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I was excited about doing a single dose espresso grinder review, but it turned out to be a lot more complex than I anticipated.
Typically, during a review, there are clear winners and losers, and it is simple to pick your favorite and so on, but I could argue that every machine on this list is number one.
I talk about using a single-dose grinder a lot, so I thought it would be helpful for me to clarify what it is and why I like it.
Timed dosing or on-demand grinders, which contain settings to operate the grinder for a specific period of time to dispense an approximate dose, and mechanical dosing, which is the old school pummeling of the doser handle, are the two principal dosing types in the (motorized) grinder world.
On-demand grinders are a little neater to look at since the doser isn’t hanging off the front, they’re a quieter grinder, and they can be speedier because they grind straight into the basket.
A doserless grinder is prone to clumping, and the hopper design affects the consistency of dosing. In addition, these grinders have more retention in a residential setting, necessitating a purge to remove stale grinds.
This is why single-dose grinders are considered the best coffee grinders since they give you a more accurate dose consistency along with excellent grind quality.
What Exactly Is Single Dosing
It is known as single dosing when the entire bean “dose” or desired amount is pre-measured and then sent through an empty grinder. According to the notion, what you put in is what you get out.
To save time and money, many home users prefer this method since it allows them to make grind adjustments while the grinder is still running, and they don’t have to purge grinds held in the grind chamber to reach the new setting.
It’s also preferred for the versatility it provides, such as the ability to vary the dose from one shot to the next, control factors, and switch coffees or work with various coffees at once.
The Benefits Of A Single Dosing Espresso Grinder
If you’re used to filling your hopper and grinding as much as you want, whenever you want, weighing your beans seems like an unnecessary step. However, I can attest to the fact that this is an excellent method of preparing coffee.
Keep your Beans Fresher longer.
You’re looking for the best-tasting ground coffee, but in order to find it, you will need to use fresh beans.
The seal on a grinder’s hopper isn’t designed to be airtight. Also, because of oxidation, if you leave your beans in the hopper for a few days, they will lose their flavor and aroma.
You will need to store the leftover beans in an airtight container to keep them fresh after grinding. This way, they will retain their freshness for longer periods of time.
The Same Flavor profile Time And Time Again
Everyone is guilty of guessing how much coffee they need to grind and then ending up with a bitter or sour espresso.
Even a tiny adjustment can determine whether you end up with the best tasting coffee or a cup of sludge when it comes to coffee.
This is why, instead of depending on scoops or guesswork, I always advocate weighing your dose.
Single-dosing necessitates properly weighing each amount of coffee used. This will ensure that you get consistently great coffee every time.
Quickly Rotate Between Different Coffee Beans
What if you had three different bags of coffee, each varying in grind quality, and you want to taste them all at once? Are you going to go out and buy three grinders for this?
The single-dose method gives you the flexibility to swap between different coffee varieties whenever you choose! In between dosages, you can alter the beans and adjust grind fineness for your next coffee.
You won’t have to worry about running out of beans in your current hopper or having to empty it to switch to a different coffee.
With single dosing, you can start the day with some delicious fruity Sumatran coffee, then switch to a powerful Brazilian espresso in the afternoon, and finish with a light Aeropress blend!
The Best Single-Dose Grinder Review List
Eureka Atom Single dosing Espresso Grinder
The Atom comes in chrome, black, and white. It has a 450-watt motor spinning 60-millimeter flat steel burrs at 1350 RPMs, an aluminum casing, a 1.3-pound bean capacity hopper, and is 17.32-inches high.
Using a micro-metric adjustment knob, you may fine-tune it consistently and easily. There are two programmable dosage settings and manual on-demand grinding through a portafilter switch or a button beneath the display. In addition, the Atom has an adjustable portafilter fork and a bin for grinding different brew techniques.
The awe-inspiring Atom display and programming controls are definitely some of my favorite features. The slightly tilted display makes it easy to read. It shows the current time for single and double grind cycles.
Then there are counters for how many cycles each has. It’s possible to change the grind time by tenths of a second for macro adjustments. The Atom’s programming is the simplest of any single dosing grinder I’ve ever used.
There are no menus and no waiting to exit programming mode. Instead, use the plus or minus buttons to change the time. It’s effortless.
Manual grinding can be started with the portafilter switch or the control panel button. However, programmed grinding requires the portafilter switch. When hand grinding, the display shows the time since the last grind and the finished time.
This is a great tool to get a preliminary fill of a portafilter before setting a preset and making small changes.
Pros
- Very easy to use, there isn’t a significant learning curve
- Large bright display
- Can adjust the bottom burr for single dosing grind setting
- Sound insulation to make it run quieter
Cons
- The only con is that they are expensive grinders, but if you find yourself able to afford it, you won’t regret it.
Baratza Sette 270 Conical Burr Grinder
If you don’t want to pay for the Atom, you should consider the Sette 270 from Baratza. To go with any home espresso machine, the 270 is one of the best single-dose grinders on the market.
As a result of its incredible short grind path and innovative drive technology, it is able to retain approximately 0.5 grams of coffee.
Additionally, the design ensures that the beans do not get sucked back into the hopper, or “popcorn,” as it is more commonly referred to. This suggests that the beans remain in place against the lower and upper burr and grind to a fine powder even when the hopper is not filled.
An average 20g dose is ground in the Sette 270 in around 10 seconds, which is impressive. Compared to the other grinders we’ll examine, this one has smaller burrs and is constructed almost entirely of plastic.
In contrast, Baratza knows where to put its money, which is why this grinder will continue to perform at a high level for many years.
Pros
- Very fast
- It doesn’t have a popcorn effect even when the hopper is almost empty
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- The external material is almost all plastic, but the internal parts are metal(that’s what counts)
- It’s loud
Breville BCG600SIL Dose Control Pro
The Dose Control Pro provides 60 accurate grind settings, allowing you to brew anything from espresso to French Press. In addition, the precision electronic timer lets you fine-tune the grinding time in one-second increments for precise dosing.
Conical burrs made of stainless steel decrease grinding heat and preserve the flavor and aroma of your favorite coffee bean.
Getting the most flavor out of your drip coffee machine or mastering the fine art of your espresso machine is the only thing left to learn.
By pausing while you settle the coffee with the Dose Control Pro, you can finish the rest of your dose when you’re ready. In addition, the Breville Assist Plug and a removable grind catcher pan are included; all parts that come into touch with coffee are BPA-free.
With an adjustable top burr, stainless steel conical burrs are employed in the grinding mechanism. A portafilter grinds receptacle or various filters can all be utilized with this grinder.
For reliable extraction, this attachment slices the puck at the correct height. Portafilter baskets with 50mm, 54mm, or 58mm can use the interchangeable razor.
Breville makes the best espresso machine on the market, and their single-dose grinder isn’t far behind.
Pros
- Breville changed from a plastic impeller to a metal one for improved performance.
- Great Consistency
- Steady pressure to eliminate the popcorn effect
- Adaptable burr to adjust fineness
- Easy to clean
Cons
- It got blocked once when we switched to a grind fineness for Turkish coffee and had to be cleaned, but it worked perfectly after that.
Mazzer Mini Electronic Coffee/Espresso Grinder
Commercial grinders aren’t small by design. So while most were intended for business usage, consumer-grade espresso machines became popular.
For those who have little room, a top-of-the-line hand grinder is ideal. However, when space is at a premium, the Mazzer Mini is one of the best options.
Its 6.8″ x 13.2″ footprint is significantly smaller than the typical 18″ clearance in a standard kitchen cupboard. Even with the bean hopper’s 600 g capacity! However, the 22-pound weight implies a solid construction.
Despite the front-facing doser, it’s a great-looking machine. It’s also available in various colors so that you can match it to your coffee bar or kitchen.
It has two 58 mm flat steel burrs and a step-less adjustment for fine-tuning your coffee. I’d recommend this to those who mostly brew with an espresso machine.
An indicator of the Mini’s past commercial function is the doser. Each lever pull, doses between 5.5 g and 9 g. A doser provides less mess and better uniformity for domestic users.
Pros
- Powerful motor that grinds consistently
- very easy to use, clean, and maintain
- Minimal retention – I weigh my coffee before and after grinding. So far, I’ve gotten all of the coffee out that I put in, which is fantastic!
Cons
There aren’t many bad things to say except that the price will not sit well with everyone. Only serious coffee connoisseurs will add this to their home(it is well worth it, though)
Baratza Sette 30 Conical Burr Grinder
When it comes to espresso and non-pressurized portafilters, the Baratza Sette 270 is an outstanding entry-level single-dosing grinder.
Only a few domestic grinder manufacturers are as consistent as Baratza. The Sette 270 is small in size and has additional features that include 30 macro settings and nine micro-adjustments. You can use it for AeroPress, an espresso machine, or a Coarser French Press can be used to grind.
The Baratza Sette’s burrs are inverted, which most grinders don’t have. The top rotates, not the bottom. As a result, it grinds faster, produces fluffier grounds, and has virtually no retention. This grinder’s retention is less than many twice its price.
The Sette’s biggest flaw is its size. This tiny machine can produce a lot of noise. But, with a decent warranty and a history of durability difficulties, it’s a solid buy. Remember that it’s a cheap plastic grinder that won’t last decades.
Pros
- Very durable
- Compact
- Allows micro-adjustments to find the perfect sweet spot in your grind.
Cons
- Noisy
- It can produce a lot of static. But it depends a lot on the type of beans you use. For some, the grinds stick to the sides of the grinding chamber due to static. For others, it’s really clean and tidy.
Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
For Rancilio Silvia owners, this is the perfect accessory. The Rocky SD is a low-cost commercial-style burr coffee grinder with 50mm plate grinding burrs. Your expectations will be met with the Rocky SD’s ability to grind 7.7 pounds per hour.
To keep your portafilter in place, the Rocky SD has a removable metal fork. This allows you to grind directly into your portafilter grinder. The Rocky SD’s motor is a 166-watt direct-drive motor with a lot of power. 1725 RPMs are being spun.
This heavy-duty grinder runs virtually silent. In addition, rocky SD’s controls are simple to use. You change the grind size settings by releasing the lock to the hopper and turning it. It can produce a fine powder or a coarse ground of coffee in a matter of seconds.
The Rocky SD has a colorful bean hopper that holds around half a pound of whole bean coffee and is ready to grind at any time.
Pros
- Grind consistency – I can dial in a bean and pull consistently from shot to shot, grind to grind.
- Smallish footprint – My Capresso is a small conical burr grinder, and while the Rocky isn’t small, it is narrow and tall, so it doesn’t take up much space on my kitchen counter,
- Flat burr grinders for a reasonable price – Flat burrs have better grind control than conical burrs, although they’re usually a little more expensive. Unless you buy a used commercial use grinder, the Rocky’s $350-ish price point is impossible to surpass, as others have pointed out.
- There are a total of 50 grind settings, so you’ll be hard-pressed (heh!) to find one that doesn’t work.
Cons
- If you use oily beans, you will have to clean them more often or risk having them jam.
- Burrs seem to hold a significant number of grinds (1.5g or more, depending on the grind) – If you want to switch grinds or coffee, this can be a problem. (I got into the habit of knowing how much is usually left in there, deciding which grind I want to go to, and then switching ahead of time to get the last of the grinds out.)
Breville BCG820BKSXL Smart Grinder
To maximize the potential of any brew, this programmed conical burr grinder has 60 different configuration options.
There are two ways to measure the amount of coffee you’re making: cups for French Press or Filter and espresso shots. A portafilter or an airtight container should be used to grind the coffee into.
A paper filter, an airtight container, or a gold-tone filter basket can all be used with the Smart Grinder Pro to ground your coffee.
The grind size, duration, and the single or double shots you’ve selected are all displayed on a clear and plain LCD screen.
Regardless of how fine or coarse you prefer your grounds, intelligent settings enable your grinder to achieve excellent results for any brew method.
Pros
- Very consistent grind size
- I was able to grind fine enough for Turkish coffee and coarse enough for French press without any problems.
- Excellent quality for the price point
Cons
- Can’t perform micro adjustments
- It did jam one time while we were testing it.
Eureka Mignon Notte Espresso Grinder
Eureka has a long history of producing high-quality, dependable home and commercial espresso grinders, and the Mignon brand is designed specifically for home use.
The Eureka Mignon Notte has a minimalist design that is elegant and has one of the smallest footprints among grinders of the same class.
The Mignon Notte has 50mm flat steel burrs, a stepless grind adjustment on the front of the grinder, and high-sensitivity burr adjustments that offer it superb control over espresso grinds.
The machine’s stepless micrometric regulating technology allows for practically unlimited grind adjustments, making it ideal for coffee connoisseurs with high standards. In addition, Eureka patented it, ensuring unrivaled setup precision, time, and coffee savings.
This grinder contains 50mm flat hardened steel burrs that rotate at 1350 rpm to ground your coffee to a fine fineness while preserving the aroma. You can dismantle the burrs in Eureka grinders without compromising your grind setting because of lower burr grind adjustments.
Pros
- Stepless grind settings give you a lot of leeway when it comes to fine-tuning your shot.
- It comes with a built-in timer.
- A machine that fits well on the counter and is easy to use.
- Aesthetic of simplicity and minimalism
Cons
- The hopper is made of fragile plastic.
- It takes some time to get used to the controls. Everything is done instinctively (i.e., trial and error). And, as much as I admire their hidden character, it does make them difficult to use at first.
Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder
This is an extremely low-retention flat burr grinder with a capacity of 1.3 grams, making it a unique unit.
Its hopper and neck design also helps to reduce popcorning by restricting the aperture to a small size, leaving little room for the beans to move about. Another interesting design aspect in the burr chamber that helps keep the grounds moving is that the entire lower burr platform revolves.
This creates angular momentum, which spins the grounds out toward the chamber’s edges, allowing them to be pushed out more effectively. It takes 12-14 seconds to grind a 20-gram dose, which is slightly longer than the Sette 270 but still outstanding.
Pros
- Small footprint and solid Italian design
- Noise level – while it does not have sound dampening, it is still remarkably quiet compared to other grinders I’ve tried.
Cons
- The construction of the hopper and portafilter holder isn’t as durable as I would like
- I have an issue with the mouth where the coffee comes out. If you are using your portafilter to hit the grind button, then the coffee grounds will pile up and spill over the back of the basket unless you stop and move the grounds around. This machine makes a dosing funnel necessary.
Factors To Consider Before Buying The Best Single Dose Espresso Grinder
These are some questions you should ask yourself to figure out which model is best for your needs and household.
It’s All In The Type Of Burrs You Decide To Purchase
Your grinder will be useless if the burrs are poorly engineered or constructed of substandard materials. If you buy a cheap grinder with low-quality burrs, you’ll end up with a poor cup of coffee.
What Are The Burrs Made Out Of
The burr material most heavily influences durability and lifespan. Hardened steel burrs are used in most professional-level grinders, although ceramic burrs are used in lower-end grinders.
There are more expensive solutions available, such as titanium burrs or nitrogen-cooled burrs. Because these materials are more durable, and they won’t affect the quality of the grind.
The Two Different Shapes Of Burrs
A lot of people argue over which style of burr is better: flat or conical. The space decides grind size between flat burrs arranged horizontally on top of one another or between conical burrs as they grind vertically.
To increase consistency, flat burrs have a simple design that makes them easy to line up. However, heavy use can cause them to overheat, but home users needn’t worry as this is only an issue with high-traffic commercial coffee shops.
A conical burr grinder may have a lower rpm because gravity is on its side, making it more difficult to keep the grind fresh. However, with less popping and a quieter operation, this means less popcorning.
What Size Are The Burrs
Lastly, let’s talk about the scale. As tempting as it may seem, it isn’t always the case that bigger is always better. A lot of the time, this isn’t true.
In a commercial kitchen, larger burrs allow for faster grinding, which is beneficial. However, the arrangement of the burrs has a far more prominent bearing on quality than the size does.
Will You Experience The Popcorn Effect
Some single-dose espresso grinders require the weight of a full hopper of beans to equally drive the beans through the burrs. As the hopper becomes empty, some beans will hit the burrs and bounce off. They’ll “pop” like popcorn when they leap up and down in the hopper.
What Brewing Methods Do You Practice
If you drink one sort of coffee every day, you’ll want to invest in a grinder that specializes in that grind size.
The grinders on this list, for example, specialize in espresso and drip coffee makers.
If you like French Press or Moka, there are grinders specifically designed for these types of drinks.
To be clear, any grinder can be used for any brewing process, but some will perform significantly better than others.
Dosing By Weight VS Dosing By Time
Your beans are measured out, added to the grinder, and ground until they’re the right consistency. This is how you use a single dosage grinder. However little you drink, the advantages are undeniable.
Weight-based dosing is the best way to go than time-based dosing in terms of preciseness. With no hopper, the design is more compact and eliminates stale beans.
If you drink a lot of different coffees, they’re an excellent option.
Stepped VS Step-Less Grind Adjustment
Because you require a high level of control to dial in espresso, most prosumer espresso grinders include step-less adjustment.
That isn’t to suggest that a stepped model can’t brew good espresso; nonetheless, you risk losing that ideal extraction between two settings. If you only brew espresso and switch coffees frequently, a step-less adjustment is the way to go.
On the other hand, a stepped grinder will make it easy to go from filter to espresso on a regular basis.
What Does Grind Retention Mean
There are two types of grind retention issues that might develop in a grinder. In either case, it’s not possible to get a consistent amount of beans or ground out of a given amount of beans and ground.
Stale grounds may also be found in the resulting mixture, although the weight is the same. A Prosumer coffee grinder with a limited retention capacity are the best for home usage since they consistently produce the best tasting cup of coffee.
Should You Buy A Single Doser
Not everyone can use a single dose. For example, if you have a large family and brew coffee several times a day, a full hopper is the ideal solution. It’s faster (but keep weighing your dose for consistency).
If you only make a cup or two of coffee per day, this method is ideal.
Single-dosing is your best friend if you like to try new coffee beans whenever you want.
Cafes like to use hopper coffee grinders for bulk beans for easy grinding. They may also use this method if they offer a rotating single origin or decaf coffee bean. It contributes substantially to the freshness of the beans, and this makes a huge difference with the flavor.
However, there are a few reasons why you would want one. First, they function by grinding coffee into a dosing chamber and then pulling a lever to dose it into the portafilter.
This is a simple, clean solution that solves issues regarding grind retention.
Because the doser only works when it’s full, you risk grinding too much and letting it get stale. Also, dosing grinders are more specialized since they are primarily used for espresso.
With improved grind retention, home users are choosing single dosing grinders over dosers.
Conclusion
Even though you are the only one who can decide which single-dose espresso grinder is best for your everyday use.
Our preferred single-dose coffee grinder is the Eureka Atom Espresso Grinder because it offers the best value for money and has all of the functionality you need in a dosing machine. In addition, this low-retention single-dose espresso grinder is trustworthy, durable, and incredibly functional.
Unfortunately, I am aware that it will not be within everyone’s financial means. This is why the Baratza Sette or the Breville comes highly recommended.
