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We are here again to talk about coffee grinders!
So you already know about our top picks of best coffee grinders under $300. If you have not read these articles yet, you can easily find them out on our site.
And now it’s time for us to jump into knowing the best coffee grinder under $500. You might not know this, but these grinders are a better choice than the lower-end models if you are a fan of coffee. The reason lies in the fact that the models in this price range can not only deliver a more incredible taste and pleasant aroma but also operate smoothly and work for a longer time.
You will not feel annoyed about some problems that other affordable models cause. Meanwhile, the price tag is not too high for a home appliance. Therefore, if you do not have a tight budget, an investment in this price range is entirely worthwhile.
But before getting into knowing what they are, let’s take a look at our helpful buying guide right below first.
Table Of Contents
What To Look For When Buying The Best Coffee Grinder Under $500
Each type of coffee grinders, of course, has differences. Thereby, when you are confused in a comparison of grinders, the following factors will somehow figure out your issue.
Capacity
You might not know this, but almost grinders feature a specific volume of coffee that they are able to hold for each grinding time you do. If you are fans of coffee, you could know that freshly-ground coffee is always the best. Thereby, capacity seems not to be an extremely critical key for some when considering buying a coffee grinder.
In case you just grind coffee sometimes for you and several people, you do not need to purchase a grinder with big hopper capacity. However, this feature will be a significant criterion that you have to consider when making coffee is your regular job. Big capacity will allow you to save much time from refilling the machine frequently with beans.
Dosing
We know it is hard to decide whether a doser grinder or a doser-free grinder is a better choice. However, you should get the following point. A grinder with a doser can distribute coffee into smaller chambers. Thereby, you can get an exact and consistent dose. Nevertheless, it can make coffee stuck there, which leads to freshness loss.
In contrast, a doser-free grinder dispenses coffee grounds more directly. That’s why you can get fresher coffee, but slightly more messy to tidy afterwards.
Settings
It is common sense that different types of coffee demand different grounds. With that being said, you will have to buy a multiple-setting grinder in case you want to enjoy various kinds of coffee.
Speed and Build Quality
These factors play a crucial role in choosing the best coffee grinders under $500. The reason lies in the fact that many affordable coffee grinders cannot meet the requirements of the speed and build quality. Only grinders in the higher-end segment like under $500 could offer both ideal speed and high-quality build.
In short, gathering the information about the speed and build quality can allow you to figure out whether the price of any grinder is worth their quality and whether that grinder can last for a long time or not.
Top 3 Best Coffee Grinder Under $500 Of 2024
| Coffee Grinders Under $500 | Volts | Power | Bean Container | Coffee Container | Settings | Dimensions | Weight | Editor’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky | 110V | 166W | 0.65 lbs | - | 40 | 9.8 x 4.7 x 13.8" | 15.4 lbs | 4.3/5 |
 Baratza Virtuoso | 110V | 100W 450 RPM | 10 Oz | 5 Oz | 40 | 4.7 x 6.3 x 13.8" | 7.15 lbs | 4.1/5 |
 Baratza Sette 270 | 120V | 200W | 10 Oz | 5.5 Oz | 270 | 5.1 x 9.4 x 15" | 7.05 lbs | 4.2/5 |
1 – Rancilio HSD-ROC-SD Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
The title of the best burr coffee grinder under $500 on our list belongs to the Rancilio Rocky. It is not a surprise when this product is named here.
Why? It is because this grinder is considered as a right go-to grinder for every coffee aficionado.
This coffee grinder comes with 50mm commercial-grade burrs, coupled with a blueish chute, which can dispense ground coffee into the portafilter directly. Thereby, you can rest assured that there will be no grind or beans getting stuck in the mechanism.
Besides, the grinder can grind up to 7.7 lbs per hour, so that it can surely keep up with your demands.
On top of that, the machine features a monster 160V motor with direct-drive, which gives you much power at 1725 RPMs. It’s safe to say this machine is a heavy-duty coffee grinder. You can grind beans to an ultra-fine powder or coarse grind in just a few seconds.
Moreover, we are also impressed with its 40 grind settings. That means it offers an exclusive range of brewing methods for users from the finest Espresso to coarse French Press grind.
Up next, the coffee grinder features a hopper capacity of 0.65lbs. It is quite roomy for you to store beans per each grinding process.
That said, this coffee grinder seems not to be perfect at all. We find that its adjustments are stiff and it’s quite difficult to reduce to a finer grind. You will need to press two buttons and rotate the top.
Pros
- 50mm commercial-grade burrs
- Can grind 7.7lbs per hour
- Powerful 160V motor spinning at 1725 RPMs
- 40 grind settings
- 0.65lbs capacity
Cons
- Stiff adjustment
2 – Baratza Virtuoso Coffee Grinder
The Baratza Virtuoso grinder makes its way to become the second choice on our list. When it comes to its design, this model features a quite pleasingly-rounded appearance. We would say it is “organic”; even its hopper comes with a rounded look. Also, we take a short look at this grinder and find that it is a combination of hard black plastic and steel.
Regarding its performance, this grinder is equipped with 40mm conical steel burrs that can control your bean grinding effortlessly. The highlight of this burrset is that it uses a precision mounting mechanism to enhance accuracy. Thanks to that, the grinder can deliver a more consistent and smoother grind.
Plus, the consistency and smooth grind of the Virtuoso is also attributable to a DC motor, coupled with Gearbox 2.0 tech that reduces the RPMs to 450.
Up next, the machine comes with 10 oz hopper capacity. We know it’s a bit small in comparison with other models in the same segment. But it still can meet almost your demand for serving.
However, this is not the one for Espresso aficionados as the finest setting is still too coarse. Also, it makes a bit of noise during the process. If these issues do not matter to you, you could take this option into consideration.
Pros
- 40 mm conical steel burrs
- Consistent and smoother grind
- Gearbox 2.0 to lower the RPMs to 450
Cons
- Not ideal for Espresso
- Noisy
3 – Baratza Sette 270 Coffee Grinder
The last grinder under $500 that impressed us is the Baratza Sette 270 grinder. The top highlight of this machine is its three programmable dosing buttons. It can offer more proper and consistent dosing to one-tenth of a second. Thanks to that, you can save three different doses for various uses.
Plus, its dual dosing options can allow you to grind beans into a ground bin or portafilter directly. As this machine comes with an in-built convertible device holder so that you can change between a grounds bin or a portafilter conveniently.
On top of that, we would say it is the best Espresso grinder under $500 as it can deliver a perfect ultra-fine grind. Besides, the grinder is equipped with 270 grind settings with macro/micro mechanism. This figure is obviously much higher than many models on the market. Now you can have opportunities to explore many brew methods like Aeropress, Hario V60, Chemex, and so on.
Admittedly, we had to say “WOW” when knowing this. Well, it seems that with this feature, this grinder is definitely value for your buck.
Furthermore, what we also like about this Baratza Sette 270 is its radically-redesigned gearbox and burrs. That’s why it can grind at a high speed of up to 5g per second with minimal coffee retention.
Granted that it comes with many impressive features, it has some drawbacks that need improving. For instance, it is so noisy that it can wake up other people during the grinding process.
Also, we find it a bit not ideal for making French Press. You can brew a muddy and gritty cup, which is quite challenging to press via the screen. If you are a fan of French Press, you should consider other options.
Pros
- Grinding time settings within 0.1 second
- 270 grind settings
- High-speed grinding of 5g per second
- Minimal retention
Cons
- Noisy
- Not great for French Press
Final Thoughts
That’s all about what we want to share about the best coffee grinder under $500. You can see that every grinder in this segment has its pros and cons. Therefore, based on your preference and demand, you could choose for yourself the most suitable grinder. In case you have been still confused about the options, you can quickly go for our top pick – the Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder for its incredible motor, consistency, settings and hopper capacity.
But it’s just our recommendations. It would be better if you can make your own decision. We hope you will have the right choice and the best experience with it.
Thank you for reading!
