Brewing a stellar cup of coffee with your Chemex is a ritual that hinges on one crucial element: the grind. The iconic pour-over method demands a consistent, medium-coarse grind to ensure a balanced extraction, avoiding the bitterness of over-extraction or the sourness of under-extraction. Achieving this perfect texture is impossible with a blade grinder, making a quality burr grinder an indispensable partner for your Chemex setup.
From electric workhorses to precise hand grinders, the right equipment can elevate your daily brew from good to exceptional. This roundup explores the best grinders on the market, evaluating them on their ability to produce uniform grounds, their range of settings, and their overall value. Whether you are a coffee novice or a seasoned enthusiast, you will find the ideal grinder here to unlock the full potential of your beans and your Chemex.
The Best Grinders for Your Chemex
- Electric Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, Adjustable Burr Mill
- Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder ZCG485BLK, Black
- OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder – Silver
- Fellow Ode Brew Grinder – Burr Coffee Grinder
- Coffee Grinder Automatic with 31 Grind Settings
- Mr. Coffee Burr Coffee Grinder Automatic Grinder
- Capresso Infinity Plus Conical Burr Grinder, Black
- 1Zpresso J Manual Coffee Grinder Silver
- Fellow Gen 2 Ode Brew Grinder – Burr Grinder
- Timemore Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder
Electric Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, Adjustable Burr Mill
This electric burr grinder offers a straightforward and effective solution for your Chemex brewing. Its one-button operation and automatic shut-off make the grinding process simple and mess-free. With a 12-cup capacity, it is well-suited for preparing multiple servings, perfect for morning routines or serving guests.
The heart of this grinder is its professional-grade stainless steel conical burrs, which are designed to preserve the essential oils of your coffee beans for a richer flavor and aroma. The 19 precise grind settings provide ample flexibility, allowing you to dial in the perfect medium-coarse texture that the Chemex requires for a clean and balanced cup.
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
Often considered the gold standard for entry-level home grinding, the Baratza Encore is a favorite among coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike. Its small footprint makes it a great fit for any kitchen counter, and its reputation for durability and performance is well-established. This grinder is built to last and is backed by excellent customer support.
The Encore is designed with user-friendliness in mind, featuring a simple ON/OFF switch and a convenient front-mounted pulse button for greater control. It consistently produces uniform grounds that are ideal for pour-over methods like the Chemex, ensuring that you get a clean and flavorful brew with every use.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
The OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder combines smart technology with a precision grinding system. Its stainless steel conical burrs work to create uniform grounds, which is essential for an even extraction in your Chemex. The grinder is designed to be intuitive, making it easy for anyone to achieve a professional-quality grind at home.
A standout feature is the one-touch start that remembers your last setting, so you don’t have to readjust every time you make coffee. With 15 grind settings plus micro-adjustments, you have fine-tuned control to find the exact coarseness that works best for your specific Chemex recipe.
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
The Fellow Ode is a grinder designed specifically for brewed coffee, making it a perfect match for your Chemex. It features a compact, modern design with a small footprint that will complement any kitchen aesthetic. Its single-dose hopper encourages grinding beans right before brewing, which maximizes freshness.
This grinder is equipped with professional-grade 64mm flat burrs that deliver exceptional consistency. With 11 settings and 31 steps in between, the Ode offers a wide range of precision to fine-tune your grind. It is a powerful tool for those who are serious about perfecting their pour-over coffee.
Coffee Grinder Automatic with 31 Grind Settings
This automatic grinder provides a high level of customization with its 31 different grinding settings. The durable 40mm stainless steel conical burrs are designed to minimize heat during grinding, which helps protect the intrinsic flavor and aroma of your coffee beans. This is a key factor in achieving a high-quality brew.
Convenience is a major benefit, thanks to the one-touch start digital timer that remembers your last setting. This feature allows for a consistent and repeatable grinding experience every morning, taking the guesswork out of preparing your Chemex.
Mr. Coffee Burr Coffee Grinder Automatic Grinder
The Mr. Coffee Burr Grinder is an accessible and user-friendly option for home baristas. Its fully automatic system allows for hands-free grinding, making the process incredibly simple. With an 18-cup capacity, it is also one of the larger options available, suitable for brewing for a crowd.
It uses flat burr plates to deliver a uniform grind size, which promotes consistent flavor in your coffee. The 18 grind-size presets cover a wide range, from coarse to ultra-fine, giving you the flexibility to find the right setting for your Chemex and other brewing methods.
Capresso Infinity Plus Conical Burr Grinder
The Capresso Infinity Plus is known for its commercial-grade grinding capabilities in a home-friendly package. Its solid steel burrs and advanced cutting design are engineered for precision. The innovative gear reduction motor creates less friction and heat, which is vital for preserving the maximum flavor of your coffee.
With 16 grind settings ranging from extra fine to very coarse, this grinder offers plenty of versatility. You can easily find a setting that produces the ideal medium-coarse grind for your Chemex, resulting in a smooth and clean cup of coffee.
1Zpresso J Manual Coffee Grinder
For those who prefer a hands-on approach or need a portable solution, the 1Zpresso J manual grinder is an excellent choice. It features a solid, foldable crank handle that makes it easy to store and transport. Its compact design does not compromise on performance, offering impressive grinding efficiency.
The grinder is built with a durable 48mm conical burr and an internal adjustment system with 30 clicks per rotation. This allows for precise control over your grind size, enabling you to consistently achieve the perfect setting for your Chemex and enjoy a high-quality, flavorful brew.
Fellow Gen 2 Ode Brew Grinder
The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is an upgraded version designed specifically for brewed coffee lovers. It features in-house designed Gen 2 stainless steel flat burrs that produce a sweet, balanced, and complex cup. This grinder is ideal for those who want to highlight the nuanced flavors of their coffee in a Chemex.
With 31 precision grind settings, you have extensive control over your grind coarseness. A significant improvement in this generation is the much quieter grinding noise, making it a considerate choice for early mornings. Its small footprint and modern design make it a stylish and functional addition to your coffee station.
Timemore Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder
The Timemore Chestnut C2 is a highly regarded manual grinder that offers exceptional value. It is known for its rapid grinding speed and consistent results, which rival those of more expensive electric models. Its sleek and durable aluminum body is both lightweight and sturdy.
Equipped with stainless steel conical burrs, the C2 provides a uniform grind that is perfect for pour-over brewing. The adjustable grind settings are straightforward to use, allowing you to quickly find the right coarseness for your Chemex. It is an ideal grinder for travel or for anyone who appreciates the quiet, meditative process of hand-grinding their coffee.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Grinder for Your Chemex
So, you have a Chemex. That beautiful, hourglass-shaped piece of coffee-making art deserves the best, and it all starts with the grind. I have learned through a lot of trial and error that the grinder is arguably more important than the brewer itself. For a Chemex, you need a consistent, coarse grind. Too fine, and you get a bitter, over-extracted, and muddy cup. Too coarse, and your coffee will be weak, sour, and underwhelming. The goal is that perfect, even, coarse texture that looks a bit like sea salt.
The first big decision you will face is burr grinder versus blade grinder. I am just going to say it: skip the blade grinder. They are inexpensive, but they create a wildly inconsistent mix of powder, chunks, and everything in between. This inconsistency will ruin your Chemex brew every time. A burr grinder is the only way to go. It crushes the beans between two abrasive surfaces, resulting in a uniform particle size, which is the absolute key to a clean and flavorful Chemex coffee.
Next, consider the burr type. You will see conical and flat burrs. For most home setups, a good quality conical burr grinder is the sweet spot. They are generally more affordable, quieter, and produce less heat, which is good for preserving the coffee’s delicate flavors. Flat burrs can offer a slight edge in ultimate consistency and are often found in high-end commercial machines, but for a Chemex at home, a solid conical burr grinder is more than capable.
Manual or electric? This comes down to your routine and budget. A hand grinder is a fantastic option. It forces you to slow down, connects you to the process, and for the same price as an electric model, you can often get higher-quality burrs. It is a workout for your morning brew, but many people, including myself, find it meditative. An electric grinder is about convenience and speed. If you are making coffee for multiple people or just want to push a button and be done, electric is the way to go. Just remember, a good electric grinder is an investment.
Finally, think about the grinder’s settings and capacity. You need a grinder that can achieve a true coarse grind. Some budget-friendly grinders claim to have coarse settings but still produce a lot of fines. Read reviews specifically mentioning Chemex or French press use. Capacity is also key. If you often brew a full 8-cup Chemex, you will need a grinder that can hold at least 60-80 grams of beans. A smaller hopper might mean multiple grinding sessions, which can be a hassle. Getting the right grind is the most critical step in our review of the 10 best grinders for your Chemex setup, so take your time with this decision.
FAQ
Why is a coarse grind so important for a Chemex?
The Chemex uses a very thick paper filter, and the brewing process is relatively slow. A coarse grind creates a porous coffee bed that allows the water to flow through at the correct rate. If the grind is too fine, it acts like mud, slowing the water way down. This leads to over-extraction, where too many bitter compounds are pulled from the coffee. A consistent coarse grind ensures a clean, bright, and complex cup that the Chemex is famous for.
Can I use a pre-ground coffee for my Chemex?
You can, but I really do not recommend it for the best experience. Pre-ground coffee is almost always ground for automatic drip machines, which is a medium grind. This is too fine for an optimal Chemex brew and will likely result in a bitter and slow cup. Furthermore, coffee begins to lose its flavors and aromas the moment it is ground. For the best results, whole beans and a good grinder are non-negotiable.
What is the main difference between a cheap and an expensive burr grinder?
The main differences come down to consistency, build quality, and features. A less expensive grinder might have lower-quality burrs or a less stable motor, leading to more inconsistent particle sizes (fines and boulders). This inconsistency is the enemy of good coffee. More expensive grinders have precision-machined burrs, more powerful motors, and better construction for long-term durability. They also often offer more granular adjustment settings, which is crucial for dialing in your perfect Chemex brew.
How often should I clean my coffee grinder?
You should give it a quick brush-out after every use to remove any leftover grounds and oils. For a deeper clean, I do it about once a month, depending on how much I use it. Oils from the coffee beans can build up and go rancid, tainting the flavor of your fresh coffee. For a deep clean, you can use grinder cleaning tablets or simply disassemble the burr chamber (refer to your manual) and wipe it down with a dry brush. Never use water or soap on the burrs.
Is a manual grinder a good choice for making a full Chemex?
It can be, but it depends on your patience and the grinder’s capacity. Grinding 50-60 grams of beans by hand for a full Chemex can take a couple of minutes of steady cranking. If you enjoy the ritual and only make coffee for one or two people, it is a great, cost-effective option. If you are regularly brewing for a crowd, the convenience of an electric grinder might be worth the extra cost. When looking at a review of the 10 best grinders for your Chemex setup, you will find excellent options in both categories.
What does “retention” mean in a coffee grinder?
Retention refers to the amount of ground coffee that gets stuck inside the grinder after you have finished grinding. All grinders have some retention. This means a small amount of yesterday’s coffee might end up in today’s brew. For most people, this is not a huge issue, but for those who are very particular about flavor or who switch between different coffee beans often, low retention is a desirable feature. Single-dose grinders are designed specifically to minimize this.