11 Best Single-Dose Espresso Grinders (Low Retention) 2026
Eleven low-retention grinders for fresher espresso, from a $99 electric to a 78 mm flat-burr machine. Plus the head-to-heads people actually search for: DF64 vs HiBrew G5, G5 vs Encore ESP and more.
The best single dose espresso grinder for most home baristas right now is the MiiCoffee DF64 II. If $400 is too much, the DF54 gets you most of the way for $260, and the HiBrew G5 does it for $170.
We compared eleven grinders on burrs, adjustment, retention and price, using specs, owner reviews and what the home-espresso crowd keeps recommending. Low retention was the deciding factor. Every grinder here leaves little or nothing behind, so each shot starts fresh.
Quick Picks: Best Single Dose Espresso Grinder for Most People
Best under $200HiBREW G5 Single Dose Burr Grinder (48 mm, Dual Speed)
Single Dose Grinder Comparison Chart
The top rated single serve coffee grinders for espresso, all eleven side by side. Retention is the maker’s own claim, so treat “not stated” as “probably a bit more”.
| Grinder | Burrs | Adjustment | Retention (maker claim) | Single-dose features | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MiiCoffee DF64 II Single Dose Coffee Grinder | 64 mm flat, steel (SSP-ready) | Stepless dial | Under 0.1 g | Plasma ionizer, anti-popcorn disc, blow-out funnel, 58 mm cup | 4.4 ★ (276) | $$ |
| DF54 Single Dose Coffee Grinder | 54 mm flat, stainless | Stepless dial | Near zero, no bellows needed | Plasma ionizer, anti-popcorn disc, 58 mm cup | 4.2 ★ (55) | $$ |
| HiBREW G5 Single Dose Burr Grinder (48 mm, Dual Speed) | 48 mm conical, CNC steel | 36 settings | Not stated | Anti-static coating, powder discharger, 2 speeds | 4.5 ★ (90) | $$ |
| Turin DF64 Gen 2.5 Single Dose Coffee Grinder | 64 mm flat, steel or DLC | Stepless dial | Low (not stated) | 50 g bellows hopper, plasma generator, anti-popcorn, 250 W | 4.6 ★ (33) | $$ |
| 1Zpresso J-Ultra Manual Espresso Grinder | 48 mm coated conical | External click, 8 µm per click | Minimal (no chute) | Magnetic 35–40 g cup, folding handle, travel case | 4.6 ★ (398) | $$ |
| Baratza Encore ESP Coffee Grinder | 40 mm conical steel | Stepped: micro 1–20, macro 21–40 | Not stated | Hopper-fed, quick-release burr | 4.0 ★ (1,395) | $$ |
| TIMEMORE Sculptor 078S Flat Burr Grinder | 78 mm flat, patented | Stepless | Not stated | Rotary knocker, magnetic cup, 800–1,400 rpm | 4.4 ★ (52) | $$$ |
| Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder | 55 mm flat, hardened steel | Stepless | Not stated | Hopper-fed, timed dosing touchscreen, sound-insulated | 4.2 ★ (200) | $$$ |
| KINGrinder K6 Manual Coffee Grinder | 48 mm stainless conical | External, 16 µm per click | Minimal (no chute) | 25–35 g capacity, all-metal | 4.6 ★ (997) | $ |
| Geimori GU38 Stepless Conical Burr Grinder | 38 mm 6-core conical | Stepless, 0.02 mm steps | Under 0.1 g with bellows | Bellows, magnetic cup, all-metal | 4.5 ★ (56) | $$ |
| AMZCHEF Single Dose Coffee Grinder (75 Settings) | 40 mm six-star conical | 75 stepped settings | 0.1–0.2 g | Magnetic outlet, knock tool, 5–60 s timer, 58 & 51/54 mm funnels | 4.1 ★ (126) | $ |
Ratings and review counts are as listed on Amazon at time of writing and change over time. Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–400 · $$$ over $400.
The 11 Best Single Dose Coffee Grinders, Reviewed
Ranked for espresso first, so the best single dose grinder for most people sits at #1. Want the best at home espresso grinder that also handles pour-over? Look at the flat-burr picks near the top.
MiiCoffee DF64 II Single Dose Coffee Grinder
This is the grinder home-espresso forums keep pointing people to. Big 64 mm flat burrs, a stepless dial and retention under 0.1 g even without a bellows, for about $400.
- Flat burrs give clear, even shots and handle pour-over too
- The ionizer in the chute keeps static and mess down
- Takes SSP burr upgrades if you want to go further later
- Bigger and louder than the budget conicals
- No bellows in the box (the blow-out funnel does the same job)
DF54 Single Dose Coffee Grinder
The DF64’s little brother, and the grinder home-espresso threads recommend most for the money. Same ionizer and low-retention chute, with 54 mm flat burrs for about $140 less.
- Flat-burr clarity at a mid-range price
- Near-zero retention without a bellows
- Smaller footprint than the DF64
- A little slower than the DF64 on a double shot
- Plastic dosing cup (the DF64 II’s is aluminium)
HiBREW G5 Single Dose Burr Grinder (48 mm, Dual Speed)
The cheapest grinder here that feels properly built for single dosing. It’s small, quiet and all aluminium, and the slow 400 rpm mode keeps heat down when you grind fine for espresso.
- Fits a tight coffee corner
- Two speeds: slow for espresso, fast for filter
- Metal body feels far pricier than it is
- Grounds can clump a little; a quick stir fixes it
- Not great at very coarse French press settings
Turin DF64 Gen 2.5 Single Dose Coffee Grinder
Same DF64 platform as our top pick, sold as Turin with a bellows hopper in the box and a DLC-coated burr option. If you already know you’ll tinker, start here.
- Two puffs of the bellows clear the chute
- DLC burrs stay sharp longer and run cooler
- Takes SSP High Uniformity or Multi-Purpose burrs
- Newer listing, so fewer Amazon reviews
- Same size and noise as any 64 mm flat grinder
1Zpresso J-Ultra Manual Espresso Grinder
Hand grinders are the original single-dosers. There’s no chute, so almost nothing stays behind. The J-Ultra is the one people buy for espresso, with 8-micron clicks that let you dial in a shot properly.
- Espresso quality to match electrics at twice the price
- Comes apart without tools for cleaning
- Travel case included
- About 40 seconds of cranking per shot
- Holds 35–40 g, so one or two doses at a time
Baratza Encore ESP Coffee Grinder
It has a hopper, so it isn’t a true single-doser, but lots of owners single dose it anyway. What you’re paying for is Baratza’s parts and repair support, which nobody else here matches.
- Easiest grinder on the list to get fixed
- Settings 1–20 are fine micro-steps just for espresso
- Burr pops out for cleaning, no tools
- Holds more grounds than the bellows grinders
- Stepped, so you can’t go between settings
TIMEMORE Sculptor 078S Flat Burr Grinder
Huge 78 mm burrs, a brushless motor and adjustable speed put this close to café-grinder territory. A quick twist of the rotary knocker after each dose shakes out most of the leftover fines.
- Speed control lets you tune for light or dark roasts
- Smooth, low-vibration motor
- Just as good for pour-over as espresso
- $720–800 depending on colour
- The smaller 64 mm 064S on the same listing costs less
Eureka Mignon Specialita Espresso Grinder
Built by hand in Florence, with a sound-insulated body that makes it the quietest electric here. It also keeps your grind setting when you pull the burrs out to clean.
- Noticeably quieter than every other electric on the list
- Timed single and double doses, no scale needed
- Classic build that lasts for years
- A hopper grinder, so retention is higher than a true single-doser
- The Mignon Zero is the single-dose version of this design
KINGrinder K6 Manual Coffee Grinder
Half the J-Ultra’s price and still fine enough for espresso. The outside dial clicks 60 times per turn, so it’s easy to get back to your espresso setting after a pour-over.
- Cheapest good way into espresso grinding
- Just as happy doing pour-over
- Comes apart by hand
- Coarser steps than the J-Ultra, so dialling in takes longer
- Smaller 25–35 g capacity
Geimori GU38 Stepless Conical Burr Grinder
One of the smallest and best-looking grinders you can put on a counter. With the bellows it claims under 0.1 g retention, and it really shines on pour-over and drip.
- Takes up almost no room
- Stepless dial with fine 0.02 mm moves
- Quiet and solidly made
- Independent reviews found its espresso grind less even than the flat-burr picks
- Slow 190 rpm motor
AMZCHEF Single Dose Coffee Grinder (75 Settings)
Under $100 and you get a timer, a magnetic spout, a knock tool and dosing funnels for 58 mm and 51/54 mm portafilters. For a cheap single dose coffee grinder, that’s a lot in the box.
- Everything you need to start, in one box
- Anti-static outlet keeps the counter clean
- Fits most home portafilter sizes
- Stepped settings: fine for medium-dark roasts, fiddly for light
- Newer brand with a shorter track record
What a Single Dose Grinder Actually Is
A single dose grinder grinds exactly what you put in. Weigh 18 g of beans, drop them in, and 18 g of coffee comes out. No hopper of beans slowly going stale.
Amazon listings word it every way possible (“coffee grinder single dose”, “single-dosing grinder”, “single serve grinder”). It’s all the same idea.
Retention is the ground coffee left inside after you grind. That stale coffee ends up in your next shot. Under 0.2 g is very good. Under 0.1 g is excellent.
These are how grinders clear the chute. A bellows is a rubber puffer on top (Turin, GU38). A knocker shakes fines loose (Timemore). An ionizer cancels static so grounds don’t cling (DF64 II, Turin).
The Encore ESP and Eureka Specialita were designed with hoppers. You can still weigh and grind one dose at a time; you’ll just lose a little more to retention.
New to all this? Our burr vs blade grinder guide explains why every single dose burr grinder here beats a blade grinder for espresso.
Head-to-Head: The Comparisons People Search For
HiBrew G5 vs DF54 vs DF64
Flat burrs against conical. Both DF grinders give clearer, more even espresso than the G5’s 48 mm conicals. The DF64 II grinds faster and takes burr upgrades; the DF54 gets you most of that for about $140 less.
If you came here for the MiiCoffee DF54 vs HiBrew G5 question: the DF54 wins on grind quality and clumping. The G5 wins on price, size and noise.
Our take: $170 is your limit? Get the G5. Around $260? Get the DF54. Can stretch to $400? Get the DF64 II.
HiBrew G5 vs Baratza Encore ESP
The G5 is a real single-doser with finer adjustment and less mess. The Encore ESP holds more grounds, but it’s the easiest grinder in the world to get repaired.
Our take: Espresso only and you like to tinker: G5. Espresso plus drip, and you want long-term support: Encore ESP.
Geimori GU38 vs DF54 grinder and DF64
For espresso, it isn’t close. The DF54 and DF64 have flat burrs that are faster and more even. The GU38 wins on size and looks, and it’s the better match if you mostly brew pour-over.
MiiCoffee DF64 II vs Turin DF64 Gen 2.5
Same DF64 platform, same price. MiiCoffee has more reviews and a US seller. Turin includes the bellows hopper and offers DLC burrs. Pick whichever ships faster.
Manual vs electric for single dosing
A $110–200 hand grinder can match the espresso of a $400 electric. You trade speed and effort. If you pull one or two shots a day, manual is the smart money. More options in our manual grinder roundup.
How to Choose a Single Dose Grinder
Six things worth checking before you buy any of these single dose espresso coffee grinders.
Flat or conical?
Flat burrs (DF64, Timemore, Eureka) give clarity and suit light roasts. Conical burrs (G5, J-Ultra, Encore ESP) give more body and forgive darker roasts.
Bigger grinds faster
38–48 mm conicals are fine for a double shot. 54–78 mm flats grind quicker and more evenly, which you’ll notice with light roasts.
Stepless or tiny steps
Espresso needs fine control. Look for a stepless dial or very small steps: J-Ultra moves 8 µm a click, K6 16 µm, and the Encore ESP has micro-steps at 1–20.
Check the claim and the chute
Under 0.2 g is great. Bellows, ionizers and straight chutes get you there. Hopper grinders hold more.
One grinder for both?
For the best single grinder for pourover and espresso, pick a flat-burr DF64 or the Timemore. Note your espresso setting before you switch.
What your money buys
About $100: AMZCHEF or KINGrinder K6. $170–200 (roughly the 200 euro mark): G5, GU38, J-Ultra, Encore ESP. About $260: the DF54. About $400: the DF64s. $550 and up: Eureka and Timemore.
- A dosing cup that fits your portafilter. The DF64 II ships a 58 mm cup; AMZCHEF includes 58 and 51/54 mm funnels.
- A scale. Single dosing starts with weighing beans. See our best coffee scales.
- A drop of water on the beans. One spritz before grinding cuts static a lot.
Single Dose Grinder FAQs
What is the best single dose espresso grinder?▼
The MiiCoffee DF64 II for most people: 64 mm flat burrs, a stepless dial and under 0.1 g retention for about $400. Around $260, the DF54; under $200, the HiBrew G5.
What is a single-dose grinder?▼
A grinder built to grind one weighed dose at a time, with almost nothing left inside. Put 18 g in, get 18 g out.
What is the lowest retention espresso grinder?▼
On paper, the MiiCoffee DF64 II, DF54 and Geimori GU38. The DF64 II and GU38 claim under 0.1 g; the DF54 claims near zero without a bellows. Hand grinders like the J-Ultra and K6 hold almost nothing because there’s no chute.
Is any single dose grinder zero retention?▼
Not truly. A few hundredths of a gram always hide in the burrs. “Zero retention” on a listing means low enough that you won’t taste it.
Are grinders with bellows worth it?▼
Yes, if single dosing is the point. Two quick puffs push out whatever’s stuck in the chute. The Turin DF64 and GU38 include one; the DF64 II’s blow-out funnel does the same job.
Flat or conical burrs for espresso?▼
Both work. Flat burrs give brighter, clearer shots and suit light roasts. A single dose conical grinder for espresso machine setups (G5, J-Ultra, Encore ESP) gives more body and is more forgiving.
Is the HiBrew G5 good for espresso?▼
Yes, especially for the money. The 48 mm conical burrs and slow 400 rpm mode handle espresso well. Expect a little clumping and weak coarse grinding.
Is the Baratza Encore ESP a single-dose grinder?▼
Not by design. It has a hopper and holds a bit more coffee. Plenty of owners single dose it anyway, and Baratza’s repair support is a big plus.
Are manual grinders good for espresso?▼
Very good. The 1Zpresso J-Ultra and KINGrinder K6 grind as fine and even as most electrics under $400. You just do the work.
What is the best cheap single dose coffee grinder?▼
AMZCHEF (electric, under $100) or KINGrinder K6 (manual, about $110). If you can stretch to $170, the HiBrew G5 is a real step up.
Which single dose grinder does Reddit recommend?▼
DF-series flat-burr grinders, especially the DF54 and DF64, come up most in home-espresso threads, with the HiBrew G5 as the budget pick and 1Zpresso and KINGrinder for manual. That lines up with our list.
Do I need a bottomless portafilter for single dosing?▼
No, but it helps. A bottomless portafilter shows channeling, which makes dialling in faster. Match your dosing cup to it: 58 mm for most machines, 51 or 54 mm for smaller ones.
Which grinder is best for espresso and French press?▼
A flat-burr DF64 or the Timemore Sculptor. Both go coarse cleanly. Budget conicals like the G5 and AMZCHEF are better at the fine end.
The Bottom Line
Want the best single dose coffee grinder for espresso without reading all eleven cards? Here’s the short version.
- Best overall: MiiCoffee DF64 II. Flat burrs, stepless, under 0.1 g.
- Best value: DF54. Flat burrs for about $260.
- Best under $200: HiBREW G5.
- Best for tinkerers: Turin DF64 Gen 2.5, bellows included.
- Best manual: 1Zpresso J-Ultra, or save with the KINGrinder K6.
- Best for beginners: Baratza Encore ESP.
- Best premium: TIMEMORE Sculptor 078S. Quietest: Eureka Specialita.
- Best compact: Geimori GU38. Under $100: AMZCHEF.
Any of the best single dose espresso grinders here will beat pre-ground coffee by a mile. Pick the one that fits your budget and your counter.
