Best Coffee Grinders for French Press and Pour Over
A burr grinder that makes even coarse and medium grounds is the biggest upgrade for French press and pour over coffee. Our picks from $45 to $400.
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Our top picks at a glance
1 Best overall
Baratza Encore
About $150 to $170
The long-time favorite starter burr grinder, with 40 settings and parts you can replace. Read more
Pros
- Consistent coarse and medium grinds
- 40 settings
- Repairable with good support
Cons
- Costs more than basic grinders
- Plastic hopper and bin
2 Best value
OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder
About $99
Easy to use, holds a lot of beans and did well at both French press and pour-over settings. Read more
Pros
- Good coarse and medium grinds
- Large capacity
- Stainless grounds container
Cons
- Loud
- Lower burr doesn't come out for cleaning
3 Best for pour over
Fellow Ode Gen 2
About $400
Flat burrs, a quiet motor and very even grounds for pour over and French press. Read more
Pros
- Very even grounds
- Quiet
- Low static
Cons
- Expensive
- Can't grind for espresso
4 Best manual
KINGrinder P Series
About $30 to $45
A hand grinder with steel burrs that grinds as evenly as many electrics for a fraction of the cost. Read more
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Very consistent
- No cord or heat
Cons
- Takes effort
- Holds only about 20 grams
If your French press coffee tastes muddy, or your pour over is bitter one day and sour the next, the grinder is usually the reason. French press and pour over both need even grounds: coarse for French press, medium for pour over. Blade grinders chop beans into a mix of dust and chunks, which over-extracts and under-extracts at the same time.
A burr grinder crushes beans between two burrs set a fixed distance apart, so the grounds come out much more uniform. Every pick below is a burr grinder.
The picks compared
| Grinder | Type | Burrs | Settings | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore | Electric | Conical | 40 | $150 to $170 |
| OXO Brew Conical Burr | Electric | Conical | 12 (plus fine steps) | $99 |
| Fellow Ode Gen 2 | Electric | Flat, stainless | 31 | $400 |
| KINGrinder P Series | Manual | Stainless | 200+ | $30 to $45 |
Specs and test notes are from Homes & Gardens' grinder testing and manufacturer listings. Prices are typical October 2026 prices.
Our research
We compared grinders using Homes & Gardens’ hands-on testing, manufacturer specs and long-term owner reports, focusing on:
- Grind consistency at coarse and medium settings
- Ease of use and cleaning
- Noise and static
- Durability and repairability
- Price
We haven’t tested these ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.
1. Baratza Encore: Best overall
Buy it if: Most people who brew French press, pour over or drip at home.
The Encore has been the go-to first burr grinder for years. It has 40 settings, grinds with little static, and Baratza sells replacement parts and is known for good customer support, so it can last a long time. Homes & Gardens named it their best overall grinder.
What bugs us: It costs more than budget grinders, and the hopper and grounds bin are plastic.
Skip it if: you want the lowest price. The OXO is close in performance for less.
2. OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder: Best value
Buy it if: Beginners and anyone who wants a good burr grinder under $100.
Homes & Gardens’ testers found it performed well at both French press and pour-over settings. It’s simple to use, holds a lot of beans and grinds into a stainless steel container with little static.
What bugs us: It’s loud, about 97 decibels on the coarse setting in testing. The opaque container hides how much you’ve ground, and the lower burr can’t be removed for cleaning.
Skip it if: noise in the morning bothers your household.
3. Fellow Ode Gen 2: Best for pour over
Buy it if: Pour-over enthusiasts who want the most even grind and a quiet machine.
The Ode uses stainless flat burrs that make very even grounds, and it was quiet and easy to use in testing. It’s designed for brewed coffee, from pour over to French press, and it handled both well.
What bugs us: It’s expensive, and it can’t grind fine enough for espresso.
Skip it if: you also make espresso.
4. KINGrinder P Series: Best manual
Buy it if: Budget shoppers, travelers and anyone who brews one or two cups at a time.
A good hand grinder beats a cheap electric one. The KINGrinder P series uses stainless burrs, offers more than 200 settings, and in Homes & Gardens’ testing made excellent French press coffee. There’s no motor, so no heat or noise.
What bugs us: Grinding takes effort, and it holds only about 20 to 22 grams, enough for one or two cups.
Skip it if: you brew a full pot every morning.
Grind size guide
| Brew method | Grind | Looks like |
|---|---|---|
| French press | Coarse | Coarse sea salt |
| Cold brew | Extra coarse | Peppercorns, cracked |
| Chemex | Medium-coarse | Rough sand |
| Pour over (V60, Kalita) | Medium-fine to medium | Table salt to sand |
| Drip machine | Medium | Sand |
These are starting points. If your coffee tastes sour or thin, grind finer. If it’s bitter or harsh, grind coarser.
Common questions
Is a burr grinder worth it for French press? Yes. Even grounds mean less sludge at the bottom of the cup and a cleaner, sweeter taste.
Conical or flat burrs? Both work well for French press and pour over. Flat burrs tend to make slightly more even grounds and cost more.
What should I brew with? For plastic-free options, see the best drip coffee makers without plastic and the best cold brew coffee makers.