Best Herb Grinder of 2020: Complete Reviews with Comparisons

Comparison Chart

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Best Herb Grinder Reviews

Pros

• 2 color options
• Kief collector
• Sharp teeth
• Durable construction
• Grinds evenly

Cons

• Magnet is a bit weak

Product Highlights

Constructed from premium aircraft-grade aluminum this Golden Gate Grinder is most certainly built to last, so there’s little surprise that the manufacturer is backing your purchase with a superb lifetime warranty. It’s optimally sized at 2.5 inches so that it can grind a decent batch of herbs in one go and the teeth are powerful and sharp but won’t rip or shred your contents. It’s got a good balance to weight ratio so that it feels comfortable in your hand and is easy to operate with textured sides on the lid that prevents slippage.

It offers a silent and smooth operation, and with powerful magnets on the lid, you can conveniently use your grinder to store any leftover weed or herbs you’re not quite ready to use yet, without fear of them spilling out or creating an unwanted odor. While the black anodized matte finish also looks very smart, it also has a practical application in that it makes this Golden Gate Grinder scratch resistant too. Tough and durable with sharp diamond cutting teeth and a stainless steel mesh filter to capture fine pollen, this really is an excellent choice.

Pros

• Made from aircraft-grade aluminum
• Easy twisting thanks to thing poly O-ring
• Stainless mesh pollen catcher
• Strong magnet prevents accidental spillage
• Supplied with convenient scoop

Cons

• Bit messy to clean

Pros

• Pocket sizes
• Durable and sturdy
• Smooth threading for easy closure
• Good grinding action
• Clear top

Cons

• Magnetic top weakens over time

Kozo Best Herb Grinder - Large 4 Piece, 2.5" Silver Aluminium

If you’re looking for a top-draw, 4-piece grinder that features razor-sharp never-dull teeth to deliver a fluffy and fulsome grind every time, you’re going to love this next best herb grinder recommendation. It comes from Kozo Grinders and is available in a stunning Purple, Gold and Rose Gold options as well as a Black and Dark Black design. This is one seriously sophisticated looking herb grinder which just so happens also to deliver exceptional results.

Product Highlights

It’s guaranteed by the manufacturer to deliver a smooth grind, from 9 till 5. The Kozo is a well built grinder crafted from heavy duty aluminum alloy. The high quality material makes the chambers open smoothly and easily, it's safe to use for all those herbs and spices and anything else you might care to grind in this sleek looking device. A new removable mesh screen is deeper and fits perfectly into the bottom piece. It was specifically designed to hold more ground material and be more stable. This will allow you to grind more herb at once and prevent you from spilling it while opening the top part.

With a removable easy-to-clean screen it’s easier than ever to collect and scoop out sifted pollen of the highest quality and potency. The Kozo has very sharp grinding teeth that are perfectly positioned to grind every type of herb, from the lightest herb to the densest one with a few easy twists. The fine herb this grinder produces will burn more efficiently and you will get the maximum result. It’s the ideal size and easily fits in the palm of your hand, and is totally portable too. It  has a very strong MAGNETIC LID. It's strong enough to hold tight even if you turn it upside down and shake it which means that it will dramatically reduce spilling your herbs. It also has a unique top and bottom grip that fits your fingers perfectly and makes it very convenient to hold while you grind your herbs.

The Kozo Grinder is a  number 1 choice of the grinders at Amazon and with more that 4,500 ratings it has a near perfect score.

Pros

• Made from high-quality, durable aluminum alloy
• Excellent function and design producing finely ground material to setting
• Easily separates kief
• Easy to take apart and clean
• Powerful magnetic seal
• Outer design gives a complete non-slip hold for use
• 100% money back guarantee if not happy

Cons

• Grinder is a bit chunky looking in design

Pros

• 4-piece grinder design
• Lion’s tooth curved teeth
• Secure magnetic closure
• Perfectly sifts pollen
• Durable, high-quality aerospace aluminum construction

Cons

• Pollen catcher holes very small

AEROSPACED - 5 Piece - 2.3 inch Acrylic Grinder / Storage Case

If you’re looking for a larger sized, 5-piece grinder at a price anyone can afford, and that features razor-sharp teeth to deliver a fluffy and fulsome grind every time, you’re going to love this next best herb grinder recommendation.

It is made from acrylic which means it is very light weight if you are traveling or hiking.  It is made by Aerospaced and is available in a range of colors. This grinder has extremely sharp diamond shaped teeth easily cut through even the toughest of aromatherapy blends with ease. The ultra durable screen has a specific size micron screen which allows only the purest aromatherapy dust to fall through while minimizing clogs at the same time.

Product Highlights

With 5 pieces in total, this is a 5-piece unibody jar grinder and is manufactured by injection molding to achieve the highest strength while maintaining a light weight.

It's safe to use for all those herbs and spices and anything else you might care to grind. This grinder has a very strong double magnet top to ensure an air tight hold for your stash.

Pros

• Made from high-quality, durable, lightweight acrylic
• Functional and produces finely ground pollen
• Easily separates kief
• Easy to take apart and clean
• Built in  stash case
• Strong double magnet top to keep your stash stored and air tight
• Many colors
• Affordable price

Cons

• Plastic doesn't have the same look of quality that metal does
• Concern that plastic may crack if dropped

AEROSPACED - 4 Piece - Grinder/Sifter

The AEROSPACED 4-piece grinder is a quality grinder at an affordable price. Made from aluminum grinder with sifter delivers a consistent and distinctive pattern that is ideal for filtering unwanted material from the end-grind.

Product Highlights

The grinder is well built and has razor sharp teeth that won't go dull but will give you a nice fluffy grind. You can select this grinder in 6 different sizes, according to the amount of material you want grind,  and there is a nice range of colors.  The AEROSPACED 4 piece grinder has a strong magnetic lid and it comes with its own pouch a scrape. 

Pros

• Made from high-quality, anodized aluminum
• Functional and produces finely ground material
• 6 different sizes available
• Easy to take apart and clean
• Strong magnetic lid
• Great range of colors
• Affordable price for a quality grinder
• Storage pouch and scraper supplied
• US made

Cons

• Design look is not very inspiring but colors do make up for this
• Smooth body not ideal for grip when pulling the pieces apart

Santa Cruz - 3 Piece - Grinder/Sifter

The Santa Cruz 3-piece grinder is a great piece of quality equipment that has a  patented teeth design which allows the teeth to cut both ways. This will mean your aromatic blends will always be “FLUFFED TO PERFECTION”

Product Highlights

The Santa Cruz Shredders have an improved grip makes it easier than ever to get the perfect grind, all without having to increase pressure or power, plus a  rare earth magnet provides a brand new lid closing technology so you don't have to worry about losing any of your ground material. Fewer spills means less material lost and even more sessions. Medical-Grade anodized aluminum is the cornerstone of Santa Cruz Shredders. This high quality finish removes any chance of scratching or cross threading.

Pros

• Made from medical grade, high-quality, anodized aluminum
• Functional and produces finely ground material
• Unique Tooth Design Fluffs Aromatic Blends
• 3 different sizes available
• Easy to take apart and clean
• Strong magnetic lid
• A great range of colors
• Lifetime Warranty
• US made

Cons

• Design look is not very inspiring but colors do make up for this

Cartsdom Herb Grinder 

Our final grinder is a playful piece that actually is useful if discretion is a concern. The Cartdom grinder has a fun design that hides a  nice 3 section grinder inside.  The Starwars figure also means an easy grip and if you want to hide your grinder in plain site, this is great way to do it with the grinder hidden in the figurine. 

Product Highlights

A unique and fun design breaks the mold of ordinariness and also means your grinder with its stash inside is invisible as a decoration.

Pros

• Gives  a good, medium sheer on your herb—not too fine or too chunky. 
• It offers  a solid and inexpensive option for a grinder with a unique design.
• Sharp teeth seamlessly cuts through your material, sifting out the bad chunks and preserving the extra-potent kief.
• Made from zinc alloyed steel and a plastic outer figurine case
• Easy to take apart and clean
• Strong magnetic sealing lid
• Offers a way to keep your grinder and contained stash handy in plain sight at home but invisible as a playful ornament.

Cons

• Not everyone will find the design appealing
• The design might attract young children who would want to pull it apart
• Not practical for travel

Buyer’s Guide

Price

Your first decision when making any purchase is the budget you have available. Determine how much you want to spend on a new grinder as that will then determine which manufacturers offer options that are affordable and within your budget.

Build Quality

Of course, the build quality is important, and you should go for the best that you can afford within your budget. The best grinders are made from aluminum or from a mix of aluminum with acrylic. Aluminum is designed to last and to be durable over time, especially if it’s also titanium coated which will provide you with the best quality.

You can also opt for a more inexpensive grinder made from either wood or just an acrylic but these won’t offer such even and smooth grinding results and typically will only feature just the one chamber and be of a fundamental design and build.

Grinder Design

The design aesthetics of your grinder are a case of personal preference, and you can get all kinds of different shapes and sizes with various logos and designs emblazoned on them. What perhaps is more important to consider in terms of the actual design is how many chambers you require. There are roughly speaking three popular types of grinder referred to in both pieces and chambers, and those are as follows:

Two-piece – single chamber

Essentially this grinder design features a bowl with a lid and is typically shaped a little bit like a hockey puck.

Three-piece – two chamber

A lid and bowl feature as before but with an additional piece underneath that usually features holes and acts as a chamber to catch your weed. This bottom section is useful if you are grinding to create a pot consistency that you can more easily smoke.

Four-piece – three chamber

In a four-piece or three chamber design, all the elements above are included but with one extra collection chamber specifically intended to collect kief. This is the most delicate texture and the most potent too and is more akin to pollen.

Grinder Type

You have two main options when it comes to the grinder type – you can go for electric or manual. If you are regularly grinding, particularly larger quantities, you will most likely want to go for an electric type which will certainly save you time but of course, will be more expensive up front to purchase.

FAQ

How to use an herb grinder

A grinder is a relatively simple but very effective tool to have around and certainly makes life easier and whatever you're choosing to grind, taste, smell and act more potently. Here’s our easy step-by-step guide on how to use a basic grinder. Of course, always refer to any specific instructions your herb grinder came with to ensure that you are getting the very best out of your own purchase.

1. Load up your grinder, ready for action. Remove the lid and break up any larger buds into smaller pieces so that they get efficiently ground.
2. Grind up your chosen contents. Replace the lid securely and hold it with one hand while you rotate the bottom with your other hand. Apply a bit of muscle and continue turning the grinder till you feel the resistance disappear and you’re happy you have the right herb consistency.
3. Tap the grinder to dislodge the contents. Before you remove the lid, it’s a good idea to just give the collection chamber a good old tap against a table for example to dislodge any remnants that might have got stuck.
4. Collect the herbs. Separate your grinding chamber from that collection chamber and scoop out those contents ready to enjoy that powdery goodness you’ve created.

Enjoy and savor the blend you’ve created. It’s over to you now to do what you do best and to enjoy the fruits of your labor the way you prefer the best!  Roll it, whip it, steep it, sip it – your choice.

A couple of essential top tips at this point in terms of how to use your grinder more effectively and to get the very best out of your experience:

• Where possible and budget allows, we recommended that you go for an aluminum or zinc grinder and also choose one which has plenty of teeth and holes which will help you get a better power consistency
• Don’t be tempted to overfill the chamber as this will inhibit that grinding process, and it’s also a good idea to turn the grinder upside down a couple of times too. Other than that, happy grinding!

How to clean an herb grinder

While grinders certainly don’t need to be cleaned anywhere near as often as pipes and other accessories, they should still be regularly cleaned to ensure they retain their sharpness and efficiency and don’t get gunked-up or blocked with residue. They’re relatively easy to clean, and the process won’t take long, so we do recommend that you are vigilant and commit to cleaning out your grinder regularly, especially if it's getting used frequently.

Simply disassemble your grinder and place the parts in the freezer for 30 minutes. We say that because this way, any residue will harden and stick to the sides so that it’s easier to tap it off. Remove the parts and give it all a good solid tap onto a piece of paper towel to dislodge all the gunk with something like a soft toothbrush or a paintbrush; sweep away any remaining particles taking particular care to get into the nooks and crannies and the threads of your grinder.

If you feel like your grinder really needs a deeper and thorough clean, we recommend that use isopropyl alcohol if you have an all-metal grinder to soak the parts in; for acrylic- and plastic-constructed grinders, just use boiling water and a soapy detergent solution.

How to make an herb grinder

If you don’t currently have the budget to buy a grinder or perhaps yours is presently broken and out of action, there’s no need to get into a bind. There are plenty of do-it-yourself options that you can temporarily implement to make your own effective herb grinder.

The most basic method of course is finger chopping, but that’s a bit basic unless you’re stuck on a desert island somewhere! You could instead try a good old chopping board and knife; after all, it works perfectly well for your vegetables so stands to reason you could adopt this method for cutting herbs too.

Alternatively, grab yourself a shot glass and a pair of scissors. Sounds simple but believe us, it works. Merely put your buds inside the shot glass then starting hacking at them with those scissors. As a final suggestion, if you do have one available, how about using your coffee grinder instead? Works like a treat for coffee beans so stands to reason it can work on your special herbs too.

Why do you grind weed?

Good question and actually, there are a few reasons why you might choose to grind your weed and not least because it’s going to enhance the potency significantly. Grinders just so happen to be an excellent accessory for anyone who loves their herbs and will definitely help you to get the most out of it both flavor and strength. If you are specifically grinding marijuana, then you can access the kief, that pure and potent part of the plant.

A grinder creates more consistent sized pieces, which increase the overall surface area, which in turn also makes it easier to burn your weed. Something called canoeing can happen if you don’t grind your weed, so by using a herb grinder you get a more even burn rate. It also means that you have to handle the grass with your hands less.

Besides these benefits, using a grinder will unlock more of the taste, flavor, and aroma from your weed. It’s also so much quicker than trying to create that perfect consistency by hand, and you’ll get maximum benefit and use from all your buds so, in theory, your stash should last you that bit longer too which should wind up saving you some cash.

What is a herb grinder?

A grinder is an essential piece of equipment and will really help you get your herbs or weed if that’s what you’re using it for, into precisely the right, fine consistency. Grinders also make the herbs you’re grinding more potent, maximizing the surface area and ensuring a more consistent texture and structure which of course has a ton of benefits, not least to the taste and smell as well as the potency.

Essentially most grinders come with three key component parts:

• A grinding chamber
• Teeth or pegs that do the actual grinding action
• A secure lid to keep the contents contained

They might sound simple, certainly, their action is, but they can, in fact, be pretty sophisticated and you might go for one with a single, double or even a triple chamber, also known as a two, three or four piece.