Buying guides1 min read

How to choose a commercial coffee grinder for a busy café

Hopper size, burr type and grind speed — three criteria that prevent queues and keep espresso extraction stable.

How to choose a commercial coffee grinder for a busy café

Size for peak doses, not daily average

A grinder that feels fine mid-morning can choke between 8 and 10. Multiply peak-hour espresso cups by ~18g — that is your minimum grind throughput.

Flat vs conical burrs

  • Flat: tighter espresso particle distribution; common in specialty bars.
  • Conical: runs cooler under continuous grinding; strong for long peak rushes.

Hopper vs single dosing

A large hopper reduces refills, but beans stale if they sit for hours. Some cafés single-dose for flavour at the cost of speed — decide from your drink mix.

Daily dial-in should be easy

If you change beans or humidity shifts, you need fast micro-adjustments without awkward tools. Test the adjustment ring by hand before you buy.

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Choose a commercial coffee grinder | buying guide