If you are looking for the best espresso coffee grinder under $500, you have come to the right place. You will find reviews and buying tips of the top 8 best surprising espresso coffee grinders under 500.
Grinding coffee for espresso can be a little tricky. As a brewing method, espresso tends to be a bit of all or nothing because its pressurized brew can bring out the best or worst in the coffee beans depending on how they are ground. When you add budget to the mix, finding the best coffee grinder that suits your machine and your tastes can be difficult. But don’t worry, we are here to help you to find the best one.
For budding home baristas looking for their first grinder, we’ve put together a list of 8 brilliant picks for espresso grinders under $500.
Top 8 Best Espresso Grinders Under $500
Espresso grinders need to be very fine, and grinders that excel at fine grinding don’t easily switch to coarser grinds. You can find a grinder that handles both, and for that, I recommend the Baratza Vario, but you’ll compromise on espresso.
Keep in mind that this list is organized by price, and ultimately the best budget espresso grinder will be the one that best suits your needs and preferences.
1. Baratza Sette 270 Coffee Grinder Under $500
Baratza Sette 270 coffee grinder is one of the perfect coffee grinders. The combination of stepless macro and continuous micro-adjustments gives you precise control over your espresso grind while offering simple operation. Three programmable time settings to make your grinding process even easier.
40mm steel conical burrs, with a unique straight grind design, the hopper sits directly on the conical burrs. The outer burr rotates instead of the inner burr, efficiently drawing the coffee onto the grinding shaft.
With the 290W motor, Baratza Sette 270 espresso coffee grinder provides fast grinding without retention. No stale coffee buildup or waste (typically less than half a gram) and much less cleaning are required.
Convertible device holder, a portafilter, or widens to accommodate a drip or pour-over filter basket and rotates fully to use the included grinding bowl. Burrs are extremely easy to access and remove, and the hopper has a simple slide lock to allow for seamless bean exchange.
It is mostly made of plastic, making it light and affordable but less durable. It isn’t quiet. It was known for having a faulty gearbox in the past, but we’ve heard that Baratza has taken steps to remedy this, and they’re known for their attentive customer service should any issues arise.
Advertised as suitable for drip and pour grinding as well, but in our experience, it only works well with the addition of the grinding bur, which has slightly flatter edges, produces fewer fines, and makes it more suitable for coarser grinding.
Overall, if you’re willing to overlook some of the cheaper components and noise and primarily want to grind for espresso, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a faster, more consistent grinder at this price point than the Sette 270.
2. Rancilio Rocky SS Espresso Coffee Grinder
The Rancilio Rocky is the best espresso coffee grinder for under $500. It is solidly built and offers a consistent low-temperature grind ideal for home use or even a small coffee shop. If properly maintained, this machine will serve you for many years.
Fully stepped, with 55 grind settings, and unlike the Vario, it grinds from the finest to extremely coarse espresso so that it can use for cold brewing. It comes in the SD model without a dispenser or our choice, the SS, which has a dispensing chamber attached.
We prefer the SS as the Rocky lacks some of the extra features like timed grind or programmable settings. Using the dosing chamber allows you to adjust and experiment without wasting too much coffee, but you’ll want to ensure you don’t over-grind and allow the coffee to go stale inside the dosing chamber.
Solid, durable construction with 50mm hardened steel flat burrs and a 166W direct-drive motor. Rancilio Rocky espresso coffee grinder can grind up to seven pounds of coffee per hour while keeping it consistent and fresh.
Thermal overload shutdown automatically shuts down the motor if it starts to overheat or if chips get stuck. We love this feature as it is a built-in safety mechanism that protects the machine from potential damage, further contributing to its durability and longevity.
It is difficult to change the grind setting as the machine must be running. You need to manually press the grind button and the lever and turn the adjustment dial on the hopper at the same time is nearly impossible to do with just one person unless you’re pretty creative.
It also means you’re wasting coffee every time you want to adjust. The stepped design with only 55 options means you can’t fine-tune your espresso grind. If you’re focused on that perfect extraction, you’ll want to veer toward one of the more.
Espresso-specific grinders are without a sliding hopper. The hopper and top cutter are somewhat difficult to remove and even more difficult to replace correctly. The Rocky requires fairly regular cleaning, or it tends to get clogged, so this can become a chore.
Overall, the Rancilio Rocky provides a consistent grind at a low temperature, and if you like it, it will be with you for years. It’s not the easiest to adjust, but once you’ve got it dialed in, it’s easy to use and won’t disappoint you.
3. Baratza Vario Best Budget Coffee Grinder for Espresso
The Baratza Vario best coffee grinder is the most intuitive grinder and our best pick for switching between brewing methods. Fully staggered yet uniquely designed that combines 10 numbered macro settings with 23 lettered micro settings for a potential 230 grind settings.
Since each set has its code, a combination of numbers and letters, it makes finding and programming your grind settings a breeze. Three programmable buttons for timed grinding to further speed up your grinding process or manually grind to your desired amount.
Iconic German coffee company Mahlkonig’s 54mm flat ceramic burrs are of the best construction, hold their edge well, and provide excellent consistency. Mahlkonig’s burrs do an excellent job grinding both espresso and drip coffee but can easily be swapped out for stainless steel if you wish.
Baratza Vario coffee grinder includes a grind collection container and aluminum support insert, which can be seamlessly interchanged as you switch between brewing methods. The thickest setting isn’t enough for the French press, which is disappointing.
It’s also not as precise as some of the espresso-specific grinders on it. T might not be the best option if you’re looking to grind just for espresso. Mainly plastic, which makes it lighter and more affordable, but also makes it less durable.
It lacks a sliding hopper to facilitate the grain change process. It would be useful as this is an all-purpose grinder. The digital LCD screen can be hard to read from some angles, which isn’t the end of the world.
We think the ease of use makes up for this. Overall, the Baratza Vario coffee grinder is a well-built, high-performance grinder that can easily switch between grind settings, giving you versatility without frustration.
However, when it comes to grinding for espresso, a few fines are acceptable as they contribute to the rich, complex flavor. Many baristas feel that ceramic burrs offer a more authentic style of espresso.
The Baratz espresso grinders under $500 are excellent all-purpose grinders at a reasonable price.
4. New Simonelli Grinta Best Coffee Grinder
Nuova Simonelli Grinta is a simple and efficient one of the best espresso coffee grinders without a dispense. Infinitely stepped adjustment allows micro-adjustments from very fine to extremely coarse.
While the steps make it easy to adjust, as the adjustment wheel turns infinitely, it will still be difficult to find and return to the previous setting, so it’s not particularly well-suited for switching between brewing methods.
You will need to observe or weigh your coffee before brewing. It can be much fun for someone who loves to experiment and fine-tune their espresso process, but it can be frustrating for a novice.
The 50mm flat steel wheels provide a fast and fairly consistent grind, but the grains tend to be clumpy, so you’ll need to break them up with a bit of shaking before brewing. The plastic casing means the Grinta is lightweight and affordable but less durable.
This espresso coffee grinder is also quite noisy. Quite a lot of grind retention makes single dosing difficult and results in a lot of wasted coffee, So it is the best espresso grinder under $500, a streamlined grinder, and one of the most affordable on the list.
It would be great for someone who likes to have full control over their grind and doesn’t need extra bells and whistles.
5. Eureka Mignon Silenzio Manual Coffee Grinder
The Silenzio is the best espresso coffee grinder offering great features and the addition of a noise-dampening design. It’s at the top of our price range, but if keeping noise down is important to you, it’s worth the extra investment.
As is common, the consistency tends to drop slightly in a coarser setting. The dial allows for easy grind adjustment. It rotates infinitely, so you’ll need to keep track of how many rotations it does if you switch between brew methods.
It cannot be easy to return to previous settings and require constant fine-tuning.
The timed or manual grind allows you to set your grind time with a simple dial on the side or press the manual button on the front of the machine to control the ground flow.
Compact, stylish, and built to last with its one-piece aluminum casing. The square shape gives it a unique and elegant look that allows it to fit easily into any kitchen corner. With 50mm hardened steel, flat burrs offer a consistent grin. Noise dampening design for quiet operation.
The portable stand is removable so that you can slide a grind collection container underneath for drip grinding or French press. A new wider hopper with anti-caking technology provides fluffy grinds for that perfect extraction. It’s a bit on the slower side. The timer can be a bit tricky to see. It lacks programmable features.
Overall, the Silenzio offers a precise and consistent grind that is easy to adjust. It is extremely quiet and the best espresso grinder for under $50. It’s excellent for home use and well worth the slightly higher price.
6. Breville Smart Best Espresso Coffee Grinder
The Breville burr grinder is a state-of-the-art design with an 18-ounce coffee capacity. With 60 unique grind settings, this is the best espresso grinder for under $500 and gives users the freedom to go crazy experimenting with espresso.
It also has a built-in electronic timer that helps maintain grinding time and consistency. The Breville Espresso Grinder is a smart cookie as it retains the essential oils in the coffee with its specially designed stainless steel burrs.
This dial-controlled machine is easy to use and equipped with an easy-to-read LCD screen so that you can read the screen even in low light in the kitchen.
7. Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder
Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder coffee can make the perfect grinder for under $50. The turntables are powered by a smart, productive motor that prevents overheating and ensures that the coffee is ground with little or no sound possible. An easy rotary dial controls the 55 different grind settings.
The Rancilio has a removable tray that collects any coffee residue, so your kitchen countertop stays clean. This grinder conveniently dispenses a single shot of ground coffee with a smart dosing feature.
This appliance will last for years with a stainless steel back panel and cast aluminum frame.
8. Ascaso Isteel Manual Coffee Grinder
The Ascaso iSteel is a compact and attractive best espresso grinder for under $50. It is the slickest looking of the bunch, offering impressively fast and consistent grinding. Continuous micro-adjustment allows you to run the spectrum from very fine to extremely coarse.
Again, returning to the previous grind setting cannot be easy and requires more adjustments and fine-tuning when switching between brew methods. Manual grinding makes adjusting the espresso even easier, but you’ll have to look at or weigh the coffee before brewing.
Much fun for someone who loves to experiment and fine-tune their espresso process, but it can be frustrating for a novice with 54mm Hardened Steel Flat End Mills and a 250W motor. The iSteel is fast, consistent, and reasonably quiet.
The chute design encourages clumping, so you’ll need to divide your grinds before brewing for an even extraction. It lacks timed grinding to facilitate the grinding process. If you’re looking for a stylish home grinder built to last, with the ability to fine-tune your grind for espresso extraction, Ascaso iSteel is a decent option at a reasonable price.
A manual espresso grinder does not use electricity to work. It depends solely on muscle strength. That is smaller than an electric one. Since it is a very simple machine, it is quite affordable. Manual grinders are also known to last longer as there are no electrical components to fail in the long run. Manual grinders are also noisy to us. An electric espresso grinder will do most of the work for you.
It usually comes with various grinder settings you can experiment with to get the perfect espresso. Since it is equipped with moving metal parts, it is expensive. Some good grinders are also quiet to use.
An electric grinder will save you much time as you can brew your espresso cups or preheat your espresso machine to make espresso while the coffee grinds.
Difference Between Burr Grinder and Blade Coffee Grinder
Bladed espresso grinders are usually cheaper as they are manual machines. The blade grinder is very similar to a blender or food processor. However, they lack precision and give an uneven and coarse grin. On the other hand, burr grinders are made specifically for grinding coffee.
There are 2 types of burs: flat and conical. Flat burs are known to give the best performance but are more expensive than tapered bur. Burr grinders give a smooth consistency of ground coffee with each use.
Why you Need a Quality Coffee Grinder
A cheap blade grinder is better than buying pre-ground coffee, but it won’t give you any favors regarding extraction and flavor complexity. One of the most important aspects of a coffee grinder is consistency (coffee particles of uniform size) which promotes uniform extraction and decreases less desirable qualities such as bitterness.
Blade grinders are very inconsistent, and while burr grinders vary, they generally offer a much superior grind consistency. They make a better-tasting and more complex cup of coffee.
What to Consider When Choosing an Espresso Coffee Grinder?
How you intend to use your coffee grinder is one of the most important considerations when deciding which grinder is right for you. If you predominantly brew espresso, precision is a top priority, so you’ll want something with a micrometer grind adjustment.
If you tend to switch between brewing methods, you’ll need versatility and should opt for an all-purpose grinder with programmable settings.
Many grinders offer a wide range of grind size capacities, but switching from one setting to another can be time-consuming and often frustrating.
1. Burr is better than Blade
Arguably the most important feature to look for in your grinder is to make sure it has gear like a bur mechanism. Grinds the coffee by grinding the beans to ensure they are fine enough to make espresso.
An alternative type of grinder is a blade grinder that uses a blade to slice the beans in a less controlled manner. You’ll find this in most common kitchen equipment stores; however, these won’t measure up.
They will not produce a consistent grind, and you will have difficulty grinding fine enough due to the erratic and blunt nature of the blades.
2. Tapered versus Flat End Mills
When looking for a burr grinder, you will be faced with two types of burrs: conical and flat. Sharp burrs are shaped like cones and are more common in inexpensive grinders, while flat burrs have rings that sit flat on the ground. Both do a great job of chopping beans, and there is much debate about which one will give you a better grind.
3. Electric VS manual grinders
Now, this factor depends almost entirely on personal preference. Manual grinders are much cheaper than electric ones; however, they require a lot of elbow grease to make enough grounds for the shot.
You could be spinning the bean grinder for 30 seconds to 1 minute for a single shot, which may not sound like much, but when you’re doing multiple shots or want a quick cup of coffee, this can be a major chore.
You can push a button with an electric grinder, which will do the rest for you. One area where manual grinders excel is portability. Since you don’t need a power outlet, they’re great to take with you when traveling or camping.
However, electric grinders are much easier to grind and often have several additional features. Both will create ground coffee good enough for espresso,
4. Controls
To ensure you get a consistent grind and adjust the fineness to get the perfect shot, you need to look into what kind of control features the grinder has.
Manual grinders will allow you to adjust the grind size, but not much else. In comparison, most electric ones will allow you to adjust the grind size and other settings.
5. Grind Settings
Being able to adjust the grind setting is crucial for the perfect extraction. The main choice you will have when shopping for an espresso grinder will be the number of grind settings/increments it has.
The higher the number of grind settings, the more control you have over the fineness of the coffee. It’s also important to ensure the grinder can grind fine enough for an espresso.
Often hard to tell, but you can find out by reading the manufacturer’s description and customer reviews/questions.
6. Budget
You can spend over a thousand dollars on a fancy commercial-grade grinder, but luckily more expensive doesn’t always mean better grind quality. It often means more features that may or may not make your home coffee routine more enjoyable.
To get a quality, durable burr grinder, you will need to spend at least a few hundred dollars. Fortunately, if you’re willing to give up some of the bells and whistles, several grinders are well-made, built to last, and offer exceptional grind consistency without breaking the bank.
7. Noise level
Imagine getting up early and heading to the kitchen to make espresso, only to find that you don’t have any ground coffee. You wouldn’t dare grind any coffee with all the noise your grinder would make, waking up everyone sleeping in the house.
To save yourself from this embarrassing situation, you’ll want to invest in a grinder that is quiet while it works. Factors like the grinder’s motor or blade type play a big role in determining how loud or quiet a grinder is.
8. Cooling system
If you drink much coffee regularly, the blades of the ordinary grinder will likely get hot and eventually burn the coffee bean. You need to ensure your grinder has a built-in cooling system so you can do regular and frequent grinding will ensure freshly ground coffee.
9. Flat or conical burrs
There are advantages and disadvantages to both forms of burr. Flat burrs, two rings with angled teeth stacked on top of each other, offer a more consistent grind and an even flavor in your coffee.
Conical burrs (nested sets of cone-shaped angled teeth) offer slightly less consistency. Still, a conical burr grinder can produce brighter, fruitier notes in your coffee, which many people enjoy (particularly drip coffee . Or pouring).
Conclusion
There are many quality burr grinder options out there, But I specially listed out for you the best espresso coffee grinder Under 500, and it can be overwhelming to decide which one is right for you.
If you are an espresso lover, I would like to recommend Baratza Sette 27. Trust me, and you will not be disappointed with the Baratza Sette 270 because the Baratza Vario coffee grinder is very nice to use; it’s my experience.
The Baratza Vario is probably your best option if you want to change your mode. These are both great in quality and durability. We hope this our picks list has helped you so much.
Do comment if you have to ask any questions, And tell me your opinion about the espresso coffee grinder. Also, read Top 5+ Best Surprising Air Cooler for Humid Climate for Your Relaxation in 2022.