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A French press is forgiving about almost everything except the grind. Use a blade grinder or stale pre-ground coffee and you get a muddy, bitter cup with a layer of silt at the bottom. Use an even, coarse grind and the same press makes rich, full-bodied coffee with very little sediment.
That's why the best coffee grinder for French press isn't necessarily the most expensive one. What matters is how evenly it grinds at the coarse end, how few fine particles it makes, and whether it suits your routine: one mug, a full press for the family, or French press in the morning and something else later.
Below are six grinders that do coarse grinding well, from a cheap burr mill to a flat-burr upgrade and a hand grinder. If you're still choosing between burr types, our burr coffee grinder guide explains conical vs flat.
Quick picks
- Best Overall: Baratza EncoreBest for most French press drinkers who want a reliable, repairable burr grinder.
- Best Flat-Burr Upgrade: Fellow Ode Gen 2Best for French press and pour-over fans who want large flat burrs and never make espresso.
- Best Budget Burr Grinder: OXO Brew Conical BurrBest for replacing a blade grinder without spending much.
- Best for French Press and Drip: Baratza Virtuoso+Best for households that brew both, with a timer for repeatable doses.
- Cheapest Burr Option: Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme GrindBest for a tight budget when any burr grinder beats a blade.
- Best Manual Grinder: TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP ProBest for one or two cups, travel and camping.
Comparison table
| Grinder | Best for | Burrs | Settings | Power | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baratza Encore | Most French press drinkers | 40mm conical steel | 40 | Electric | Check price |
| Fellow Ode Gen 2 | Flat-burr clarity, no espresso | 64mm flat stainless steel | 31 | Electric | Check price |
| OXO Brew Conical Burr | Budget burr | 40mm conical stainless (per listing) | Stepped dial | Electric | Check price |
| Baratza Virtuoso+ | French press + drip | 40mm M2 conical steel | 40, digital timer | Electric | Check price |
| Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind | Tight budget | Burr mill | 18 | Electric | Check price |
| TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP Pro | Manual, travel | 38mm S2C stainless conical | Internal clicks | Hand | Check price |
The best French press grinders, reviewed
1. Baratza Encore: Best Overall
Who it's for: anyone who brews French press most days and wants a grinder that lasts.
The Encore has been the default recommendation for entry-level burr grinding for years, and coarse brewing is where it shines. It uses 40mm conical steel burrs and 40 grind settings, so you have plenty of room at the coarse end to find the setting your press likes. Operation is simple: an on/off switch for full batches and a front pulse button for grinding straight into a container.
The bigger reason to choose it is support. Baratza sells replacement burrs and parts and publishes repair guides, so a worn part doesn't mean a new grinder. It isn't an espresso grinder; if you want espresso too, the Encore ESP or an all-rounder is a better fit.
Pros
- Even coarse grind for the price tier
- 40 settings with room at the coarse end
- Parts and repair support from Baratza
- Simple controls
Cons
- Not for espresso
- Plastic body
- No timer, so you weigh beans before grinding
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
by Baratza
2. Fellow Ode Gen 2: Best Flat-Burr Upgrade
Who it's for: French press and pour-over drinkers who want a premium brew grinder and never make espresso.
The Ode Gen 2 is built for brewed coffee only, which suits French press perfectly. It uses 64mm stainless steel flat burrs and 31 settings, and Fellow says plainly that it doesn't grind fine enough for espresso. One retailer lists its capacity as 100 grams, enough for a full large press.
Large flat burrs are popular for brewed coffee because they produce a consistent medium-to-coarse grind, which many brewers describe as giving cleaner, more distinct flavors. In a French press, an even grind means less silt and an easier plunge. It's a clear step up in price from the Encore, so it makes most sense if you also brew pour-over and care about flavor clarity.
Pros
- 64mm flat burrs designed for brewed coffee
- Covers French press, pour-over and drip
- Compact footprint
- Extended warranty with registration (US)
Cons
- No espresso at all
- Higher price tier than other picks here
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2
by Fellow
3. OXO Brew Conical Burr: Best Budget Burr Grinder
Who it's for: French press drinkers upgrading from a blade grinder on a budget.
OXO's grinder is the classic first burr grinder. The listing describes 40mm stainless steel conical burrs and a 12 oz bean hopper, with one-touch operation: set the dial, press once, and it grinds. For French press and cold brew, that's all most people need.
It's not meant for espresso, and some owners note that the lower burr doesn't come out for cleaning, so a brush and cleaning tablets do most of the work.
Pros
- Big improvement over any blade grinder
- Large 12 oz hopper
- One-touch operation
- Budget price tier
Cons
- Not for espresso
- Fewer parts and repair options than Baratza
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
by OXO
4. Baratza Virtuoso+: Best for French Press and Drip
Who it's for: households that brew French press on weekends and drip or pour-over on weekdays.
The Virtuoso+ sits a step above the Encore. It uses Baratza's 40mm M2 conical steel burrs and 40 settings, and adds a digital timer so you can repeat the same grind time every morning. Baratza's listing says the settings cover a wide range of brew methods, including French press.
The timer is the practical upgrade: once you know how many seconds your usual press needs, you set it and walk away. Like the Encore, it benefits from Baratza's long-standing parts and repair support.
Pros
- 40mm M2 conical burrs
- Digital timer for repeatable batches
- Strong parts and repair support
- Excellent from drip to French press
Cons
- Not a dedicated espresso grinder
- Higher price tier than the Encore for a similar coarse grind
Baratza Virtuoso+ Coffee Grinder
by Baratza
5. Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind: Cheapest Burr Option
Who it's for: anyone on a tight budget who wants to stop using a blade grinder.
The DBM-8 is one of the longest-running cheap burr grinders in the US. Amazon lists it as an electric burr grinder with 18 settings, and it grinds into a removable chamber, so you can grind a whole press worth at once.
Be realistic about what you get. Owner feedback commonly mentions more fines and static than with the grinders above, and the steps are coarse-grained. For French press, though, where the target is coarse and the method is forgiving, it is still a real improvement over chopping beans with a blade.
Pros
- Lowest price tier of the electric picks
- 18 settings with a usable coarse end
- Grinds a full press in one go
Cons
- Less even than the Baratza and OXO grinders
- Static and mess are common complaints
- Not for espresso
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Burr Mill
by Cuisinart
6. TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP Pro: Best Manual Grinder
Who it's for: solo French press drinkers, travelers and campers.
A good hand grinder grinds coarse more evenly than many cheap electric grinders, and coarse is the easy end to grind by hand. The C3 ESP Pro uses S2C stainless steel conical burrs (38mm, per the listing), a foldable handle and about 25 g of capacity. TIMEMORE's guidance puts French press at roughly 2.0–2.3 turns from zero.
The 25 g capacity covers one large mug or a small press; for a big press, you'll grind twice. Adjustment is internal, so you take off the handle to change settings, which is no problem if you mostly brew one method.
Pros
- Steel burrs at a budget price tier
- Even coarse grind with little effort
- Quiet, no power needed
- Also reaches espresso and pour-over
Cons
- About 25 g per batch
- Internal adjustment is slower to change
TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 ESP Pro Manual Coffee Grinder
by TIMEMORE
For more hand options, see our manual coffee grinder guide.
How to choose a grinder for French press
Burr vs blade: why it matters more than you'd think
A burr grinder crushes beans between two burrs set a fixed distance apart, so particles come out close to the same size. A blade grinder spins a blade like a propeller and chops until you stop it, leaving a mix of boulders and powder. In a French press, the powder passes through the metal mesh and ends up in your cup as sludge, while the boulders under-extract and taste sour. That mix is why blade-ground French press often tastes both bitter and weak.
French press grind size
French press needs a coarse grind, about the texture of sea salt. The Honest Coffee Guide puts it at roughly 690–1,300 microns, and cold brew a little coarser. Our espresso grind size chart shows where French press sits next to every other method.
Start in the coarse range your grinder's manual suggests, brew for about four minutes, and taste:
- Thin, sour, weak: grind one or two steps finer.
- Bitter, muddy, hard to plunge: grind coarser.
Evenness at the coarse end
Not every grinder that goes coarse grinds coarse evenly. Cheaper burr grinders tend to produce more fines at coarse settings, which still means some sediment. Better burrs, like the Ode Gen 2's large flat set, keep the spread narrower. If silt is your main complaint, evenness is worth paying for.
Capacity and batch size
A large French press can take 50–60 g of coffee. Electric grinders with a hopper handle that easily; a hand grinder with a 25 g chamber needs two rounds. Think about your largest normal batch, not your smallest.
Will you brew anything else?
If French press is your only method, buy the best coarse grinder you can afford and ignore espresso features. If you also make pour-over, all of these grinders work. If you want espresso too, these are the wrong tools; look at our best coffee grinder roundup for all-rounders that cover every method.
Electric or manual
Electric grinders win for big batches and busy mornings. Hand grinders win on price for quality, noise and portability. For a broader look at plug-in options, see our electric coffee grinder guide.
How we chose
We built this list from manufacturer and retailer specifications (Baratza, Fellow, OXO, Cuisinart and TIMEMORE listings), the Honest Coffee Guide's grind size ranges, and long-running owner feedback on how each grinder handles coarse settings. We prioritized even coarse grinding, repairability and a fair price tier for what you get. We did not test these grinders ourselves, and where a spec comes from a retailer listing rather than the maker, we say so.
FAQ
What grind size is best for French press?
Coarse, about the texture of sea salt. The Honest Coffee Guide puts French press at roughly 690 to 1,300 microns. If your press is hard to push and the cup is muddy, go coarser; if the coffee tastes thin and sour after four minutes, go a little finer.
Is a burr grinder necessary for French press?
It is not strictly necessary, but it makes a clear difference. A burr grinder produces an even coarse grind with fewer fine particles, so the cup is cleaner and less bitter and the mesh filter does not clog. A blade grinder chops beans unevenly, which leaves powder that slips through the filter as sludge.
Can I use a blade grinder for French press?
You can, and it beats stale pre-ground coffee. Pulse in short bursts and shake the grinder between pulses to get a more even result. Expect more sediment in the cup than with a burr grinder, and pour gently to leave the last bit in the press.
Do I need an expensive grinder for French press?
No. French press is the most forgiving method on the chart because it uses a coarse grind and a long steep. A budget burr grinder like the OXO Brew or a hand grinder like the TIMEMORE C3 ESP Pro does the job well. Paying more mostly buys a more even coarse grind, speed and convenience.
Can one grinder do French press and espresso?
Some can, but most are better at one end. The Baratza Encore and OXO Brew are built for drip and French press and are not espresso grinders. If you want both, look at all-rounders like the Fellow Opus 2 or Baratza Encore ESP, or a hand grinder such as the TIMEMORE C3 ESP Pro.
Verdict
The Baratza Encore is the best coffee grinder for French press for most people: even at the coarse end, simple to use and backed by real repair support. Choose the Fellow Ode Gen 2 if you want flat-burr clarity for French press and pour-over, the OXO Brew if budget comes first, and the TIMEMORE C3 ESP Pro if you brew one cup at a time. No grinder yet? Our guide on how to grind coffee beans without a grinder will get you through the week.