Manual coffee grinders: freshly ground coffee wherever you go!

Do you like to drink coffee and don't want to give up your daily cup when you are outdoors? Well, if you want the result to be delicious, apart from quality beans you will need a good grinder. There are electric and manual grinders, but in this article we will focus on the latter for obvious reasons: they can be used anywhere and do not need electricity.

It may be tempting to buy a packet of pre-ground coffee for when you go on a trip, but I'm telling you, if you do, you'll be throwing your money and coffee aromas away. Bear in mind that no matter how good the coffee beans are, most of their delicious aromas are lost within minutes of grinding, which is why it is so important to grind them on the spot to prepare your coffee.

It goes without saying that an electric grinder not only saves a lot of time, but also guarantees homogeneity of the ground coffee and can grind large quantities in no time at all. However, decent manual grinders are no slouch either: they can perform very well, grind very accurately and provide a uniform grind. What's more, they are often more affordable and lighter. Some are even infinitely adjustable and grind very finely. 

The only thing we do not recommend them for is coffee preparation methods that require a lot of coffee at once, such as the Chemex, the drip coffee machine and the percolator. Of course, we will not consider the filter-holder coffee machine either, because it is not very easy to transport.

Which hand grinders do we recommend?

If you are a beginner in the world of freshly ground coffee, the Porlex is the one we recommend. It costs around 80 euros in its large version (Porlex Tall) and 70 euros in its small version (Porlex Mini).

The Porlex has a good quality ceramic conical grinding wheel grinding mechanism and a solid steel housing. In addition, its crank handle offers a good grinding performance per revolution and gives good results in all grinding grades, including the fine grinds required for the moka coffee machine, for example.

If you think 70 euros is a lot of money, the manual grinder Groenenberg is good and costs about 30 euros.

Another manual coffee grinder that costs around 30 euros is the Hario Skerton and is ideal for handmade filter coffee. The Hario is solid and affordable, and its build quality is top-notch.

In this case, the grinding mechanism is also ceramic conical grinding wheels and it works like a charm, offering homogeneous grinding results, although not so suitable for espresso. However, it is easy to operate and the design of the crank handle means you won't feel any signs of fatigue after grinding.

If, on the other hand, you already have some experience with grinders, the best grinder for advanced users is undoubtedly the Commander C40. It may cost around 300 euros, but we are in love with this grinder. So much so, that for us this is the best manual coffee grinder by far.

If you are a globetrotter - and a bit of a geek, it must be said - you have to have a Commander (both the MK3 and MK4 versions are good). In this case, its grinding mechanism is made of stainless steel conical grinding wheels. Its elegant and compact design, its excellent grinding results and the fact that it is made of superior quality components make it the king of manual coffee grinders.

There is no manual grinder with a hand crank as ergonomic and efficient as the Commander. Also, the grinding results are faster and more consistent than those of its competitors. And it is suitable for any coffee preparation method.

The only drawbacks we found are its weight and price, but we think all the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and make it a winner, don't you think?