Best Quiet Coffee Grinders 2024

Grinding coffee beans for a fresh pot of coffee for you and your family is the right way to go instead of using packaged coffee grounds that aren’t as fresh. But there’s always one thing that bothers most people when it comes to grinding coffee, the noise. You may often find yourself asking this question, “How do you grind coffee beans quietly?” While most grinders do make a lot of noise when grinding beans, there are some that get the job done efficiently without disturbing anyone at home.

There are multiple aspects of a coffee grinder to observe when determining its noise capacity. If it’s electric, then the size and type of motor would matter. But even the overall type you use, whether it’s a blade or burr-type grinder, electric or manual, what material the grinder is made of, all matter greatly when talking about noise levels. In this article, we’ll be delving into the aspects of a coffee grinder that cause the most noise, and be looking at some of the quietest grinders available at different price points.

Our Top Picks for the Best Quiet Coffee Grinders

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Why Is My Coffee Grinder So Loud?

If you have a loud grinder and are wondering what exactly could be causing this, then there are a few things to look into. First, are you using an electric or manual grinder? With electric grinders, the motors may vary, with some being able to grind faster and more quantities of beans than others but are in turn louder. If you use a manual one, then there is no motor involved and you will just have the noise of the beans being ground in the hopper.

Secondly, what quantity of beans do you grind per use? There will be a base amount of noise that you will have to accept if you’re grinding coffee. But, larger quantities at a time will prolong the noise for the grinder to give you your desired consistency of grounds.

Lastly, what kind of coffee grinder do you use? A burr or blade grinder? Steel blade grinders smash and chop up the beans in an erratic manner, which causes loud clattering sounds in the hopper along with its motor sound. But with burr grinders, especially ones with conical burrs, the coffee beans are very uniformly ground between 2 teethed burrs which sort of pull the beans down rather than flinging and banging them around the hopper as blade grinders do. This greatly reduces the level of sound while grinding.

How Many Decibels Is A Coffee Grinder?

When observing electric coffee grinders, the noise level usually varies due to the type of motor used in each model, and the thickness of the material used for each grinder. However, for electric burr coffee grinders, the loudness is normally around 76 decibels, equivalent to that of a vacuum cleaner. Burr coffee grinders are generally considered quieter than blade grinders due to their more precise and less-erratic grind action and the motors used.

There are a few available that are quieter, but this is often due to the materials used. More insulating materials will reduce the amount of sound. A thicker, more solid plastic build, will reduce the amount of sound coming out of the grinder while being used.

 

Are All Coffee Grinders Noisy? Best Types of Quiet Coffee Grinders

Manual Vs Electric Coffee Grinders

Manual coffee grinders are the quietest of the two. They do not come with motors, so, there is no buzzing or high-pitched motor noise while grinding. They do require quite a bit of work to grind beans, however, and can only grind small portions at a time, fit only for a few cups of coffee.

Judging manual and electric coffee grinders by convenience, electric grinders are more convenient and faster at grinding beans.

Are Burr Coffee Grinders Quieter?

Burr grinders are widely considered the quietest electric coffee grinders. But let’s delve a little deeper as to why this is. Blade grinders smash and chop up coffee beans using a fast rotating flat steel blade. The beans are smashed in a very uncontrolled manner, with the beans clattering all around the hopper which can be very loud.

With blade grinders, you cannot precisely control the consistency of the grounds, which is why they are mainly used for fine grounds for drip coffee. You can control the size of the grounds on most burr grinders, and grind large amounts at a time. Because of their standard fast grinding speed, blade grinders also tend to heat up quite often which can have a bad effect on the beans. They are usually not preferred among coffee connoisseurs due to the lack of control you have on grind size and a much louder motor.

Burr grinders use 2 teethed burrs, often made of ceramic or metal, to evenly grind them up to a particular consistency. There are 2 types of burr grinders: Flat burr and conical burr grinders. In a flat burr grinder, 2 flat burrs (1 movable, 1 immovable) grind the beans between each other. With conical burr grinders, a conical burr spins inside of an immovable ring burr (both with teeth) to shave the beans down to your desired consistency.

Conical burr grinders, in particular, are much less noise-inducing than any other type of grinder mainly due to the slow-moving burr action that doesn’t cause beans to be thrown around in the hopper, but instead pulled down and taken in by the burr as it spins. With flat burr grinders, they spin faster than conical burrs and produce more noise because of this. However, the motors of both are less noisy than blade grinders. If you want to go for a silent electric coffee grinder with versatility in grind control, then a conical burr grinder is the best way to go.

 

Best Quiet Manual Coffee Bean Grinder

JavaPresse Manual Coffee Bean Grinder

Lightweight and portable, the Javapresse manual grinder is a highly durable coffee grinder with a strong stainless steel body and patented dual plated conical ceramic burrs. With a sleek, cylindrical design ideal for travel, this grinder is one of the best quiet conical burr coffee grinders you can find largely due to its manual and compact design. It features an easy-to-use hand crank to grind the coffee beans. With a maximum capacity of around 40g of beans, the Javapresse can grind enough for about 1/3 of a 12-cup carafe or 3-4 cups of coffee. This may vary considering how strong one may like their coffee.

Featuring 18 adjustable grind settings, you can grind for drip coffee, espresso, and french press. Though there is no grind setting indicator for the type of grounds you want, the instruction manual explains in detail the number of clicks required for every consistency of coffee grounds it provides, from very fine to very coarse.

Pros:

• 18 adjustable grind settings for numerous consistencies.
• Highly durable material.
• Portable.
• Easy to disassemble when cleaning.

 
Cons:

• Resetting for a particular grind is difficult without an indicator.
• Requires a lot of grinding by hand.
• Can’t grind for more than 3-4 cups at a time.

 

Hario Ceramic Canister Coffee Grinder

Made in Japan, the Hario ceramic canister coffee grinder is shorter but wider than the Javapresse manual grinder and it can hold 120g of coffee. A unique feature of this grinder is that the canister comes with an airtight lid which can be put on after grinding, to store your coffee grounds for another time. It can be used to grind coffee for a variety of coffee drinks such as espresso, french press, and drip. Using ceramic burrs, the coffee is carefully shaved between the burrs, which can also be adjusted for different grind sizes from very fine to very coarse.

The handle, made of wood, gives you a good grip while grinding your coffee. Sturdily built, this grinder is very easy to disassemble for cleaning and can last you quite a while if cleaned routinely after every use. Overall, though it does require some effort grinding beans for multiple cups of coffee, this is a very quiet grinder to use if you don’t want to wake anyone up in the morning.

Pros:

• Airtight lid to store grounds in the canister.
• Wooden handle for better grip while grinding.
• Easy to disassemble for cleaning.

 
Cons:

• Requires time and effort to grind.
• Some have not found its design comfortable to hold down while grinding.

 

Best Quiet Electric Coffee Grinder Options

KRUPS Ultimate Super Silent 3 in 1 Blade Grinder

A multipurpose blade grinder, the KRUPS 3 in 1 grinder is a standout when it comes to blade grinders. Not only is it able to grind coffee beans, but it can also be used to grind herbs and spices.

Featuring 2 speed modes, the high-speed is ideal for grinding coffee beans, nuts, and hard spices, while the low-speed setting can be used for herbs. It also features a pulse and continuous grinding option. The grinder’s bowl comes with a lid, which makes it very convenient to grind and store coffee or other ingredients. The bowl and lid are also dishwasher safe.

Its highlight, however, is the patent-pending Silent Vortex Technology, which makes this the quietest blade grinder you can find, and one of the quietest electric coffee grinders on the market. It also comes with a powerful DC motor that increases the efficiency of its grind settings no matter what you’re grinding. A sleek, compact, cylindrical design allows you to comfortably grind enough coffee for 12 cups while also preventing a large amount of countertop space to be taken up.

Pros:

• Very versatile grinder.
• Quietest blade grinder.
• Doesn’t take up much countertop space.
• Grinder bowl comes with a lid for storage purposes.

 
Cons:

• The bowl’s lid is difficult to clean.

 

Baratza Virtuoso+ Conical Burr Grinder

A versatile and high-end coffee grinder, the Baratza Virtuoso+ comes with a modern and convenient design with numerous features. Coming with 40 grind settings, it can be used to grind coffee for every style of drink; fine enough for espresso, coarse enough for french press, and everything in between.

Using hardened alloy steel conical burrs, it is also a very quiet espresso grinder for those times when you want a specialty drink in the day without disturbing anyone. A digital timer display makes it convenient for when you want to set a particular grind time for a grind size.

A slow-speed, but powerful DC motor keeps the motor noise down to a minimum while the grinder is in use, but this does not in any way affect its efficiency in grinding. The speed of the burrs is intentionally slower than contemporary grinders, to keep the beans cool after grinding instead of having a fast motor’s heat affect the overall flavor of the beans. Though this may mean a longer grind time for your beans, there will barely be any noise that will pass into another room at home.

Pros:

• Versatile in grind options.
• Well-built and high durability.
• Very quiet grinder.
• Almost no problems with static were reported.

 
Cons:

• Will take time to get used to the settings.
• May be pricey for some.

 

Capresso 560 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

When it comes to efficient, versatile electric coffee grinders at a comfortable price range, the Capresso 560 Infinity grinder is one of the best you can find and also finds a place in our top picks for best value coffee grinders. It’s a very quiet grinder primarily due to its slow-moving, solid steel conical burrs and gear reduction motor. With 16 grind levels giving you a wide range of grounds from ultrafine to very coarse, this burr grinder is very efficient and precise at giving consistent grounds at every use.

Cleaning is also made easier due to the detachable upper burr (ring burr), so you can clean out the grinder of any bean residue. The hopper can take in a standard 8.8oz of beans at a time, while the removable grounds container can hold up to 4oz. A 60-second dial-based timer is also built-in to make grinding convenient and precise every time. Though it offers a very wide range of grind settings, many have claimed it doesn’t grind coarse enough for cold brew. Overall, this grinder can give you very well ground, flavorful coffee and has a small footprint, making it easy to find space on your countertop for it.

Pros:

• Silent coffee grinder.
• Easy to clean.
• Highly accurate grounds sizes at every grind setting.

 
Cons:

• Multiple claims of static build-up and messiness when removing the bean container after grinding.
• Timer is a weak build and often inaccurate.

 

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder

A very high-end coffee grinder, the KitchenAid burr grinder is a very versatile machine that can grind coffee fine enough for espressos to coarse enough for a cold brew. The whopping 70 grind settings are very easy and convenient to use as they are all labeled according to every coffee brew style.

The removable top hopper sends the required amount of beans down to the burrs as and when required depending on the chosen setting. If you have added excess beans, you can stop the grinder, remove the hopper, and add the excess beans back into your jar. The grind timer coordinates with the chosen grind setting for the perfect consistency of grounds.

A built-in adjustable portafilter holder, allowing for 54mm or 58mm portafilters, makes it convenient and easy to grind for espresso to be made immediately, and to be able to grind for specific, measured amounts. The metal conical burrs give precise and consistent grounds for all grind settings. It may be a little pricey for some, but looking at its digital display, automatic smart dose hopper, anti-static technology, wide grind settings, and low noise, the KitchenAid burr coffee grinder is well worth it.

This digital model is a step up from a non-digital KitchenAid Burr Grinder that is still available but very popular a few years ago

Pros:

• Versatile grind settings.
• Automatic smart dose hopper and timer coordination.
• Accurate and consistent grounds on all settings.
• Adjustable portafilter holder.
• No static build-up.

 
Cons:

• The coarse setting for French Press may not be coarse enough for some.

 

Breville Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder

Another high-end machine, this Breville Smart Grinder Pro offers 60 grind settings meant to produce the finest of grounds to the coarsest of grounds. An LCD screen clearly shows you the grind size, number of cups/shots, and grind time selected. This grinder also features smart dosing technology, which automatically coordinates with multiple settings to give you the perfect consistency for your chosen brew style.

Along with the machine also comes portafilter cradles, 50-54mm and a large 58mm cradle. A coffee grounds container with an airtight lid is also included with the grinder. Using stainless steel conical burrs, it is fairly easy to use and to clean, with many considering it much easier to take care of than other machines.

As for the noise, it is not the quietest grinder on this list but most customers say that it’s mostly a whirring sound than a ear-splitting rattle. Another concern is the suggested runtime for the grinder. It is recommended in the manual and by many users not to use for long periods and to be given a break after every 2 minutes of use. Using it for longer than the recommended time will cause over-heating and may cause a slight burnt plastic smell. Overall, this is a versatile, well-built grinder that can give precise coffee grounds for numerous coffee styles.

Pros:

• Smart dose technology.
• Portafilter cradles included.
• Versatile machine.

 
Cons:

• Not the quietest grinder on this list.
• Overheating issues after 2 minutes of constant use.

 

How to Make A Coffee Grinder Quieter

Grinders, in general, do have a certain amount of noise to bear with. But, the first way to prevent a large amount of noise when grinding in the mornings, is to choose the right grinder. Manual grinders are often cited as the quietest of grinders, primarily due to their motorless function. When it comes to electric grinders, conical burr grinders are not only very efficient at giving precise grounds, but are also the least noisy coffee electric grinders available.

There are other small tricks that might help you keep the noise down while grinding coffee in the mornings or any other time of day. You could try putting a thick towel or sound dampening mat under the grinder while being used. This will stop any excess vibration noise on your counter or table, and be more stable. There are mats manufactured particularly for soundproofing in such a case that you could purchase, or just use a towel or thick table mat. If your grinder didn’t already come with rubber stoppers or grommets at the bottom, then consider fitting some onto your grinder for better grip onto any surface and to reduce the vibration as an alternative to the mat.

Although keeping your kitchen door and windows closed would help a lot, another big way to reduce the sound of your grinder is to keep it away from reflective surfaces like walls. Keeping it in the center of your kitchen (a kitchen island, if possible) will greatly reduce the noise that carries into other parts of the house, especially if it’s a small kitchen.

Along with this, another great but slightly more taxing fix is the use of soundproofing panels around the walls of your kitchen, specifically with the use of acoustic foam panels. This will help in absorbing the sound and will heavily reduce reverberation. However, this may require a lot of effort. Instead, you could just place table mats on the counters, and carpets on the floors. This won’t help as much, but will definitely reduce reverberation.

Another method to reduce the sound of your grinder in a major way is to put it into a soundproof box whenever it is in use. A soundproof box can be made in multiple ways, but is quite tedious to do and may require you to purchase multiple materials. Instead, for an effective coffee grinder sound enclosure you can buy a set of acoustic foam panels and place them around the walls of your kitchen cabinet. Then, place the grinder inside to use. The noise will be nearly non-existent once the cabinet doors are closed. However, this method will depend on how large your grinder and cabinet are. Also, be sure not to use a grinder with overheating issues near such foam.

 

How To Choose The Best Quiet Coffee Grinder

There are specific aspects of a coffee grinder to keep in mind when looking for an efficient, but quiet coffee grinder. Here are some of those aspects:

Type of Grinder

Manual coffee grinders are the quietest grinders you can find and are far quieter than electric grinders. The only noise you will get from manual grinders is the sound of the blade or burrs grinding the beans. Electric coffee grinders are louder due to their motor and faster grind action which can cause vibration and further noise. So, if you want the quietest but less convenient grinder, then go for a manual burr grinder. However, there are some electric grinders that can be very quiet while getting the job done.

Blade or Burr-Type Grinder

When it comes to the consistency of coffee grounds and noise, a blade grinder is not recommended. Instead, always stick with burr grinders. Any kind of burr grinder will provide you with grade-A coffee grounds for multiple styles of coffee, and are much quieter than any blade grinder. Burrs are often considered more durable than blades on most machines and can grind beans precisely without needing a high-speed motor as every blade grinder requires. The action of the spinning burrs pulling down the beans rather than unevenly shattering them all around the hopper as a blade grinder does is another aspect that makes burr grinders quieter.

Type of Burr Grinder

Out of the 2 types of burr grinders, flat burrs and conical burrs, the latter stands out as the quietest and most frequently recommended for grinding coffee due to its greater durability than flat burrs. Flat burrs generally spin faster than conical burrs and produce more noise in the process. With conical burrs, you can make the tiniest of adjustments to get to your desired grind size. They are more precise in grinding beans than flat burrs due to their design (1 conical burr inside an immovable ringed burr), instead of a flat burr’s parallel ring design.

Type of Motor

This aspect only applies to electric coffee grinders. Nowadays, some grinders come with softer motors that can efficiently power the burrs, but also make it grind slower than others, making the overall process even quieter. Coffee grinders with gear reduction motors are precisely what you should go for if you want further peace while grinding.

 

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