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Are you tired of drinking bland, watered-down coffee that tastes like it’s been sitting in a dirty sock? Well, fear not my caffeine-addicted friend, because the solution to your problem is simple: cold brew coffee. At the heart of it all is the best coffee grinder for cold brew: the one that can provide consistently ground beans with different levels of fineness.
If you’re passionate about coffee, you know that to make café-quality cold brew, you need the right equipment.
But before you get too excited, let me tell you that you can’t just throw some grounds in a pot and call it a day. Oh no, my dear friend.
You need a coffee grinder that can handle the task at hand. Lucky for you, I’m here to guide you through the world of coffee grinders and help you find the best one for cold brew.
And if you’re lucky, maybe I’ll even throw in some bad coffee puns along the way. So grab your favorite mug and let’s get grinding!
The Best Grind for Cold Brew
Listen up coffee lovers, if you want to brew the perfect cold brew, you need to get your grind on. And no, I’m not talking about your sick dance moves, I’m talking about the best grind for cold brew.
Cold brew requires a coarser grind than your average cup of joe because it needs to steep for a loooong time without getting over-extracted.
Trust me, nobody wants a bitter, over-extracted cup, unless you’re into that kind of thing (I won’t judge).
On the flip side, a coarse grind will leave you with a weak, under-extracted cup. So, aim for a grind size between medium-coarse and coarse, with a texture similar to sea salt.
This way, your coffee can slowly extract its delicious flavor over several hours, resulting in a smooth, full-bodied cup.
And if you’re too busy to grind your own beans, look for pre-ground coffee specifically labeled for cold brew or coarse grind.
The Best Coffee Grinder for Cold Brew: Our Top Picks
Baratza Virtuoso+
The Baratza Virtuoso+ is a high-end coffee grinder that delivers exceptional performance for cold brew.
It features 40mm conical burrs that produce a consistent grind and a digital timer that allows you to program and save your preferred grind settings.
The Virtuoso+ also has a large hopper that can hold up to 8 ounces of beans and a powerful motor that can grind 1.5 to 2.4 grams of coffee per second.
Pros: Consistent grind, easy-to-use digital timer, large hopper, powerful motor.
Cons: Expensive, may be too advanced for novice users.
OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
The OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is a mid-range option that offers excellent value for money.
It features 40mm stainless steel conical burrs that produce a consistent grind, and 15 different grind settings that allow you to fine-tune your grind size.
The grinder also has a one-touch start timer that can grind from 0.5 to 12 cups of coffee and a large hopper that can hold up to 12 ounces of beans.
Pros: Consistent grind, affordable price, large hopper, easy-to-use timer.
Cons: May not be as durable as higher-end grinders, has limited grind settings.
Hario Skerton Pro Ceramic Coffee Mill
The Hario Skerton Pro is a manual coffee grinder that is ideal for those who want a more hands-on brewing experience.
It features ceramic conical burrs that produce a consistent grind and a durable glass container that can hold up to 100 grams of coffee.
The grinder also has a silicone grip for easy handling and a grind adjustment knob that allows you to adjust the grind size.
Pros: Affordable price, portable and easy to store, adjustable grind size.
Cons: Manual operation may be time-consuming, and may not be as consistent as electric grinders.
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
The Baratza Encore is a popular entry-level coffee grinder that is well-suited for cold brew.
It features 40mm conical burrs that produce a consistent grind, and 40 different grind settings that allow you to fine-tune your grind size.
The grinder also has a simple on/off switch and a pulse button for grinding small amounts of coffee.
The Encore has a small footprint and is easy to clean, making it a great choice for those with limited counter space.
Pros: Consistent grind, affordable price, compact size, easy to clean.
Cons: Limited grind settings, may not be as durable as higher-end grinders.
Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
The Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder is a mid-range option that offers a variety of features for cold brew enthusiasts.
It features commercial-grade conical burrs that produce a consistent grind, and 16 different grind settings that allow you to adjust the grind size for different brewing methods.
The grinder also has a large 8.8-ounce bean hopper and a timer that can grind from 5 to 60 seconds.
Pros: Consistent grind, affordable price, large hopper, multiple grind settings.
Cons: May be louder than other grinders, and may produce some static cling.
JavaPresse Manual Grinder
Introducing the ultimate manual coffee grinder for your morning coffee needs – the JavaPresse Manual Grinder!
Say goodbye to those stale pre-ground beans and hello to freshly ground coffee heaven every morning.
This bad boy features an adjustable ceramic burr with over 18 manual grind settings, giving you complete control over the coarseness of your coffee grounds.
Pros: Precision and control, portable, quiet
Cons: Arm workout, takes time
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
Introducing the Breville Smart Grinder Pro, the coffee grinder that’s smarter than your average Joe!
With its stainless steel conical burrs, this top-notch grinder is specifically designed to minimize grinding heat and protect the essential oils in your precious coffee beans.
And with a whopping 60 precise grind settings, you can have the finest Espresso or the coarsest French Press Grind, without breaking a sweat. (And I won’t judge if you’re breaking a sweat over coffee, we’ve all been there.)
But wait, there’s more!
This wonder machine comes equipped with a precision electronic timer that allows you to adjust grind time in 0.2 second increments, ensuring a consistent dose every time.
Like a personal barista, but without talking to you in the morning before you’ve had your coffee.
Speaking of which, the Breville Smart Grinder Pro has an 18-ounce coffee bean capacity with a locking system for easy removal, storage, and transfer of the bean hopper.
So you can load up your coffee beans and trust this baby to do the rest.
And when we say “the rest,” we mean it. You can grind directly into your portafilter, grinds container, gold tone filter basket, or paper filter.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a true jack of all trades, and it masters them all.
Pros: 60 grind settings, electronic timer
Cons: Can be noisy and messy
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Coffee Grinder for Cold Brew
When choosing a coffee grinder for cold brew, there are a few key factors to consider.
- Consistency: The most important factor in a coffee grinder for cold brew is consistency. You want a grinder that can produce a uniform grind size, which is essential for achieving a smooth, full-bodied cup of cold brew.
- Grind Size: As mentioned earlier, the ideal grind size for cold brew is between medium-coarse and coarse. Look for grinders that offer multiple grind settings so you can adjust the grind size to your liking.
- Capacity: Consider how much coffee you want to grind at once. If you’re making large batches of cold brew, you’ll want a grinder with a large hopper that can hold a lot of beans.
- Ease of Use: Look for grinders that are easy to operate and clean. If you’re new to coffee grinding, a simple on/off switch or timer may be more user-friendly than a complex digital interface.
- Price: Coffee grinders can range from less than $20 to over $500, so consider your budget when selecting a grinder. Keep in mind that higher-priced grinders often offer more advanced features and better durability, but may not be necessary for casual cold brew drinkers.
Final Words
Well, it looks like we’ve come to the end of our coffee grinder journey.
Hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two about the importance of a good grind when it comes to cold brew coffee. And if not, well, at least you’ve had a good laugh at my terrible jokes.
But before you go, let me remind you of one thing: don’t settle for bad coffee. Life is too short to drink anything less than amazing coffee, especially when it comes to cold brew.
So go out there, find yourself the perfect coffee grinder, and brew up a cup of cold brew that will knock your socks off (and hopefully not taste like dirty ones).
And if you’re ever in doubt, just remember my sage advice: when it comes to coffee grinders, always choose quality over quantity, unless you’re talking about the amount of caffeine you want in your cup. In that case, more is always better.
Happy grinding!
P.S. Be sure to check out our other coffee-related articles for more information, as well as more tips and tricks on making the perfect cup of joe and to learn “All About That Coffee.”