Wilfa Coffee Grinders: Why They’re Great and Which One to Buy
I’ve had the pleasure of testing two different Wilfa coffee grinders for about three months, and I’ve used each of the Wilfa coffee grinder models to gauge the quality and consistency they deliver. In this guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned from my hands-on testing.
I’ll cover the overall quality and durability of Wilfa grinders, how consistent and uniform the grinds are, and, most importantly, which specific Wilfa coffee grinder is right for you. Let’s get started.
A Brief History of Wilfa Coffee Grinders
Wilfa is a Norwegian company that has been manufacturing kitchen appliances since the 1940s. They started by making waffle irons and toasters, but the company eventually expanded into coffee makers and grinders.
Wilfa released their first coffee grinder, the Wilfa CGWS, in 1974. It was one of the first electric coffee grinders aimed at home consumers. Before that, most people either used manual grinders or bought pre-ground coffee. The CGWS helped popularize the idea of grinding beans fresh at home. And for that, I am eternally thankful!
Over the next few decades, Wilfa continued to innovate in the coffee grinder space. They released updated models of the CGWS throughout the 80s and 90s.
In 2006, Wilfa launched their Svart line of coffee grinders. These were designed to be higher quality and give a more consistent grind. The Svart was one of the first mass market grinders to use flat burrs instead of blades. This gave a much more uniform grind size.
The Svart was a big success for Wilfa and cemented their reputation as a top grinder manufacturer. They’ve since expanded the Svart line with new models and also introduced the Uniform grinder series.
Today, Wilfa is one of the most popular coffee grinder brands in Europe, and, thankfully, their products are available in the U.S., as well. Their grinders strike a nice balance between quality and price.
My Overall Opinion of Wilfa Coffee Grinders
Overall, I think Wilfa makes excellent coffee grinders for the price. Are they as good as a $2,000 commercial grade grinder? Of course not. But for a home enthusiast on a budget, Wilfa hits a sweet spot.
Their grinders are very well made. The motors are powerful and durable. The burrs are high quality and provide a grind consistency you can’t get from a cheap blade grinder. I’ve used some Wilfa grinders daily for months with no issues at all.
My favorite thing about Wilfa grinders is their simplicity. The grind settings are easy to adjust, it’s easy to clean the grinder, and there aren’t a ton of bells and whistles to get confused by. Grinding coffee should be simple, and Wilfa gets that.
I only have a few minor complaints. First, some of the grinders, especially at the lower end, can be a bit noisy. The grinding noise itself isn’t terrible, but some models have a high-pitched whining sound that can get annoying early in the morning. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but something to be aware of.
Second, the consistency and precision isn’t ideal. Is ground coffee better than pre-ground coffee using a Wilfa grinder? ABSOLUTELY. But are Wilfa grinders end-game coffee equipment? Not by any means. I’d strongly recommend these for people who want the convenience of an electric grinder and don’t want to spend a ton of money to get there. For the price, I have NO complaints about consistency. But without considering cost, there are much better grinders.
Finally, the grind retention is pretty bad. These machines create a lot of static, which means you could lose a gram or two of coffee to the inside of the machine. All grinders have grind retention, but it’s a bit worse on these than higher end grinders. Again, not a huge complaint, but something to be aware of.
Overall though, I think Wilfa offers tremendous value, especially for the money. If you want fresh, relatively consistent grinds at home without spending a fortune, their grinders are hard to beat. I’d recommend them to any coffee lover on a budget, and especially to coffee drinkers who currently drink pre-ground coffee or have only used blade grinders.
Which Wilfa Coffee Grinder Is Best?
Wilfa currently offers four electric coffee grinder models, ranging in price from around $125 to $500. Choosing the right one depends on your needs and budget. Here’s a quick overview of each to help you decide.
Wilfa Svart Coffee Grinder
The Svart is Wilfa’s entry-level model. It has stainless steel flat burrs that produce a reasonably consistent grind size. The grind settings are easy to adjust from coarse to fine with the integrated dial.
In my experience, the Svart performs nearly as well as more expensive grinders. The grind consistency and flavor it produces are excellent. The only downside is it’s quite noisy with a high-pitched whining sound.
This is a great choice if you want quality coffee grinds and are on a tight budget. It provides great bang for your buck. The noisy motor is the only real negative at this price point.
I should also note that this grinder is not suitable for you if you want to grind for espresso.
Number of grind settings: 32
Consistency Rating: 5/10
Hopper Capacity: 250 grams
Speed: 7/10
Warranty: 5 years
Ideal for: Beginner coffee enthusiasts who want quality grinds for drip, pour over, or French press without spending a lot.
Wilfa Svart Aroma Precision Coffee Grinder
As the name suggests, the Svart Aroma is an upgraded version of the base Svart model. It has the same stainless steel burrs but a more powerful motor that runs more quietly without the high-pitched whir. There is also a handy little LED light that illuminates the bean hopper.
In my experience, the Svart Aroma eliminates the noise issues of the regular Svart. It’s much quieter while maintaining the same excellent grind quality. I’d say if you can part with the additional $45 or so over the standard Svart grinder, then this is a no-brainer.
If you’re sensitive to noise or want to grind large batches, the Svart Aroma is also worth the small price premium over the base model. Everything else is the same excellent performance. That means that it also is not suitable for espresso.
Number of grind settings: 32
Consistency Rating: 6/10
Hopper Capacity: 250 grams
Speed: 5/10
Warranty: 5 years
Ideal for: Coffee drinkers who want quiet operation and the ability to grind large batches efficiently.
Wilfa Uniform Coffee Grinder
The Uniform is a big upgrade over the Svart grinders, and it comes at a much higher price, too. It’s around $300, so more than double the Svart Aroma Precision grinder. You can check the most recent price on Amazon, though, as it gets updated pretty often.
I personally think the upgrade is worth it, especially if you’re coming from a different burr grinder and are looking for an upgrade rather than just getting started with grinding your coffee fresh.
The Uniform uses flat burrs made from stainless steel. Flat burrs offer better consistency and tend not to get as hot as conical burrs, which means this will produce better quality coffee overall for you. It also has more grind settings—41 as opposed to 32 on the Svart grinders—and lets you experiment with espresso grind sizes.
One of the most significant upgrades, aside from grind quality, is that the grounds catcher is stainless steel rather than plastic, and the inside components are mostly stainless steel and cast iron. That means you’ll struggle far less with grind retention, getting better quality coffee and wasting fewer beans.
Finally, the motor operates more slowly, so it will take longer to grind an equivalent amount of coffee over using the Svart grinders. However, the slower grind means better precision, which translates to better coffee. That alone is worth the extra $150 or so over the Svart series.
For some people, the performance jump isn’t worth the big price increase over the Svart models. But if you’re upgrading your coffee grinder, want better quality coffee, or want to be able to grind for espresso, the Uniform is the way to go.
Number of grind settings: 41
Consistency Rating: 8/10
Hopper Capacity: 75 grams
Speed: 5/10
Warranty: 5 years
Ideal for: Discerning coffee drinkers who appreciate precise grind tuning and want to maximize aroma and flavor. Also for those who want to grind for espresso.
Wilfa Uniform+ Coffee Grinder
This is Wilfa’s premium grinder that competes with other high-end brands. It has the same features as the base Uniform model but with a few nice upgrades.
The Uniform+ boasts a lot of the same features as the base Uniform model, including flat stainless steel burrs for precision and minimal heat production, as well as a body and grounds basket made out of metals like stainless steel and cast iron. The grind retention is minimal with this, so you’ll have more consistency between brews and less coffee waste.
The biggest upgrade over the base Uniform model is the built-in scale. It weighs your coffee out to 0.1 grams (which is ideal; anything more precise is overkill for coffee), making it a great option for precision in your brewing.
You can also connect to this grinder with any smartphone, which I find…not that helpful. It’s kind of cool because you can see what the founder of the company recommends in terms of grind size for pour over and other brewing methods. But after that initial peek at the features, I suspect most people won’t use this at all.
For espresso enthusiasts, the Uniform+ is excellent. The grind quality is superb and the precise settings allow you to really optimize flavor and dial in your shot. The scale and timed grinding are perfect for nailing your dose each morning. No more guessing!
For many home users though, this is probably overkill. If price is no option and you want the best coffee possible, then I absolutely recommend this Wilfa coffee grinder. If you’re on a budget, though, or you don’t need to grind for espresso, I think the Svart grinders are probably a better option.
Number of grind settings: 41
Consistency Rating: 8/10
Hopper Capacity: 75 grams
Speed: 6/10
Warranty: 5 years
Ideal for: Espresso drinkers and those who want the highest end Wilfa coffee grinder available for maximum precision and consistency.
How to Decide Which Wilfa Coffee Grinder Is Right for You
Choosing the best Wilfa coffee grinder depends mainly on your budget and what brew methods you use most.
For basic drip, pour over, and French press, I think the Svart lineup is ideal. It gives you everything you need for great grind quality under $200. Stepping up to the Svart Aroma makes sense if noise is an issue or you grind large batches.
If you mainly do espresso and care about precision grind tuning, the Uniform is probably worth the upgrade. The precise settings allow you to dial in your shot and make micro adjustments.
Only hardcore espresso fanatics who want all the bells and whistles should consider the $500 Uniform+. For most people, that’s serious overkill. But if you drink espresso and have a big budget, I do recommend it.
Think about your budget, what brew methods you use, and your tolerance for noise. Use those factors to narrow down which Wilfa model suits your needs. You really can’t go wrong though—even their most basic grinder produces excellent grinds that blow away cheap blade grinders.
A Brief Note On Why You Need a Good Coffee Grinder
I’ve now raved about Wilfa grinders, but do you actually need to spend over $100 on a coffee grinder? Can’t you just buy pre-ground coffee at the supermarket instead?
In my opinion, a quality coffee grinder is the most important tool for making better coffee at home. Nothing else matters if you start with an uneven, inconsistent grind.
Here’s why it’s worth investing in a good grinder:
- Freshness: Ground coffee starts to lose its flavor within minutes. Pre-ground coffee is weeks or even months old before you brew it. Grinding right before brewing preserves the aromatic compounds and always leads to better coffee over pre-ground.
- Consistency: Cheap grinders—especially blade grinders—produce a mix of fine and coarse grounds. This leads to uneven flavor extraction. Quality burrs give you an even grind for optimal flavor.
- Control: You can adjust a good grinder for your preferred brew method. Different methods require different sizes—fine for espresso, coarse for cold brew, and somewhere in between for drip, Chemex, pour over, and French press. Pre-ground coffee means settling for a one-size-fits-none middle ground.
- Value: A good home grinder often pays for itself quickly compared to buying ground coffee at the store. You can buy beans in bulk for savings without worrying so much about rapid staling.
There are some exceptions, of course. If you only drink coffee a few times a month or when company comes over, then investing in a grinder probably isn’t worth it, and pre-ground is fine. For most people though, a quality electric grinder like those from Wilfa will seriously step up your coffee game at home.
Are Wilfa Coffee Grinders Better Than Other Brands?
In the sub-$500 price range, I think Wilfa grinders are among the best coffee grinders for home use available. They provide excellent grind quality and consistency compared to other big brands like DeLonghi, Krups, and Cuisinart. I think they’re even a touch better than some options from Baratza, which have previously been some of my favorite budget electric grinders.
Wilfa grinders are built to last and deliver decently consistent grinds every time. I can always count on them to perform well with no fussy problems or need for constant adjustments. I can say the same about Baratza, but I would always choose Wilfa over Cuisinart, Krups, and similar companies that you might find in a retail store, like Walmart or Target.
The only grinders I think can compete with or beat Wilfa in a similar price range are manual grinders like those from Orphan Espresso, 1Zpresso, and Comandante. Manual grinders have the benefit of simplicity, though—no motor to break down and very little to go wrong.
And the lack of a motor is the precise reason why you get better quality in a given price range. When it comes to manual grinders vs. electric grinders, manual will always beat electric at a given price, but they’re way less convenient. It’s really not a fair comparison.
For most people who want electric grinders, Wilfa hits the sweet spot of quality and value. The grind is not quite as good as equivalently priced manual grinders, but way better than electric grinders from most other brands, in my opinion.
The one exception is espresso—for perfectionist espresso lovers who want the absolute highest quality, Wilfa’s grinders fall a bit short of the best manual grinders and ultra-expensive commercial electric machines. But for most people using standard brew methods, Wilfa grinders are hard to beat.
Problems I Have With Wilfa Coffee Grinders
While I’m overall a big fan of Wilfa grinders, they aren’t perfect. Here are a few downsides I’ve experienced:
- Noise: As mentioned earlier, some models have an annoying high-pitched whining sound. This can be frustrating early in the morning.
- Static: The ground coffee sometimes clings to the catch jar due to static buildup. A bit annoying to deal with static cling each morning and grind retention. This is lessened on the higher-end Wilfa coffee grinders that have stainless steel ground collection cups.
- Messy: The ground catcher jars could be designed better to minimize mess. They’re an odd shape, so when you go to pour into your brewer, there’s a chance you’ll spill some. Again, the higher-end models are better.
- Some inconsistency: While Wilfa grinders are good, they’re not great. I consider these budget electric coffee grinders. Within that category, they’re fantastic. But, compared to high-end and more expensive grinders, they don’t hold up as well.
- Lack of features: Wilfa grinders get the basics right, but lack some of the fancy features and touches higher end brands offer.
So while they represent great value for money, Wilfa grinders aren’t without some flaws. The grind quality punches above the price range, but little annoyances persist.
The Bottom Line: Do I Recommend Wilfa Coffee Grinders?
Despite a few nitpicks, I absolutely recommend Wilfa coffee grinders, especially for budget-minded home enthusiasts. Dollar for dollar, I think they offer the best combination of grind quality and value on the market.
The grind delivered by even their most affordable model blows away cheap blade grinders and won’t disappoint like some other budget burr grinders. Stepping up to pricier Wilfa models gets you better build, more features, and some big consistency and precision improvements.
Yes, manual grinders in a similar price bracket will grind more consistently. But they require physical effort and are far less convenient. Wilfa removes that barrier to fresh grinding at home.
For most people who brew drip, pour over, or French press coffee, I think a Wilfa grinder is perfect. Only espresso perfectionists need to look at pricier commercial grade electric grinders and high-end manual models. Although they could get away with one of the Wilfa Uniform coffee grinders.
Wilfa isn’t flashy, but their grinders just work. They’re designed to handle daily use for years while cranking out fresh, flavorful grounds time after time. I wholeheartedly recommend them for anyone who wants great coffee made simply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wilfa coffee grinders easy to use?
Yes, Wilfa coffee grinders are designed to be very easy to use. The operation is simple—you just add your beans to the hopper, choose your grind setting, and press start. The grind settings are adjusted by turning a dial on most models, which makes it simple to switch between coarse and fine. The grounds bin is easy to remove, empty, and clean as well. Wilfa grinders are made to be very user-friendly even for beginners.
How consistent is the grind from Wilfa coffee grinders?
The grind consistency from Wilfa coffee grinders is impressive, especially for the price. The high quality stainless steel burrs produce grounds that are evenly sized with few fines or boulders. This uniform grind allows for proper water flow and flavor extraction during brewing. While not as laser-precise as commercial grinders costing thousands or home grinders that cost $500+, Wilfa grinders offer grind quality rivaling machines costing much more. Their grind consistency is vastly better than cheap blade grinders.
How durable and reliable are Wilfa coffee grinders?
Wilfa coffee grinders are built to last thanks to their simple but sturdy construction. Many users report getting years of daily use with no issues. The motors have enough power to grind beans efficiently without overheating or wearing out quickly. And the burrs maintain their sharpness for a long time as well. In fact, Wilfa is one of the few companies that offer a 5-year warranty; the average coffee grinder warranty is between 1 and 2 years, so that says something about how confident Wilfa is in its products.
Do Wilfa coffee grinders work for grinding beans for espresso?
While the Uniform models are capable of grinding fine enough for espresso, Wilfa coffee grinders are likely not the best choice for discerning espresso aficionados. Their grind consistency and precision at the finest settings are not quite as good as dedicated espresso grinders. However, Wilfa grinders can certainly produce grounds passable for everyday espresso drinking. Just don’t expect perfection if you’re an espresso fanatic. For most beginners, Wilfa grinders make decent starter espresso grinders.