If you’re looking for the best hand coffee grinder for AeroPress, there’s a wide variety of options available. But you don’t want just any hand coffee grinder, as they can range dramatically in price, size, quality and ability.
It’s also worth choosing a hand coffee grinder that will compliment the features of the AeroPress. In particular, it should be:
- Compact
- Durable
- Fast
- Portable
- Lightweight
There’s a lot of great hand coffee grinders out there. But in this post, I’ll just be focusing on the ones that are most suitable for use with the AeroPress.
If you haven’t yet done any research on suitable hand coffee grinders, you can relax. I’ve done the research and now present to you my list of the best hand coffee grinders for AeroPress.
Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links, and at no additional cost, I earn a commission if you buy which helps to maintain this website.
| Image | Brand | Price | Prime | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder with Adjustable Setting | PrimeEligible | See on Amazon | |
Top | VEVOK CHEF Manual Coffee Grinder Burr Coffee Grinder | PrimeEligible | See on Amazon | |
Top | Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill, Mini Slim Pro, Black | PrimeEligible | See on Amazon | |
Top | TIMEMORE Chestnut C2 Manual Coffee Grinder | PrimeEligible | See on Amazon | |
Top
Top | Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder | PrimeEligible | See on Amazon |
Features
So what do you need to look for when choosing a suitable hand coffee grinder for AeroPress? The appeal of the AeroPress itself relies on certain key features, aside from the great coffee that it makes.
Therefore, if you want the best hand coffee grinder for AeroPress, you should choose a grinder that compliments the features of the AeroPress. It should be portable, compact, light weight, fast and durable.
Now let’s take a look at each of these features as they relate to hand coffee grinders.
Portability
If you’re using an AeroPress already, I’m sure you appreciate how easily portable it is. You can take it with you anywhere: camping, the office, your friend’s house, interstate/overseas travel, and so on.
You’ll want an equally portable coffee grinder that can travel with you anywhere that you would normally bring your AeroPress.
Compact
Little space is taken up by the AeroPress when it’s not being used. Likewise, a small or compact coffee grinder will suit you well. Perhaps you can choose a coffee grinder that fits inside the AeroPress.
Lightweight
The AeroPress is one of the lightest coffee makers around. If you intend on doing any sort of travel with your coffee making setup, it’ll be best to choose a coffee grinder that’s not big and heavy.
Speed
Speed is one of the greatest features of the AeroPress. Make sure the coffee grinder you choose can produce a grind at the size you need within a similar one to two minute window.
You don’t want to be grinding away for five to ten minutes to make one or two coffees.
Durable
Similar to the AeroPress, owning a coffee grinder that can handle a bump here and there and not fall apart is necessary.
If you’re using it for home use, this may not be as much of a concern for you. But then again, if you plan to travel with your setup, this becomes essential.
More than likely, you’ll want a grinder that’s going to last.
Best Hand Coffee Grinder for AeroPress Greatness Features
Now, we’re going to take a look at the JavaPresse, Vevok Chef, Hario Slim Pro, Timemore Chestnut C2 and Porlex Mini hand coffee grinders in detail.
JavaPresse
The JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder has some appeal in the eyes of AeroPress users, as it compliments most of the features of the AeroPress quite well.
It’s compact enough to fit neatly inside the AeroPress, which also makes it portable.
There are no visual cues as to what grind setting is selected, so if you’re likely to change the setting for different brewing, you’ll need to go to the finest setting first and then count the clicks as you get coarser.
There are 18 different grind settings available, giving you lots of control over your grind. The most suitable setting for the AeroPress is medium to medium fine (4 – 9 clicks).
However, because there are no visual cues, you need to remember how many clicks you have turned it from the finest position.
Overall, it operates at a decent speed and can grind 20 grams of coffee for AeroPress in about one minute.
- BUILT-IN ADJUSTABLE GRIND SELECTOR
- CONVENIENT & EASY TO USE
- GRIND FRESH COFFEE, EVERYDAY!
- PATENTED CERAMIC COMBO BURRS
- LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLE
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
However, some users have reported it taking between five and ten minutes to produce a grind for espresso as well as producing an inconsistent grind.
Due to its small size, it’s relatively lightweight, which also adds to the portable aspect.
There are mixed reports about how durable it is, but most reports suggest that it’s not as durable as expected and can have parts break after not too much use.
With that being said, their customer service is top-notch and there are many examples found online of people receiving whole replacement coffee grinders when theirs has broken.
Cleaning the JavaPresse is reportedly a minor issue for some people. The team at JavaPresse have put together a short video showing you exactly how to clean their coffee grinder.
You can watch it here or below.
Pros:
- 18 different grind settings
- Fits inside the AeroPress chamber for easy portability
- Lightweight and portable
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Grind adjustment doesn’t have visual cue for settings
- Grind receptacle attached to bottom of coffee grinder can sometimes fall off
- Some reports of parts breaking after some use
- Inconsistent grind quality
- Some reports of difficulty cleaning
Vevok Chef
The Vevok Chef Manual Burr Coffee Grinder is a budget stainless steel burr coffee grinder, but is definitely great value for what you get, as it produces a consistent grind.
At 2 inches wide (with the handle removed), it fits inside the AeroPress, making it compact and portable.
It provides 6 different grind settings, with the recommended setting for AeroPress being about 2 – 3. You will need to hold the adjustment ring while grinding, as it does have a tendency to shift settings while grinding.
One grind (20g) is enough for one AeroPress coffee, however the glass receptacle can hold enough coffee for two grinds (48g).
- CONICAL STAINLESS STEEL BEST BURR GRINDER
- SIX PRECISE GRADES ADJUSTABLE COARSENESS SETTING
- PORTABLE COFFEE GRINDER - MINI AND EASY-CARRY FOR TRAVEL
- ENJOY MAKING COFFEE - QUIET HAND COFFEE MILL
- COFFEE LOVER GIFT
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Being a stainless steel burr grinder, its speed is quite fast and you should be able to get a finished grind under a minute.
Its overall weight is just under 1 lb, so it’s definitely lightweight.
It is durable as it has a stainless steel body, handle and burr. However, the glass receptacle at the bottom that catches the ground coffee can break.
Replacement glass receptacles for this coffee grinder are available for purchase on Amazon, but I’d recommend first reaching out to the seller, as there have been reports of them providing a replacement receptacle free-of-charge, and in some cases, two.
Pros:
- Great value for a stainless steel burr coffee grinder
- Consistent grind at all settings
- Fast grind
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Grind setting can change while grinding
- Glass receptacle could break
Hario Mini Slim, Pro, Black
This is a ceramic burr coffee grinder, but being made by a known brand like Hario, you can expect it to be decent.
The grind receptacle can hold about 30g of grounds and the hopper can hold about 40g of coffee beans.
There are no visual cues as to what grind setting is selected. This is a minor annoyance if you’re likely to change the setting for different brewing often.
You’ll need to go to the finest setting first and then count the clicks as you get coarser. AeroPress is good at around 4 – 9 clicks.
While the Hario Mini Slim Pro is compact, unfortunately, it’s not compact enough to fit inside the AeroPress.
This is mainly due to its wide-mouth hopper, which does however have the benefit of reducing the chance of spilling any beans.
- Modern design Durable Black stainless steel body
- Reinforced hexagonal adapter with die-cast aluminum handle for increased grind consistency and reduced wear
- Ceramic burr Mill is easily adjusted for right grind coarseness providing a consistent grind for perfect fresh Coffee
- Small lightweight and slim design makes for easy storage and travel holds up to 24g (2 cups)
- Transparent lid with silicone grip
- Item DIMMENSIONS 5 9 X 2 9 X 8 2
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
It’s quite lightweight, weighing in at just under 1 pound, which contributes to its portability also.
Its speed is good, taking a couple of minutes to grind about 20g. This falls slightly outside the time range you’d be hoping for to match the AeroPress, but not necessarily a deal breaker.
There’s definite quality here and it seems as though it’s durable and built to last. However, many, many users have stated that the bottom receptacle has a tendency to separate from the grinder when being used.
One of the issues with this, is that the instructions state that you shouldn’t operate the coffee grinder if it’s not in the correct position.
This can be difficult to achieve while grinding and seems to be a common point of frustration among its users.
Pros:
- Wide mouth hopper reduces beans spilling
- Lightweight and portable – just under 1 pound
- Decent speed – about 2 minutes for 20g
Cons:
- Many reports of design flaws in regards to receptacle attachment
- Receptacle may need to be held when grinding to stop it falling off
- Grind adjustment doesn’t have visual cue for settings
- Doesn’t fit inside the AeroPress
Timemore Chestnut C2
The Timemore Chestnut C2 is a quality coffee grinder at the bottom end of the premium price scale. All user reports suggest that it should receive more recognition than it gets for being such a great coffee grinder.
Apparently, all Timemore coffee grinders use the same internal parts and same stainless steel burrs, with the exception of titanium coated burrs available on some models.
The hopper can hold about 20g of beans and the bottom receptacle screws into the grinder, so no concerns about it accidentally falling off while grinding.
With a stainless steel burr, it’s definitely fast and made to last. The body is made from aluminium and is very durable.
There are no visual cues as to what grind setting is selected, so if you’re likely to change the setting for different brewing, you’ll need to go to the finest setting first and then count the clicks as you get coarser.
- 1. ADJUSTABLE GRIND SELECTOR: Adjustable in about 36 steps. You can easily grind the desired roughness from fine to coarse with the adjustment nut.
- 2. CONVENIENT TO CARRY: The body weighs 430g, while maintaining a light weight and a moderate sense of weight and luxury.
- 3. EASY TO CLEAN: Comes with a brush for cleaning excess grounds after grinding.
- 4. DURABLE STAINLESS BURR: The milling blade with 55-58HRC hardness in 5-axis CNC machining realizes uniform grinding with almost no excessively coarse grains.
- 5. LABOR-SAVING: The smoother movement is realized as the handle keeps turning for a while even if you release your hand due to the built-in bearing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
It’s very fast, with the ability to grind even turkish coffee quickly. However, some users suggest not even using it for espresso at all, with the risk of damaging the burrs on the finer settings.
The owner manual itself states not to grind below 6 clicks to protect the burr sharpness.
The speed for producing a grind for the AeroPress (around 15 -20 clicks) would definitely be under a minute.
It’s lightweight, weighing in at 1.58 lb, which makes it portable.
It’s quite slim and compact, but if you’re looking for a Timemore hand grinder that can fit inside the AeroPress chamber for easy travel, look at the Timemore Chestnut Slim or Timemore Nano.
Pros:
- Stainless steel burr grinder
- Very consistent and fast grind
- Great quality build
- Overwhelmingly positive reviews
Cons:
- Not recommended by some for espresso
- Grind adjustment doesn’t have visual cue for settings
Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder
The Porlex Mini Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder is a ceramic burr grinder. However, it’s on the upper price range for the ceramic burr coffee grinders.
There are no visual cues as to what grind setting is selected, so if you’re likely to change the setting for different brewing, you’ll need to go to the finest setting first and then count the clicks as you get coarser.
For AeroPress, you’d want to go to about 10 clicks.
The speed seems good. Most AeroPress users report being able to produce a good grind within a minute or two.
This is a tiny coffee grinder and definitely the most compact of the coffee grinders being reviewed here. It easily fits inside the AeroPress. Being as tiny as it is, it can hold about 24g of coffee beans.
- Ceramic conical burrs with wide range can grind from powder to french press
- 20 gram capacity
- 47 mm diameter and stands 130 mm tall
- Made in Osaka, Japan
- Stainless steel, static free body.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Weighing in at just 8 oz, it’s the most lightweight by far. Because of this, it’s also portable and perfect for travel.
There was an updated model released about 2017 to resolve an issue with the grinder handle coming off while grinding, which does seem to have resolved this issue.
It’s made in Japan, so you can expect it to be well made, although there are mixed reports about its durability.
If this concerns you, it comes with a 7 year warranty (which is unfortunately not offered to purchases made via Amazon), but you may not even need it.
Some users report using it for more than 8 years without any issues at all. That sounds pretty durable to me.
Pros:
- Made in Japan – expect good quality
- Very compact and fits neatly inside the AeroPress
- Very lightweight
Cons:
- Grind adjustment doesn’t have visual cue for settings
- Will only grind enough for one coffee at a time
Conclusion
Considering that we’re looking here for the best hand coffee grinder for AeroPress and not the best hand grinder overall, I can see that one grinder stands above the rest, but only slightly.
The Porlex Mini is the hand coffee grinder for AeroPress that compliments the features of the AeroPress the most and in my opinion is the most suitable choice here.
It was a close call between the Porlex Mini and the Timemore Chestnut C2, though, so if you were not completely sold on the Porlex Mini, I’d go for the Timemore Chestnut C2.
Have you tried any of these grinders yourself? Have you got a different hand coffee grinder that you’d like to recommend for using with the AeroPress?
Let me know in the comments below. Stay caffeinated!
