There aren’t many things better than a hot cup of coffee brewed with freshly ground coffee beans. However, adding another appliance to an already space constrained kitchen can be a reason many who love fresh ground coffee opt to not have a grinder. Fortunately, we have a solution for you! We have compiled our list of the top five smallest coffee grinder so you can enjoy your small space and drink your coffee too!
A small coffee grinder is also convenient for those who like to travel without having to compromise on having a freshly ground cup of joe. If you are ready to buy now, see below for a few of our favorite smallest coffee grinder options:
- Blue Brew BB1007 Artisan Coffee Grinder
- LHS Manual Coffee Grinder
- USB-C Rechargeable Electric Coffee Bean Grinder
If you want to learn more about each model listed above, and for a few additional suggestions check out our comprehensive review of best smallest coffee grinder below.
Contents
Top Five Smallest Coffee Grinders
Blue Brew BB1007 Artisan Coffee Grinder
The Blue Brew Grinder may be small but is designed with durable ceramic and stainless steel which is preferable over other small coffee grinders that are made of plastic.
The Blue Brew is a manual grinder that is equipped with a ceramic burr grinder that ensures a consistent and even grind. Because it is a manual grinder you won’t need batteries or electric to operate it, making it a highly portable and easy option to use while camping or traveling. This grinder also comes with two airtight coffee ground containers so you can easily grind and store your coffee.
Despite being small, the Blue Brew BB1007 offers 15 different grind settings that are easily adjusted so you can grind to the coarseness you prefer from espresso to cold brew. The grinder features an ergonomic design and weighs less than twenty-one ounces.
Overall, this is a great small grinder option that is easy to use, simple to clean and highly portable.
Things We Like:
- 15 different grind settings
- Made with high quality, durable materials
- Ergonomic design makes it comfortable to grind
- Compact and super light
- No batteries or electricity needed to operate
Things We Don’t Like:
- You can easily change the grind setting by accident
LHS Manual Coffee Grinder
Even though the LHS is an extremely small and easy-to-pack coffee grinder, you don’t sacrifice function. You can select four different grind sizes so you can adjust your coffee to your brewing style.
Due to the manual nature of this grinder, you can control the speed and ensure that you aren’t creating too much friction. The device is straightforward to assemble, fill and use. We also like that you can fully break down the grinder to make it simple to clean and even smaller to store when not in use.
The LHS Manual Grinder uses ceramic burrs and uses a strong stainless steel hand cranks so that you get consistency in every bean you grind. If you’re looking for a small grinder that doesn’t cost you control over the bean, the LHS is a good fit!
Things We Like:
- Large stainless steel handle for easy grinding
- Easy to adjust grind size
- Quick to build and break down
- Low price point
Things We Don’t Like:
- Durability issues as parts of this grinder are made of plastic
USB-C Rechargeable Electric Coffee Bean Grinder
Sometimes you want all the portability of a manual grinder, but you don’t want to have to spin it yourself. No problem, because the Cordless Coffee Grinder can do both. The built-in battery uses a USB-C charger so you can charge it and then use it whenever needed without having to plug it in.
The battery lasts up to a month in standby mode, and you can grind your coffee in your kitchen or on a trail without requiring a power source. Just fill the container with beans and press down. The longer you press, the more fine the grounds.
The grinder uses blades, which means you don’t always get a consistent grind, but the system works hard to keep the heat down, so the blades aren’t a deal-breaker. These systems are also much louder than burr grinder options.
If you need to move your grinder around but cannot manually prep your beans anymore, you can still enjoy fresh coffee every time.
Things We Like:
- Grinds slow for max flavor and reduced heat output
- Single press operation
- Rechargeable battery lasts up to a month
- Compact enough to travel with
Things We Don’t Like:
- Blade grinder can heat your grounds
- Can be a little loud
Meg & Mello Manual Coffee Grinder
The Meg & Mello is a no-nonsense barebones option that can help you make a good cup of coffee and not take up extra space. Despite its economical price point, the Meg & Mello comes with a coffee spoon clip, two coffee bean storage jars and a cleaning brush.
This manual grinder uses a conical coffee burr grinder to ensure a consistent grind. It also has multiple grind settings including pour over, french press, cold brew and espresso.
It is a little harder to break down and clean than some of the other options, and if you are looking for fine adjustment, you can’t do that with this unit. However, if you want a small grinder that is simple to use and doesn’t over complicate coffee, this is your choice.
Things We Like:
- Very small
- Lots of helpful extra perks
- Durable construction
- Consistent grind even over many uses
Things We Don’t Like:
- More difficult to clean
Conical Ceramic Burr Coffee Grinder Electric
This unit is small, but it still offers many customizable features, so you can quickly grind the right size coffee for your preferred coffee brewing method. It has a one button switch and five simple grind settings from fine to medium.
Conical burr grinders work slowly to keep the heat down and keep so much of the bean’s natural oils, aromas, and flavors. They can help your coffee stay very fresh and tasty.
You have to plug the grinder in, and it can get pretty noisy. Sometimes the conical burr works too well and gives you too fine a ground on your coffee. If you don’t want to grind by hand but want a fresh cup with every brew, this grinder might work well for you.
Things We Like:
- Five grind settings with auto-off
- Small and portable
- Removable cord and easy breakdown for quick cleanup
- Conical ceramic burr creates consistent grounds
Things We Don’t Like:
- Very loud grinder
Small Coffee Grinder Buying Guide
There are a lot of things to think about when you are picking the smallest coffee grinder. You have choices, and each one can affect how well your grinder will fit your needs.
Before you buy, you’re going to want to think about each of these choices so you can choose the grinder that works best for you.
Blades or Burrs
Blades have historically been a common option because they are cheaper to make. However, they don’t give a very consistent grind, and they can cause your grounds to heat up and burn if you use them too long.
Burrs are the more popular option for people who love to make artisan coffee. The burrs help give you a more uniform grind, and they don’t heat up, so you don’t have to worry about possibly burning the beans. They can also be more expensive, especially if you want them to last.
Powered or Manual
Manual will give you a lot of control, make the units easier to use on the go and are typically smaller in size. They can be a great option, especially if you like grinding single cups each time so that the brew is always fresh.
Powered units are easier to use for everyone and usually grind the beans quicker overall. For many coffee fans, electric grinders help them because they don’t have to manually grind the beans, which can be harder, especially if you have weaker hands or arthritis.
Settings
Being able to set the grind size can be very important. You can control a lot based on how long you grind the beans, but when you have settings, it can help you get the right consistency every time.
Coming up with the grind size based on time takes some skill and can lead to a relatively large learning curve. It is easy if you have some basic setting to help give you a guideline.
Size
You’re looking for the smallest grinder that meets your needs. If you are grinding coffee for your whole family, too small can take too much time. So you want to look at how much coffee you can grind at one time to make sure you can make enough cups.
Speed
The speed of the grind can be essential. Usually, faster grinds produce a lot more heat which can burn your beans and cause you to have more bitter flavors. A slow grind works better, but you don’t want it to be too slow, or you will lose some of the flavors from your beans.
In most manual grinders, you control the speed, so you will have to find the right level to make the best-tasting coffee.
Heat
How hot the unit gets will affect the taste a lot. Outside of speed and grinder type, there is one more factor that can affect heat. In powered grinders, smaller motors can cause the whole unit to heat up.
You don’t want to burn your grounds, so if you notice your grinder heats up, you may want to find ways to keep it cool. These methods include shorter burst grinds and grinding less all at once.
Noise
The grinding process can be pretty loud. You’re taking a bunch of hard beans and breaking them down into small grounds. It can make a lot of noise. As a general rule, manual grinders will be quieter than powered ones.
Faster grinders will also add more noise, so they can be bad for your coffee grounds and your peace of mind. Slower grinders will tend to be quieter. Noise insulation can also make the tool less noisy, which is a nice touch, but it also adds to the size.
Ease of Cleanup
You’re going to want to clean your grinder in between uses. A dirty grinder will put older stale grounds into your pot, which will affect the taste of the coffee. It can also be unsanitary depending on the time in between grinds.
You want a machine that comes apart easily so you can quickly and easily clean it up. For powered units, you want to make sure you can separate the main bowl from the electronics. Otherwise, it will be a more complex cleaning process.
The simpler it is to break down, the easier it will be to clean.
Durability
A grinder should last a long time and produce consistent grounds every time you use it. Finding high-grade materials helps with this feature. Ceramic burrs, stainless steel levers and metal or ceramic casing are excellent options for durable machines.
Plastic tends to break down quicker, and you also end up getting less consistent grounds the longer you use them. When you have the option, get the better materials, and the grinder will last a very long time.
Cozy’s Bottom Line
If you’re looking for the smallest coffee grinder that still makes a great cup of coffee, the Blue Brew Grinder offers you the most features in the tiniest package. It works great in a kitchen or on a campsite to give you a quality cup of coffee you can enjoy.
If you are in the market for a machine that grinds and brews, be sure to check out our top picks for best grind and brew coffee makers.