Choosing the ten best commercial coffee & espresso grinders isn’t easy, I can tell you that. If you aren’t careful, you will end up overpaying your grinder or buying the wrong type.
Luckily, I’ve been training my eyes for the last 15 years, and I will show you the best products your money can buy.
Affiliate disclosure
This page may contain affiliate links – we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through these links. This is at no extra cost to you.
By Jozo Salmanić – Croatian barista with 15 years of experience.
Here are the top three choices, but read the whole article and you will find that other grinders also have a lot to offer.
My Top 3 Picks
Best Entry-Level Grinder: Cuisinart DBM-8
Best For Drip Coffee: BUNN G9THD S/S
Overall Best: Eureka Olympus 75 E
10 Best Commercial Coffee Grinders For Your Coffee Shop
Let’s move on to the list, shall we?
Mahlkonig EK43S – A German Efficiency In A Small Package
This grinder is a lifesaver if your countertop space is limited.
It is only 9 inches wide and it will fit in even the most crowded coffee shops or kitchens.
The smaller design doesn’t come at the expense of strength or functionality. However, it’s not that suitable for large bags of coffee.
This precise German machine comes with a 1300W engine, suitable for all the daily challenges.
It can grind a whole pound of coffee in under 30 seconds, and it will do it almost silently.
98mm steel flat burrs do their job perfectly, and all dosing options are manual.
The hopper can hold up to 1.75 lb of beans, which is more than enough.
Over 10 different settings – from French press to Turkish coffee – make this beautiful grinder a good choice for all coffee shops.
Cuisinart DBM-8 – Best For Home Brewing
If you want an entry-level burr grinder, look no more.
It’s small and compact, but it still packs a powerful punch. Its flat burrs will grind your beans from extra fine to very coarse (12 different settings).
The bean hopper can hold up to .5 lb, which is not too much. Combined with only a 500W motor, it eliminates this grinder from busy coffee shops.
However, it is still a good choice for a small cafe, as a backup grinder, or for your kitchen.
It is simple to use and very affordable.
Perfect choice for your home or when you want to try some new beans in your coffee shop.
K30 TWIN – Mahlkonig K30 Twin Espresso Coffee Grinder
Two grinders are always better than one.
Whether you want to serve different beans or normal-decaf combinations, this grinder will be your best choice.
Of course, that means your small coffee shop doesn’t need it (yet), and you are better with Cuisinart DBM-8.
But for medium or large coffee shops, this is one of the best choices.
K30 TWIN takes 30% less space than two normal-sized grinders. That can be a lifesaver in overcrowded counters.
Each hopper has a capacity of 1.65 lb, and both grinders can work simultaneously.
Combine that with 3.6 – 4.8 g/sec speed, and you will fear no rush hours.
This grinder is perfect for multitasking.
65mm flat burrs ensure the consistency and quality of freshly ground coffee.
Putting the portafilter into the fork automatically starts the grinder, just like Mazzer Major V.
Of course, this is an on-demand grinder, so your customers will always get the freshest coffee.
BUNN G9THD S/S – Best Commercial Filter Coffee Grinder
This is an all-American product with a rectangular design.
Both of those are rare nowadays.
Its purpose is to grind beans for drip coffee.
Its fork is not meant for espresso portafilters.
However, it is perfectly compatible with large brew funnels for Bunn Brewers.
A 1128W engine is OK, although there are powerful commercial espresso grinders around.
However, the thing that makes BUNN G9THD different from the clothes on the list is a large, 9-lb capacity hopper.
This is also the heaviest grinder on this list (around 60 lb), made of stainless steel, so heavy use is its destiny.
You won’t break it easily nor move it by yourself.
BUNN G9THD has flat burrs, and you can choose between 15 different settings. You should adjust the timer every time you adjust the burrs.
If the main product of your coffee shop (or a restaurant) is drip coffee, this is the grinder for you.
Nuova Simonelli MDXS – Best Silent Volumetric Coffee Grinder
This is one of the best examples of Italian design.
This elegant and silent grinder has a perfect balance of beauty and functionality.
A 500W motor combined with a bean hopper capacity of 3.5 pounds means this grinder will do well in medium-sized coffee shops and restaurants.
It could have some issues with more crowded ones.
Nuova Simonelli MDXS has a micrometrical grind adjustment. Perfect for skilled baristas.
The LCD simplifies the usage if you have rush hours or less skilled staff.
Lock the preferred grind setting, and you have no worries.
65mm flat burrs do provide excellent grind quality every time.
However, with this model, you will pay more for its Silent-block technology.
If you need an espresso grinder that is silent and pleasing to the eye, you should choose this one.
Eureka Drogheria MCD4 85 – Best Large-Volume Commercial Manual Coffee Grinder
When you want a coffee grinder for large volumes of coffee, you look for this one.
It offers a respectable range of grinding options – from extra fine to extra coarse.
Every setting is manual – you can’t program anything!
But it is easy to use.
A large and powerful 750W motor, combined with 85mm flat burrs, gives you a behemoth that can grind 66 pounds per hour, which is frankly stunning.
This is a precise machine with stepless micrometric adjustment. The volume of grinding doesn’t influence its quality. The only exception is if you grind bigger batches of superfine grind for Turkish coffee.
The bean hopper capacity is 2.2 lb – a bit less than expected.
The vertical design will save you space on the counter, as this grinder is only 7 inches wide – 2 less than Mahlkonig EK43S. However, it won’t fit in your kitchen, nor should it.
This commercial coffee grinder is the best choice if you have a roastery or any other premise where you grind beans for your customers.
Getting it for your home is a definition of overkill.
Also, it is a loud machine, unlike the elegant Nuova Simonelli MDXS above.
Mazzer Major V – A Cutting-Edge Mazzer Coffee Grinder
It is an upgraded version of Mazzer Major, a classical espresso grinder.
You can use the simple menu to change the language (19 different ones!), adjust the flow, and save up to three desired settings.
Powerful 83mm flat steel grinders grind 3.5 – 4 grams of coffee per second, which means your standard espresso dose will need 4 – 5 seconds.
Perfect for the morning rush.
The hopper holds up to 3.5 lb of fresh beans, which is practical for busy coffee shops.
It’s the little things that attracted me to this grinder.
You can control the number of coffee grounds using your portafilter – amazing!
If you set that option, the grinder activates when you put the portafilter into the fork, which will automatically push the button.
Are your portafilters not standard?
No problem!
You can remove the button, and put in another one that suits you better.
You can also adjust the height of your fork.
A dual fan cooling system, Grind Flow Control system, and programmable service alerts are just the cherry on top.
Bunn GVH – All-American Commercial Coffee Grinder
This is another American-made grinder on this list.
Bunn GVH is an ideal tool for small roasters, coffee shops, or other premises that sell and grind beans.
It has a practical clamp for bean bags, just like Eureka Drogheria MCD4 85.
And with a grinding speed of 30 seconds for a pound, you will have no issues filling those bags.
Powerful 1320W engine and 65C flat burrs will make sure every grind is consistent and precise.
To adjust the grind, you will use a simple dial. It goes from Turkish to French press coffee. You can even replace the standard number dial with the one that has images.
There is also a bag/brew cup switch – grinding won’t start unless the bag or brew cup is attached.
Depending on your needs, you can order this grinder with a hopper capacity of one, two, or three pounds.
I’d go with the 3 lb one just in case.
Like all Bunn products, this one is sturdy, rectangular, and made to last.
I don’t see how you could damage this grinder without a jackhammer.
Eureka Olympus 75 E – The Best Commercial Espresso Grinder Overall
Eureka Olympus 75 E is an absolute beast in an evening dress.
Elegant design?
Check.
Small dimensions?
Check.
Weak output?
Nope.
This beauty grinds 5g/s, using 75mm flat burrs made of hardened steel.
An 800W engine is far from weak, with 1,400 RPM.
That also means your grinding won’t be silent.
But hey, it will be efficient.
Eureka Olympus 75 E has a large hopper capacity of 3.5 lb and a fast output. You can grind around 65 lb of beans weekly without worrying about quality or overheating.
This model takes pride in the stepless micrometric regulation system patented by Eureka.
All that, combined with an adjustable hands-free fork and simple display options, makes Eureka the best commercial espresso grinder on this list.
What you pay is much more than what you get.
Keep your hands away from the chrome body, as it attracts fingerprints.
Rancilio KRYO 65 OD – Best For Precise Grind Adjustment
This is an elegant and moderately powerful solution for your small-to-medium coffee shop.
It is technically an espresso grinder, but an abundance of grind settings makes this machine the perfect choice for all your coffee brewing needs.
The grinding power of 3.5 g/second is not the fastest ever (450W engine), but 64mm flat burrs do their job more than well.
The hopper holds around 2.9 lb of beans, which is decent.
The OD part of the name means this grinder is on-demand.
Hence, it grinds one dose at a time to ensure your espresso is always top-class.
A small LED touchscreen lets you program up to three different doses. You can use a larger display to monitor the mill wear and grinder status.
In terms of value-to-money, you can find better solutions on this list. But that doesn’t mean it’s inferior.
On the contrary, Rancilio grinders are top-class, and you won’t regret buying this one.
How To Buy A Professional Coffee Grinder?
Buying a professional coffee grinder is always a serious investment.
If you don’t want to waste your money, here are things you need to know.
Grinder Type: Conical Or Flat?
Conical grinders are usually bigger and more expensive than flat grinders.
Hence, they are more suited for large roasteries or premises that grind and sell larger volumes of beans.
Flat burr grinders are the usual choice of cafes, coffee shops, small roasteries, and such premises.
Every grinder from this list uses flat burrs, and that means something.
These grinders are usually smaller, compact, and versatile.
Burr Size And Material
Bigger burrs mean more space for beans and quicker grinding – no overheating.
Stainless steel is the usual material for burrs.
Ceramic burrs are mainly used for small manual grinders and high-end pro equipment.
Espresso Grinder Or All-In-One?
Should you get an espresso grinder or an all-in-one coffee grinder?
Espresso grinders usually have more precise micro-adjustments needed for pulling that perfect shot of espresso.
The term “coffee grinder” usually means it can grind the whole range, from super fine to super coarse.
However, some grinders are specialized for just one grind type.
Barista Hustle’s Barista One Course has more details on the differences if you want to get into the nitty-gritty.
Now on to grinding speed.
Grind Speed And Capacity
Grind speed means how many grams your grinder grinds per second.
This is important for premises with the morning rush or those who grind large volumes of beans.
Capacity is the recommended maximum amount of beans your grinder should grind daily or weekly.
Size And Design
Space is always an issue in premises that sell coffee.
Luckily, there is a decent choice of compact grinders that can fit every space.
A well-designed grinder is something your customers will set their eyes on while they wait for their cup or bag of coffee.
Also, be ready to pay premium for designer pieces.
The Hopper Size Matters
A larger hopper means you can fit more beans inside, which is nifty if your amount of grinding justifies it.
Otherwise, beans can lose freshness by staying in the hopper.
If you can, order different-sized hoppers.
They are easy to replace, and your beans will be fresh.
Precision And Consistency
Precision and consistency are essential for espresso.
However, your grinder should perform top-class with every grind setting.
Check out if the larger volume of work affects the consistency of the grind.
Your Budget
The price of the grinder will depend on these factors:
- Motor strength
- Grinder type
- Materials used
- Grinder size
- Design
In most cases, a higher price does mean better quality.
Some say that the grinder price should be 30 – 50% of what you paid for your commercial espresso machine, but that equation has too many variables.
Don’t cut corners when buying a professional coffee grinder.
I even know what your next question is.
Can I Buy A Used Espresso Commercial Grinder?
You can find people selling used commercial grinders on forums, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist.
Restaurants/coffee shops sometimes have a closing sale, and some of the prices can be tempting.
However, if you are not familiar with the world of coffee grinders, buying one can turn out to be a pig in a poke.
The first thing that breaks in the grinder is burrs.
“Your burrs are slowly dulling each and every time you turn on your espresso grinder.” – as this article from EspressoParts points out.
Buying new and replacing old ones will cost a couple of hundred dollars.
That price doesn’t seem so affordable now, huh?
The second issue is maintenance.
If the company that made your grinder doesn’t have a branch office or a workshop nearby, you can lose time and money sending it for repair.
There is still one option: refurbished commercial grinders.
They cost less than new ones, and you get a warranty period, and a workshop to call if your grinder breaks.
Still, buying a new one is always the best option.
Can I Buy A Professional Coffee Grinder For Home Use?
Nobody can stop you from buying a professional espresso grinder for home use.
But ask yourself: why?
Professional coffee grinders are built for everyday usage – think 40+ and often 200+ cups worth of ground coffee, every day.
Hence, they are sturdy, more durable, and more expensive.
Besides that, they will still require maintenance and take up more of your counter space than smaller grinders.
If you still want it, buy one of the professional coffee grinders for small coffee shops.
It will still cost you much more than the home-line solution, but it’s your money.
Just make sure your grinder is easy to clean and maintain.
4 Useful Resources
https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/blog/2020/07/15/selecting-a-commercial-grinder/ – Pat Cotter’s top tips on choosing a commercial grinder
https://www.espresso-services.com/espresso-blog/coffee-shop-sales-101-sell-more-than-coffee-to-succeed – Espressoservices.com has an interesting article on coffee shop sales 101. How to upsell and what to upsell?
https://www.caffeineonline.co.uk/how-to-choose-a-commercial-coffee-grinder-on-demand-vs-dosing-grinders/ – British experts explain the difference between the grinders
https://www.voltagerestaurantsupply.com/blogs/news/how-to-choose-a-commercial-grinder – Voltage gives a quick overview of things to look for in a commercial grinder
Further Reading – Burr Coffee Grinders Versus Blade Coffee Grinders – Top Differences
By Marcelo.
Thinking about buying a coffee grinder, are we?
Well, it can be a little hard to navigate the many types and options when it comes to coffee grinders. There’s so much more to choose from that it can be overwhelming for beginners—even for professionals it’s actually very hard to choose.
So to help you out, here’s a quick guide of the top differences between these two main types of coffee grinder so you can determine which one is a better fit for you.
Top differences
Settings: Is More Better?
The most important difference, as far as I’m concerned, is the ability to choose between different settings (as in different grind sizes).
Having a coffee grinder that can actually deliver different grind sizes means that you can grind coffee for different brewing methods; if you want to drink espresso one day, and French press coffee the other, then you can—if you have a burr grinder.
Blade grinders, on the other hand, do not allow you to choose between different settings.
Some people will claim that you can adjust the size depending on how long you grind, but that’s just way too inconsistent a method. You can’t.
Price: When More Is Not Better
Price is actually one of the strongest factors that make people choose one or the other.
You see, blade grinders are fairly simple to make and don’t require a powerful motor—so they can be much cheaper.
Burr grinders are substantially more expensive. The whole mechanism requires high quality materials because there is friction involved, and low quality materials would deteriorate very quickly because of it.
They require a bigger and more powerful motor.
By the way, have you had a look at our resources and deals page yet?
Size and/or Capacity: Coffee For One or for Ten?
The next thing we need to think about is how much coffee we’re actually going to grind each time we use our grinder.
Blade grinders are only good for small amounts of coffee at a time—one, two cups of coffee, that would be the right amount.
Burr grinders don’t really have a limit because they don’t work the same way as blade grinders.
You can continue grinding coffee as much as you need to.
There’s also the issue of size.
Blade Grinders are actually quite small and compact, making them a perfect kitchen appliance that can be put away and or stored wherever.
Burr grinders are bigger and take up more of space on the counter.
Photos by Los Muertos Crew, Tim Douglas, Chevanon Photography, Guto Machedo
