KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder Review

Posted on August 9, 2024 by darion

If you’re looking for the best coffee grinder, KitchenAid might not be the first brand you consider. Coffee-specific brands like Baratza, Eureka, and Fellow are popular among enthusiasts because they provide an even grind that can be used to make a variety of coffee drinks, but the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder is one of the best options I’ve tested.

One of the coolest features of this coffee grinder is the LED display, which is very user-friendly and perfect for beginners. I tested the KitchenAid burr grinder in the Tom’s Guide Test Kitchen, testing its capabilities at different grind sizes and volumes. I can safely say that at $179, this is one of the best electric burr coffee grinders I’ve ever used. Here’s what it looked like.

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder: Specs

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Price	179 PLN
Size	15.0 x 5.0 x 8.3 inches
Libra	6 pounds
Grind settings	70
Beverage options	French press, espresso, drip coffee, V60
Capacity	340g beans
Material	Conical stainless steel burrs, plastic housing

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder: Price and Availability

You can buy the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder direct from KitchenAid for $179, but it’s also available from Williams Sonoma and Amazon. In the UK, you can buy it from Amazon and KitchenAid.

It is available in grey, red, matte black or onyx black. All of these colours match the KitchenAid Artisan coffee maker, which is designed to sit next to the KitchenAid grinder.

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder Review: Design

KitchenAid Coffee Grinder Settings

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

The KitchenAid Burr coffee grinder is designed to be very user-friendly, with a top handle that can be turned to adjust to one of 70 adjustments, which are divided between four section guides depending on the coffee being prepared. On the left is the largest grind size, perfect for French press coffee. Next is the percolator mode, then the drip coffee setting and finally the espresso grind size.

It’s very difficult for a coffee grinder to do all of these things well. You need the finest grind to get really high-quality espresso, which often requires a special grinder. It’s not perfect, as I’ll mention later, but the KitchenAid does a good job as a general-purpose coffee grinder that makes decent espresso but also achieves a consistent grind size for French press coffee.

LED Panel in KitchenAid Coffee Grinder

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

As you switch between settings, the LED display panel adjusts accordingly. There’s a display that shows the grind size as well as the grind time setting, and depending on the setting, you can use the right knob to switch between one or two shots of espresso or up to 12 cups of other pre-set modes.

There’s a tight seal between the dispenser and the grounds container lid, supported by a spring-loaded base, meaning there’s no spillage while grinding. And when you’re done, you can close the grounds container lid to maintain a tight seal and prevent your grounds from losing their freshness.

Minimal static electricity after sanding

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder Review: Performance

When testing coffee grinders, I make sure to test them at different grind sizes to identify strengths and weaknesses. I also test the noise level, because coffee grinders can make a lot of noise, but the noise can be either quite satisfying or quite unpleasant. Not only is the KitchenAid on the quiet end of the scale, measuring just 80 dB compared to the Cuisinart’s 86 dB, but it also produces a very pleasant, low, humming sound as opposed to the higher, more whiny sound quality I would associate with a cheaper grinder.

Front view of KitchenAid coffee grinder

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

Another plus is that I noticed almost no friction in any of the tests, which means the friction level was lower compared to the OXO and Bodum grinders that I tested on the same day.

Popcorning was minimal, but I did notice that the bean retention was moderate compared to models like the Fellow Ode and Breville Dose Control Pro. This means you have to be careful if you’re dosing very specific amounts of beans, but since the grinder stops after a set time or cup measurement, this shouldn’t cause too many issues.

A plate of ground espresso with a few lumps

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

I started by grinding espresso beans. I expected this grinder to work better for drip coffee and a drip coffee maker, so I set it to the finest grind.

Initially, I was impressed with the consistency of the ground coffee, because when you grind it so finely, you can often get a muddy consistency that essentially turns the beans into dust. In most cases, the KitchenAid didn’t do this, but when I poured the ground coffee out of the container onto a plate to examine it more closely, I noticed quite a few clumps. If I had used the included filter holder and dosed directly into it, this would have been less noticeable, but it could have affected the flow of my espresso, preventing the water from evenly permeating my coffee puck.

A plate of coffee grounds next to a KitchenAid coffee grinder

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

Then I changed the setting to the middle, for drip coffee. This was the best of the bunch—when I pushed it through the Kruve sieve, the result was an impressively consistent layer of medium-sized grounds. My coffee had a mild flavor, with a few lighter notes that I would expect from a more expensive flat-burr grinder.

In a machine like this, with such a wide range of grind settings, you might expect some inconsistency when choosing which French press setting to use. However, while there were a few random large, broken pieces at the top when I sifted through, it was much less of an issue than I expected, given how well the machine handled the espresso grounds.

Three plates of ground coffee in front of a KitchenAid coffee grinder

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

How does it compare to other KitchenAid burr grinders?

I’ve tested at least a dozen coffee grinders over the years, and the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder is one of the best. I have the $345 Fellow Gen 2 Ode grinder at home, which I like for its sturdy, streamlined design and consistent consistency. But considering the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder is half the price of the Ode, it’s a really good alternative that offers more interactivity for beginners or those who want to get technical with grinding coffee.

The tests we took part in before ranking the best coffee grinders

(Photo credit: Future / Millie Fender)

If you’re looking for a great-looking grinder, another option might be the $300 Smeg coffee grinder. I also tested this option alongside the KitchenAid grinder, and while I’d go with the KitchenAid for its impressive results, the Smeg also makes a nice noise and is easy to use with a start/stop button and a front knob that lets you change the grind.

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder Review: The Verdict

The KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder offers exceptional value for money, thanks to its user-friendly design and impressively consistent results across 70 grind sizes. I found some clumping at the finest setting and a few larger splinters when grinding for the French press, but that’s to be expected when the grinder tries to grind such a wide range of brews.

What really sets this coffee grinder apart is the drip coffee settings, which really helped bring out the lighter notes in my beans without being too acidic. Adjusting them is easy, and you can also switch the grind time depending on how much coffee you want to make. The spring-loaded base and leak-proof grounds container also make it a good machine for bulk grinding. It’s larger than most, and there are cheaper options on the market, but for the price, you won’t find many coffee grinders that are more efficient than the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder.