Five great coffee grinders for sophisticated coffee lovers

An old-timer on the shelves with a Swiss pedigree, the Nivona NICG 130 still holds its own in high positions in all sorts of household coffee grinder charts. The secret of the model's success lies in the advantageous combination of high-quality and uniform grinding with the convenience of using the device without unnecessary gestures.

All the processes of the device are run by conical millstones, which grind coffee beans, as they say, “to dust”. It is possible to get the finest grinding on the positions of the Extra Fine regulator. At the same time, the user has the right to set the degree of grinding Fine (suitable for carob coffee makers), Medium (for preparing an invigorating drink in geyser coffee makers) and Coarse (large granule sizes will be appreciated by adherents of infusing coffee in the press).

The key control of the coffee grinder - the mechanical timer regulator - took a position exactly in the middle on the front panel of the device. Each value on it corresponds to a 2-second work of millstones for the benefit of grinding grains. The duration of the procedure and the number of servings at the exit rest on the type of grains used, the method of preparing the drink and, of course, the taste preferences of the household.

It is noted that coffee beans can be ground directly into a horn with a diameter of up to 58 mm, which fits tightly into the place of a removable container. The only negative inherent in the model is associated with the periodic clogging of the "passage" between the millstones at fine grinding. He does not make special weather and appears very rarely. Given its excellent reputation, high grind quality and low noise operation, the Nivona NICG 130 is a well-rounded favorite in the burr grinder field.

Representative of the specialty brand Gaggia is a coffee grinder with steel conical burrs, which is designed for home use. It will form an excellent tandem with various branded coffee makers, ranging from the low-cost Gran to the Gaggia Classic, that is, a semi-professional carob model.

You can grind grains in Gaggia MD 15 either into a 150 gram bowl or straight into the horn (holder) to immediately prepare espresso or other coffee drinks based on it.

The coffee grinder allows you to flexibly adjust the degree of grinding: the user has 15 settings at his disposal from the finest (for Turkish coffee and espresso) to the coarse fraction (French press). The model effectively copes with the task, guaranteeing uniform grinding of grains from the hopper (it holds up to 300 grams).

A 150-watt motor is responsible for the speed of the device. It makes ground coffee for one serving of an invigorating drink in just 5 seconds. And with the help of a digital timer, you can set another operating time in the range from 10 to 50 seconds (in increments of 10 seconds).

The maximum continuous operation time can be up to 5 minutes, but it is recommended to alternate cycles of work and pauses of 90 seconds each.

Gaggia MD 15 is a good choice for demanding users and a must have for brand fans.

In the Graef brand line, the CM 702 coffee grinder represents the middle class. Below it are the simplest models, including the knife CM 102, and above it are solutions with timers and dispensers, like the CM 900.

We recommend the Graef CM 702 for home use or beginner baristas. The device is made in a plastic case, not too heavy (1.9 kg), easy to clean. Removable elements are designed to facilitate cleaning, including the top cone of the burrs and the base plate, where ground coffee grains invariably collect.

The model received quite capacious containers for grains and grinding for 250 grams. This eliminates the need for frequent refills of the hopper or emptying the coffee bowl. Both containers are also removable and come with airtight lids to store the contents.

Graef CM 702 has 24 grind settings. The quality and homogeneity of grinding matches the capabilities of major competitors such as Nivona CafeGrano 130 or Gaggia MD 15. And you can also grind directly into the horn. But there is also a characteristic difference.

So, a special holder is offered for the holder (moreover, there are two of them in the kit at once - for a diameter of 60 and 70 mm), and under it there is a contact power button. Light pressure on the holder starts the grinding, and when it is full, you just need to loosen the pressure and the grinder will turn off.

Similarly, work starts when using a bowl for ground coffee: lightly pressed against the body and the process started, released - it stopped. But if you need to grind a lot of grains at a time, then such a contact inclusion will be slightly tedious and not very convenient. But for one or two servings of coffee at a time, the Graef CM 702 is almost the best option, and the grinding process itself is almost the same as the actions of a barista in a coffee shop.

The coffee grinder of the Wilfa brand stands out for its design. The case is made of black plastic, and the 250-gram bean compartment and the ground coffee bowl actually “hide” inside: the first container is on top, and the second is on the side. As a result, the Wilfa Aroma CGWS-130B will easily fit into almost any interior and will not immediately “give out” a coffee connoisseur, unlike most competitors from the same price segment.

For greater storage convenience , a cord compartment is provided.

Metal millstones are responsible for grinding coffee beans, and they are driven by a 130-watt motor with overload protection. It is stated that the speed of the motor is forcibly reduced to minimize heat generation and preserve the aroma of coffee. But even this will not make you wait long for grinding, for example, in 10 seconds you will be able to get 16 grams of coffee for a geyser coffee maker.

The required operating time (interval up to half a minute) is set using a timer. And the desired degree of grinding helps to set an informative indicator on the grain hopper. There are 5 basic values with characteristic marks: cold brew (for cold coffee), French press, filter coffee, aeropress and mocha (for geyser). And additionally, within each option, there are intermediate values for coffee experiments.

The disadvantages of the model include the lack of the smallest grinding options necessary for making espresso in a carob coffee maker or a drink in a Turk. But if you are a connoisseur of filter coffee or alternatives, then the Wilfa Aroma CGWS-130B is almost the best choice for your home. And for wider cooking options, there is an older Uniform WSFBS-100B coffee grinder, however, its price is significantly higher.

The De'Longhi Dedica KG 520.M burr coffee grinder stands out for its elegant and stylish Italian design and will be a good addition to the Dedica series coffee maker. The model belongs to the professional segment of equipment for cafes and restaurants, and its high price is due to high-quality performance and outstanding functionality. A solid metal case made the device massive (2.75 kg), and its placement on a stable base eliminates the slightest vibration during operation. A transparent container for 350 g of beans, installed on the top of the device, will always let you know how much coffee is prepared for grinding. A transparent sealed container with a capacity of 170 g, where the ground powder is poured, allows not only to use it immediately, but also to store it for the future. The main difference between the device and analogues is the function of grinding coffee directly in the holder of the coffee machine, for which the device is equipped with a removable horn holder. Eliminating the step of manually filling the portafilter with coffee powder significantly reduces time and simplifies the entire beverage preparation process.

The high quality of grinding is ensured by a 150 W electric motor and a steel burr conical mechanism that is resistant to overheating. The side rotary control of the Cup Selector dispenser allows you to adjust the amount of powder for 1 to 14 standard coffees. And two control buttons with LED indication make it possible to select the operating mode of the device: grinding grains into a complete container or into a sieve of a horn. Regardless of the set mode, the built-in dispenser automatically turns off the mill at the end of the working cycle. The coffee grinder has the ability to adjust 18 degrees of grinding using a rotary lever and a digital scale with divisions, divided into 3 equal sectors, corresponding to the level of grinding of grains. Setting the lever to a certain position allows you to get the ground powder of optimal quality, on which the taste of the drink largely depends: 1 - 6 (fine, for espresso), 7 - 12 (medium, for drip coffee makers) and 13 - 18 (coarse, for French press). The warranty period of the coffee grinder, set by the manufacturer, is 2 years.