2024 Espresso Grinder Market Comparison
The demand for commercial espresso grinders is booming . People are eager to open new cafes and share their love of coffee with their patrons. And as any real coffee enthusiast knows, your coffee grinder is one of your greatest assets, so making sure your coffee bar is outfitted with the right grinder for your cafe or coffee shop's needs is pivotal.
Is your cafe a medium or high volume cafe? Do you want to grind by time or grind by weight? Does grind speed matter to you? We’ve broken down some of the most highly sought after commercial grinders on the market for a side-by-side analysis of their features to help aid you in making the best decision for your cafe.
Medium-Volume Cafe - Grind by Time
Built for 1 shot cycle per minute at 2-3 grams per second, the HeyCafe Buddy grinder is a perfect accompaniment to any coffee cart, or as a secondary espresso grinder for decaf of single origin coffees. Optimized for low to medium volume use, the Buddy pairs well with more powerful grinders like the Mahlkonig E65S. Utilizing Buddy’s large 3.5” touch screen, the user is given control over two grind recipes plus an on-demand mode. Simply program your desired grind times for single and double shots and Buddy will do the rest. Its universal portafilter fork is compatible with any portafilter out there, and an intuitive stepless grind adjustment collar makes changing grind a breeze. At under $1k, the Buddy is packed with value and perfect for any low volume commercial applications.
- 3.5” touchscreen display with grind time programmability, notifications and statistics
- Two programmable recipes and an on-demand mode
- Stepless grind adjustment collar
- Universal portafilter fork
- 64mm steel burrs made in Germany
- Cast aluminum body for heat management
- 2.5-3g sec. grind speed
- Removable flapper for simple cleaning
Anfim Luna
One of our favorite features in the Luna is Anfim’s hallmark grind adjustment mechanism operated with a mechanical worm gear. This underrated design allows the grind size to be manipulated almost effortlessly with just two fingers, and with better precision than adjustable collars. The Luna’s prominent 3.5” touchscreen display makes programming your doses a breeze. The screen is responsive and quite large, allowing you to make quick adjustments on the fly. From the menu, the user has the ability to program up to 3 grind recipes for various dose sizes.
- Stepless worm-gear grind adjustment
- 65mm flat steel burrs
- 3.5" touchscreen
- 2.8g sec. output
- 4.4lb hopper
- Up to 3 grind-by-time programs
Mazzer Super Jolly V Up Timer
Mazzer's Super Jolly V Up Timer utilizes an analog kitchen-timer style switch that grinds for a minute or more in order to fill the dosing can full of ground coffee. This coffee can then be swept out into a portafilter, filling the basket in just 2 seconds. Pre-grinding coffee is a great way to improve efficiency without spending big bucks on a more powerful grinder.
- 64mm flat steel burrs (233M Standard Burrs) 20% faster than the original burrs
- Adjustable manual paddle doser dispenses pre-ground coffee at 5.5g-8g per pull
- Analog timer switch to activate grind and fill dosing chamber
- Stepless grind adjustment
- Fixed tamper allows barista to quickly pull up to compress grounds in portafilter
- 3-4 grams per second grind speed
- Optional magnetic tag holder to display current coffee
Mazzer Super Jolly V Up Electronic
Built on the same platform as the Super Jolly V Up Timer, the Electronic version adds grind-by-time capability for fresh grinding with repeatable accuracy. A microswitch located at the portafilter fork activates the selected grind program and allows the barista to walk away and perform another task while the grinder fills the basket. Also included is Mazzer's GFC clump crusher which helps maintain clump-free grounds for more even extractions.
- 64mm flat steel burrs (233M Standard Burrs) 20% faster than the original burrs
- Hands-free grinding with portafilter-activated micro-switch
- Stepless grind adjustment
- GFC clump crusher for more fluffy, low static grounds
- 2 programmable dose buttons with 1/100 sec. adjustment
- 3-4 grams per second grind speed
- Manual pause function in case grind cycle is interrupted
- Magnetic tag holder to display current coffee
- Total dose counter
Mazzer Super Jolly V Pro
Finishing out our Super Jolly lineup is the V Pro, essentially a V Up Electronic with some added bonus features including daily grinding stats to track volume and burr wear, an extra programmable dose, a moveable zero reference on the collar, dual internal cooling fans and a totally different lift-to-clean grind chamber that does away with the threaded collar. What's more, the collar snaps back into place and requires no recalibration to get your previous grind settings back!
- 64mm flat steel burrs (233M Standard Burrs) 20% faster than the original burrs
- Easy lift-to-clean grind chamber
- Stepless grind adjustment
- Stepless grind adjustment collar
- Increased grind range
- GFC clump crusher for more fluffy, low static grounds
- 3-4 grams per second grind speed
- Dual internal fans for cooling
- IoT connectivity for stats tracking
- Moveable zero reference
- 3 programmable dose buttons with 1/100 sec. adjustment
- Programmable pause function in case grind cycle is interrupted
- Daily grinding statistics to track volume and burr wear
- Magnetic tag holder to display current coffee
Mazzer Major V
Mazzer has been a commercial grinder contender for decades, producing quality machines and offering up impressive grind consistency. The Major V is equipped with massive 83mm flat burrs that spin at 1600 RPMs making for a fairly quick output of 3.5-4 grams per second. It boasts a large display that allows the user to set 3 preset dosing times in addition to dozens of other features.
- 83mm Flat Burrs
- Fast Output
- Stepless Dial Adjustment
- Adjustable Portafilter Forks
- Dual Fan Cooling System
- Programmable Service Alerts
- Grind Flow Control
- Grind Time Adjustable by 1/100 Second
- Time & Date Feature
Mahlkonig E65S
The E65S boasts all there was to love about the K30 while making some great upgrades. It has a smaller footprint, a lightweight body and build, and an intuitive digital display. It is the fastest of the grinders we’ve highlighted, grinding 4-5 grams per second. It boasts a nearly seamless user experience thanks to its intuitive display, 8 programmable grind profiles, and quiet grinding under 70 decibels.
- Fast, quiet grinding for espresso
- Compact footprint
- Grind speed - about 4-5 g/sec
- Custom grind programs - set up to 8 profiles with 0.1 s resolution
- Bright digital display with control knob
- 65 mm flat steel burrs
- 1200 g/2.6 lb hopper
- Removable spout makes cleaning easier
- New declumper for fluffy and centered mound of grinds
High-Volume Cafe - Grind by Time
Mazzer Kony S
The Kony S is equipped with many of the same features as the Major V but is equipped with 63mm conical burrs that rotate at only 420 RPMs. The slow speed, in addition to its dual cooling fan, keeps the grinder from overheating and impacting the grind consistency, meaning you can grind for back-to-back shots with little worry. However, the Kony S is a very large grinder that takes up a lot of space and can be difficult to move.
- 63mm Conical Burrs
- A fast output
- Stepless Dial Adjustment
- Bluetooth compatible
- Dual Fan Cooling System
- Programmable Service Alerts
- Grind Flow Control
- Grind Time Adjustable by 1/100 Second
- Time & Date Feature
Mazzer Robur S
The Mazzer Robur S is another great high-volume contender from Mazzer. It is outfitted with massive 71mm conical burrs, spinning at 420 RPM, and grinding an 18 gram shot of espresso in 3.5 seconds! It’s ideal for high-volume cafes and always ready for the daily rush thanks to its dual-fan cooling system. Like the other S series Mazzer grinders, it’s equipped with a large display, Grind Flow Control System for low retention and static, and programmable grind time down to 1/100th of a second.
- 63mm Conical Burrs
- Fast output
- Stepless Dial Adjustment
- Bluetooth compatible
- Dual Fan Cooling System
- Programmable Service Alerts
- Grind Flow Control
- Grind Time Adjustable by 1/100 Second
- Time & Date Feature
Mahlkonig E80 Supreme
The E80 Supreme is one of the fastest grinders in its class, grinding an astounding 6-7 grams per second, meaning you can grind 18 grams for espresso in 3 seconds. In addition to crazy-fast grinding, it has limitless duty cycle for even the world's busiest cafes. It’s equipped with two fans that regulate the temperature of the grind chamber so it never overheats and messes with your grind size.
- Quiet operation and ultra-fast grinding speeds around 6 to 7 grams per second
- Active internal cooling system that maintains low grinding temperatures
- Disc Distance Detection that tells you how far apart your burrs are to the 0.001 millimeter for improved grind setting consistency
- Adjustable illuminated grinds chute for center-distributed doses
- Bright 3.5" high-resolution display with fast, intuitive controls
- Limitless duty cycle for the world's busiest cafes
- Precision dosing to within 0.1g
- Supersized 80 mm flat steel burrs
Anfim Alba Espresso Grinder
Anfim’s Alba Commercial Espresso Grinder features a proprietary, Italian-made 80mm flat steel burr set capable of producing a medium to high output, around 6.4 grams per second. This allows the Alba to grind for an 18g doubleshot in approximately 3 seconds or less. The Alba is also outfitted with our favorite grind adjustment -- a stepless worm gear. This allows the user to change grind effortlessly with two fingers and with greater precision that collar adjustment systems. Its 3.5" screen is responsive and quite large, allowing the barista to make quick adjustments on the fly. From the menu, the user has the ability to program up to 3 grind recipes for various dose sizes.
- Stepless worm-gear grind adjustment
- 80mm flat steel burrs
- 3.5" touchscreen
- 6.4g sec. output
- 4.4lb hopper
- Up to 3 grind-by-time programs
Grind by Weight
Mythos II Gravimetric has all of the same features as the Mythos II Pure, but with exciting extras — specifically the variable RPM and Grind by Weight technology. The Gravimetric will weigh your portafilter, tare it, and dose your programmed dose amount directly into your basket, making it nearly full proof. One setback of the GbW technology in the Mythos is the extended tare time that takes about 5-6 seconds and will slow down your workflow.
- 85 mm TiN coated flat burrs
- Micrometric grind adjustment
- Clima Pro 2.0 temperature control system
- Integrated grind-by-weight
- Variable motor RPM
- 2 kg hopper
- Improved clump crusher and delivery spout
- Touchscreen control panel
- 6 stored coffee profiles with 3 dose settings each
Mahlkonig E65S & E80S S GbW
Here we have the Mahlkonig E65S GbW and E80S GbW. These grinders are almost identical to their Grind by Time counterparts, but with incorporated GbW technology. It can detect, weigh, tare, and grind into your portafilter in a matter of seconds. Additionally, the E65S GbW is also equipped with Disc Distance Detection, Adjustable Illuminated Grind Chute and Portafilter Detection like you find in both E80 models
- Disc Distance Detection
- Adjustable illuminated grind chute
- Portafilter detection
- Fast & Quiet Output
- 88.3mm (3.5") High-Resolution Display
- Stepless Dial Adjustment
Mahlkonig E80W Grind-by-Sync
Built on the platform of the E80S GbW, the Mahlkonig E80W GBS (Grind-by-Sync) grinder represents a significant leap forward in espresso grinding technology, integrating precision weight-based dosing capabilities with intelligent synchronization and automated grind adjustment. This innovation not only ensures near-perfect dose accuracy, but also removes the burden of dialing in grind size from the barista completely.
- Stepless grind adjustment collar
- 6-7g per second output
- Synchronizes With Select La Marzocco ABR Espresso Machines
- Grind-by-weight technology
- Active Internal Cooling System
- 3.5" display
- Illuminated chute
- 3.5" display
If you’re interested in learning more about Mahlkonig grinders. be sure to check out our Mahlkonig page. If you’re interested in additional resources on opening and running a cafe or would like to join in on the conversations about opening and running a coffee shop with other industry professionals, you can join the Prima Coffee Community Industry Pro space!
