For coffee enthusiasts, the Chemex is more than a brewer; it’s a statement of elegance and a commitment to flavor. This iconic pour-over method, however, demands one crucial element for success: a consistent, medium-coarse grind. The wrong grinder can lead to uneven extraction, resulting in a cup that is either sour and under-extracted or bitter and over-extracted. Your entire brewing process hinges on this first, critical step.
Choosing the perfect grinder for your Chemex is about finding the right balance of precision, convenience, and value. With options ranging from sleek electric burr grinders to precise manual hand mills, there is a perfect match for every kitchen counter and brewing ritual. This roundup examines the top contenders for 2025, highlighting the key features that make each one a worthy companion for your Chemex brewing journey.
The Best Grinders for Chemex Brewing in 2025
- Electric Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, Adjustable Burr Mill
- Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder ZCG485BLK, Black
- OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder – Silver
- Fellow Ode Brew Grinder – Burr Coffee Grinder
- Coffee Grinder Automatic with 31 Grind Settings
- Mr. Coffee Burr Coffee Grinder Automatic Grinder
- Breville BCG820BSS Smart Grinder Pro
- TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 Max Manual Coffee Grinder
- OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder with Integrated Scale
Electric Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, Adjustable Burr Mill
This electric burr grinder combines a simple, one-button design with the precision needed for Chemex brewing. Its professional-grade stainless steel conical burrs are engineered to preserve the beans’ essential oils, which is vital for capturing the nuanced flavors in a pour-over. The automatic shut-off feature adds a layer of convenience, ensuring the grinder stops once the process is complete.
With 19 precise grind settings, you have ample flexibility to dial in the perfect medium-coarse texture for your Chemex. The 7-ounce bean capacity is well-suited for brewing multiple cups, making it a practical choice for daily use. Its straightforward operation makes it an excellent entry point for those new to specialty coffee.
Baratza Encore Coffee Grinder
The Baratza Encore is a consistent favorite among home brewers and is often recommended by coffee professionals. Its reputation is built on reliability and exceptional grind consistency for its category. The small footprint is ideal for kitchens with limited counter space, and the user-friendly controls make the grinding process effortless.
This grinder is specifically calibrated to perform excellently for drip and pour-over methods like the Chemex. The conical burrs produce uniform grounds that promote an even extraction, which is the key to a clean and flavorful brew. Baratza is also known for its outstanding customer support and readily available replacement parts, making the Encore a long-term investment.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
OXO’s grinder focuses on smart convenience with its one-touch start feature that remembers your last used setting. This is perfect for a Chemex routine, as you can quickly get the same grind every morning without any guesswork. The stainless steel conical burrs are designed to create uniform grounds, which helps achieve a balanced and rich flavor profile in your coffee.
With 15 primary grind settings plus micro-adjustments, you have fine control over the coarseness to perfectly match your Chemex recipe and coffee beans. The design is intuitive, making it easy to use and clean. It strikes a strong balance between user-friendly features and the performance required for a quality pour-over.
Fellow Ode Brew Grinder
The Fellow Ode is a grinder built specifically for brew methods like the Chemex, prioritizing a quiet operation and a compact, modern design. Its professional-grade 64mm flat burrs are capable of delivering a very consistent grind, which is paramount for a clear and nuanced pour-over cup. The single-dose hopper encourages grinding beans immediately before brewing for maximum freshness.
With 11 settings and 31 total steps, the Ode provides a wide range of adjustments to hone in on your ideal Chemex grind. It is not designed for espresso, which means its engineering is fully focused on perfecting drip, pour-over, and French press coffee. For those who value design and specialized performance, the Ode is a top-tier choice.
Automatic Coffee Grinder with 31 Grind Settings
This grinder offers a high level of customization with its 31 different grinding settings, allowing you to precisely target the medium-coarse range ideal for Chemex. The durable stainless steel conical burrs are designed to minimize heat during grinding, which protects the delicate flavors and aromas of your coffee beans from being compromised.
The one-touch digital timer remembers your last setting, streamlining your morning routine. With a capacity of up to 18 cups, it is well-suited for brewing for a group or for those who prefer to make larger batches of coffee. It represents a feature-rich option for those seeking granular control over their grind size.
Mr. Coffee Burr Coffee Grinder Automatic Grinder
Mr. Coffee provides an accessible and fully automatic entry into burr grinding. The flat burr plates are designed to create a uniform grind size, which is a significant step up from blade grinders and contributes to a more consistent extraction in your Chemex. The hands-free operation makes the process simple and convenient.
With 18 preset grind-size settings, you can easily find a suitable coarse option for pour-over brewing. The 18-cup capacity is one of the largest on this list, making it a practical choice for households or offices that regularly brew larger quantities of coffee. It offers essential burr grinder performance at a very approachable point.
Breville Smart Grinder Pro
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is for the home barista who values precision and programmability. It features an impressive 60 grind settings, giving you unparalleled control to fine-tune your Chemex grind. The Dosing IQ technology allows you to program the grind time in 0.2-second increments, ensuring you get the exact amount of coffee you need every time.
This grinder is versatile, allowing you to grind directly into a portafilter, an airtight container, or your Chemex’s paper filter. Its robust build quality and advanced features make it a grinder that can grow with your coffee journey, handling everything from espresso to coarse French press grinds with consistency.
TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 Max Manual Coffee Grinder
For those who prefer a hands-on approach or need a portable solution, the TIMEMORE Chestnut C3 Max is an outstanding manual grinder. Its CNC-machined stainless steel conical burrs and double bearing positioning create a remarkably uniform grind that rivals many electric models. The grinding process is efficient and relatively quick for a hand grinder.
With approximately 36 adjustable steps, you can dial in the perfect coarseness for Chemex. The 30g capacity is sufficient for a large brew, and the compact, durable design is built to last. Using a manual grinder offers a quiet, meditative start to the brewing ritual and provides excellent consistency without the need for electricity.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder with Integrated Scale
This OXO grinder takes convenience to the next level by integrating a built-in scale directly into the grinding platform. This feature allows you to grind by weight rather than time, which is a more accurate and repeatable method for perfecting your Chemex recipe. You can dose your beans directly into the grinder and have the grounds dispensed onto the scale, all in one seamless workflow.
By combining two essential tools, it saves counter space and simplifies the brewing process. The grinder retains the quality conical burrs and customizable settings of other OXO models, ensuring a consistent grind. This all-in-one solution is ideal for brewers who prioritize precision and efficiency in their daily routine.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Grinder for Chemex Brewing in 2025
Choosing the right grinder for your Chemex is arguably more important than the brewer itself. I learned this the hard way after struggling with inconsistent brews for months. The Chemex requires a specific, coarse grind that is often described as resembling sea salt. Getting this consistently wrong will lead to coffee that is either sour and weak or bitter and over-extracted. So, let’s talk about what actually matters when you’re picking out a grinder for this beautiful piece of glassware.
First and foremost, you need to look at the burr type. I strongly recommend a burr grinder over a blade grinder. Blade grinders chop the beans randomly, creating a mix of fine dust and large boulders. This unevenness will clog your Chemex filter and make a muddy, unbalanced cup. Burr grinders, on the other hand, crush the beans between two surfaces to a uniform size. You have two main choices: flat burrs and conical burrs. Conical burrs are generally great for home use—they’re a bit more forgiving, produce less heat, and are often quieter. Flat burrs can offer incredible precision and are fantastic for clarity, which the Chemex already excels at. For most people, a good quality conical burr grinder is the sweet spot.
Next, consider the grind consistency. This is the whole point of a burr grinder. You want a machine that can produce a uniform coarse grind without a lot of “fines” (those tiny, dusty particles). Fines are the enemy of a clean Chemex brew because they get stuck in the thick filter and slow down the drawdown time. When you’re reading reviews for the best grinders for Chemex brewing in 2025, pay close attention to what people say about the presence of fines at coarser settings. A grinder that performs well at espresso settings might struggle at the coarser end of the spectrum.
Finally, think about your workflow and budget. Manual grinders are a fantastic option. They are quiet, portable, and often offer incredible quality for the price. They require a bit of elbow grease, but I find the ritual quite peaceful. Electric grinders are about convenience and speed, especially if you’re making coffee for multiple people every morning. Your budget will likely be the final deciding factor. It’s better to spend a bit more on a quality grinder than to upgrade your coffee machine first. A great grinder with average beans will almost always taste better than average grinder with the most expensive beans you can find. Focus on a machine known for its consistency and build quality, and your Chemex will reward you with a brilliantly clean and flavorful cup every time.
FAQ
Why can’t I use a pre-ground coffee or a blade grinder for my Chemex?
You technically can, but you won’t get the best results. Pre-ground coffee is usually ground for automatic drip machines, which is often too fine for a Chemex. This leads to a very slow brew and a bitter, over-extracted cup. A blade grinder creates an inconsistent mix of large chunks and fine powder. The fines will clog the Chemex filter, while the large chunks won’t extract properly, giving you a simultaneously bitter and sour brew. A proper burr grinder is non-negotiable for a good Chemex experience.
What is the ideal grind size for Chemex brewing?
The ideal grind size for a Chemex is coarser than what you’d use for a regular drip machine. A common visual reference is rough sea salt. The grounds should feel a bit gritty, not powdery like sand. If your brew finishes too quickly (under 3:30 for a standard recipe), your grind is too coarse and the coffee will taste weak. If it takes too long (over 5:30), your grind is too fine and it will taste bitter. This is why an adjustable grinder is so important—you can dial it in perfectly.
Is a manual or electric grinder better for Chemex?
This comes down to personal preference and budget. A high-quality manual grinder often provides better grind consistency for the price compared to an electric grinder in the same cost range. I love my manual grinder for the quiet, hands-on process. However, if you brew large batches or simply value convenience in the morning, an electric grinder is the way to go. There are excellent electric options available in 2025 that are specifically tuned for pour-over and Chemex brewing styles.
How important is it to have a grinder with a wide range of settings?
It’s very important, but not for the reason you might think. You don’t need hundreds of tiny clicks for Chemex. What you need is a grinder that performs well and consistently at the medium-coarse to coarse settings. Some grinders are designed for espresso and have their “sweet spot” at fine settings, becoming inconsistent when adjusted for coarse Chemex grinds. When looking at the best grinders for Chemex brewing in 2025, prioritize models praised for their performance in the pour-over range over the total number of settings.
Do I need to spend a lot of money on a grinder for Chemex?
You need to spend enough to get a quality burr grinder. There’s a significant jump in quality from a $30 blade grinder to a $100-$150 manual burr grinder. That investment will make a bigger difference in your cup than any other piece of gear. While you can spend $500+ on a fantastic electric grinder, you don’t have to. A solid mid-range manual or entry-level electric grinder will serve you perfectly and last for years, making it a worthwhile investment for any coffee enthusiast.