Buy a coffee grinder in Switzerland – precision for espresso and filter

The hard truth at the barista counter: A watery, flat espresso almost always originates at the grinder, not at the machine. If the particle distribution is not right, even the most expensive portafilter won't extract a dense body from the beans. In this collection, you'll find coffee grinders for espresso and filter that have passed our daily roasting practice – from purist hand grinders to flagship flat-burr grinders.

Why buy your coffee grinder from the Coffee Coaching Club

We don't judge grinders by technical datasheets, but by the texture they produce in the cup. As a coffee roastery and specialist barista business, we are the exclusive Swiss importer for Weber Workshops, Varia and Flair Espresso as well as partners of Mahlkönig, Option-O, Mazzer, Eureka, Comandante and Timemore. Every model here is curated by us, not just simply bought in.

You order directly online and we deliver your grinder throughout Switzerland and to Liechtenstein within 2 to 4 working days. If you have any questions or want to see a grinder live before buying: Our showrooms in Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b, 180 m²) and Bern (Gerberngasse 44, 60 m²) are open during business hours. Financing via Heylight is possible.

The three grinder categories at a glance

All categories at a glance

Burr sizes – what they do in the cup

Burr size influences particle distribution and thus the character in the cup. Smaller burrs (38, 48, 54, 64 mm) tend to produce a wider particle distribution with more fines (very fine particles). This gives espresso more body, more crema, and a certain sweetness. Larger burrs (80, 98, 102 mm) produce a narrower distribution with fewer fines – this boosts clarity, defined aroma separation, and cleanly separated acidities, especially for light roasts and filter coffee.

Both have their justification. If you are looking for a classic, dense espresso with plenty of crema, 58 to 64 mm flat or conical burrs are a good choice. If you want to work with light single origins like our Wild Peach or Bright Cassis and prioritise aroma clarity over body, you will find more tools at 80 or 102 mm. Conical burrs (e.g., Comandante, Varia VS3, Varia VS6 with 63 mm conical) often sound somewhere between flat burr clarity and creamy espresso characteristics – a style of their own.

Recommendation hierarchy by use case

We think in categories, not price levels. Both price segments are legitimate – the question is what you want to use.

All-round Single-Dose: Affordable and very good: Varia VS3 (38 mm conical). More flexibility: Varia VS6 (58 mm flat or 63 mm conical, variable RPM, interchangeable burrs).

Single-Dose with 80 mm Flat: Weber Workshops EG-1 (classic, interchangeable CORE/ULTRA burrs) or Option-O Lagom P80 (newer design with pre-crushing system).

Single-Dose with 102 mm Mizen Blind Burrs: Option-O Lagom 01 with PCS – for those who want to present light roasts cleanly.

Single-Dose with 64 mm Flat: Mahlkönig X64 SD – the compact, quiet solution with identical burrs to the professional SD64.

Hopper with Grind-by-Weight: Mahlkönig E64 WS with integrated scale and electric micrometer adjustment. Mazzer Mini G with load cell directly in the portafilter holder. Eureka Libra as a compact GbW solution. Anfim Luna with touchscreen.

Hand Grinder: Affordable and very good: Timemore Chestnut. The classics: Comandante C40 MK4 (39 mm conical) or Comandante C60 Baracuda (60 mm conical). Premium: Kinu M47.

Roastery knowledge – how particles shape taste

As roasters, we work daily with extraction chemistry. What immediately stands out in practice: The quality of the grind determines whether the aromas from our roasting profile truly arrive in the cup. Too many fines bring mouthfeel and body, but also the risk of over-extraction and bitter notes. Too coarse particles let the water rush through – the espresso becomes watery and acidic.

Grinders with large, flat burrs produce a clear particle distribution with fewer fines. This particularly boosts the aromatic nuances in light, fruity roasts like Bright Cassis. Conical grinders often work in such a way that they emphasize body and chocolatey sweetness – suitable for medium and dark roasts like Cozy Chocolate.

And something else that many retailers don't mention: The majority of your espresso is water. The best grinder cannot compensate for excessively hard water – it is the irreplaceable foundation for good beans to taste good at all. More on this in our coffee water guide and with the mineralisation drops from Apax Labs (exclusive Swiss importer).

Honest words – what you should know before buying

• Single-Dose and Workflow: For those who want an espresso half-asleep in the morning, the separate weighing often feels like an extra step. It's a conscious workflow for the sake of freshness.
• Hopper Grinders and Bean Changes: Anyone who regularly switches between different beans must empty the hopper and purge old grind residues. This costs coffee and time.
• Flat Burrs and Break-in Time: Large flat-burr grinders like the Weber EG-1 or the Mahlkönig X64 SD require a break-in period (seasoning) of about 5 to 10 kg of coffee until the burrs are properly seasoned.
• Stepless and Stepped: Stepless adjustment allows for very fine adjustments for espresso, but requires a bit of finesse and good notes.
• Zero Retention realistic: Even with "Zero Retention" grinders, a minimal residual amount remains in the housing. Realistically, it's 0.1 to 0.3 g – which is very good, but not zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which grinder suits my espresso machine?

That depends on your setup. As a rule of thumb: If you own a dual boiler or a La Marzocco, an simple electric grinder leaves a lot of potential untapped. Here, a stepless grinder with good burrs is a must. For compact heat exchangers, a solid mid-range model is often sufficient. We are happy to advise you directly: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch.

What's the difference between flat burrs and conical burrs?

Flat burrs (two flat grinding discs on top of each other) tend to produce more clarity and defined aroma separation. Conical burrs (a cone in a ring) tend to produce more body, crema, and chocolatey sweetness. Both are legitimate – the bean and your personal taste decide.

Do I need single-dose or is a hopper grinder enough?

Single-dose is worthwhile if you frequently switch between beans, alternate between espresso and filter, or want maximum freshness per shot. Hopper grinders are the better choice if you make several shots with the same bean daily. Grind-by-Weight combines both.

What does Grind-by-Weight mean for a grinder?

An integrated scale measures the weight of the coffee grounds in real time during grinding. The grinder automatically stops at the programmed target weight – with an accuracy of typically 0.1 g. Mahlkönig E64 WS, Mazzer Mini G, Eureka Libra, Anfim Luna are current examples.

Can I see the grinders live before buying?

Yes. In the showrooms in Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), we have the most important grinders in daily use. Bringing your own beans is welcome.

How long does delivery take in Switzerland?

2 to 4 working days throughout Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Click and Collect in Bern and Zurich is possible at any time.

Is financing available?

Yes. During the checkout process, we offer a financing option via Heylight for eligible products.

Complete the setup

• Portafilter and coffee machines – the grinder provides the texture, the machine the stability
• Barista Tools and Tampers – clean distribution and straight tamping prevent channeling
• Acaia Lunar or Pearl – scale with app and flow rate display
• Normcore – affordable scales, WDT tools and tampers (exclusive Swiss importer)
• Airscape – airtight bean storage
• Our roasts – Cozy Chocolate, Nutty Delight, Wild Peach, Bright Cassis