After deciding that you want to upgrade the quality of your homemade cup, you’ll most likely realize that you need some additional equipment that will take your extraction to the next level.
A while back when I was continuously trying and failing to get the desired results, I came to the conclusion that it’s best to invest in a proper pour-over grinder to finally improve my coffee.
I used a manual grinder back then. After my extensive research on what is the best solution to my issue, I opted for an electric burr that suited my pour-over device.
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I learned a lot throughout the way and in this post, I will give you all the answers you need:
What are the best burr coffee grinders for pour-over?
Are there any hand grinders that will perform well for this brewing method?
What does “perform well” actually mean and is the burr grinder the only suitable option?
Are there any affordable products that will fit your budget?
Among my recommendations, you will also see a bit more expensive burr grinders for pour-over that are also suitable for commercial use.
Let’s dive in.
What Are the Best Hand and Electric Grinders for Pour-Over Coffee?
Before we start, if you’re a beginner and you don’t know how to choose the best coffee grinder for pour-over, I recommend checking out the buyer’s guide.
On the following overview table, you can see the products I’ve reviewed and some basic information on them:
Model | Burrs | Type | Price Bracket |
---|---|---|---|
1. Baratza Encore | Conical | Electric | $$ |
2. Lido 3 | Conical | Manual | $$$ |
3. Baratza Virtuoso+ | Conical | Electric | $$$$ |
4. Timemore Chestnut C3 Pro | Conical | Manual | $ |
5. Fellow Ode Brew Grinder | Flat | Electric | $$$$ |
6. 1Zpresso JX Pro S | Conical | Manual | $$ |
7. Fuji Royal R-220 | Flat | Electric | $$$$$$ |
8. Baratza Forte BG | Flat | Electric | $$$$$$$$ |
The following list is based on extensive research and my personal experience with the reviewed products, or friends’ recommendations.
That being said, here are the best pour-over grinders:
1. Baratza Encore
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Baratza Encore is definitely one of the best beginners’ grinders suitable for the pour-over brewing method and will let you have a greatly satisfying cup of coffee.
Baratza Encore has hardened alloy steel conical burrs and is an electric tool that is easy to use, convenient, and provides the grind consistency, needed for proper coffee extraction.
Considering its quality and longevity, it also comes at a perfect price and is a fantastic option for beginners.
Therefore Baratza Encore is the pour-over grinder that has one of the best quality-to-price ratios.
It also has a 1-year warranty.
This is the one I opted for after realizing that my Hario Skerton just wouldn’t work with the pour-over coffee brewing method.
- If you’re planning on using it for both pour-over and espresso, it’s definitely not the right choice.
This is not the grinder that’s capable of producing proper espresso-fine grind.
Nevertheless, if you use the more forgiving pressurized portafilter with your espresso machine, this product should be good enough. - It’s an electric burr which means that it makes noise.
It’s not the loudest grinder I’ve encountered, but this is something that you need to take into consideration if you’ve never had one with a motor before.
It’s safe to say that it wouldn’t wake up the whole house, but if you live in a studio flat with your partner (which was my case when I was using it) – well it will most likely disrupt his/her sleep. - When it comes to the Encore grinder design – I definitely wouldn’t call it sleek.
Many people actually prefer to pay more for a grinder that will look better on their kitchen countertop.
Have in mind though, that many companies rely on our superficial tendencies and put in more effort in the design than in the quality.
So there are many more expensive grinders with better looks, but unfortunately soon after you try them out you realize that they aren’t as efficient at doing their job well.
Furthermore, the Baratza Encore has an improved exterior since 2020th and looks much nicer than before.[/su_note]
It’s also worth noting that this grinder is quite sturdy. It will will last long.
Furthermore, if you have any issues with it, you won’t actually have to invest in a new one – the company takes care of all customers’ grinders upon request.
Just check out the Baratza repair program in the link here, and you can see how it works.
Mine is still in perfect shape after 10 years of use.
After the 5th year, I gave it to a friend that had just started her pour-over journey and she’s been happy with it to this day.
She just said she has paid for a burr replacement a while ago. She’s more than happy with the grinder’s performance.
Anyway, I think you got the point and understood why I’ve included this grinder on the list.
Overall it’s a durable electric burr that provides the necessary grind consistency and it’s perfect for beginners who want to make excellent pour-over coffee at home.
2. Lido 3
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
For those of you who are in search of a manual coffee grinder for pour-over coffee, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Lido 3.
Many coffee enthusiasts swear by it and the Lido brand has established itself years back when it was much harder to find high-quality hand grinders.
Improving your grind consistency will make the most difference in your pour-over coffee’s flavor. Therefore, by opting for this product, you will be able to see a large improvement.
The Lido 3’s price is higher, especially if compared to the cheap manual alternatives. However, the design and construction of the Lido 3 makes it a sturdy and durable device that will last for years to come.
Not only that – it’s really convenient as you can grind a larger amount of beans at once – around 70g.
If you occasionally make larger batches, or cold brew coffee concentrate, that’s a pretty cool advantage.
Related post: A Complete Cold Brew Coffee Brewing Guide
You should consider that you have to put in some of your strength as there is no electric motor that makes the Lido 3 grind on its own.
Still, you’ll get to grind much faster compared to other hand grinders.
At the same time, you’ll be avoiding the noise coming from an electric motor.
The Lido 3 grinder has a steel conical burr set, which performs amazingly well.
When I say that this is a high-quality grinder, I mean that it provides results just as good as those of a $450+ electric one.
That’s why the investment in such a product is more than reasonable.
It’s easy to use and to dial in the grind setting.
Lido grinders are originally marketed as espresso hand burr grinders, though Lido 3 model performs best at coarser settings.
If you’re planning on using this one for both espresso and pour-over, it’s best to opt for the Lido E-T model.
It actually comes at the same price but has twice as many settings which provide a more precise espresso result.
Anyway, I expect that the brand will soon consolidate its Lido 3, and E-T models so that it’s easier for us to pick.
I have a co-worker that has the Lido 3 for quite some time and is perfectly happy with this manual pour-over grinder he uses at home.
He doesn’t use it for espresso though, so stick to my previous E-T recommendation if you’re about to grind for both.
3. Baratza Virtuoso+
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
If you’ve set a higher budget for your pour-over grinder this one is a perfect pick.
There are quite a few reasons why the Baratza Virtuoso+ deserves your attention.
Its burr set grinds even better than the Encore’s and it produces fewer coffee fines.
It’s heavier and, to be honest, looks better than the Baratza Encore.
It is sturdy and will last you for years to come.
On top of that, the grinder repair program I mentioned in the Encore review applies to this grinder as well. So the customer service will have your back if a need emerges.
The Virtuoso+ has another advantage – the digital timer.
You can set it from 0.1 to 40 seconds, which is really convenient as it allows repeatable dosing.
It makes less noise than the Encore, which is the advantage that may seal the deal for some of you.
So in case you are wondering what to get – you won’t make a mistake with this coffee grinder for pour-over, as the Baratza Virtuoso+ is truly one of the top products that you can get your hands on.
Especially considering its price.
If you’re thinking about using it for espresso as well – I would only recommend it to those of you who use a pressurized portafilter.
By the way, it could be used with a non-pressurized filter basket too, but first, it needs to be calibrated finer.
Related Post: Pressurized vs. Non-Pressurized Portafilters: Differences Explored
With that being said, it will do a perfect job for your pour-over.
If you are wondering whether to get the Encore or the Virtuoso+ for your pour-over and the price isn’t a concern of yours – go for the Virtuoso+. It’s the better alternative.
4. Timemore Chestnut C3 Pro
Click here to check out the price and more photos on Amazon.
The Timemore Chestnut C3 Pro is one of the best manual grinders for pour-over coffee because it’s capable of producing even and consistent grind on coarse settings. Its stainless steel burrs have a patented S2C (spike-to-cut) design that provides excellent grinding performance.
Furthermore, this manual grinder has a durable metal body and a compact foldable handle.
These grinder characteristics make the C3 Pro model by Timemore sturdy, long-lasting, compact, and easy to carry around when necessary.
Its textured surface reduces slipping and makes holding the grinder easier.
The upper chamber of the Timemore C3 can hold around 20 grams of whole beans.
If you need a larger capacity to grind more beans at once, get the C3 MAX PRO model instead. It accepts around 30 grams of whole beans in its upper chamber.
It’s also worth noting that the C3 Pro Timemore Chestnut is a step grinder.
Nevertheless, the adjustments are fine-enough for you to be precise when dialing in the perfect grind for the particular type of coffee beans you use.
Click here to check out its price and more photos on Amazon.
I have the C2 model and I’m quite happy with its performance, especially considering its price.
The C3 PRO definitely does a better job at providing an even grind. The S2C design of the burrs makes a difference for sure.
Nevertheless, you can still make great pour-over coffee with the C2 model as well. So if you’re a beginner who’s just started exploring the exciting world of home coffee brewing, you may find the C2 model to be the ideal option for the budget you’ve set.
5. Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
Click here to check out its price and more photos on Amazon.
The Fellow Ode Brew Grinder provides excellent grind quality on medium and coarse settings. This makes it one of the top electric devices for pour-over coffee.
Its step adjustments are fine enough to let you dial in the ideal grind with precision and ease.
The Fellow Ode has 64 mm flat burrs capable of producing an even grind for the best perfectly-balanced flavor.
Furthermore, the design of this device is simple, nice, and compact. It won’t take up much space on your kitchen counter and will definitely look good on it.
Another advantage of the Fellow Ode is how quiet it is.
It will make significantly less noise, compared to other reviewed electric burr grinders on this list. Especially if comparing it to the Baratza models.
Therefore, if you don’t want to wake up anyone during your pour-over coffee morning ritual, the Fellow Ode may be the most suitable choice.
On the inside of the Fellow Ode lid, there is a grind chart. You can use it as basic guidance when initially dialing in your grind. With that being said, I’d recommend using a finer grind than what the suggestions show when using lightly roasted coffee beans.
What’s worth noting is that the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is NOT suitable for making espresso shots at home. Still, if you use the more forgiving pressurized portafilter, it would be good enough.
With that being said, the Fellow Ode is a great electric grinder for pour-over, cold brew, French press, AeroPress, and even Moka pot coffee.
So if you need a grinder that provides the needed grind quality for several brewing methods, you won’t regret investing in this Fellow Ode model. Especially if you’re a fan of the Hario V60, the nel drip, or the Chemex.
6. 1zPresso JX Pro S
Click here to check out the price and more photos on Amazon.
The 1Zpresso JX Pro S is an excellent manual grinder that is one of the best hand devices for grinding coffee for pour-over and espresso. The high-quality 48 mm steel conical burrs provide the needed grind consistency on both fine and coarse settings. This provides the needed flexibility for consumers who are looking for the best grinder for various brewing methods.
The S model of the 1Zpresso JX Pro has a convenient foldable handle that makes the device easily portable and compact.
The step adjustments are fine enough, providing the necessary precision when it comes to dialing in the perfect grind for the brewing method you use.
When making coffee at home, no matter if it’s pour-over, espresso, AeroPress, or French press, you need to play around with grind size to achieve the perfect results. Fine-tuning the grind with accuracy can have a tremendous effect on your cup’s flavor. The 1zpresso JX Pro S ensures you have the needed flexibility and lets you enjoy a perfectly-flavored coffee with a balanced taste.
It’s undoubtedly a high-quality device that can grind evenly on fine, medium, and coarse settings.
You won’t go wrong if you decide to invest in it, for sure.
Nevertheless, its price is significantly higher compared to the 1Zpresso JX Pro. So if you have a lower budget, but you don’t want to compromise on quality, get the 1Zpresso. You won’t regret doing so.
7. Fuji Royal R-220
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
The Fiju Royal is definitely one of the best brew grinders that would’ve been much more widely spread across the US if it wasn’t as hard to find.
It’s made in Japan, where pour-over is the most common coffee brewing method.
This is probably why the Fuji folks did such an amazing job at engineering this grinder to be so well-fitted for this method.
I’m sure that many coffee enthusiasts who enjoy pour-over will love it not only because of its looks and its convenience.
They deliver perfect results when it comes to consistency and fines control.
You will get to enjoy your pour-over coffee cup after cup as you never did before.
That in combination with its compact design makes it a perfect pick for home use.
The Fuji Royal also suitable for commercial use. That’s why you may come across a number of coffee shops in Japan that use this model.
Have in mind, though, that you’ll need to also buy a voltage converter (voltage in Japan is 100V, while in the US 120V).
If you’re somewhere in Europe, I’ve come across information that there are 220V Fuji R-220 grinders available, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a trustworthy link at the moment of writing.
I will update the article as soon as I find more information on that.
That being said in case you can get your hands on this product – go for it!
It’s truly a high-quality pour-over grinder that you’ll be more than happy with.
And even if you don’t like it for some reason – well, I can assure you’ll be able to resell this Royalty to a fellow coffee enthusiast quickly after you list it for sale.
8. Baratza Forte BG (Brew Grinder)
Click here to see the current price and more photos on Amazon.
In the process of making your pour-over cup of coffee, you need to ensure that you use a strict to achieve consistent results brew after brew.
This is why a scale is the second most valuable asset that will take your overall experience to the next level.
The Baratza Forte BG is not only one of the best pour-over coffee grinders, but also comes with a built-in scale, which will simplify the process of making your morning cup.
It also has a digital timer that you can use instead, if it’s more convenient for you.
Speaking of dosing – you can actually program and save 3 presets, which will make the process of coffee preparation easier.
You won’t have to manually dial in the same grinding duration or weight every single time.
It has a set of 54mm flat burrs that are made of steel.
This material is often considered to be better at providing more uniform results and fewer fines at coarser grind settings compared to the ceramic burrs.
On this grinder, you get 26 micro and 10 macro settings respectively on the right- and left-hand side, resulting in 260 grind settings in total.
The jumps between the previous and the next step aren’t big at all.
This makes the process of adjustment of the grind size easier, and you will be able to dial in the desired setting with precision.
On top of that the machine is quite sturdy and the construction, consisting of many metal parts is simply made to last.
It’s also perfect for commercial use as a dedicated brew grinder in a coffee shop.
Have in mind though, that it does make noise.
For many of you, the Baratza Forte BG may seem a lot more expensive than you’ve ever imagined a grinder could cost.
Nevertheless, I’m sure that there are people that will be happy to invest in this one for home use straight away.
Even if it’s their first home grinder and they’ve just started making pour-over.
Even longer, considering the Baratza Customer Service I mentioned before.
The AP model is better suited for espresso, but this doesn’t mean that the BG doesn’t do well at finer grind settings.
You will just need to calibrate it if you decide to use it for such purposes. This isn’t a hard task at all with this model.
That being said, the Baratza Forte BG definitely deserves a spot on my list for being the best and most convenient to use coffee grinder for pour-over in its price range.
Beginner’s Buyer Guide
When choosing the best grinder for pour-over coffee, you need to become familiar with some basic information that will give you a better understanding of the characteristics of the reviewed products.
If you make a conscious choice, rather than just going for the first thing someone has recommended, you’ll end up with a long-term solution that will provide the results you want to achieve.
So here is a complete guide on pour-over grinders:
1. Blade vs. Burr
Here is why burr grinders are better:
Because of its design and the way it functions, a blade grinder fails at achieving an even coffee grind.
Burr grinders are capable of grinding the beans to a rather uniform size and such consistency improves the extraction process significantly.
Therefore burr grinders are better and by using them instead of the blade ones you will improve the overall taste and flavor of your coffee.
Blade grinders are similar to the standard food processor you might have in your kitchen.
You place the beans, click a button and the blades will cut them.
The longer you press the button – the finer the grind.
Even though it may seem easy to use, the nature of this device makes it incapable of producing the desired results for coffee, especially if you’re using the pour-over brewing method.
In the end, if you take a look at the ground beans up close you will find a mixture of fine, extra-fine, medium, and coarse grounds.
This means that you’ll get uneven extraction, as some of the grounds will be over-extracted, while others – under-extracted.
Therefore the coffee you’ll end up with will have an unpleasant taste.
Not to say that a large number of fines may clog your pour-over filter and will make the process too long and rather frustrating.
Related Post: Can You Grind Coffee Beans in a Food Processor?
Burr grinders, on the other hand, are much better at achieving the needed grind consistency.
The beans get pushed through their burrs.
These are basically two grinding surfaces between which the magic happens.
You can adjust the space between said surfaces to adjust the grind setting – the smaller the space between them, the finer the grind.
There are flat and conical burrs. But which type is better?
I wouldn’t say there is a straightforward answer to that question, as it depends on the material, the way they’ve been built, and the overall manufacturing quality.
You can find conical burr grinders that perform better than flat burrs and the opposite.
This is why I haven’t included products with ceramic burrs on the list.
For pour-over, you have to aim for the former type.
With that being said, if you overlook my recommendations and you go for a blade grinder, driven by its cost, I have a friendly tip for you:
Don’t push the button continuously until you grind your coffee beans to the desired size.
This would produce more heat which may compromise the beans’ flavor characteristics and may have a negative effect on your coffee’s flavor.
This, in combination with the grind inconsistency, may result in a brew that’s pretty disappointing – with a bitter and unbalanced flavor.
Just make sure you use the “tap and release” method and you will avoid the burnt taste.
2. Manual vs. Electric
At first, after my fail at achieving proper pour-over extraction with my hand grinder, I thought manual grinders just aren’t good enough.
In time I realized that some higher quality hand products perform much better and can even provide more consistent results than more expensive electric ones.
With that being said, electric burr grinders are more convenient than manual grinders. They do the job faster and don’t require your physical strength to do what they’re supposed to.
In the early mornings when you need your coffee to wake you up as fast as possible, grinding your beans manually may be a bit challenging.
On the other hand, hand grinders don’t make a loud noise. They are also the ones that are better for you if you travel often.
On top of that, there are also great manual burr products that are very efficient at providing the needed grind consistency and suit the pour-over brewing method perfectly well.
You can opt for a high-quality product that performs times better than an electric alternative that costs just as much.
This is because you don’t pay for the motor and the additional parts, tied to an electric grinder, but only for the burrs and the simple hand mechanism.
Basically, if you go for a hand grinder that costs $200 its electric alternative with the same grinding quality would be $400+.
3. Grind Consistency & Fines
When covering the subject of burr grinders and why they’re better, I mentioned the importance of grind consistency and how this type of grinders is much better at achieving it.
While doing your research you might’ve also come across discussions about the number of fines each grinder produces.
If you’re new to this matter, here you can find what coffee fines actually are:
Fines are really tiny broken fragments of the coffee beans that extract extremely fast through the process of brewing.
The greater the number of fines, the bigger their negative impact on your coffee’s taste.
Still, it’s impossible to find a burr grinder that doesn’t produce any fines whatsoever, because of the beans’ nature and the way they tend to break.
What you should be aiming for is reducing the amount of those tiny particles by opting for a high-quality grinder.
In my reviews, I made sure to only include such products that perform well in that aspect.
Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be stressing too much about those tiny bean pieces. There will always be some, but if under control, they won’t take away the joy of having your pour-over coffee.
4. Price
Of course, we’d all prefer to go for a cheaper product, hoping that it’s going to be at least as good as described in its advertisement.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’ve decided that you want to make improvements in your pour-over coffee, the grinder is kind of important.
This additional equipment is actually essential to achieve proper extraction.
Through its use, it will be much easier for you to experience a satisfying coffee flavor and the unique flavor profile of the beans at home.
The initial investment in the pour-over brewing device isn’t big, compared to the money you’d pay for a full-blown coffee machine.
This is why many people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a coffee maker opt for a pour-over dripper.
Nevertheless, to make really good coffee in a, say, Hario V60, you’re also going to need a proper grinder, which may exceed the budget you’ve initially set.
But I would wholeheartedly recommend spending a bit more on a quality grinder than making the mistake I made when I started preparing pour-over at home.
Even though I knew the importance of grind consistency, I thought that I could get away with a $30 budget-friendly manual grinder.
After 2 weeks and quite a bit of frustration, I ended up buying a much better product that finally met the pour-over requirements.
It’s just not worth it buying single-origin specialty coffee beans and wasting them because you just haven’t ground them properly.
So I wasted $30, not to mention the time I’ve spent trying to justify my initial purchase by acting like I can make it work.
In my reviews, I made sure to include affordable products that will serve you well, so I’m sure that you will find the one for you.
Final Words
I always hope that you find my posts helpful.
I made sure to also include some information for beginners such as the nature of burr coffee grinders and why I’ve only included such in the list of products.
That being said I’m certain that among my picks here you can find the pour-over grinder that suits you best.
Drop me a comment below to share your thoughts and whether you’ve picked one of the items I’ve listed.
Furthermore, if you have other manual or electric recommendations – I’d love you to share them with me and my readers.