TL;DR — our top picks
Best all-rounder: Sage Smart Grinder Pro — 60 grind settings, handles espresso and filter, the natural pairing for a Sage Bambino Plus.
Best for espresso: Baratza Encore ESP — dual-range burrs designed specifically for espresso, easy to dial in, excellent value.
Both are superb partners for a Sage Bambino Plus — which is exactly the machine that needs a separate grinder.
If you own a Sage Bambino Plus or any espresso machine without a built-in grinder, the grinder you pair it with matters more than almost anything else — a great machine with a poor grinder makes mediocre coffee. These are the burr grinders we recommend for UK home baristas, whether you're grinding for espresso, filter, or both. Last updated: June 2026
Our picks in detail
- 60 grind settings
- Espresso + filter
- 450g hopper
- Digital dosing
The most popular home grinder in the UK, and the natural pairing for a Sage Bambino Plus or Barista-series machine. 60 grind settings cover everything from fine espresso to coarse French press, and the digital dosing (in 0.2-second increments) makes consistent shots easy. It grinds straight into the portafilter or the grounds container. It's a genuine all-rounder — if you want one grinder that handles espresso, filter, AeroPress and cafetiere well, this is it.
Check current price on Amazon UK- Dual-range burrs
- Espresso-optimised
- Easy to dial in
- Proven M2 burrs
If espresso is your priority, the Encore ESP is one of the safest recommendations under £200. The first 20 grind steps sit squarely in the espresso range with closer spacing, which makes dialling in far less frustrating than most budget grinders. It uses the same proven M2 burrs found in the Sage Barista Pro, so the grind quality is genuinely good — clean and consistent for espresso, but flexible enough for AeroPress and pour-over too. An excellent first "proper" espresso grinder to pair with a Bambino Plus.
Check current price on Amazon UKAt a glance
| Grinder | Grind settings | Best for | Hopper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sage Smart Grinder Pro | 60 | Espresso + filter all-rounder | 450g |
| Baratza Encore ESP | Dual-range (espresso-focused) | Espresso | Standard |
How to choose a coffee grinder
Burr vs blade — always buy burr
Never buy a blade grinder for coffee. Blade grinders chop beans unevenly, producing a mix of dust and chunks that extracts inconsistently and makes bitter, muddy coffee. Burr grinders crush beans to a uniform size, which is essential for good espresso and filter. Every grinder we recommend is a burr grinder — it's the single most important feature.
Do you need espresso capability?
Espresso needs a fine, precise grind that many cheaper grinders can't achieve consistently. If you have an espresso machine (like a Sage Bambino Plus), prioritise a grinder designed for espresso — the Baratza Encore ESP or Sage Smart Grinder Pro both qualify. If you only make filter, French press or AeroPress, the grind window is more forgiving and you have more options.
Why the grinder matters more than the machine
It sounds counterintuitive, but a great espresso machine with a poor grinder makes worse coffee than a modest machine with a great grinder. The grind's consistency directly controls extraction — uneven grounds extract unevenly, producing sour and bitter flavours at the same time. This is exactly why the Sage Bambino Plus (which has no built-in grinder) needs a quality grinder to reach its potential.
Stepped vs stepless adjustment
Stepped grinders (like the Smart Grinder Pro's 60 settings) click between fixed positions — easy to repeat exactly. Stepless grinders adjust infinitely for finer control but are harder to return to a known setting. For most home users, stepped is more practical — you find your setting and stick to it.