Best Coffee Grinders 2020: A Guide to Buying a Coffee Grinder in New Zealand

Find the best coffee grinder for the best brew with our definitive guide, including 12 of the best models

Updated 5 August 2020

Our guide to the best coffee grinders for home use is dedicated to every New Zealander who values the exceptional flavour obtained when grinding their coffee at home.

​Our Coffee Grinder Buying Guide Covers:

• Why you should care about grinding your coffee and the different types of coffee grinder​
• Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Coffee Grinder in New Zealand
• 12 the Best Coffee Grinders Available in New Zealand Right Now

Know this first: Why you should care about grinding your coffee

​If you've ever wondered why the coffee you drink at home tastes different from the coffee shop's, it's largely because they grind coffee beans instead of using commercially available ground coffee.

While it is true that many factors contribute to coffee flavour, the quality and freshness of the beans are one of the most important of all. No matter how well-packed ground coffee is, whole coffee beans retain their flavour for longer. To give you some perspective, it is similar to comparing powdered milk to fresh milk. Once you have had a great cup of coffee made from fresh beans, it is hard to go back.

Types of Coffee Grinder

When it comes to grinding coffee, you have three options: 

1. Using a manual burr grinder
2. Using an electric burr grinder
3. Using an electric blade grinder​ 

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages which we outline below:

Manual grinders

This is the simplest and most affordable way to grind coffee. Manual grinders work similar to pepper mills, they grind coffee beans between two burrs, which are usually made of ceramic. On this type of grinder, the fineness or coarseness of ground coffee will depend on the time you spend turning the crank. To get an extra fine size, say for an Espresso, you will have to keep grinding for longer than for a coarse bean like the one used for French Press coffee.

Manual Grinders Highlights: 

• Great grinding consistency. Since most manual coffee grinders use ceramic conical burrs, they offer excellent grinding consistency
• Simple and durable. The wear of the internal parts is not an issue since manual grinders operate at very low speeds
• Affordable. Generally speaking, manual grinders are cheaper than their electric counterparts

 
Manual Grinders - What We Like:

• Portability. Since they are so compact, you can use them at home or while travelling
• Easy to clean. Its maintenance is not too different from that of a common blender, just open it and clean the burrs
• Ceramic conical burrs. Most quality manual coffee grinders use ceramic conical burrs which ensures optimal results
• Silent operation. No motor, just you turning the handle

 
Manual Grinders - What We Dislike:

• Low capacity. Being compact is great for portability but limits the grinder capacity, therefore, you will have to refill it several times if you plan grinding several cups of coffee
• Time-consuming. Since it’s a manual process you will require more time when compared with automatic/electric grinders, especially while grinding large amounts of coffee
• Requires some muscle. Depending on the amount you require and the type of bean you are grinding, turning a crank to grind coffee can be laborious

Electric Burr Grinders (aka burr grinder)

Burr grinders working principle is similar to their manual counterpart. Coffee beans are crushed while passing between a moving grinding wheel and a static surface. However, this type of grinder allows adjusting the burr position, enabling precise control of the resulting grind size. Their ability to provide repeatable grinding settings is what set burr grinders apart from the rest. For instance, you can experiment with the recommended settings for different types of coffee and then “fine-tune” such settings to your liking. Once you discover “the perfect size” for your favourite coffee all you have to do is take note of it (analog/mechanical grinders) or store it into memory (digital grinders).

Burr Grinders Highlights:

• Utmost grinding consistency. Burr grinders offer unsurpassed accuracy meaning grains are evenly ground, resulting in better coffee
• A vast number of grinding adjustments. This is the only type of coffee grinder offering grinding adjustments, meaning repeatable, good tasting coffee regardless of bean size
• Maintains flavour. The grinding process does not overheat coffee beans, meaning oily coffee beans with a rich taste

 
Burr Grinders - What We Like: 

• Convenience. Unlike their manual counterparts, all you have to do is selecting the desired grain size and push a button to start grinding
• Reliability. Burr grinders are usually very reliable since they work at a relatively constant speed and have few moving parts
• Best coffee ground quality. No other coffee grinder can offer the quality and accuracy of burr grinders

 
Burr Grinders - What We Dislike: 

• Expensive. The excellent results that these grinders offer come with a high price tag
• Might be difficult to clean. Depending on the brand, this type of grinder might be difficult to clean
• Loud. While it is true that burr grinders are not as loud as blade grinders, they are noisier than many other kitchen accessories
• Slower than blade grinders. Since burr grinders grind only a small amount of coffee beans at a time they are slower than blade-type grinders

Electric blade grinders (aka blade grinders)

Blade grinders operate similar to food processors and blenders hence its name. They use a sharp metal blade to chop coffee beans. In this type of grinder, the only way to control the fineness of the coffee bean is by pushing the power button, checking the coffee ground, and repeating the process again until it reaches the desired size. There are many disadvantages associated with this process though.

​First of all, the process is not repeatable. Even if you time how long the grinding takes, that does not ensure accuracy. Secondly, blade grinders heat up quite quickly causing the oils in the coffee beans to evaporate, almost destroying their flavour. Nevertheless, depending on your expectations and the brand of coffee you purchase, blade grinders enable you to achieve better taste than commercial ground coffee.
 
Blade Grinders Highlights:

• Poor grinding consistency. Blade grinders are quite inaccurate, so do not expect the same results as with burr grinders
• No grinding adjustments. You have to continuously check the firmness of ground coffee to determine when is ready
• Could potentially destroy beans flavour. Since blades heat up pretty fast, they may degrade the taste of the resulting ground coffee

 
Blade Grinders - What We Like: 

• Very fast. When it comes to speed, blade grinders are second to none. Just fill the coffee hopper and press the button for a few seconds to get ground coffee
• Inexpensive. Depending on the quality of the grinder, you can find really cheap units which may serve you well for occasional use
• Multi-purpose. Most blade grinders are designed to be “multi-purpose” allowing you to take advantage of the unit to also chop herbs and spices

 
Blade Grinders - What We Dislike: 

• Inaccurate. When using blade grinders coffee beans are chopped unevenly, some may be too large, some too fine
• Quite noisy. This is the loudest type of coffee grinder of all. To give you some perspective, they even louder than a blender
• Burns the coffee beans. Unfortunately, the heated blades burn the coffee beans, partially destroying their flavour

Key Factors to Consider When Buying a Coffee Grinder in New Zealand

When you go shopping to buy a coffee grinder take into account the following aspects: 

• Intended usage. Do you plan to buy premium coffee beans that deserve the best grinder money can buy, or do you just want to grind regular coffee on an occasional basis?
• Expected quality. Are you passionate about preserving the smell, the oils, and above all the flavour of coffee beans? Or you only want to grind coffee beans as fast as possible?
• Ease of use. Some coffee grinders are completely manual, others come with an LCD screen. In any case, choose one with which you feel comfortable
• Durability. Manual and electric burr grinders are usually far more durable than blade grinders
• Noise level. The quieter the better. Keep in mind that blade grinders are the loudest.
• Price. As a rule of thumb, manual burr grinders are the cheapest, followed by blade grinders, and lastly electric burr grinders which are the more expensive

Twelve of the Best Coffee Grinders Available in New Zealand Right Now

​Choosing the best coffee grinder currently available in New Zealand is not an easy task. We have compiled our list (in no particular order) based on average consumer reviews collected from consumer.org.nz as well as other sources both in New Zealand and overseas.

1. Best Budget Blade Coffee Grinder: Sunbeam MultiGrinder II EM0405

More details: Sunbeam MultiGrinder II EM0405​
​Pricing: From $44.95

​What We Like	​What We Dislike
Good looking  Small footprint  Excellent price	Low capacity (only 96 grams) Blades may lose their sharpness within 1-2 years depending on usage

Compact, reliable, and easy-to-use. If all that you need is a coffee grinder that does not cost you a fortune, then the Sunbeam MultiGrinder II might be the perfect solution for you Moreover since this is a multi-purpose grinder, you can also use it to chop herbs and spices with a touch of a button. MultiGrinder’s transparent lid lets you check the process, and decide how fine you want the grain. While it is true that coffee enthusiasts would never call the Sunbeam MultiGrinder a true coffee grinder (due to its multi-purpose nature), it is also true that for many New Zealanders its flexibility could become very handy in the kitchen on a daily basis.
 
Sunbeam MultiGrinder II Key Features:

• Recommended for: casual usage, not recommended for premium coffee grains
• Grinder type: stainless steel blades
• Coffee bin capacity: 96 grams
• Grind settings: not applicable to blade grinders
• Controls: One button operation
• Construction: brushed metal
• Grinder dimensions (HxWxD): not available
• Power consumption: not available

Runner-up: Breville the Coffee & Spice BCG200 - From $54.00

​For a similar price, you can get Breville Coffee and Spice that offers bigger capacity (128 grams) along with the same multi-functional nature

• More details: Breville the Coffee & Spice BCG200

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2. Best Budget Burr Coffee Grinder: Sunbeam GrindFresh EM0440

More details: Sunbeam GrindFresh EM0440​
​Pricing: From $119.95

​What We Like	​What We Dislike
Economical conical burr coffee grinder Good capacity A reasonable number of grind setting	White plastic aesthetics Its construction does not feel as premium as other coffee grinders

The Sunbeam GrindFresh is hands down the best option for any New Zealander looking for an affordable conical burr coffee grinder. In fact, we choose this particular model for the value it offers. It is not super expensive, uses durable conical burrs that deliver way more consistent results than blade coffee grinders, and has an acceptable number of grind settings. To put it simply, you can think of the Sunbeam GrindFresh as a good option to start experimenting in the world of coffee grinders. This unit is quite capable of delivering decent results at a nice price-point and gives you the opportunity to learn about different ground coffee tastes.
 
Sunbeam GrindFresh Key Features:

• Recommended for: average usage might be used for premium coffee grains
• Grinder type: conical burr
• Coffee bin capacity: 250 grams
• Grind settings: 25
• Controls: manual operation through dial
• Construction: plastic
• Grinder dimensions (HxWxD): 382mm x 135mm x 262mm
• Power consumption: not available

Runner-up: Bodium Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder- From $132.95

If you are not convinced with the looks of the Sunbeam GrindFresh, then you the Bodium Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder is a good option for about the same price.

• More details: Bodium Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder

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3. Best Daily Usage Conical Burr Coffee Grinder: Sunbeam Precision Grinder EM0700

More details: Sunbeam Precision Grinder EM0700​
​Pricing: From $299.00

​What We Like	​What We Dislike
High capacity coffee bean  Average grind settings  Tap & Go one-touch usage	Somewhat pricey No digital controls

If you feel confident about spending a little more in a good quality coffee grinder, then the Sunbeam Precision Grinder might be for you. Contrary to the models listed so far, the Precision Grinder offers more consistent bean grinding thanks to its belt-driven mechanism that minimizes unwanted vibrations. Furthermore, Sunbeam’s Tap & Go™ technology facilitates daily usage since all you have to do is configure the unit so that when you put the handle it starts grinding coffee beans to the desired size. 

Sunbeam Precision Grinder Key Features:

• Recommended for: daily usage can be used for premium coffee grains
• Grinder type: conical burr
• Coffee bin capacity: 450 grams
• Grind settings: 30
• Controls: Tap & Go™ one-button grind operation
• Construction: Stainless steel / plastic
• Grinder dimensions (HxWxD): 410mm x 152mm x 240mm
• Power consumption: not available

Runner-up: DeLonghi Dedica Conical Burr Grinder - From $249.99

A good alternative to our pick is DeLonghi’s Dedica Conical Burr Grinder. It has an LCD display and it’s cheaper, however, only has 18 grind settings and 349g capacity

• ​More details: ​DeLonghi Dedica Conical Burr Grinder

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4. Best Next-Gen Conical Burr Coffee Grinder: Breville Smart Grinder Pro

More details: Breville Smart Grinder Pro​
​Pricing: From $499.95

​What We Like	​What We Dislike
High capacity 450g coffee bean  Plenty of grind settings  Dosing IQ technology	Expensive A bit noisy

This is a unit that coffee enthusiasts across New Zealand will certainly love. You can tell it is a premium conical burr coffee grinder just by looking at it. Its stainless steel housing, two portafilter cradles, LCD display, 60 settings, and beautiful design, make the Breville Smart Grinder Pro an excellent choice for anyone looking for a professional-level grinder. Moreover, Breville’s Dosing IQ technology allows you to easily get the right dose regardless if you want to brew French Press cups or Espresso shots. Hands down, the Smart Grinder Pro will not disappoint. Easy to use, easy to clean, looks great, and has plenty of setting to play with.
 
Breville Smart Grinder Pro Key Features:

• Recommended for: daily usage can be used for premium coffee grains
• Grinder type: stainless steel conical burr
• Coffee bin capacity: 450 grams
• Grind settings: 60
• Controls: digital, includes an integrated LCD
• Construction: Stainless steel / plastic
• Grinder dimensions (HxWxD): 394mm x 152mm x 216mm
• Power consumption: 165W

Runner-up: LELIT PLO43 FRED Doser-less - From $449.99

Coffee purists might trade the convenience of digital controls and LCD display for a “doser less” design which allows infinite settings through manually controlling the units grinding process.

• ​More details: ​LELIT PLO43 FRED Doser-less

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5. Best Next-Gen Flat Burr Coffee Grinder: Baratza Vario

More details: Baratza Vario
​Pricing: From $747.50

​What We Like	​What We Dislike
Professional-grade coffee grinder  200 grind settings  Amazing flavours thanks to cutting-edge ceramic flat burr	VERY expensive We would prefer it had a conical burr

The Baratza Vario is definitely a premium coffee grinder. It does not have the highest hopper capacity, however, the Vario manages to grind coffee beans with utmost precision at speeds ranging from 1.6g/sec (Espresso) to 2.2g/sec (French Press) thanks to its 54mm flat ceramic burrs. And that is exactly what grinding is all about. Accuracy. The Vario has a total of 200 grind settings allowing it to grind beans from 230 microns to 1150 microns. Just imagine the exquisite taste of coffee brewed using this amazing grinder. The Baratza Vario is perfect for any New Zealander looking for a professional-grade coffee grinder that makes the most of every coffee bean.
 
Baratza Vario Key Features:

• Recommended for: professional home usage can be used for premium coffee grains
• Grinder type: flat ceramic burrs
• Coffee bin capacity: 230 grams
• Grind settings: 200 (10 macro settings and 20 micro settings for each macro setting)
• Controls: digital, includes an integrated LCD
• Construction: Stainless steel / plastic
• Grinder dimensions (HxWxD): 360mm x 130mm x 180mm
• Power consumption: 130W

Runner-up: Mazzer Mini - From $999.00

In case you prefer a commercial-grade coffee grinder, the Mazzer Mini can provide you with a great experience (for a price)

• ​More details: ​Mazzer Mini

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6. Best Manual Coffee Grinder: Cera Mill Portable Hand Coffee Grinder

More details: Cera Mill Portable Hand Coffee Grinder​
​Pricing: From $65.00

​What We Like	​What We Dislike
Portable  Great construction  Easy to clean	Somewhat expensive when compared with other manual coffee grinders

Closing our list is the handy Cera Mill Portable Hand Coffee Grinder. Its compact design (185mm tall and 50mm in diameter) makes it perfect for either home or travel use. While it is true that it is somewhat expensive, it is also true that it comes with high quality conical ceramic burrs that ensure excellent results. Easy to clean, easy to use, the Cera Mill Portable Hand Coffee Grinder even comes with a convenient carry bag!
 
Cera Mill Portable Hand Coffee Grinder Key Features:

• Recommended for: light to medium home usage can be used for premium coffee grains
• Grinder type: conical ceramic burrs
• Coffee bin capacity: not available
• Grind settings: not applicable
• Controls: not applicable
• Construction: Stainless steel
• Grinder dimensions (HxWxD): 185mm x 50mm
• Power consumption: manual

Runner-up: Portable Hand Coffee Travel Grinder - From $29.00

If what you are looking for is an affordable coffee grinder for occasional use during travel, then the Portable Hand Coffee Travel Grinder might be for you

• More details: ​Portable Hand Coffee Travel Grinder

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