Best Burr Coffee Grinder in 2023: For Brewing Everything From Pour-Over Coffee…

Best Burr Coffee Grinder in 2023: For Brewing Everything From Pour-Over Coffee to Espresso

Looking to up your coffee game in 2023? You’re gonna need the best burr coffee grinder for your brewing style. Do you know how to decide which coffee grinder is the best for you? Let me show you.

Baratza Encore

OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Check out the Comandante grinder – the winner of my hand coffee grinders review.

The Swiss army knife of hand coffee grinders

The Baratza Sette 270Wi.- my favorite grinder for espresso.

Some find the weighing feature “error-prone”

Not suitable for large quantities of coffee

The Best Coffee Grinder for Drip and Chemex

The best pour over drippers in 2023!

Before we go any further, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. Here’s my best burr coffee grinder 101:

It’s not as simple as throwing in some beans and hitting a button. This is why I’ll go into lots of detail and dig into subcategories in this best burr coffee grinder guide.

For example, I’ll go into more detail about the differences between manual and electric coffee grinders. And no, it’s not just about the power cable.

Other important factors I know you’ll want to keep an eye on are:

Just like with my super automatic espresso machine reviews, I’ll also explore the wonderful world of coffee grinder design.

Our Top 10 Best Burr Coffee Grinder Quick Picks

Whether you’re looking for your first burr coffee grinder or thinking of an upgrade, making a final decision isn’t easy. I mean, with so many options available, how the heck are you supposed to choose?

Don’t worry, I’ll go over everything you need to know before committing later in this guide. I’ll even throw in tips for getting the most out of your grinder, as well as a quick cleaning guide.

In the meantime, here’s a top 10 list of my favorite burr coffee grinders:

Porlex Mini

Baratza Sette 270Wi

OXO Brew

Baratza Encore

Suitable for French press and pour over

Capresso Infinity Plus

How to Choose the Right Burr Coffee Grinder For You

My golden rule for coffee is that if you’ve gone all out on a home espresso machine, your grinder should at least match it in price and quality. If you’re a French press or pour over coffee lover, you can get away with a more affordable coffee grinder. That said, my idea of “affordable” might not be the same as yours.

Ordering a separate grinder along with each new coffee machine would really be the right way to do it. Of course, no one does. After all, it would seem like overkill, right? Still, that would be the logical course of action.

So, how do you find your way around the world of coffee bean grinders? Here are the broad categories to be aware of when searching for the best burr coffee grinder to fit your needs:

Budget

There’s little doubt that budget will be one of the main driving factors when it comes to choosing the best burr coffee grinder for your needs. Still, if you’re dedicated to the idea of making top-notch coffee at home, think of a grinder as a worthy investment.

In many cases, your coffee grinder will cost quite a bit more than your coffee brewing equipment. For example, a Hario V60 dripper will set you back a measly 24.55. However, if you plan on using high-quality coffee beans and taking the time to hone your technique, purchasing a good burr grinder will be essential.

With all that said, a solid coffee grinder doesn’t have to send you into bankruptcy. You’ll find plenty of affordable options below. Still, don’t imagine you can get away with buying a cheap blade grinder. That’ll just be a waste of money.

Type of Grinder

Broadly speaking, burr coffee grinders can be divided into two distinct categories: manual and electric. Of course, there’s a whole lot more to consider – such as burr type and materials used – all of which I’ll get into later. For now, though, you should think about whether it’s a hand grinder or an electric grinder you’re after.

Manual coffee grinders like the Porlex Mini require a fair bit of elbow grease and only grind small portions at a time. But, they’re often on point when it comes to espresso. Additionally, you can use them anywhere and everywhere without electricity. Be warned, the price of the higher-end models might put you in tears.

Electric coffee grinders save you from having to sweat but mean you’re stuck with the machines’ capabilities — or limitations. There’s a huge range of options and prices. Plus, almost every model is designed for a specific preparation method. That’s why, when I make espresso, for example, I always haul out my beloved Baratza Sette 270Wi.

Preparation Method

Honestly, there’s no point spending extra money on an espresso-capable grinder if you’re only going to use it for drip coffee. In fact, if you tend to stick with one preparation method in particular, you’ll have an easier time finding a suitable grinder.

The Capresso Infinity Plus, for one, is a whizz at producing the coarser grinds needed for a French press, while the Comandante C40 MK3 Nitro Blade can produce powder even finer than what’s required for espresso.

In theory, all burr coffee grinders can produce the full spectrum of particle sizes. What makes some coffee grinders stand out from the crowd is the uniformity of the grind produced. Clean extraction requires that every coffee ground is the same size. Sure, I’m overstating it slightly, but it is important.

Design/Build

Unless you’re going for a compact hand grinder, countertop space will be an important consideration. Seeing as you’re looking for a coffee grinder, it’s almost a given that an espresso machine, drip coffee maker or pour over setup is already taking up space in your kitchen. With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to take measurements before committing to a bulky addition.

It almost goes without saying that stainless steel housings are better than plastic. However, if you’re on a tight budget you may have to sacrifice some amount of durability. There’s also the question of which burr material is better – stainless steel or ceramic. In short, there’s no definitive answer.

If aesthetics are important to you, the best burr coffee grinder will be both functional and beautiful. Personally, I think even the most basic, affordable grinder looks cool sitting in my kitchen. Still, if you want something stylish, there are plenty of options out there.

Features

As you’re looking for the best burr coffee grinder, manufacturers will try to sell you on every feature under the sun. That’s all good and well, but will you really need a portafilter cradle, for example, if you’ll only be using the grinder for a French press? Probably not. However, if espresso preparation is your thing, then yes, a portafilter cradle will be a great help.

Some affordable grinders, like the OXO Brew, have a timer function. That’s really cool to have, but you’ll need to change settings when you change beans. A function that allows you to grind by weight is way cooler. Still, you’ll only really see that on more expensive models. Anyway, a good coffee scale won’t set you back too much money.

It’s best not to get too distracted by the number of grind settings involved. After all, what’s really important is how effective the grinder is at maintaining consistency. As for bean hopper capacity, don’t worry about that too much either. Ideally, you should be using a coffee storage container and adding beans to the hopper before each use. Freshness is key!

Our Top 10 Best Burr Coffee Grinder Picks in Detail

Now that you’ve got a better idea of what to look for, it’s time to explore my best burr coffee grinder picks in detail. You’ll find three manual grinders first, then seven electric models. So, feel free to skip ahead if you like!

The 8 Best Spice Grinders of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Lindsay Boyers is a freelance commerce writer for The Spruce Eats specializing in food, cooking, and nutrition.

Whether you’re looking to blend up your favorite whole spices, or wish to create a custom marinade, spice grinders are a fun and easy tool that will take your dishes to the next level. A cousin to the trusty food processor, choose any spice of your choosing, from whole spice leaves to coffee beans, and watch it transform into a ground spice blend before your eyes.

The options for this handy tool are endless, so we researched and tested electric and manual models side-by-side at home and evaluated each on design, size, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Dozens of spices were ground, from delicate dried mint to fennel to peppercorn, to test the grinders’ capabilities and figure out which ones are truly the best.

Here are the best spice grinders for your kitchen, according to our at-home testing.

Best Overall

Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder

There are several great spice grinders out there, but the Secura Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder earned the best overall spot for a few reasons. One of the biggest is that it has two separate milling bowls: One for grinding dry ingredients and the other for chopping wet ingredients. The bowls also have measurement markings on the inside, so you can easily add what you need without using separate measuring spoons. This grinder includes a clear plastic cover that sits on top of the stainless steel bowl to keep ground ingredients from flying out as the blades spin.

The two-blade grinding bowl is meant for handling dried ingredients from herbs, like rosemary and thyme, to spices, like peppercorns and cardamom. Our tester noted that it created a fairly consistent, fine grind on most spices and worked beautifully to create enough freshly ground pepper for cacio e pepe in about 10 seconds. She noted that lightweight herbs like mint had a hard time staying down near the blade, so the results were less even, but these types of herbs generally don’t need a super consistent grind.

The Secura also brings power in a compact, counter-friendly size. The 200-watt motor can easily handle most spices as well as larger items like nuts and coffee beans, while the built-in overheat protection extends its lifespan so you can keep it around for a while.

Price at time of publish: 42

Capacity: 70 grams | Materials: Stainless steel and plastic | Motor: 200 watts | Dishwasher Safe: Removable parts only

“This model is excellent for grinding peppercorns. It offered an even, fairly fine grind after just 10 seconds of continuous action. Since peppercorns are pretty dry, they were also easy to remove from the container with just a few taps.”

Best Large Capacity

Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder

If you need a spice grinder that can handle larger quantities of spices for batch cooking or meal prepping, the Cuisinart Spice and Nut Grinder is one of the largest and most powerful options out there. It has a 90-gram (or just over 3 ounces) bowl and a 200-watt motor designed to tackle bigger grinding jobs. The powerful motor also makes easy work of larger, harder items, like nuts, seeds, and even nutmeg.

While there are no bells and whistles here—the grinder has one stainless steel bowl and a push-top on and off control—we think its simplicity is one of the things that adds to its appeal. Our tester noted that like similar models with a two-blade design, lightweight herbs tended to fly away from the blade area, resulting in an uneven grind. However, on heavier spices, like cloves and peppercorns, this machine worked really well. Just be sure to follow the suggested grinding times noted in the manual for optimum results.

Price at time of publish: 40

Capacity: 90 grams | Materials: Stainless steel and plastic | Motor: 200 watts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes for removable parts (top rack only)

“It worked wonderfully on cumin and fennel, creating an even, fine grind perfect for use in spice blends or adding straight into dishes.”

Best Multipurpose

KitchenAid Blade Coffee and Spice Grinder

Probably unsurprisingly, KitchenAid, one of the leaders in kitchen gadgets, earned the spot of best multipurpose spice grinder with its dual coffee and spice grinder. Unlike other grinders, which require thorough cleaning between different spices—or when you switch from coffee grinding to spice grinding—the KitchenAid comes with three separate stainless steel grinding bowls.

These bowls allow you to quickly grind different spices without the transfer of flavor that inevitably happens when you’re using the same bowl for the entire job. There are also two storage lids, so if you grind more than you need, you can pop a lid on two of the bowls and save it in your pantry for later.

Our tester found the KitchenAid grinder easy to use, as switching out the bowls only requires a simple twist to remove. The stainless bowls are simple to clean, too, because they’re dishwasher-safe (top rack only). The only caveat to having multiple grinding bowls and lids is having to store them all, but if you have the space, you’ll appreciate the assortment.

Although there aren’t any programmed settings that allow you to control grind size, the grinder comes with a clear lid that allows you to see what you’re doing so you can stop grinding when your spices reach the desired fineness.

Price at time of publish: 60

Capacity: 113 grams | Materials: Stainless steel and polycarbonate | Motor: 160 watts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes for removable parts (top rack only)

“Thanks to the smaller containers for herbs/spice grinding, you don’t have to fill it up as much, but it does help to have a larger quantity. On the other hand, using the cover on the bowl is imperative—it keeps the herbs contained towards the blade.”

Best Quiet

Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder

Unlike other grinders, which can be obnoxiously loud, the Krups Silent Vortex Electric Grinder was designed with quiet in mind. If you’re an early morning cook or need something that gets the job done during a child’s afternoon nap, this model from Krups is probably the best choice for you. It comes equipped with patent-pending Vortex Spin Technology that helps pull ingredients into its blades for grinding that’s as quiet as it is efficient. It has a one-touch button that you can hold down for continuous grinding or tap to pulse.

Our tester noted that, unlike similar models, the Krups gave a wonderfully even grind to lightweight dry herbs, like mint and rosemary, and kept them down close to the blade. When it came to grinding peppercorns, it took a little more time than other models, but the resulting grind was excellent. The design of the lid made it a little difficult to brush away any powder or residue between uses, but the grinding bowl, grinding lid, and storage lid are all dishwasher safe (top rack only) for when you want to thoroughly clean.

The stainless steel grinding bowl is removable and comes with a storage lid, so if you need to store spices, you can pop the lid on and put it right into your pantry. However, unlike the KitchenAid, the Krups only comes with one grinding bowl, so you won’t be able to grind new spices while you’re storing any.

Price at time of publish: 44

Capacity: 2880 grams | Materials: Stainless steel and plastic | Motor: 200 watts | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, for removable parts (top rack only)

“The grinding lid is very difficult to clean due to its construction. Spice dust tends to get trapped, and even when you wash it, water also tends to get trapped.”

The best weed grinders for every flower aficionado

When it comes to shopping for cannabis herb grinders, there are so many options that the process can be pretty daunting. You’ve got 2-piece grinders, 3-piece grinders, electric grinders, and that’s just the types.

Underneath those umbrellas, you’ve got a world of different materials and teeth — or no teeth, like grater grinders — and shapes that can altogether make it pretty tough for people new to cannabis, or even seasoned veterans, to know which grinders they should really be using to break down that good ass weed.

Luckily, we can help you learn what qualities to look for in a well-made grinder, and a few companies that are absolutely killing it in that realm.

The qualities that make a good grinder

The first thing to do when purchasing a grinder is to consider the needs you’re trying to fulfill. If you just want something quick and easy that will simply separate your flower and aren’t too concerned about the way the grinder affects the flower or your consumption experience, then any regular ol’ grinder from any random head shop will technically do the job.

But will it do the job well? Definitely not as well as the grinders created by companies that truly care about your relationship with cannabis and their products.

There are plenty of qualities to consider when purchasing a high-quality grinder. These include the materials that make up the grinder, the shape of its teeth, how it grinds, durability, and overall ease of use.

“Really, it’s how it’s manufactured,” said Matt Hansen, co-founder of Santa Cruz Shredder, when I asked him about the qualities that make up a good grinder. “There are a thousand grinders out there that just have different branding on them; they’ll all be cheap.”

What to look for in a quality grinder:

• How the grinder’s manufactured
• The materials used to build the grinder
• The shape of the grinder’s teeth vs. your preferences
• How it grinds (i.e the texture of your flower afterward)
• Durability
• Ease of use

How the grinder’s manufactured

We’ll never escape the fact that quality is always decided by how a product is made. “The #1 thing that makes a good grinder is accuracy in the manufacturing of the grinder, meaning the tolerances on the blade edges, where the blades are, how high/low they are, and the overall structure of the machine that’s going to be cutting up your material,” said Dave Richmond, Chief Innovation Officer of Banana Bros, makers of the OTTO grinder.

The materials used to build the grinder

There are so many different materials that people use to make grinders. You’ve got plastic, wooden, metal, and even hemp grinders — just to name a few. Most of the grinders in people’s stash boxes and travel bags are made of metals like aluminum and titanium. That’s because metal grinders tend to be the most durable and safe for consumption, i.e. pieces of them won’t break off into your flower and have you smoking contaminated weed.

Like everything in the world, the “best” choice comes down to personal preference. We advise choosing a four-piece metal grinder with a kief compartment from a reputable company if you’re in the market for a high-quality grinder, but the decision is really up to you, your needs, and your wallet.

The only truly wrong answer is buying a plastic grinder — never buy a plastic grinder. They are extremely cheap, frail, and poorly made. With every use, more pieces of the plastic will break off of the grinder and end up in your weed (and lungs). Don’t be out here smoking Plastic Piece OG, man.

The shape of the grinder’s teeth

There are so many different types of teeth, like pyramid teeth, diamond teeth, and nail teeth. There are also blade systems that slice your flower apart, along with grater-grinding systems that, instead of using teeth to break down your weed, use a milling-against-the-grain method.

In the end, the decision of “best” comes down to personal preference, but it’s worth knowing that, generally speaking, metal grinders with diamond-shaped teeth are most common.

How it grinds your flower

The effect a grinder has on your flower might be the most important aspect of purchasing a grinder. You never want a grinder that pummels your flower into super fine weed powder that will just shoot down your throat each time you inhale. Those types of grinders absolutely destroy the trichomes on the flower, which is where all the good cannabinoids and terpenes live.

You also never want a grinder that leaves such huge chunks of weed behind that you might as well just use your fingers. Those make your joints roll and burn weirdly. The goal is to find one that will produce a fine breakage that maintains the quality of your flower.

Durability

Grinders are like cars and humans: they can only handle so many miles before they break down. This always comes down to the materials used. Plastic grinders are the least durable of them all — they get super gunked up immediately after use, and even more undesirable, the pieces of them start to flake off as the number of uses increases.

You want a grinder that can stand the test of time, especially if you’re an everyday smoker. Double especially if you’re putting some big dollars behind it. Metal grinders are the most durable grinders out there, however, they definitely aren’t all created equal.

Ease of use

Ease of use is paramount with a good grinder. You want it to easily twist, regardless of how much cannabis is in there. Some grinders get stuck if you put some super frosty or sticky flower in them, which completely defeats the purpose of buying a grinder in the first place. Then you’ve got to bruise your hands trying to get the top off to free the weed that just cost you 50.

The best cannabis grinders to buy right now

Here are some of the best grinders you can get today. Whether you’re looking at the best grinders for kief, joints, or within a certain price range, these brands will always have you covered.

Santa Cruz Shredder 4-piece grinder

Santa Cruz Shredder’s name rings history bells. If you ask anyone what the best grinder is, this brand is always on the list. That’s because its patented tooth design grinds flower but doesn’t ruin the weed’s terp-filled trichomes, while also creating a consistency of flower that burns just right every time you smoke.

“When we came up with our grinder, the only grinder available had a diamond-shaped tooth design. We had a NASA engineer come out with this inverted square with serrated blades that no one had ever seen before. We just innovated, we don’t copy anybody,” said Hansen, Santa Cruz Shredder co-founder.

The 4-piece grinders are made of anodized aluminum with SC Shredder’s patented and recognized tooth design. They come in a wide variety of colors, with either gloss or matte finishes.

The Flower Mill Standard Edition

The Flower Mill is my favorite grinder to ever exist. Instead of “grinding” the weed, it “mills” it through a grate. This milling system not only preserves the flower’s trichomes but allows for a much higher flower capacity than traditional grinders. It allows you to grind so much more weed at once — and fast.

Additionally, because it presses the flower down versus twisting it from side to side, the sides of the Flower Mill rarely get so caked up that the device gets stuck. It lets you go a long time without needing to clean your grinder. Sure, the price of a Flower Mill will hit your s for about a hundo between purchasing and shipping, but it’s well worth it for how awesome it works.

The Standard Edition Flower Mill comes with 3 pieces: the top mill, grater, and bottom chamber. For those that want to enhance it, the Premium Edition Flower Mill comes with an added mesh screen that transforms the flower chamber into a kief chamber.

Banana Bros OTTO Go

If you want something fancy, the Banana Bros OTTO Go is a great option. It’s an electronic grinder that uses a mill system to break down your buds. Richmond told me that the technology in the Banana Bros OTTO allows it to adjust to any condition of cannabis, whether super wet, dry, airy, dense, whatever. He also told me, that since the inside is spring-loaded, the grinder never squeezes down and crushes your bud into too fine of a consistency. “[Weed]’s not cheap, man. We want you to enjoy it, it’s a fine thing to have in our lives. Take care of it while you’re milling it,” he said.

If you want added automated pre-roll capabilities, the OG Otto comes with a cone-packing system that will dump your ground flower directly into a cone-filled tube. For the flashy folks who want to stunt with an electronic grinder that everyone will recognize, this might be the one.

HOJ: KLIP

The KLIP from HOJ is a grinder with blades that slice up your flower. It allows for a fluffier consistency that smokes nicely and burns well. It has four magnetic pieces: the top, blades, flower chamber, and kief chamber — it’s also extremely easy to clean. Just pull all the pieces apart and drop them in some alcohol.

I know you’re looking at the price and wondering if 150 is worth it, and I’d never force your hand that way. But, I will tell you that this grinder does work very well and it definitely makes people say “wow” when you pull it out.

If you like to stunt, the KLIP could be worth it just for that.

Zeus Bolt 2

If you’re chasing kief, the Zeus Bolt 2 is one of the best grinders you can buy. It’s a 4-piece grinder with three chambers and an airtight, magnetic top. It’s made of aluminum and grinds with diamond-shaped teeth. I used to toss a coin in the middle of mine, and just a couple of little shakes would absolutely coat the bottom chamber with dusted trichomes. Of course, you expect that trick to work with any grinder, but sometimes even the coin won’t make your kief drop through that lil’ mesh screen.

The Zeus Bolt 2 wasn’t even advertised as a big kief grinder, but the results are there. Plus, it’s pretty cheap for a high-quality grinder that’s definitely going to last for years. I’ve had mine for over three years now and it still breaks up bud like the best of them.

There’s also a larger option called the Zeus Bolt XL for just 10 more. It’s worth the investment if you’re going to be rolling huge blunts or joints.

Weed Grinders: Which One’s Best for Me?

Whether you’re smoking, vaping or baking, preparing your weed ahead of time is important to enjoy the full medicinal and recreational benefits of marijuana.

The process of grinding your ganja can be fast and easy, but finding the right grinder can be time consuming and overwhelming with so many options to choose from. Some are cheaper and more basic, while others are more expensive and somewhat complex.

So, how do you choose the grinder that’s right for you?

Throughout this article we’ll examine everything you need to know when it comes to grinding your cannabis: how grinders work, the benefits of using them, how to use them, and some of the best ones on the market so you can make an informed decision and buy the one that best meets your needs!

Grinder Basics

A finer and more powderized cannabis delivers a more potent high. Stems and seeds are a useless filler that contain far less THC and could even be harmful to your health, so trash them if you find them (unless you want to grow or make weed stem tea).

Grinding marijuana creates a more workable and efficient form, resulting in smoother, tastier, and more satisfying smoking experience (and an easier time making your own extracts or cooking with cannabis).

Most popular grinders are built with chambers to separate the potent, tiny trichomes from the flowers. When collected the residue is called kief, a condensed and stronger version of the plants’ beneficial compounds (namely THC). Kief can be added to pre-rolls, blunts, bongs, vapes, smoked by itself or used to make cannabutter, cannabis oil, and tinctures.

A similar principle applies to edibles, as treats made with finely ground cannabis taste better, and the cannabinoids and psychoactive ingredients are more readily absorbed by the body.

Origins of the Cannabis Grinder

In 1905 an industrial device known as the centerless grinder was introduced, creating a more efficient way of pulverizing material. Essentially, it uses wheels with abrasive teeth-like edges to grind plant-based substances.

Since then, the technology has been adapted and improved by the grinder to include special screens and multiple collection chambers, though it still utilizes the same basic principle.

You can also break up your bud manually using a variety of household utensils (knives, coffee grinders, cheese graters) to more finely powderize your pot, but a lot of the beneficial resin can get lost with these methods. Just handling marijuana will leave a lot of the precious THC resin on your fingers, while weed grinders preserve the maximum amount of resin in a powerful, powdery concentrate.

Grinder Benefits

Ground Weed Burns Better

Finely-ground cannabis burns better than non-pulverized pot because more surface area is exposed to the flame, allowing your pipe, joint or bong hit to burn more quickly and evenly. As a result, there’s less chance of your pipe or bong clogging.

Powderized Pot Makes Tastier Edibles

Cannabis is the key ingredient in a majority of edible recipes, but the herb isn’t known for its flavor-enhancing qualities as much as its health and mind-altering benefits.

Adding ground flowers and/or kief to edible recipes minimizes the distinct marijuana taste, which most people would rather not have. Also, finely ground weed allows the cannabinoids and terpenes (like myrcene and limonene) to be more easily absorbed by whatever, butter, oil, or extract medium you are cooking with.

Potent Cannabis

Breaking down your resin-rich bud extracts and conserves all of its psychoactive compounds into different chambers, meaning each grounded gram will deliver the most pot purity.

Greater Bang for Your Bong Hit

Each joint, bowl or bong hit packed with broken down flowers and/or kief is loaded with essential marijuana compounds that could otherwise be wasted if trying to burn the whole bud at once. So you’re getting the maximum medicinal and mind-altering benefits in every puff!

Healthier Ingesting Method

Because ground pot is “purified” in a sense, you don’t need to ingest as much of it to reap the benefits. Actually, you can smoke less and achieve better effects.

How to Use a Cannabis Grinder

Weed grinders are relatively simple devices and, and with a little practice, can be easy to use. Of course, different brands and models can differ greatly in quality and can offer a variety of features. Regardless of their complexity, this step-by-step guide will teach you the basic principles of how to use your grinder.

The most popular cannabis grinders consist of 4 pieces and 3 chambers:

• Cap (with magnetized center, which helps lock it in place when closed)
• Grinding chamber (where you place your weed)
• Top chamber (collects the ground cannabis)
• Bottom kief catcher (a screen that collects the fine, concentrated trichomes)

Step One

Remove the top cap. Break up your bud into smaller pieces and distribute them evenly in the grinding chamber (but avoid the magnetized center so your herb grinder will close properly). Be careful not to overfill the chamber. You’ll get better results by adding small batches at a time.

Top 10 Coffee Grinders for Pour Over in 2023 (Buyers Guide)

Step Two

Place the cap on the grinder then turn it side to side several times, breaking up the bud. Initially you should feel some resistance, but after several twists and turns the resistance should gradually lessen as the weed is broken up and pulverized. You’ll know you’re done when you can turn the cap without any difficulty.

Step Three

Remove the cap and the grinding chamber. If your grinder has a kief catcher, add a coin on top of any part in the upper chamber and gently shake the grinder from side to side. The weight of the coin and the gentle shaking motion will help push the kief powder down through the screen and into the lowest chamber, while still leaving your ground up buds in the top chamber.

Step Four

Remove the grinding chamber so you can access your weed that’s now been collected in the lower chamber. After extracting your ground-up bud, remove that top chamber to get access to your kief-catching chamber and save it or combine it with your ground weed.

Types of Cannabis Grinders

Dry herb grinders come in a variety of types and are made from different materials. As a general rule, most cannabis connoisseurs believe that you get what you pay for when it comes to herb grinders. Typically, inexpensive grinders range from 5 to about 20, while higher-end grinders tend to go for 30 to 90.

Grinders can be produced from a number of materials including plastic, wood, aluminum, steel and titanium.

Generally speaking, plastic grinders are the cheapest, but can easily break, and who wants to inhale fumes from a broken grinding tooth in their stash? They’re also much more prone to leaving resin in the chamber, and typically don’t grind your buds as fine as you’d like for optimal consumption.

In contrast, titanium grinders are the most expensive but also the most durable. Aluminum grinders offer a good balance between cost and durability.

Two piece grinders offer simplicity, affordability, and maximum portability. But four-piece grinders deliver the best results. There are also electric and hand crank grinders for those who want a more interactive and entertaining experience. Whichever works best for you depends on your budget and your expectations.

Best Cannabis Grinders

Finding the ultimate weed grinder, to a large extent, depends on the particular features you’re looking for. Some people prefer no fuss models while others opt for devices that deliver the most purified powder possible. Your choice depends on the goals that matter to you.

Here’s some detailed info on a few of the most popular grinder brands that’ll help you choose one. While every product has its flaws, their reviews remained overwhelmingly positive.

Alpaca Grinder‍

Offers nice balance between portability, durability, and performance. It’s manufactured from aircraft-grade aluminum and treated with a protective coating that prevents resin from building up. With razor sharp teeth it grinds weed in seconds. Its rotating dispensing design makes filling a joint or bowl directly from the unit a breeze. It also sports a cap that seals in odors for maximum discretion. List Price: 69.

“This grinder will help people like me, medical patients with limited use of their hands; makes it easier to fill a pipe or vape without having to spoon product back and forth….Good design Alpaca!” —Bob B.

Chromium Crusher‍

A choice for users who demand reliability, toughness, and affordability. Their models are manufactured from premium material like heavy-duty zinc and CNC aluminum, yet still among the most economical grinders on the market. Their four-piece and three-chamber design makes grinding fast and easy every time. They also include a pollen scraper as a bonus so you can enjoy every last bit of your kief. List Price: 12

“I love this grinder so much, I had to purchase it again…I’ve owned this new Chromium Crusher for 4 months now and I can’t imagine life without it. Unlike other grinders that I’ve used, this one grinds my herb down to the perfect consistency…” —Josiah H.

Magic Flight Finishing Grinder‍

Handcrafted from woods like cherry, maple, and walnut, this smaller grinder is renowned for turning dry and/or pre-ground herb into pure powder. Not recommended for breaking up sticky, dense nugs. Works in tandem with their Launch Box portable wooden vaporizer. List Price: 35

“This [grinder] really is a great product, and it does what it claims to do…I put the ground herb into this finishing grinder to obtain an even finer leaf–works fabulously!” —Ann M.

Santa Cruz Shredder

Features medical grade aluminum and a patented tooth design that maximizes grinding capacity. The addition of a textured grip makes twisting and turning easier. Available in matte black and four other colors. Users can also choose between 2-piece, 3-piece, and 4-piece shredders.

“Let me tell you—this thing absolutely rocks. The first time I used it, the grinder effortlessly worked, so much that I thought it wasn’t actually doing its job. Needless to say, when I opened the lid and discovered that, indeed, it had completely ground up all of the substrate, I was delighted and amazed.” —Will T.

The Sharp Shredda Grinder‍

Made with anodized aircraft grade aluminum for maximum shredding strength and the ultimate in durability. It’s also designed with the needs of medical marijuana patients (particularly arthritis sufferers) in mind, making it easy to operate. This grinder also boasts a unique and easily removable pollen filtration layer to help catch the really good stuff. List price: 26

‍“I’ve had this brand of grinder for over a year now. Used almost daily, it has held up and even outlasted some of the higher end grinders…The threads have held without any slippage, the screen hasn’t broken, and it still cuts through herb like butter.” —Nicole H.

Space Case Grinders‍

Titanium grade grinding chambers means you can pulverize the toughest weed without ever having to worry about broken grinder teeth. List Price (Titanium 4-piece unit): 75

“The best grinder, hands down. I bought a small Space Case back in college and paid a ton for it, but it’s lasted me nearly 20 years…this thing is perfect. It grinds and grinds and grinds, fits well in your hand, and is everything a grinder should be.” —Ed D.

SLX Herb Grinders

The SLX 2.0 grinder is made with the absolute highest grade of aircraft aluminum and a nano-ceramic coating, reducing friction and resin buildup so you get a great grind every time. List Price: 60

“This Grinder is perfect for getting a fine grind on all of your herbs. The non-stick advertisement is definitely true, I’ve been using it for more than a month and there’s no evidence in the upper grind chamber. The lift-out collection chamber works great, you don’t lose the powder in the ridges on the side anymore.” —Emily C.

Where to Buy a Cannabis Grinder

Where can I buy a grinder? Herb grinders can be used to break up cannabis, tobacco, and cooking herbs, so there aren’t any age or legal restrictions to sell or purchase them. You can find them at smoke shops, medical marijuana dispensaries, online retailers, and directly from manufacturer websites.

Popular sources for weed grinders include:

And if you’re looking for the actual cannabis products (flower) to go in your grinder, Nugg’s online delivery marketplace is the largest in California and gives you instant access to countless cannabis strains, edibles, drinkables, vapes, and other cannabis products close to you.

Additionally, NuggMD is the cheapest place to get your medical marijuana card online, and members get 20 off their first purchase from GetNugg! All you need is an internet connection and Nugg will help you find reliable dispensaries in your area that will deliver products directly to your home in less than an hour. You can order online without ever picking up the phone, and in most cases can even track your driver all the way to your doorstep!

Or make the cannabis shopping experience even easier with Nugg Club’s members only cannabis marketplace.

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.