The capacity is small, which is worth bearing in mind if you want to make large batches of coffee. You’ll also need to dismantle the grinder to clean it, but a big plus of the ceramic element is that it’s never going to rust.

In terms of slimline hand grinders, this ceramic Japanese model is a cut above anything else we tested. It’s light and strong with 12 grind settings, which are selected by twisting the accessible locking nut. Each ‘click’ alters the grind level by 37 microns, giving you great levels of control and precision.

If you want coffee in a hurry, the process of freshly grinding your beans may seem like a chore. But, the speed at which this De'Longhi grinder works impressed us. It produced enough grounds for two cups (19g) in 5 seconds on the coarse setting, which was significantly faster than other models we've tested. Our fine, medium and coarse grounds were also even in texture.

“At higher speeds tool balance is exponentially more important as inertia begins to affect the tool, causing a compound problem of runout and imbalance that can even damage the machine spindle,” Morrison said. “Toolholder design also needs to be considered. Not all clamping systems will maintain their gripping force at a high rotational speed.”

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“Another method would be to engage a small percentage of the tool diameter so you get the chip thinning effect that allows you to elevate speed rates. The roughing inserts--and HSM is basically a roughing process--have to have a stronger edge and tougher coating than the finishing inserts.”

Out of the box, this electric grinder is light and has just three parts – making it beyond simple to assemble. At only 21cm tall and weighing a whisper over 1kg, it’s also small and compact.

The machine itself has a brightly lit digital display and slimline build, and its container has an airtight seal to keep beans fresher for longer. The manual has diagrams but not much written guidance; thankfully, the controls are intuitive and some useful tips are displayed on the screen.

“Shoot for stability, and use a tool for the process it was designed for,” said Cullen Morrison, business development manager, threading and milling, at KOMET of America. “One thing to consider is optimizing the tool design. Inserts with a large nose radius are better suited for high feed rates and heavy stock removal but are prone to chatter in small depth of cut, light feed rate finishing applications. If you are taking a large depth of cut with a small nose radius, it is likely to change the way the forces act on the insert and you may get chatter.”

The experienced coffee maker should be able to find their way around easily, but those new to coffee grinding might want to invest in a bag of beans just to practice with, as there are a staggering 70 grind settings to choose from, as well as several special functions.

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“If coolant is needed, there are several application-specific delivery options such as axial coolant lines and coolant channels that come out at the cutting edge.”

“The appropriate coatings will depend on the material being cut and the geometry of the insert,” said Pollock. “The geometry of the insert may require that the coating be very thin. And the thinner coating is typically better at heat resistance. A thicker coating will undergo more thermal expansion and doesn’t behave as well when heated—it can’t expand and contract as completely as a thin coat.”

Tool balance is important when running at high RPMs. Most common tool designs with tool holders will work without a noticeable problem at speeds less than 7,000 to 8,000 RPM. But, over that speed, Morrison said you can start to see runout problems and decreased tool life.

Read on for our pick of the best coffee grinders to suit a range of budgets, including the best manual coffee grinders and electric models. For more inspiration, check out our guide to picking the best coffee machine for your budget.

The heat zone of a coating needs to be matched to what the tool is doing. Too much or not enough heat generation can cause a problem. Morrison said, “If the coating has a very low coefficient of friction, operations such as tapping may not generate enough heat to get the chip to break efficiently. The low heat level can create the tinfoil effect where the chip cannot break. Eventually chips build up in the hole and break the tap. If the coating cannot handle the heat generated by the operation, such as a high-feed mill, then it will break down quickly and expose the tool substrate, which will yield poor tool life.”

As with most processes, the application determines the best tooling to use, but some rules of thumb should be considered for any HSM job.

Every element of this grinder clicks together so seamlessly, and it’s also surprisingly quiet for such a big machine. A stainless steel conical burr produced consistent grounds, there are anti-sleep feet to prevent movement, and the grinder comes in cream, black and pastel blue colours, so you can match it to your kitchen.

Pollock said, “Sometimes air is adequate, but if it isn’t we prefer to use coolant just for getting the chips out of the way.”

Jay Ball, product manager--solid carbide end mills NAFTA, at Seco Tools LLC, said that it is important to have dedicated roughing and finishing tools. “Tight tolerances have become the industrial standard, and it is not uncommon for a customer to demand cutting tools with a 5-micron radius and diameter tolerance. Smaller tolerances are the wave of the future. To expect one tool to hold up during a roughing operation and use the same tool to finish and hold the tight tolerance is a stretch.”

Some tools combine roughing and finishing, but different cutting edges for each step help the tool to perform to close tolerances.

If you're working with a smaller budget, consider this pocket-sized Hario grinder. One of its best features is a handle that stays firmly in place – essential if you’re grinding horizontally and can’t afford any slips. A reinforced hexagonal adapter keeps things sturdy and, unlike other hand grinders we tested, it doesn’t take too much effort to operate.

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Grinding takes as long as needed to achieve the grind you want; the maximum we tried was three bursts for espresso, by which time both the blade and coffee were quite warm. Yet, despite this slight heating, there were no burnt notes or oiliness to the finished drink.

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The grinders featured here were selected from a long list of coffee grinders tested by Good Food. They performed best against our list of criteria, relative to other grinders that were either of a similar type or sold at a similar price.

Initially, we found it all a little muddling. Still, it soon falls into place as the KitchenAid has multiple options, both semi and fully automatic, to help you make your best cup of coffee – there’s even a bright, digital screen to help you see what’s happening all the way through. Once mastered, the grinder delivers a consistent precision grind resulting in delicious coffee across all brews, including espresso.

Successful high-speed milling requires a balance among every aspect of the cutting system, including the machine tool, software, chip removal, and cutting tool. Photo courtesy of Seco.

There are 18 settings with labels for different coffee types – like espresso, pour-over and French press – marked above the dial, so you know roughly which grind size to aim for. From there, you can adjust the dose and strength.

These gadgets – also referred to as coffee mills – employ a seamless grinding mechanism that turns beans into grounds, which can then be used to make coffee straight away.

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Each of the three grades produced well-textured, rich-flavoured coffee, each noticeably different, although all left a tad of sediment in the cup. That said, we were impressed by how easy and quick it is to use, and briskly turning the smooth handle and watching the coffee powder tip gently into the jar is a very satisfying process.

It has slimline and discreet appearance, with a matte black satin-feel finish and dots of stainless steel throughout. There’s a ring-pull on the lid which, though useful, made the model too tall to fit under our wall-mounted kitchen cupboards.

Check out expert barista Celeste Wong's recommendations for the best moka pots, gooseneck kettles, coffee grinders and decaf coffee to buy on our sister brand, olive magazine:

“Tool manufacturers are adding tapered necks to some of the carbide tools, especially for the mould and die industry, so you have a stronger tool for a longer reach and the shanks of the tool will not rub the side walls of the mould cavity,” said Ball. “Those tapers increase strength by 10 to 20 per cent and give you the clearance to use a shorter, stubbier tool.”

A coffee grinder (also called a ‘mill’) can give you all the aroma and taste of freshly ground coffee at home. Here’s our pick of the best at a variety of prices, including electronic and hand-operated models

It was the largest machine we tested, so you’ll need worktop space for it. But it’s so pretty to look at that you’d want it on display anyway. Try as we might, we couldn’t find anything wrong with this grinder. So if you can afford the price tag, it’s definitely one to consider.

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The downloadable manual is a bit confusing since it suggests selecting which grinding cup to use, but there is only one. Still, load the cup with beans and it will grind up to 75g, enough for 8 cups of coffee. The electric grinder starts instantly, and when you lift your hand, it stops immediately.

Depending on the manufacturer a tool may be designed with 1-1/2x, 2x, or 3x flute length diameter. The longer flute length is not as rigid as a short flute length so those tools may not work at the high speeds. Tools with shorter flute length need to be considered.

Ball said, “When you are high-speed machining you are taking a light radial and axial depth of cut, so you don’t have a tremendous amount of cutting pressure but you have to make sure your holds are rigid and balanced. You don’t see a lot of one-flute tools used in HSM because they are physically unbalanced by nature.

We found the performance excellent: there was solid consistency across the board, with noticeable differences in texture between fine, medium and coarse grounds. The noise the Opus generated wasn't too intrusive, and the timings were accurate when measured on a stopwatch, too.

We tested the grinders by using them to grind several varieties of coffee bean, at levels of fineness to suit three of the most common brewing methods: cafetière, filter and espresso machine.

Grinding your own coffee beans at home unlocks fresh flavours and aromas that are mostly lost in pre-ground coffee – and investing in a coffee grinder is a great way to capture these flavour notes.

Lifting the KitchenAid Coffee Grinder from its box, it was a delight to see such a stylish, well-built machine, all black and shiny with stainless steel accents. Though tall at 38cm, it’s only 18cm deep so it won’t take up too much room on the worktop.

High-speed machining (HSM) shaves time off metal removal processes. Low speeds and feeds that remove a large amount of material are replaced with light depths of cuts made at high feed rates. Metal is removed quickly, and the resulting near-net-shape parts, with surface finishes often from 10 to 12 RMS, reduce the semi-finish and finish operations.

Whichever method you use, grinding your own beans and drinking freshly ground coffee can also bring benefits over drinking pre-ground coffee. Fresh coffee tends to be more flavourful – roasted beans are slower to go stale than shop-bought ground coffee, and having the smell of ground coffee around the house is a pleasure in its own right.

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The adjustable burr grinder mechanism is ceramic and high-quality stainless steel. There’s a manual detailing how to adjust the grinding grade, a process we initially found a little fiddly. First, we had to remove the handle, hold the thread, change the cog for a fine or coarser grind, and then put it back together again. However, after a few times, it does become almost intuitive.

It was easy to use and quick to produce reliable results – around a minute for even-textured grounds, which is just enough time to make grinding a pleasure rather than a chore. Plus, the Porlex Tall II is an improvement on the older model, the Porlex I, because it can grind around 1.3 times more coffee with the same number of rotations.

“In hard milling you want to use an air/oil mist or air blast,” said Ball. “Coolant can thermal shock the cutting edge and prematurely wear out the tool. However, there are some cases where a manufacturer has to use coolant because it causes less wear than cutting hard chips. It’s a balancing act.

There's capacity for 200g ground coffee, which is enough for about 12 cups, and a simple turn of the dial is all that's needed to modify the grind size. Grinding is measured in seconds rather than cup size or dose, which means you'll need to measure your beans out before you grind, but the dosing measurements on the lid make this easier.

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Use the smooth, rounded dial to select which type of coffee you’d like and it will work out the corresponding grind time to decimal-point precision. We also loved the grind-time countdown and that the grounds canister slotted magnetically into place.

Successful use of HSM depends on how the machine is programmed, how the tooling is used, and the tooling itself. Tools need to be designed for the higher speeds.

If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

If you're keen to start freshly grinding your own beans from home but don't want to fork out for an expensive gadget, this more affordable burr grinder from De'Longhi does the job well. It's unfussy and easy to use, with 16 settings and capacity for up to 120g beans. There are also two dials: one for adjusting the grind size, and another for dose (measured in cups).

Of all the grinders tested, this Sage model produced the most aromatic results. The canister can be sealed to keep coffee fresh and there were no issues with static. From grind size to grind time, everything is measured with the utmost precision and the grounds themselves are highly customisable (there are 60 unique settings in total).

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At a budget price, we admittedly didn’t have high expectations of this simple, straightforward machine. However, it delivered well and we were surprised by its ease of use and quietness.

We loved the simplicity of this manual grinder. The set is small, with no leads, plugs, switches or buttons. The jar is just 500ml, while the grinder is 21cm high – perfect for even the smallest kitchens.

As with all applications, tool material and length-to-diameter ratio also affects HSM success. Morrison said that steel body tools are good to 3x or 4x diameter depending on the load. Carbide tools are better for HSM applications requiring a longer reach. Dampened steel tools can cut even further because they absorb vibrations happening at the cutting end.

Morrison said, “A through-coolant system that is constant and consistent can maintain the heat absorbed by the insert at a fairly stable range to avoid thermal shock. Always use a clean, quality coolant and consider its oil concentration percentage.”

The mechanisms used in coffee grinders fall into one of two categories: burr grinders (which grind coffee between a pair of revolving abrasive surfaces) and blade grinders, which use a rotating blade. Much is made of the difference between the two – blade types are usually the more affordable option, but burr grinders tend to grind more consistently, and therefore produce uniformly ground coffee.

This model is as smooth to operate as it is to look at. Secure the hopper and burr via an integrated ‘twist and lock’ system; choose your grinding level (there are 30 options) with a rounded stainless steel lever; and use an equally-tactile dial to select the desired number of cups.

Our reviews experts test coffee grinders based on a range of core and contributing criteria, including product design, the quality of coffee produced and ease-of-use factors likely to affect the experience of domestic users. The following are all covered in our reviews:

Grinding coffee by hand also has its benefits. Manual grinders tend to be small and easy to store. They don’t use electricity and are therefore more economical and eco-friendly.

Understated and intuitive, the Opus grinder comes with 41 grind settings, a volumetric dosing lid to help with measuring beans and a spouted catch to minimise mess. We also love its smooth, rounded shape and textured panel across the top.

We've also outlined our tried-and-tested picks of the best espresso machines, best coffee pod machines, best bean-to-cup coffee machines and best filter coffee machines. For more than 400 buyers' guides, visit our reviews section.

Its lower price tag is reflected in the simple, plasticky design. It's also noisy during use and not especially quick, taking around 15-17 seconds to grind two cups on the coarse setting. But, its compact, sleek design makes it an ideal choice for smaller kitchens. It also grinds consistently, and unloading the grounds from the container and into a machine was mess-free, too.

• How easy is it to clean?• How easy is it to store?• Is it sturdy?• How large is its size/footprint?• How noisy is the grinder?• What’s the coffee bean capacity?• Safety• Ease of use• Number of grind options• Texture of the ground coffee – how do fine and coarse grinds compare to others?• Design and aesthetics• Any added functions?• How much packaging is used?

The best coffee grinders or mills can grind coffee beans to various specific levels of fineness, so the ground coffee can be used in different ways. Burr grinders achieve this versatility with mechanisms to adjust the distance between their grinding surfaces, while blade grinders tend to use the less effective method of a manual on/off control.

HSM generates a lot of chips very quickly. Ensuring their removal is critical whether you are dry machining and using an air blast, an air/oil mist, or using coolant.

Tools for high-speed machining need to be rigid and as short as possible to avoid chatter or deflection. Photo courtesy of Walter USA.

Luke Pollock, product manager at Walter USA, described a high-speed mill tool: “A common HSM mill tool uses a triangle-shaped insert with rounded edges. It is positioned in the cutter with a high lead angle, which allows the tool to take advantage of the chip thinning principle. As the tool is advanced, you get a chip thickness that is smaller than the advancement of the tool. For example, a 0.003-in. chip thickness is produced rather than the 0.005 in. that tool was advanced. These two values would be equal for a tool with a 90-degree shoulder.

“Holders are critical for maintaining long, consistent tool life. It’s common for shrink fit holders to be used to hold the tight tolerances, but I also see the industry moving toward high-precision milling and collet chucks, as well as hydraulic chucks.”

Another defining feature of a coffee grinder will be how it is powered: by electricity or by hand. Electric grinders have the advantages of power and convenience. They grind much faster (and at the expense of far less effort) than any manual grinder we’ve come across. Crucially, they're also more likely to grind consistently.

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Ensuring the grounds in a batch of coffee are similarly sized matters to coffee aficionados, because the size of the grounds will determine which brewing methods the coffee is well-suited for. Espresso machines require a very fine grind, cafetières are best filled with coarse granules, and filter coffee should be somewhere in-between. If ground coffee is a mixture of fine and coarse, it can’t be considered ideally prepared for any purpose.

Chip load is also an area for attention, said Ball. “Not maintaining a constant chip load is one of the biggest issues I see in HSM. Consider whether the part you are machining and the tool you are using actually allow you to get to the feed rates you are programming. A widely varying chip load, or one that is too low or too high, will quickly wear out the tools.”

High tool loads, especially in milling, bring out a system’s weakness. That weakness could be a poor rigid setup, a weak machine tool, or a loose bolt in fixturing that causes vibration. Machine tools are pushed to their limits for HSM, so the fixtures and tools have to be absolutely rigid to withstand the loads.

The grounds chamber is etched with cup markings so you know how much to prepare, and you can change the grind size with the click of a tiny wheel. But because Hario’s model is so compact, you can only fit two cups-worth of grounds in it. This is fine if you’re the only coffee drinker in the house, but a touch too petite if you want to make multiple cups every day.