the particle size. Better grinders will have more grind settings. This range allows you to move between brewing methods and also fine-tune the extraction with any singular method.

Some grinders get better/more precise results at the fine end while others are suited to coarse methods. Knowing your preferred brewing method may help you decide on the best budget coffee grinder for you.

Espresso Capability

It is tough to highly recommend an espresso coffee grinder under $100. The Capresso Infinity Plus seemed to have more nuance at the finer end, and the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO should do okay too.

But the challenge with an espresso grinder is not just grinding fine. You also need to make the smallest precision adjustments to grind size while dialing in for espresso. And none of the grinders here would suffice for dialing in espresso at the advanced level.

Burr vs Blade: Why Burr Grinders Are Better

But burr grinders set the two burrs at precise distances, resulting in an even particle size. And more expensive burr grinders provide precise adjustments to this distance as well as high-quality/sharp burrs that efficiently grind.

Budget Electric vs Budget Manual Burr Grinder

As mentioned earlier, there is a gigantic difference between electric and manual grinders at similar prices. For example, at a budget below $50, the best grinder will always be a manual model like the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill or its smaller cousin the Hario Mini-Slim Plus. These hand grinders produce a particle consistency similar to a more expensive electric burr grinder like the Baratza Encore.

But there’s no denying the fact that manually grinding can be a hassle. Especially if you brew large amounts at a time (Chemex, larger coffee maker, etc.,) grinding by hand takes several minutes.

So for coffee geeks who are willing to put in the work for superior grind quality and coffee flavor, go with a high-end hand grinder like the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO. The bonus is that you can travel with these manual burr grinders, bringing your delicious coffee wherever you go!

Should I Invest in an Expensive Grinder?

After reviewing the products, you might be wondering, are cheap coffee grinders worth it? Or should you save for a more expensive grinder?

If you can afford it and will appreciate the subtleties of high-level coffee brewing, I think an expensive grinder is worth it. High-end grinders have better burrs, better motors, and grind consistency that will shock you. Plus, having 40 or more grind settings allows you to truly dial in the perfect extraction.

Best Affordable Coffee Grinder: Can You Spend Slightly More?

I understand the need to stick to a budget. But my go-to grinder recommendation in last year’s guide to the best coffee grinders was the Baratza Encore. It is only slightly more expensive than the 100-dollar budget set in this grinder lineup, and the difference in quality is night and day.

General FAQs About Inexpensive Grinders

As a review and to ensure you fully understand budget coffee grinders, let’s finish up by answering the most common questions people ask on this topic.

Final Thoughts on Affordable Coffee Grinders

I hope this guide to affordable coffee grinders was useful. Choosing a grinder is already difficult, but doing so on a tighter budget can be even more confusing. For the best balance of price and quality, I would say always go with a manual grinder like the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill or the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 PRO.

However, if you would rather have an electric model under $100, my top recommendation is the Cuisinart DBM-8P1 Supreme Grind. Whatever you choose, trust me that the smell of freshly ground coffee in your house is a huge upgrade!