The AeroPress is one of the most popular coffee makers in the world. It’s cheap, easy to use, and there are tons of ways to make coffee with it.
It also comes with just about everything you need, but there are two components missing: the actual coffee beans and a high quality grinder. And if you’re on the hunt for a grinder that works well with the AeroPress, you’re in the right place.
So what’s the best grinder for AeroPress coffee making? You have a few excellent options, and I’ll take a look at each of them.
But first, I’ll go over why you should be picky about your AeroPress grinder and tell you what to look out for.
What makes a grinder good for AeroPress?
Finding a good grinder for the AeroPress means finding a grinder that’s good in the first place and one that’s well suited for the kind of coffee the AeroPress makes.
So how do you tell if a grinder is good or bad? It all comes down to the grinder type.
There are blade grinders, which are the grinders you’re probably familiar with, which essentially chop up the beans like a blender.
Then there are burr grinders, which crush rather than cut up coffee beans. Burr grinders are always more consistent and produce better coffee overall.
However, not all burr grinders are created equal.
Cheaper burr grinders (like the ones you’d find at a big box store) sometimes use “ghost burrs” that smash instead of crush the beans, and many people find these to be less effective.
When looking for a burr grinder at a consumer price point, you’ll want to look for conical burrs that will crush the beans.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure the grinder of your choice can produce a consistent finer grind.
Most AeroPress recipes require a medium-coarse or medium-fine grind, so your grinder will need to have solid performance in that grind setting range. The more consistent the grind size is, the better the coffee will taste.
Now that you’re primed to know what a good AeroPress grinder consists of, here are some options to choose from.
Best AeroPress Coffee Grinders For The Money
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
The Baratza Encore is one of the most loved grinders in the world. It’s widely considered the best entry-level burr grinder, and it performs excellently for medium grinds.
Baratza also has excellent customer support and offers repairs and replacement parts at affordable prices. Plus, the Encore is a budget-friendly option to get a great grind.
It doesn’t have many flaws for a grinder in its price range. It can get a little messy, but if you maintain it regularly, it shouldn’t be a problem.
All in all, the Encore is the best grinder for AeroPress you can get for the money, and it easily beats out others in its price bracket (like the lower quality Capresso Infinity).
Best for: Coffee lovers who want an electric grinder that performs excellently.
Hario Skerton Pro
Hario is one of the biggest coffee gear manufacturers, producing the famed V60 pour over brewer and the widely used Buono gooseneck kettle. Hario also makes hand grinders such as the Skerton and Mini Mill.
Recently, Hario released the updated Pro line of hand grinders to give consumers a super affordable way of getting a good grind.
With the Skerton Pro, there are a few things to be aware of. First, at half the price of the Encore, the Skerton isn’t going to produce as good of a grind. It’s still good for AeroPress, just not as good.
Second, since this is a hand grinder, you’ll have to spend a minute or two crushing up the beans manually.
Third, since it can’t hold a ton of coffee beans in its hopper (and since grinding can take a while), it’s best for brewing one cup at a time.
If you’re making coffee for a group, you’ll want to avoid this grinder, but if you just want a cheap option for a good grind for yourself, this is a solid choice.
Best for: Drinkers who only make one cup at a time and want a really budget-friendly grinder.
Baratza Vario
Got money burning a hole in your pocket? The Baratza Vario is a more upscale choice that will give you one of the best grinds at the consumer level.
This grinder is used in many specialty coffee shops, and it’s probably the best grinder you can buy before going north of $1,000.
There are 10 macro adjustment settings and 23 micro settings, allowing you to set your grind to be just right.
While this grinder is excellent as it is, many coffee experts prefer the steel burrs to the ceramic burrs. If you’re interested in this upgrade for an even better grind, you can purchase the steel burrs directly from Baratza.
Obviously this grinder isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve got the money, you won’t regret it. The Vario just might be the best grinder for AeroPress right now.
Best for: Coffee aficionados who want one of the best performing home grinders.
Final Thoughts
The AeroPress can make some delicious coffee, but you really need a great grinder to get the most out of it.
Whether you’ve just won the lottery or need to stick to a budget, you can find a high quality burr grinder for AeroPress in your price range.