Having a great espresso machine at home is about half the work when it comes to making delicious coffee. The ritual of tamping and pulling the shot ensures that the puck is pressed perfectly, water flows through at the right rate, and the resulting shot is as good as you can make it.
But using pre-ground coffee can undo all that careful work at the espresso stage. Pre-ground coffee has had time to oxidise, even when properly stored, and the oils released into the shot therefore take on a slightly more bitter or out-of-tune flavour profile.
In short, or should we say, ‘in shot’, coffee grinders are a must-have for the at-home barista. So, we’ve put together an espresso grinder buying guide to help you tour your options in this realm and bring the best coffee grinder in Australia home with you.
What makes a good coffee grinder?
Before we jump straight into types and models, we wouldn’t consider this a proper espresso grinder buying guide without some context. So, let’s take a brief pit stop at the hallmarks of truly good coffee grinders. When you’re putting your money down, you want a grinder that:
Grinds consistently.
If you take away just one thing from this espresso grinder buying guide, let it be this: good coffee grinders are consistent. Uneven grinds let water find the path of least resistance through your puck, which muddles your shot. A coffee grinder Australian baristas would be proud to own therefore produces a consistent, uniform grind, which is what allows your espresso machine to do its best work.
Lets you adjust your grind size.
Espresso is one of the most finicky brewing methods when it comes to grind size. A single step too coarse and your shot runs fast and tastes thin; too fine and it stalls or tastes harsh.
Not to mention, you want some flexibility with a machine you’ll have for years to come. You might not want to use an espresso machine every time you make coffee, or you might want to develop a signature drink that requires a bit more play with your grind size. Regardless, top-tier coffee grinders can grind consistently.
Manages doses properly.
For many a coffee grinder in Australia, the question is not whether they can accurately dispense an 18-gram dose, but rather how much of that is held back in the machine. Coffee grinders are inherently a bit messy, and some poorly made models can hold on to a few grams of coffee with every dose. Not only does that compromise the quality of your shot, but it also clogs up the machine over time. Old oils and grinds, anyone?
What are the types of coffee grinders?
The next pit stop on our espresso buying guide is grinder types. To make an informed decision when you buy a coffee grinder in Australia, it’s worth understanding these types so you can waltz your way past the marketing terms and actually know what you’re getting.
To that end, there are, broadly, two types of coffee grinders: blade grinders and burr grinders.
Blade Grinders
Blade grinders are exactly what they sound like. A spinning blade chops the coffee beans into smaller pieces. They’re inexpensive, widely available, and generally not the best choice if you want top-notch espresso.
They work in the sense that they cut the beans to a size suitable for espresso. The problem is consistency and flavour-release. A blade grinder hacks more than it grinds, so the particle sizes aren’t the same, creating a muddled shot.
If you prefer to brew with filter coffee or a French press, a blade grinder is an affordable choice that will serve you well. But if you have an espresso machine at home, this can actually hurt your coffee.
Burr Grinders
Burr grinders are top-tier, so in the context of this espresso grinder buying guide, we have to recommend them. They have two ‘burrs’ that grind the roasted coffee beans between them, only allowing the particles to fall through once they reach a certain size. In other words, these coffee grinders are quite consistent.
You’ve got two types here, as well: flat burrs and conical burrs.
While flat burrs are great, they’re also generally more suitable for commercial purposes. Conical burrs are excellent for home coffee grinders because they are quieter, generate less heat, and are generally more affordable.
For most home baristas, a quality conical burr grinder is the right answer.
Your Top Pick: The Pico
If you’re looking for the best coffee grinder Australia has to offer, then based on everything we’ve covered in this espresso grinder buying guide, the Pico is our top choice.
This is a compact machine designed to pair with a La Marzocco Home espresso machine, which means it is sleek, has a small footprint, and operates beautifully. Years and years of iterations, careful engineering, and a deep love of coffee have gone into developing the Pico.
Some highlights of this machine include:
· Compact on a kitchen bench
· Long-lasting
· Top-tier conical burrs for a consistent grind
· Careful single-dose workflow for minimal retention
· Quiet for early mornings
The Pico is the natural companion to the Linea Mini and Linea Micra. It’s one of those coffee grinders that can keep up with your skills as they develop, so you’re free to chase that perfect shot.
Bring a touch of Italian espresso mastery to your kitchen bench.
We are La Marzocco Home, your connection to a long line of Italian espresso masters who have used our machines for generations. With top-tier modern engineering, sleek design, and clear attention to detail, we are proud to make the best coffee grinders Australia has to offer.
Shop our Pico grinder today.
