Brewing a perfect cup of Chemex calls for a perfect grind of coffee beans. But with so many coffee grinders flooding the market, which one is the best?
These are are two top picks as best coffee grinder for Chemex.
BEST OVERALL
OXO BREW
We picked the OXO BREW as best Coffee grinder for Chemex due to its excellent durability, greater user control and uniform grounds it produces.
RUNNER UP
JavaPresses Manual Coffee Grinder
The JavaPresses Manual Coffee Grinder stands as Runner Up for the great user control it provides through 18 click settings.
A Chemex Coffee maker is a pour-over style machine which produces deep, flavorful cups of coffee without the bitterness.
And for best Chemex brew, you need freshly ground coffee to get that depth and richness in flavor as the grounds bloom.
That’s when you need a great coffee grinder.
Let’s see the top 10 Best Coffee Grinders for Chemex and a detailed buying guide:
Top 10 Best Coffee Grinders for Chemex
Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
OXO BREW Conical Burr Grinder
Best Coffee Grinder for Chemex
Best coffee grinder for Chemex to top our list is the OXO Brew Coffee Grinder due to its durable built and consistent grounds it delivers. The unit is extremely simple to use as it features a ‘One-touch start’ dial. Besides, it has a quite aesthetically pleasing design and slim profile.
The 15 grind settings and additional micro-settings is what sets OXO Coffee grinder apart from its competitors. Here, 1 setting is for fine grounds while 15 is for coarse. Once you set the grind size, set the timer from 0-30 seconds and press the dial. And you’re good to go.
The OXO grinder delivers excellent and consistent medium coarse, just like needed for high-quality Chemex.
For the price, the grinder is quite impressive with durable 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs, 400 RPM speed and large capacity hopper for beans. The metal grounds container at the base has a 110 grams capacity, whereas the beans hopper can hold around 0.75 pounds (12 ounces) of coffee beans.
Overall, it is a minimalistic yet intuitive coffee grinder, perfect for Chemex coffee snobs!
Why we like:
JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder
Runner Up
JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder stands second in this best grinder list, all credits to the great user control it provides through 18 click settings. Moreover, it has a robust brushed stainless steel construction.
This is a great choice for people on a budget, as it does not compromise on quality despite its inexpensive price.
The JavaPresse Coffee Grinder has 18 click settings, so as to provide greater control and precision to the user to get the desired coarseness. The manual hand crank system is not as loud in operation, while ceramic burrs inside are quite sturdy.
Size of the grinder is slim and travel-friendly, besides you can easily detach the hand crank mechanism. The only downside about it is its small capacity, as it is built for 1-2 cup of coffee at a time. And, you will need around 2-5 minutes for the same.
Medium coarse grounds required for Chemex would need around 10 to 12 clicks with this unit. This grinder qualified also in our review of the best quiet coffee grinders.
Why we like:
Capresso Infinity Coffee Burr Grinder
Those of you who are looking for a large capacity coffee grinder, here’s your ideal choice.
The Capresso Infinity Coffee burr grinder is a commercial-grade machine that can hold around 8.8 oz. of coffee beans in its container, whereas the given grounds bin can collect up to 4 oz. of coffee grounds at a time.
Apart from this, it has sturdy steel conical burrs that deliver precise and consistent grounds throughout. The housing of the unit is made out of ABS plastic, which makes it fairly durable. And it has 16 grind settings for enhanced user control, so you can choose from very coarse to Turkish fine grind sizes.
Another key point about this unit is its 100W multiple-gear motor which produces less than 450 RPM grinding action. Due to which, there won’t be excessive static build-up and noise. As for cleaning, then you can easily detach the upper burr for quick access to the interior. Likewise to avoid accidents, it has a nice brush-safety lock mechanism where the machine won’t start till the bin container is in its place.
All in all, it is a budget-friendly option for those who prefer electric coffee grinder over manual ones.
Why we like:
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Automatic Burr Grinder
Cuisinart Supreme Automatic Burr Grinder is again a budget-friendly option for those who like electric burr mills.
To mark its impression, it comes with a whopping 18 grind settings for you to choose from ultra-fine Turkish to extra-coarse grind size for French press. There's also a 4 to 18-cup slide dial provided for added control of grinding time. Not to mention, it is just the perfect coffee grinder for Chemex as it delivers consistent and precise medium coarse grounds.
The unit comes with a large grounds bin that can hold ground coffee enough for 32 cup of coffee. Coming to its durability, the grinder is quite solid with brushed stainless steel burr inside. Once done, it has an automatic stop for a consistent and precise grind.
For those who don’t like a mess, there’s a nice cord storage provided in the unit. Overall, it is easy to use, compact in size and works great for Chemex.
Why we like:
Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill "Skerton Plus"
Another compact manual coffee mill for the budget Chemex lover is the Hario Skerton Plus coffee grinder. It is easy to use, affordable and perfect for smaller kitchens.
The Hario mill comes with ceramic conical burrs and a burr stability plate to grind the beans with precision. These burrs do not rust or produce heat, thus retaining the aroma, flavor and essential oils of your coffee.
Best thing about Hario mill is that its parts detach completely and are washable. They provide a lid for the glass bowl, so you can simply use it to store the grounds for later use. And the bottom of the unit is reinforced with an anti-slip rubber cover for more stability while grinding.
For a great Chemex, you can easily adjust the grind size through rotating the three-directional ring that sits on top of the grinder. The mill is ideal for grinding small beans batches with 75g hopper capacity, and 100g grounds catch capacity.
With high-quality materials used, you can expect the mill to be durable enough for daily use and ideal for on-the-go use.
Why we like:
Baratza Encore
Baratza Encore Coffee grinder is an optimal entry-level machine with premium built and innovative features.
It has a nice small footprint that will fit on any counter-top and features a simple one-touch operation. What makes it the best grinder is the 40 mm hardened alloy steel conical burrs and 40 grind settings that spoil you for choice!
The durable burrs along with a powerful motor deliver uniform and precise grinds every single time. You can use the front pulse button for a quick grind or use the ON/OFF switch on the side if you want continuous grinding.
Seeing its unique set of features, it is hands-down one of the best mid-range, entry-level coffee grinder for Chemex.
Why we like:
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
If you are seeking precise control over every stage of coffee grinding, Breville Smart Grinder Pro is best for you.
This is an intelligent machine featuring 60 grind settings and unique technology which lets you set the grind time in 0.2 sec increments for the perfect dose every single time. You can even adjust the upper burr for finer or coarser grounds.
Its smart design offers options to choose between ‘cups’ or ‘shots’. Plus, you can grind directly into the air-tight bin or portafilter. They provide two portafilter cradles in the package: small (50 mm/54 mm) and large (58 mm).
The intuitive LCD screen shows your chosen grind time, number of cups or shots and grind size. And its stainless steel conical burrs are built to last longer. Overall it is a great high-end machine that excellently produces uniform grind, ideal for baristas seeking a rich Chemex cup at home.
Why we like:
Baratza Virtuoso+
Anyone looking for a sleek, smart and minimalistic coffee grinder, get this Baratza Virtuoso+ burr grinder. The exterior of the unit looks extremely stylish with shiny metal top and bottom accents.
As for its functionality, the grinder is quite impressive with 40 grind settings, 40-sec digital timer and a nice LED back-lit grounds container for visibility. Durable conical burrs provide consistent grinds, be it for Chemex or any other brew methods with a whopping 2g/second grinding speed.
Featuring a powerful DC motor and 40mm hardened alloy steel burrs, you know this machine is built to last for long periods. At a time, the hopper can hold about 8 oz. of whole beans.
Digital timer is the main highlight of this machine which allows you to get consistent doses at ideal grind time.
Why we like:
Ariete Conical Burr Electric Coffee Grinder
Ariete is one of the best Burr Grinders out there that is affordable yet premium at the same time. Its large, lockable bean hopper can hold around 13.33 ounces of coffee beans, while the base container holds up to 6.5 ounces of coffee grounds.
What makes it stand out is its heavy-duty conical burr disc that provides uniform grounds, for Chemex, Turkish or any other coffee cup. Besides, the look of the machine is extremely stylish with a sleek stainless steel base.
In our round up of silent grinders, the Ariete made it at the top as best quiet coffee grinder.
There are 15 grind settings provided for finer to coarser grounds texture. Apart from this, you need to set grinding time depending upon the coffee cups needed. 1-10 sec time will produce 4 Tbsp of coffee grounds, while 15-10 sec will deliver 8 Tbsp of grounds.
Why we like:
LHS Hand Coffee Mill
If you are searching for an extremely affordable manual coffee grinder, get this LHS Hand Coffee mill. It is compact, durable and portable altogether.
LHS Hand Mill has ceramic burr inside that retains the aroma, flavors and essential oils in your coffee as it doesn’t build up friction heat. Right at the center at the top, there’s a knob that you can adjust in 4 levels for fine to coarse grind size.
The unit is quite durable with a stainless steel hand crank system. And the best thing is that it completely detaches for easy washing.
For the price, it is a pretty reliable and good-quality manual coffee grinder.
Why we like:
Buyer’s Guide
When buying a grinder for your Chemex, you need to consider certain important factors as follows:
Types of Grinder
Blade grinder and Burr grinders are the two most common types used for grinding coffee beans.
Flat and conical burr coffee machines- both are ideal for Chemex and work just fine in producing consistent grounds. Besides, there is no temperature build up in burrs due to friction as in the blade grinder. Here is a detailed article on how burr coffee grinders work.
Manual vs. Electric Grinding
No doubt, electric grinder is fast, efficient and easy to use. They provide greater control to the user with grind size and grind time settings. But they are more loud in operation and tend to build up static, as they’re powered with a motor.
As for manual grinders, they are less noisy, do not build up static and are portable to carry on-the-go. But, manual ones provide little user control over grind size and grinding speed.
It really comes down to your preferences. If you’d like to grind larger quantities at a time, an electric machine is ideal, but for small batches manual grinders are the best.
Hopper Capacity
Manual coffee grinders tend to have small hopper capacity of nearly 4-5 Tbsp of coffee beans at a time. But electric grinders have large hopper capacities- right from 8 ounces to as large as 18 to 20 ounces.
If you want several cups of coffee at a time, go for the large hopper capacity. But if you’re going to brew only for 1-2 people, small hopper capacity will do.
Adjustable Grind Settings
For Chemex, medium-coarse grind is highly recommended. So, you will want to look for a grinder featuring adjustable grind settings. More the number of settings, better the user control and precision you’ll be getting.
Here’s a short video that explains how to brew a perfect Chemex coffee.
Chemex coffee makers have a unique filter that is thick and woven tightly, so the brewing time is longer. Such process eliminates the bitterness that other brewing methods tend to produce and also delivers a smooth coffee texture. Plus, its long filtering time produces deeper coffee flavor.
Hence, it is better to use medium coarse grind for best extraction with optimal filtering and flow rate. The water will extract core flavors from the coarser grounds into the filter without creating chunks.
If you use finer grounds for Chemex, the brew time will be too long, thereby causing over-extraction. And finer grounds might also cause chunks. Ideally, Chemex brew time should take around 4-5 minutes. If it is more than this, then you need to go for a coarser grind.
What are the Best Brands for Chemex Coffee Grinders?
OXO is one of the leading brands to offer best, high-quality coffee grinders to suit different brewing methods. It has been in the industry for more than 30 years now and they’ve been meticulously manufacturing premium kitchen equipment throughout.
Baratza also excels in offering premium-grade, durable coffee grinders that are modern, stylish in look and functional altogether. It has been in the business since 20 years now, and is one of the trusted brands when it comes to reliable coffee gear.
Apart from this, Capresso and Cuisinart are tough competitors in the industry with their top-notch, durable coffee grinders.
Conclusion
Our top pick for best coffee grinder for Chemex is the OXO Brew Grinder due to its excellent user control, durable built and precision grinding. Also, the premium 40 mm stainless conical burrs make it more durable.
What makes it impressive is the 15 grind settings along with micro settings, providing you greater control over grind size for Chemex. But if you need a budget buy, then JavaPresse Manual Coffee Mill is also a high-quality unit with 18 grind settings and portable design.
Hope this review and buying guide was helpful for you to pick your best grinder for coffee.
