Handground Precision Coffee Grinder

What it does well

Home Coffee Expert rates it well for finer settings. It says the grinder is "particularly good at the finer ground settings for espresso, AeroPress, and drip coffee," and gives it an expert score of 8.0 out of 10. It adds that the grinder grinds quickly and "looks great."

Adjustment is simple. Home Coffee Expert says the dial needs no disassembly to change, and the setting stays where you leave it. The dial has 15 positions, numbered 1 to 8 with half steps between them.

The hopper is large. Home Coffee Expert says the chamber holds up to 100 g of beans, which it considers about the largest practical size for a hand grinder. Coffee Chronicler, on the other hand, questions "who grinds that much coffee manually?"

Coffee Chronicler found the cups decent. It describes brews for pour-over and AeroPress as "decent," and says the grind quality is roughly on par with Hario or Porlex, not better.

Handground's own page lists the grinder as suitable for Chemex, French press, Kalita Wave, drip machine, V60, AeroPress and moka pot, and quotes a Home Grounds reviewer calling its consistency "on par with a great electric burr coffee grinder." That quote is chosen by the seller.

Where it falls short

Coarse grinds are weak. Home Coffee Expert says "grind consistency gets uneven at coarser settings," and that it is less suited to coarse French press grinds. Handground's own list of compatible brewers includes French press, so weigh the reviews before relying on it there. That is why the finder lists AeroPress, pour-over and drip, not French press.

Coffee Chronicler is harsher. It calls the ceramic burrs "not very sharp," says "the grind isn't particularly consistent," and says the side-mounted handle is "HARD work" to press down on while cranking, especially with light roasts. It also says most of the 16 steps it counted are "way too coarse to be usable," with only the first two practical for pour-over.

It is big and a little fragile. Home Coffee Expert measures about 6 x 4 x 8.5 inches, which it calls compact for an electric grinder but large for a manual one. Some plastic parts feel "a bit flimsy," and the glass grounds chamber could break if dropped. Coffee Chronicler puts the weight at 800 g.

Cleaning is more careful work. Home Coffee Expert says parts are not dishwasher safe, though the grinder disassembles easily.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn't

Buy it if you want an inexpensive hand grinder for AeroPress, drip or pour-over and do not mind its size. It suits someone who grinds a few cups at once.

Skip it if you brew French press, carry a grinder in a bag, or want the grind quality of a steel-burr hand grinder.

How it compares

Coffee Chronicler compared the Handground's grind quality to Hario and Porlex, so the Hario Skerton Pro and the Porlex Mini II are the natural comparisons. The Kingrinder K4 and the Timemore C2 are other low-cost hand grinders. The grinder finder shows their ratings.

Owning it

Handground offers a one-year warranty and an Express Replacement Program, per its store page. Our guide to cleaning a hand grinder covers the routine, and adjusting grind for a new bag of coffee helps you find a setting. Home Coffee Expert advises care with the glass chamber.