Manual Coffee Grinders 2021 - Top 15 Coffee Mills Reviewed
Thanks for taking the time to read our UK written reviews of the top 15 manual coffee grinders. These grinders are also referred to as coffee mills, and some people in the UK call than "hand coffee grinders."
Many people still prefer and like to use this very traditional method of hand grinding their coffee. Now it does require some manual effort of course, but some people quite enjoy this phase of the coffee making process.
There are quite a range of these available and in a number of interesting styles.
Mainly these options divide into three different styles which are:
- Traditional wooden look grinder
- Glass style grinder
- Stainless steel style grinder
A good way to decide which manual grinder to buy, is to pick your style first and then decide on which one is the best option for you within a particular price range.
Within each of these style ranges are a number of brands and the prices range from as low as just a couple of pounds and all the way up to £70 depending on what you like and what you can afford.
For some people it is all about getting the right style to match their kitchen. When it comes to the selection process for these, that is probably the best place to start.
We have included sample images below of each style to help you narrow down the choices. They all work off the same grinding principle, so ultimately it is about what you think will look good in your kitchen.
Just below, we have completed a top 5 rated list for each style of hand coffee grinder.
Traditional Wooden Style Grinder
Glass Style Grinder
Stainless Steel Style Grinder
As you can see from those images above, the styles are quite different to each other. In most cases buyers will prefer one style over the other.
Online buyers though tend to go for either the stainless steel option or the glass option.
Below you will find top 5 lists for each of the styles of hand grinding options. Please note that the average price and the average rating is subject to change. These can change quickly and even on a daily basis, so always check on the day of purchase for the exact price, rating and for any discounts that may be available.
Top 5 Rated Wooden Style Manual Coffee Grinders
These wooden styles are often referred to as vintage manual coffee grinders, or "retro" style grinders. That is simply because of their traditional wooden look and the fact that they are not power driven, other than by manually turning a handle.
Antique Coffee Grinder Price Guide
At the lower end of the price point these start at around £20. They can go all the way up to £100 depending on the quality of wood and grinding mechanism that you wish to purchase.
These are however more antique in style rather than actual antiques. For the traditional antiques, you would need to check out antique shops or places like a car boot sale. You will not find that many of those available and it will be more luck than good guidance if you do.
Kalita Coffee Mill KH-3 Retro One Manual Coffee Grinder
86% buyer satisfaction based on 1,500+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is a popular Japanese designed model from one of the biggest selling brands Kalita. This one uses the classic cast iron and wood combination for a very nice and stylish effect.
Buyers rate this one with a 96% buyer satisfaction rating, which is impressive.
- Not many reviews, but overall they are very good
- You can not adjust the grind easily
- Measures 10 x 9.9 x 9.8 cms
- Buyers like this one though it is limited in use
Hario Small MM-2 Ceramic Burr Hand Mill
82% buyer satisfaction based on 300+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is a popular choice for many people. It comes with wooden base and the small drawer for convenient use. This one has a lot of style and would look great in traditional styled kitchens.
- Can also be used to grind spices, nuts and herbs
- Uses ceramic burrs with a wooden body
- Measures 7.9 x 16 x 18.5 cms
- Stainless steel and wood
- Grinds well and people liked this vintage style
Hantehon Manual Coffee Grinder Vintage Coffee Grinder
86% buyer satisfaction based on 150+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This is a Vintage Manual Coffee Grinder that enables you to prepare flavorful freshly ground coffee conveniently, fast and without any mess. Simply insert your beans into the grinding compartment, set your desired grind setting and turn your favorite beans into fresh DIY coffee.
- The ground coffee powder is divided into three types: coarse, medium and fine.
- Made of wood, cast iron and ceramics
- 17 x 10 x 10 cm
- Ceramic grinding blade
- Comes with 2 cleaning brushes
Beyondfashion Coffee Bean Spice Vintage Style Hand Grinder
82% buyer satisfaction based on 50+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is also a popular choice for many people. It comes with wooden base and the small drawer for convenient use. This one has a slightly more modern style but would look great in traditional styled kitchens, and some modern styles as well.
- Can also be used to grind spices, nuts and herbs
- Has a ceramic grinder core
- Measures 10 x 10 x 16 cms
- Drawer size - 7 x 5 x 2 cms
- Grinds well and people liked this old fashioned style
Zassenhaus Brasilia Black Coffee Mill/ Grinder
78% buyer satisfaction based on 750+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is made in Germany and for lovers of all things black, this is the most obvious choice. They use a patented steel which is wear proof and corrosion free and the grinding mechanism is guaranteed for 25 years. This one is also fully adjustable for grain sizes.
- Makes a great show piece in your kitchen - varnished beech and stainless steel
- Made in Germany and to a very high quality
- Measures 23.2 x 16.8 x 16.4 cms
- Chrome dial for easy settings
- Has a long arm for easy and effortless grinding
Top 5 Rated Glass Manual Coffee Grinders
In this section you will find some of the best glass style models for your kitchen. People tend to like these because you can actually see what is happening and how much coffee grains you have made. They are also pretty flexible in terms of design and matching into a variety of kitchen styles.
Hario Medium Glass Hand Coffee Grinder
88% buyer satisfaction based on 6,000+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is the best seller online and it has sold in its thousands while still maintaining a very high average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. This is a good brand and they do make high quality products.
- Good and user friendly design
- Easy to use
- Measures 40.6 x 27.9 x 33 cms
- Can be cleaned in the dishwasher
- Skerton ceramic burr mill with an anti-slip base
Hario MSS-1B 1-Piece Coffee Mini Mill Slim Grinder
86% buyer satisfaction based on 6,000+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
As you can see Hario, have produced a very interesting range of these and they class this one as their slim line version. At an average price point of 318 this one is very good value for money and is a high quality product.
- Ultra slim design - ideal for easy storage
- Quick to use, quick to clean and easy to store
- Measures 18.5 x 11.4 x 8.1 cms
- Will not rust
- Delivers a consistent grind
Hario Skerton PRO Coffee Mill
90% buyer satisfaction based on 1,000+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is another strong seller online and it has sold in its thousands while still maintaining a very high average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is a good brand and they do make high quality products.
- It has adjustable, sprint-mounted, ceramic burrs and that’s the preferred professional choice
- This hand grinder has a large glass hopper that can hold up to 100g of coffee, perfect to keep you brewing multiple cups throughout the day (1 cup = 12g and 8 cups = 100g)
- Measures 10.41 x 9.91 x 20.57 cm
- The Skerton Pro is made from durable glass, stainless steel and plastic parts that easily separate for a simple clean-up
Cooko Manual Coffee Grinder
84% buyer satisfaction based on 1,050+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
We wanted to add this glass style option in, as it is one that buyers really like.
- Adjustable ceramic burr from coarse through to fine
- Lightweight and comes with 2 glass storage jars
- Measures 219 x 18.4 x 10.2 cm and weighs 880 grams
- Easy to clean and look after
- A Premium ceramic burr model
Hario Acrylic Manual Coffee Grinder
80% buyer satisfaction based on 250+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This one is also from Hario, is slightly higher rated but does come with an expensive average £31 price tag. It is made from acrylic, has a very distinct design and is very high quality. If you want to own something that looks rather unique, then this could be a very good choice for you.
- Looks great and grinds very well
- Uses a suction plate to keep it fixed to the counter top when grinding
- Measures 12.6 x 18 x 8.1 cms
- Can be adjusted for different sized grains
- Skerton ceramic burr mill with a handle that can be stored inside the grinder
Top 5 Rated Stainless Steel Manual Coffee Grinders
These are probably the most popular choice. They have a sleek design and look super in modern and contemporary kitchens. From a personal preference, this is the style that I like the best. They are functional, easy to clean and I think they look great.
Manual Coffee Grinder by Henry Charles
86% buyer satisfaction based on 1,250+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This is a brushed stainless steel coffee grinder by Henry Charles that is stylish, elegant and built to last. It has an adjustable grind selector that gives you complete control to choose from fine, medium or thick coarseness:
- Ideal for travel and the perfect size to fit in the bag included, briefcase or rucksack.
- It has high quality professional-grade ceramic burrs with hard wearing qualities
- Measures 22.4 x 6.4 x 6.1 cm
- The smart design of this grinder allows for all parts to be easily removed and cleaned
Truume Manual Coffee Grinder
80% buyer satisfaction based on 500+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
The coffee bean grinder is built with high quality water resistance stainless steel. The grinder features an adjustable mechanism that can easily be adjusted by raising or lowering the locking nut, this will affect the coarseness of the grind which is necessary depending on your brewing technique
- You can also grind different spices with this model
- It has ceramic burrs with hard wearing qualities
- Measures 23.3 x 6.3 x 6.1 cm
- Easy to assemble and use, only several steps are needed when you are ready to enjoy the pleasure of create hand-made coffee.
KitchenCraft Le'Xpress Adjustable Manual Coffee Grinder
76% buyer satisfaction based on 1,500+ online buyer reviews
Brief Description
This is a small adjustable coffee grinder by KitchenCraft and the the grounds collect in the glass base. It is made from stainless steel and glass
- Ideal for travel and the perfect size to fit in the bag included, briefcase or rucksack.
- It has professional-grade rust proof ceramic burrs and the burrs are adjustable for fine all the way through to a coarse grind
- Measures 12 x 17 x 22 cm
- The glass jar and base are dishwasher safe
Manual Coffee Grinder Buying Guide
The functional side of a grinder is however the most important element. It doesn't matter how good it looks if it doesn't work. Those that use a burr style of grinding will always deliver a better result than those that use any other type of grinding methods such as a blade.
Clearly the traditional wooden style will suit kitchens and dining rooms that have been designed with the authentic look and design.
The stainless steel variety is better suited to modern or contemporary kitchen design. The glass style will suit most kitchens irrespective of their theme or style.
Benefits of Using a Hand Grinder
With electric grinder options available, you may well ask why anyone should buy a hand or manual coffee grinder. One of the main arguments for doing this was the fact that a hand grinder used to be a cheaper option.
That argument is no longer valid as many of the blade grinders. and even a few burr grinders are the same price or even less than a manual grinder.
We noticed when we were reading the reviews from actual buyers that they talked about 2 main reasons why they bought this old fashioned style of grinder. Those two reasons are:
- They do make a great conversation piece
- They are portable and can be taken with you when travelling, or where you have no electric power source
These hand grinders do look the part and yes they do make a good conversation piece. There were quite a number of buyers, predominantly people who had retired, who found using one of these was quite a therapeutic thing to do.
As we mentioned earlier in this article, as long as you have some time on your hands, then these are a good choice.
For the writers here at The Perfect Grind website, we believe their key benefit to be their portability. These are pretty easy to pack, and if you really enjoy the taste of freshly ground coffee beans, then one of these is easy to carry with you.
For travelling or camping though we would of course recommend a stainless steel grinder rather than a glass or wooden one.
Hopefully that has given you a good idea of the range of hand grinders for coffee that are available in the UK Market right now.