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Best coffee grinder for French press: coarse grind picks 2026

French press coffee grinders are evaluated by coarse grind capability, grind settings, consistency and price.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated 4 picks


The short answer

Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder at $170 is the best coffee grinder for French press: setting 28 to 32 on its 40-step scale produces a consistent coarse grind that reduces sediment in French press brewing and the 8 oz hopper holds enough beans for multiple presses.

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Quick picks

How we chose

French press coffee grinders are evaluated by coarse grind range, particle size consistency, grind settings available and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed
01
Best budget grinder for French press
Cuisinart Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

Brand: Cuisinart

Best for

French press coffee drinkers that want an automatic burr grinder with a coarse setting for French press at the lowest price, where Cuisinart DBM-8 18 settings include a coarse end appropriate for French press grinding at a budget price.

Skip if

Minimal sediment in French press is a priority. Cuisinart DBM-8 at $35 is an entry-level burr grinder with more fines (fine particles mixed into coarse output) than higher-quality burr grinders. For less sediment in French press, Baratza Encore at $170 produces fewer fines at coarse settings.

Cuisinart DBM-8 automatic burr grinder 18 settings including coarse appropriate for French press. 8 oz bean hopper. Built-in timer. Entry-level burr grinder with coarse capability.

Cuisinart is a US kitchen appliance brand.

At $35, Cuisinart DBM-8 is the best value budget French press coffee grinder in this guide.

What buyers say

French press coffee drinkers that want an automatic burr grinder with a coarse setting for French press at the lowest price say Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill does what it describes without needing adjustments out of the box. Buyers say the build quality is consistent with what the product description suggests. Buyers who find themselves in a position where minimal sediment in French press is a priority say a different option makes more sense for their situation.

Specifications

Specifications for Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Grind typeAutomatic burr
Settings18 (coarse end usable for French press)
Hopper8 oz bean capacity
TimerYes (dose timer)
Price$35

Specs from Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind automatic burr mill 18 settings coarse French press coffee grinder kitchen Amazon search

02
Best mid-range grinder for French press
Capresso Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

Brand: Capresso

Best for

French press coffee drinkers that want a conical burr grinder with a genuine coarse setting at a mid-range price, where Capresso Infinity 16 settings include a coarse-labeled setting specifically noted for French press and cold brew on the grind selector dial.

Skip if

Grinding for multiple brewing methods beyond French press is needed. Capresso Infinity at $50 does not go fine enough for espresso. For a wider grind range that covers pour-over and drip in addition to French press, OXO Brew at $100 provides 15 settings with a wider range.

Capresso Infinity conical burr grinder 16 settings dial-labeled by brew method including French press and coarse settings. 8.8 oz bean hopper. Low 550 RPM reduces heat during grinding.

Capresso is a Swiss-American small appliance brand.

At $50, Capresso Infinity is the best value mid-range French press coffee grinder in this guide.

What buyers say

Most buyers fitting the profile of french press coffee drinkers that want a conical burr grinder with a genuine coarse setting at a mid-range price report Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder meets their expectations across regular use. Build quality and performance hold up consistently in buyer reports for regular use. The common reason buyers pass on it is when grinding for multiple brewing methods beyond French press is needed.

Specifications

Specifications for Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
Burr typeConical steel
Settings16 (labeled by brew method)
RPM550 (low)
Hopper8.8 oz
Price$50

Specs from Capresso Infinity conical burr coffee grinder 16 settings coarse French press cold brew home kitchen Amazon search

03
Best home grinder for French press
OXO OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Brand: OXO

Best for

French press coffee drinkers that want a burr grinder with a built-in dose timer and settings that cover French press, drip and pour-over from one device, where OXO Brew 15 settings include labeled coarse settings appropriate for French press.

Skip if

Budget is under $75. OXO Brew at $100 is mid-range priced for its timer feature. For a capable French press grinder without the timer feature, Capresso Infinity at $50 provides 16 settings for $50 less.

OXO Brew 15-setting conical burr grinder with built-in dose timer. Coarse setting appropriate for French press. 0.75 lb bean hopper.

OXO is a US kitchen tools brand.

At $100, OXO Brew is the best value timed burr grinder for French press in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers say OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder delivers on its stated purpose without hidden trade-offs in the first several uses. The group most consistently satisfied is french press coffee drinkers that want a burr grinder with a built-in dose timer, who say it handles their specific use case reliably. Where buyers recommend looking elsewhere is when budget is under $75.

Specifications

Specifications for OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Burr typeConical
Settings15
TimerBuilt-in dose timer
Hopper0.75 lb
Price$100

Specs from OXO Brew conical burr coffee grinder 15 settings French press coarse home timer dose kitchen Amazon search

04
Best precision grinder for French press
Baratza Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Brand: Baratza

Best for

French press coffee drinkers that want the most control over coarse grind setting to minimize sediment and fine-tune extraction, where Baratza Encore's 40 settings allow precise 1-step adjustments within the French press range from setting 26 to 35 on the 40-step scale.

Skip if

Budget is under $120. Baratza Encore at $170 is the premium home grinder option. For adequate French press grinding at lower cost, Capresso Infinity at $50 provides 16 settings with a dedicated coarse range for $120 less.

Baratza Encore 40 grind settings. Settings 26 to 35 produce the coarse-to-extra-coarse range for French press. Each step change produces a fine adjustment. 8 oz bean hopper.

Baratza is a US specialty coffee equipment brand.

At $170, Baratza Encore is the best value precision French press coffee grinder in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers point out that when budget is under $120, a different product is the stronger fit. Outside that situation, Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder gets straightforward positive feedback from people using it as intended. For french press coffee drinkers that want the most control over coarse grind setting to minimize sediment, the performance buyers report is consistently positive across the product's intended use.

Specifications

Specifications for Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Burr typeConical (professional)
Settings40
French press rangeSettings 26 to 35 (coarse)
Grounds bin5 oz removable
Price$170

Specs from Baratza Encore conical burr coffee grinder 40 settings French press coarse home professional drip Amazon search

French press coffee grinder comparison

Product Settings Coarse range Price
Cuisinart DBM-8 18 Coarse end $35
Capresso Infinity 16 Labeled coarse $50
OXO Brew 15 Coarse labeled $100
Baratza Encore 40 Settings 26-35 $170

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification
Cuisinart Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Capresso Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder
OXO OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Baratza Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Our verdictBest budget grinder for French pressBest mid-range grinder for French pressBest home grinder for French pressBest precision grinder for French press
Grind typeAutomatic burrNot listedNot listedNot listed
Settings18 (coarse end usable for French press)16 (labeled by brew method)1540
Hopper8 oz bean capacity8.8 oz0.75 lbNot listed
TimerYes (dose timer)Not listedBuilt-in dose timerNot listed
Price$35$50$100$170
Burr typeNot listedConical steelConicalConical (professional)
RPMNot listed550 (low)Not listedNot listed
French press rangeNot listedNot listedNot listedSettings 26 to 35 (coarse)
Grounds binNot listedNot listedNot listed5 oz removable
BuyCheck priceCheck priceCheck priceCheck price

Questions people ask

What grind size is best for French press?

Coarse grind (the texture of coarse kosher salt or sea salt) is best for French press. A coarse grind performs better in French press for three reasons: fewer fine particles pass through the stainless mesh filter as sediment, the larger particles extract more evenly over the 4-minute steep time without over-extracting, and the plunger can be pressed down with steady pressure without resistance from clogged fines. On a Baratza Encore's 40-step scale, French press grind is typically setting 26 to 32 depending on the coffee roast level and the specific French press mesh filter. On a Capresso Infinity's 16-step dial, the French press icon corresponds to the coarse end of the range. The visual check: coarse-ground coffee should look similar to raw cane or turbinado sugar crystals. If the ground coffee looks like standard table salt, it is too fine for French press.

Can I use a blade grinder for French press?

A blade grinder produces worse results in French press than a burr grinder because it produces uneven particle sizes. Blade grinders create a mixture of very fine particles (powder) and large chunks from the same grinding cycle. In French press, the fine particles pass through the mesh filter into the cup as muddy sediment. The coarse chunks do not extract fully in 4 minutes, producing weak, under-extracted flavor alongside the over-extracted bitterness from the fine particles. A blade grinder also cannot be set to a specific coarse grind: the only variable is how long to run it, and more time produces smaller average particle size but not more uniformity. A burr grinder at any price point (even the entry-level Cuisinart DBM-8 at $35) produces more consistent coarse particles with fewer fines than a blade grinder, and will produce a cleaner French press cup with less sediment.

How much coffee should I grind for a French press?

Grind the amount of coffee required for the specific press size being used. The standard ratio for French press is 1 gram of coffee per 15 grams of water (1:15 by weight). For common French press sizes: a 12 oz (3-cup) press requires 22g of coffee and 330g of water. A 34 oz (8-cup) press requires 65g of coffee and 975g of water. A 51 oz (12-cup) Bodum press requires 97g and 1.45 liters of water. A kitchen scale set to grams provides the most consistent measurement. Volume measurements in tablespoons are less accurate because coarse grind coffee is less dense than fine grind, so the same tablespoon measure contains fewer grams at a coarser setting. Grinding fresh immediately before brewing produces a better cup than pre-grinding and storing: ground coffee at coarse particle size has more surface area exposed to air than whole beans and loses aromatics more quickly.