Quiet Coffee Grinders – Grinding Coffee in Peace

Before we get into the subject of quiet coffee grinders, I want to start with why we grind coffee? What happens when we grind coffee? A whole coffee bean is a beautiful thing by itself, but it doesn’t make excellent tasting coffee. Water can’t extract the flavors because it would only soak to the outside of the bean. If you put whole coffee beans into hot water you might get some flavor, but it won’t be much at all.

To get the optimum flavor, we grind beans with a coffee grinder so that water can extract the delicious flavors to give you a great cup of coffee. Most coffee grinders have different grind settings for producing a more delicious cup of coffee depending on how it’s brewed. 

For me, and most coffee people will agree, the best cups of coffee come from freshly ground coffee beans. With that being said, not all coffee grinders are created equal. There are many types of good coffee grinders in the market, but in this post, I’m focusing specifically on quiet grinders and what they can offer. 

I have two very different types of coffee grinders. My Bodum electric burr coffee grinder is a champ and grinds through large quantities of beans like a hot knife through butter. I love it when I’ve got to grind a little more than half a pound of beans for large pots of cold brew.

My other one is a small manual super quiet coffee grinder from Hario. It comes in really handy when I have to get up early and I don’t want to wake up everyone in the house while grinding coffee.

Manual vs. Electric coffee grinders

Manual coffee grinders

If you are looking around for a quiet coffee grinder you won’t find any type of grinder that is quieter than a manual handheld one.

Most manual burr coffee grinders offer great overall performance. They tend to grind coffee in a very uniform size. They are consistent across all grind sizes, ranging from French press to espresso. What sets them apart from other coffee grinders is the combination of longevity and portability and grinding coffee quietly early in the morning.

Handheld grinders can be held with one hand while the other cranks the lever to grind the coffee beans. If you are searching for a quiet coffee grinder you’ll be able to find a wide range of handheld grinders that also have a wide price range. 

Almost all of them have a small hopper for coffee beans and a set of burrs to grind the bean when they fall through. At the bottom, there is a collection chamber where the freshly ground coffee beans can sit until you’re ready to make coffee. All parts are connected by one rod that turns the burrs. The burr connects to a handle which you use to crank to rotate and grind the coffee bean.

Electric coffee grinders

In my most honest opinion, no matter what you see or read about electric coffee grinders you won’t find any as quiet as a manual grinder. With that being said, you can find some electric coffee grinders that are quieter than others, but they still make a good bit of noise. Later on in the post, I’ll lay out some really decent suggestions for quiet electric coffee grinders.

There are a ton of variations when it comes to electric coffee grinders. I’m going to separate them into low-end and high-end electric grinders. 

Low-end electric grinders usually have blades to grind beans. Blade grinders don’t grind, they chop, but more on that later.

Obviously, the higher end cost more, but they tend to have burrs for grinding beans. Like I mentioned above burr grinders evenly grind beans. Many higher-end models come with a multitude of different grind settings.

This grinder opens up the chance to use micro-adjustments, allowing you to dial in your preferred grind size. A high-end electric model allows for specialty coffee capable of creating enough coffee for a large group. Sadly, most electric models make quite a bit of noise, some even downright annoying. Even with that disadvantage, they are worth having since they make almost next to perfect coffee. These are the go-to grinders for many coffee shops.

Blade grinders VS Burr Grinders

Coffee grinders, for the most part, have two different variations, which are either blade grinders and burr grinders. Both share different percentages of advantages and disadvantages, and you should know which one will best suit your needs. Read on to find out between the two which one is for you.

Blade Coffee Grinders

A Blade grinder is made of a double-edged blade found at the bottom of a chamber. When activated, the blade spins quickly to chop the coffee beans into a fine grind size. The coffee beans are diced into fine pieces that drop down to the lower side to repeat the dicing until the beans are fine.

The grinding form used by blades sometimes produces different-sized particles; you might even find half chopped beans left. The heat generated from the spinning blades may change the coffee flavor by eliminating a bit of the rich and fresh taste. Blade grinders chop different size grounds, which makes an uneven and can produce less awesome brewed coffee. On the other hand, blade grinders are primarily cheap to purchase and accessible in many grocery stores and kitchens.

Burr Coffee Grinders

This type of grinder is entirely different from blade grinders. With this model, dual blocks of burr funnel coffee beans in small amounts separately, directing them to the grounding area. The coffee beans are crushed into fine uniform pieces to produce a well-balanced coffee brew. 

Many burrs are made from ceramic or stainless steel designed to be more durable and practical than blades. Burr grinders are a game-changer for grinding your own coffee at home.

They generate less heat compared to blade grinders, and some make very little noise, just like a purr. Burrs move farther and closer to modify the proportions of the ground. Since coffee makers use alternate grind proportions, you utilize any type of coffee brewer from French press to espresso and even a stovetop espresso maker.

Another advantage burr grinders have over blade models is that you can make smaller grind size adjustment settings to help you hone your coffee brew. Burr opens up a world of possibilities in coffee making. It’s no wonder why blade grinders can’t hold a candle to burr grinders.

Burr grinder takes the win when it comes to which is better of the two. A blade grinder will produce a good coffee, while a burr grinder can transform a coffee experience into something wonderful. 

The Quietest Coffee Grinders:

Ok, now that we’ve covered coffee grinders and their different versions, let’s take a look at some actual quiet coffee grinders. 

My top 5 quiet manual coffee grinders

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1 Zpresso JX Pro Coffee Grinder

 

Over 200 click grind settings 

48mm conical burr 

Easy separation for cleaning

No wobbly parts or burrs that come loose

Includes a one-year limited warranty

 

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TIME MORE Chestnut C2 Coffee Grinder

 

Stainless steel burr  

38mm burr

Convenient to carry at 430g 

Easy grind adjustments

 

 

 

 

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Hario Ceramic Burr Coffee Grinder

New and improved with stronger grind shaft 

burr stabilization plate, enabling more uniform grind

Ceramic conical burrs ensure a precise, uniform grind

Non Slip base keeps the Mill in place during grinding

Stepped grind adjustment is easy to use and change

This is my personal go-to almost daily grinder. I have 2 of these over the past couple of years. What I love about this grinder is the hopper is a decent size for when I need to make a large pot of coffee. It is also nice to be able to remove the top grinding part and put the lid on it to keep the coffee fresh. What I don’t love about it is the glass container where the fresh coffee gets stored. There’s nothing wrong with it, but if you have young kids who love to grab everything and drop it when they get caught you might want to get something else.

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Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill – Mini Slim

 

Easily adjusted for right grind coarseness

Consistent grind for perfect fresh coffee

Lightweight and slim design makes for easy storage

Up to 2 cups of storage

Grind adjustment mechanism is easy to use and chang

 

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Quiet Electric Coffee Grinders

When it comes to electric coffee grinders, the only thing that might be quiet or a little quieter is the motor. Once the blade starts spinning or the burr starts turning the noise from the coffee beans is like when a vacuum sucks rocks. There is going to be noise. I have seen so many so-called quiet coffee grinders that are only quiet when the power is off.

If you are determined to get a hold of a quiet electrical coffee grinder do me a favor a do some real research. Don’t believe the hype. Read the reviews, watch product review videos, and manage your expectations. I don’t want to say that quiet electrical grinders don’t exist, but if they do they are probably outside the price range of most people who are shopping for a quiet grinder.

As much as I would love to promote a bunch of so-called quiet electric grinders, I just can’t do it because I know they’re not all that quiet.

Quiet electrical coffee grinder suggestions:

KRUPS Silent Vortex Electric Grinder

 

 

Powerful, Efficient, and Super Slient

Grinds coffee beans for 12 cups in 15 seconds

Large Capicity and Dishwasher Safe

Removable bowl comes with a dedicated storage lid

 Easy Single Touch Operation

 

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What to look for in a quiet coffee grinder

First, assess your goals for a coffee grinder. Do you want manual or electric? Is it for business or personal use? Once you understand what you want, you can use this guideline to look for a quiet grinder.

When looking for a quiet coffee grinder, consider burr grinders since they offer a fine uniform grind that is better than blade grinders. As discussed above, the advantages of burr grinders out-way that of blade grinders. Apart from making a perfect brew, a grinder that can grind coffee beans while making as little noise as possible is the best option you can find. Hopefully, this article has provided you with the insight to purchase a perfect coffee grinder that suits you.

If you are willing to pay higher, some higher-end electric models offer more than 40 adjustment settings. A grinder with many adjustment settings allows you the freedom to dial in a variety of grind sizes.

Nothing beats waking up in the morning to the sweet aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. And there is nothing worse than getting woken up by the loud sound of a coffee grinder. Some coffee grinders are noisy and disturbing, but some reduce the sound to just a purr, making you a pretty savory brew.

Lastly, since you’ve probably got a grinder in mind already check out my post on the best coffee for a Moka pot and fire up the stove.