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Nothing will [improve your morning coffee](tk) like making the switch to whole bean coffee freshly ground just before you brew.
The first step is to get some high quality, freshly roasted whole bean coffee. We suggest visiting your local coffee roaster. I've been able to pick up bulk bags of beans from my local roaster (([Jittery Joe's Roasting Company](https://jitteryjoes.com/)) even during the coronavirus lockdown. It's worth calling your local favorites to see if you can do the same. If you don't have any coffee roasters in your area, you can always order some quality beans online.
We've enjoyed beans from [Grounds and Hounds](https://groundsandhoundscoffee.com/) and [Atlas Coffee Club](https://atlascoffeeclub.com/). If you're unsure which variety of coffee to get, try a subscription service that sends new beans every few weeks. [Blue Bottle Coffee](https://fave.co/2WAOo9P){: rel=nofollow}, [Atlas Coffee Club](https://atlascoffeeclub.com/collections/coffee-subscription-service){: rel=nofollow}, and [Angel's Cup](https://angelscup.com/subscribe){: rel=nofollow}, will all bring a different variety of freshly roasted beans to your door every month.
Once you've got your beans, it's time to grind. Here's our guide to the best coffee grinders. Be sure to read through our other coffee guides as well, like the [best latte and cappuccino machines](), the [best portable coffee makers](), and the [best portable espresso makers]().
Hario
This smaller Hario is the first grinder I ever used. It's perfect for a shot of espresso or even a small mokapot. It doesn't grind as fast as the Skerton, but thanks the plastic construction it's much lighter and safer to throw in your bag when you travel. There's also the slightly larger and more expensive [Mini Slim Pro](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GZXYBWF/){: rel=nofollow}. Grind-wise this one is about the same. I don't like it as much because you can't see how much coffee you've ground.
https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Coffee-Mill-Mini-Slim/dp/B01GPMH590
Oxo's Brew grinder offers the best balance of features, usefulness, and relatively low price in any of the electric grinders I've used. It's not silent by any means, but it's also not too loud, and it grinds quickly. It has 18 different settings, covering every brewing scenario from finely ground espresso to course ground perfect for a French press. It's slim, narrow profile doesn't hog counter space, though it is tall so it may be a tight fit under the cabinet (not that it doesn't fit, but remember, you still have to take the lid off and pour in beans). The version below adds a scale which will help you dial in the perfect grind and amount a little faster, but after a few mornings of experimenting, I had it dialed in the way I wanted it and don't see the need for a scale in most cases.
Breville's Smart Grinder Pro brings no less than 60 grind options to your counter, complete with a fully programmable interface. This makes a nice upgrade for those homes where there's several coffee lovers, all brewing differently. Switching between grinds is simple, in fact the whole user interface of this machine is incredibly easy to use, and the results are also excellent. My only complaint is that, like Skerton Pro, the coarse results are not as even as the grinds at other settings. So long as you're not a French press drinker though, the results and ease of use here justify the price tag.
settings into a streamlined design. We put the programmable conical burr grinder through its paces, turning multiple types of coffee beans, from light roast to robust, into fine, medium, or coarse grounds. Was the complex machine (and popular gift for foodies) easy to control? Could it produce consistent results? And most importantly, did it perform well enough to justify the high price tag? We’ve made a decision.
—Joe Ray
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