The Ultimate Guide to the Finest Grinder Brands for 2023

Are you tired of the tedious process of manually grinding your herbs? Yearning for a more efficient and convenient way to achieve the perfect consistency? Look no further! In this article, we will delve into the world of the best grinder brands for 2023, unveiling the most cutting-edge and innovative products that will revolutionize your grinding experience. From the Brilliant Cut Grinder to the Banana Bros OTTO Go, prepare to be captivated as we explore the realm of technologically advanced herb grinders that are guaranteed to elevate your herbal enjoyment to unprecedented heights.

Brilliant Cut Grinder

The Brilliant Cut Grinder is highly recommended for its smooth action and innovative features that prevent jams. It is made of durable 7075 aluminum alloy, giving it a sturdy feel without being too heavy. The threadless pieces are magnetized and fit together tightly, even when dropped.

Before loading the grinder, the pieces spin smoothly, thanks in part to the ring that fits between them. The center post's teeth keep everything in place and prevent the sidewalls from rubbing together during grinding, which minimizes the amount of buds that get squished.

The Brilliant Cut Grinder is designed so that more of its holes are on the outer edges of the middle plate rather than in the center. This design allows for a consistent grind, although there may be some chunkier pieces left with dense buds. The medium plate produces a slightly finer consistency overall. It is not recommended to turn the grinder upside down for a finer grind because of how the pieces fit together, which can cause a mess and squish the buds.

One drawback of the Brilliant Cut Grinder is the absence of a kief screen. However, the design does a good job of preventing kief from becoming stuck and ensures it makes its way down to the bottom compartment instead of getting trapped.

This grinder is recommended for on-the-go users due to its sturdy yet lightweight design. It is particularly suitable for those who prefer a fine consistency for vaping. However, it is important to note that grinding upside down is not advised.

Capacity: Medium

Strength: Requires more effort than stainless steel options but is less prone to jamming

Materials and construction: Durable construction, with the aluminum alloy potentially showing wear over time

Ease of cleaning: Relatively easy to clean and accumulates less residue compared to other grinders

Pieces: Does not include a kief screen

Banana Bros OTTO Go

For those seeking a more advanced option, the Banana Bros OTTO Go is an excellent choice. This electronic grinder utilizes a mill system to break down buds. According to Richmond, this technology allows the OTTO Go to handle cannabis with various moisture levels and densities without crushing the bud too finely. The grinder ensures that users can fully enjoy their valuable cannabis.

For added convenience, the OG Otto model comes with a cone-packing system that automatically fills a tube with ground flower. This feature is ideal for those who enjoy pre-rolled cones and prefer an electronic grinder that stands out in terms of design and functionality.

Price: .99

Boomers Stainless Steel Grinder

The Boomers Stainless Steel Grinder is perfect for those who embrace the "less is more" philosophy. The stainless steel pieces are hefty and boast an elegant finish, with a logo etching and criss-cross scoring on the edges. This grinder features a classic design typically seen in acrylic grinders. However, unlike its older counterparts, the Boomers Stainless Steel Grinder provides a sense of nostalgia without the concern of plastic residue.

There are no kief screen, magnets, or plates with varying hole sizes. Instead, the grinder consists of two solid metal pieces equipped with sharp teeth that effortlessly tear through large nuggets. In fact, it is so efficient that it can even grind nuts in a matter of seconds.

Portability is not the Boomers grinder's strong suit. It is quite heavy and does not have any threads or magnets to keep it secure while on the move. Additionally, the absence of a collection chamber makes it difficult to pre-grind weed for outings or events.

One advantage of the two-piece design is the flexibility it provides in achieving the desired consistency. The more the grinder is turned, the finer the grind becomes. Another noteworthy feature is its dishwasher-safe construction. Unlike other grinders that may have components that can trap soap and water, the Boomers grinder is free of any such parts, making it easier to clean and maintain.

Ultimately, the Boomers Stainless Steel Grinder is highly recommended for home use, offering lasting durability with minimal maintenance required.

Capacity: Medium (can hold around two grams without causing overflow)

Strength: Capable of effortlessly tearing through herb

Materials and construction: Exceptionally sturdy and reliable

Ease of cleaning: May accumulate some residue, but can be easily scraped or soaked out

Pieces: No kief screen or collection chamber

Santa Cruz Shredder 4-piece grinder

The name Santa Cruz Shredder is well-known in the industry. When it comes to the best grinders, this brand consistently makes the list. The patented tooth design of their 4-piece grinders effectively grinds flower without damaging the trichomes, resulting in an ideal consistency and optimal burn for smoking.

"When we developed our grinder, the only option available had a diamond-shaped tooth design. We brought in a NASA engineer who came up with a unique square design with serrated blades. It was a complete innovation. We don't imitate anyone," said Hansen, co-founder of Santa Cruz Shredder.

The 4-piece grinders are constructed of anodized aluminum and feature Santa Cruz Shredder's patented tooth design. They are available in a wide range of colors and finishes, including gloss and matte options.

Price: $54.50

The Flower Mill Standard Edition

In my opinion, The Flower Mill is the best grinder ever created. Unlike traditional grinders that "grind" the weed, The Flower Mill "mills" it through a grate. This unique milling system preserves the trichomes of the flower and allows for a significantly larger capacity compared to standard grinders. You can grind much more weed at once and do it quickly.

Additionally, The Flower Mill's pressing method, as opposed to twisting, prevents the grinder from getting excessively clogged. This means you can go longer without having to clean it. While the price of The Flower Mill may seem steep at around $100, its exceptional performance makes it well worth the investment.

The Standard Edition of The Flower Mill consists of three pieces: the top mill, grater, and bottom chamber. For those who desire additional features, the Premium Edition comes with a mesh screen that transforms the flower chamber into a kief chamber.

Price: .99 - 99.99

The Herb Mill

For an affordable option that can also be used in the kitchen, The Herb Mill from Microplane is a popular choice. While it is a handy gadget for prepping cilantro on Taco Tuesday, it is also capable of breaking down an ounce of weed faster than even larger weed grinders. The Herb Mill may not be made of the highest quality materials, but its price point reflects its value, making it an attractive option.

Unlike other grinders, The Herb Mill requires a significant amount of pressure. As you twist, you must also push down on the plunger to ensure the ingredients are properly processed. While this may be considered a drawback, it allows for on-the-fly adjustments in grinding consistency. Light pressure produces a very fine grind, while more pressure results in larger pieces being pushed through the blades before being chopped.

To be honest, The Herb Mill is not as enjoyable to use as the Androck Nut Grinder. Additionally, its control is not particularly precise, which can lead to inconsistent results regardless of how careful you are. Another downside is the absence of a receptacle for the ground herb, requiring you to hold the grinder over a jar or container to avoid spilling the weed. This may not be a major issue, but it does add inconvenience, especially when considering that most grinders also serve as containers.

I would say The Herb Mill is not incredibly useful, but it does have its merits. The need for a separate container and concerns about durability are reasons to approach it with caution. While it is an amusing way to make weed grinding feel like cooking, a coffee grinder may be a better choice for achieving a super fine consistency for edibles or conduction vaping.

Consistency: Adjustable, capable of producing a very fine grind

Capacity: Large

Strength: Requires some effort

Materials/Construction: Relatively inexpensive, but also moderately priced

Cleaning: Cleaning may not be enjoyable after repeated use, but soaking should be effective

Pieces/Screen: No kief screen or container for ground bud

The Herb Mill is an affordable backup option for quickly processing a large quantity of bud into various consistencies. However, it is expected that the blades may dull fairly quickly and that cleaning and maintenance may become more challenging.

The Herb Ripper

The Herb Ripper is a compact yet remarkably robust and well-built grinder. Made entirely of stainless steel, it not only looks stunning but also performs exceptionally. Personally, I find it to be the most visually appealing grinder I have reviewed. Its sleek design exudes elegance without any unnecessary extravagance commonly seen in "high-end" cannabis products. The Herb Ripper would fit right in a limousine, right alongside a chilled bottle of champagne.

My initial concern with the Herb Ripper was its size. Could it handle the 2.5 grams of weed that I packed into it?

As you can see, it looks like it would get jammed, right? To my pleasant surprise, this little stainless steel cylinder had no trouble tearing through all that weed. It effortlessly spun around, even though it was slightly overfilled. In fact, it was actually smoother and easier to twist than most larger grinders I've used.

The middle compartment for holding the ground bud is surprisingly spacious, and the kief compartment offers plenty of room as well. The magnet used in this grinder is by far the strongest among the products I reviewed. Additionally, it features rubber o-rings on both the top and bottom pieces, ensuring a secure fit. While the Herb Ripper is undeniably heavy, it is a minor inconvenience as long as you wear a belt to prevent any unintentional mooning.

Oh, and I almost forgot! The Herb Ripper comes with a stainless steel ball for shaking off kief from your buds, and the custom guitar pick designed for scraping kief is a delightful addition!

Consistency: Standard plate provides a medium to fine consistency, with the option to choose coarse or fine grading plates at checkout

Capacity: Relatively low (can grind up to 1.5 grams, but has a large collection chamber)

Strength: Capable of effortlessly shredding dense material

Materials/Construction: Beautiful polished steel with excellent build quality

Cleaning: The small teeth should make cleaning fairly easy

Pieces/Screen: Can function as a 3- or 4-piece grinder with a high-quality, fine-grade kief screen

The Herb Ripper is highly recommended for its exceptional materials, superb build quality, and elegant appearance.

Lift Innovations

The Lift Innovations weed grinder is definitely one to be excited about. While some people argue that if something isn't broken, it doesn't need fixing, we would still be using outhouses and toilet paper with splinters if we always adhered to that belief. So, what does the Lift Innovations weed grinder offer that sets it apart? Instead of using traditional teeth to break apart the herb, it uses a swirling set of large blades that gently shreds the product. This innovative approach is reminiscent of a food processor or coffee grinder.

Loading the Lift Innovations grinder is slightly different, as it consists of three compartments instead of the standard "plate" configuration. I initially thought this would limit its capacity, but it actually fit a full 2.5 grams with room to spare. Grinding the herb requires minimal effort and quickly produces a fluffy consistency with medium-sized pieces. I did notice that some bits of bud may stick to the swirling blade and require vigorous spinning or the addition of more weed to fall through, but this is not a significant issue unless you are down to your last pinch. While it may be slightly more challenging to dislodge stuck weed compared to a standard grinder, the Lift Innovations grinder prevents squished bud from getting trapped in crevices. As long as you have an ashtray nearby (see below), it is easy to disassemble and clean.

I love the feel of the Lift Innovations grinder, and while its performance may not seem dramatically different from other grinders at first glance, it is far more enjoyable to use. If given the opportunity, I would love to examine the differences under a microscope and provide further insight. Additionally, the grinder comes with a matching ashtray (not pictured), making it a stylish accessory for your coffee table.

Update: The included ashtray (not pictured) doubles as a tool for disassembling the grinder! This is essential for cleaning and also allows for part replacement, which is available for purchase on their website. For more information, check out their Youtube video on the subject.

Consistency: Medium-large consistency, providing slightly more surface area for vaping or cooking compared to conventional grinders

Capacity: Medium (can hold approximately 2 grams)

Strength: Effortlessly shreds dense material

Materials/Construction: Well-crafted with durable materials, lightweight considering its sturdiness

Cleaning: Easily disassembles for simple cleaning

Pieces/Screen: Functions as a 3- or 4-piece grinder featuring a high-quality, fine-grade kief screen

The Lift Innovations grinder is a highly recommended all-around option in the $100 price range. However, it may be challenging to find one at the moment, and past reports of poor communication and customer service should be considered, although those issues appear to have been resolved.

The Cali Crusher

First up is the Cali Crusher, which offers some customizable options and the unique feature of custom etching. However, beyond these advantages, I have some concerns. In comparison to other grinders, the Cali Crusher initially feels lightweight and pleasant, but with prolonged use, it becomes apparent that it is cheaply made. Upon closer inspection, this observation holds true.

Despite having one of the largest capacities among standard weed grinders, it requires more effort than others to grind 1.5 grams of dense buds. While the threadless "quicklock technology" works well initially, the fact that it still relies on threads means that it can eventually become clogged, making it harder to open and close.

Furthermore, this grinder lacks o-rings to seal in freshness and aroma, and the magnets are not strong enough to ensure that the grinder remains closed during transportation. This compromises its suitability for carrying in a bag or backpack without the risk of spillage.

As for the kief screen, it appears to be constructed with a flimsy oversized pipe screen. Its fragility allows it to be easily bent out of place, and the resulting "kief" is predominantly leaf and plant matter rather than the desired trichomes. Considering the high price of , this compromise on the quality of the screen is unacceptable.

Consistency: Medium-fine consistency suitable for most purposes.

Capacity: Medium to large, capable of grinding 2.5 grams.

Strength: Underwhelming compared to premium options.

Materials/Construction: Poor quality considering the price.

Cleaning: Easy to clean due to wide-spaced teeth.

Pieces/Screen: Four-piece grinder with a low-quality screen that can be used as a three-piece.

Unless the ability to customize the logo is of utmost importance to you, the Cali Crusher is overpriced for its quality and construction. We do not recommend it to anyone.

Androck Vintage Nut Grinder

After searching through listings on eBay, I discovered that many of these devices are truly vintage. They appear faded, rusty, and unappealing overall. While a bit of rust in your apple walnut salad may not be harmful, it is worth noting that in the early 1900s, doctors prescribed substances like arsenic and mercury for medical purposes. It is safe to say that metal contamination in consumer products was not a significant concern during that era. Now, if we consider the fact that we will be smoking our salad this time, the situation changes, doesn't it? 

For me, it is crucial to ensure the cleanliness of my buds, so finding a grinder in excellent condition that wouldn't contaminate my herb was essential. After carefully assessing the overall condition, I settled on a model that cost just over $20 with shipping and eagerly awaited its arrival. Upon unpacking, I was delighted by the charming glass jar and crank handle, though I remained skeptical about its performance. However, I discovered a surprise hiding among the metal teeth.

It turned out to be ground-up nuts that had become lodged in the teeth. While my device was rust-free, removing the nut residue from the metal teeth proved to be a challenge. It took some effort, but I eventually managed to clean it to my satisfaction. Now, onto the exciting part!

As you can see, the Androck Nut Grinder easily accommodates the 1.5 grams of bud that I used to test each grinder and has the capacity for much more. The bottom receptacle is even larger, allowing you to grind and collect well over an ounce of ground bud. As you crank the handle and watch the flat metal teeth crush and tear the weed, dropping it into the container below, it's hard not to feel a sense of satisfaction. Grinding through large chunks of weed is not effortless, but due to the absence of sharp or pointy edges, it is easier than one would expect. Although it is claimed that spinning the grinder in different directions produces different consistencies, I was too enthralled by the process to notice a significant difference.

Except for jumbo-sized coffee grinders, no other grinder on the market makes preparing for a party, festival, or smoke out as easy as the Androck Nut Grinder. If you have ever used a coffee grinder for this purpose, you have likely been disappointed by the mixture of fine dust and large chunks. This is where the Androck Nut Grinder truly shines.

For blunt and joint smokers, the mixture of medium and larger pieces provides an experience similar to using your own fingers. However, this is not a trivial matter. Larger chunks reduce the amount of air introduced to the ember, resulting in lower, safer, and more flavorful temperatures. With enough small pieces to fill in the gaps, you can achieve a slow-burning blunt or joint with minimal modification required for the larger pieces.

Consistency: Larger consistency suitable for rolling, but less useful for vaping.

Capacity: Extensive capacity, capable of grinding and collecting an ounce or more in minutes.

Strength: Moderately strong.

Materials/Construction: Well-built, although the materials used are unknown.

Cleaning: Relatively easy to clean, but likely not washable.

Pieces/Kief Screen: No kief screen.

The Androck Nut Grinder is recommended for heavy smokers who primarily use joints, blunts, or bowls with larger nugs. It is not suitable for light users, vapers, or those who make edibles. 

Zeus Bolt 2

If you're seeking a grinder specifically for kief, the Zeus Bolt 2 is one of the best options available. It is a 4-piece grinder with three chambers and airtight, magnetic top. Made from aluminum, it features diamond-shaped teeth for effective grinding. Personally, I used to place a coin in the middle of my Zeus Bolt 2, and with just a few gentle shakes, the bottom chamber would be covered in a fine layer of trichomes. While this trick is often employed with other grinders, some may still fail to allow the kief to pass through the mesh screen.

Interestingly, the Zeus Bolt 2 was not marketed as a specialized kief grinder, yet it delivers impressive results. Additionally, it is affordably priced for a high-quality grinder that is built to last. I have owned mine for over three years, and it continues to grind bud just as effectively as it did when I first purchased it.

For those who require an even larger grinder, the Zeus Bolt XL is available for just an additional $10. This investment is worthwhile if you frequently roll larger blunts or joints.

Price: $24.99

The Best Weed Grinders: Our Picks for 2023

There is an overwhelming array of options when it comes to grinders, and determining the best one is largely a matter of personal preference. However, to assist you in your search for the perfect weed grinder, we have selected a few of our top choices in popular categories.

Aluminum is widely regarded as the best material for grinders, and Santa Cruz Shredders stand out as the most reputable and popular option in this category. While they may be a bit pricier, starting at $35 for a two-piece grinder, many users swear by their quality.

For those seeking an aesthetically pleasing option, Marley Natural offers a four-piece wood grinder. Priced at , it may be considered a splurge, but it is an excellent choice for those who value a visually elevated design.

If you prefer an electric grinder, the COOL KNIGHT Herb Grinder is highly recommended. With over five thousand four-star reviews and a price of only $23, it offers convenience and efficient grinding.

Five-piece grinders are slightly harder to find, but the SharpStone 5 Piece Herb Grinder can be purchased online. This grinder includes an additional kief catcher to enhance the usability of your cannabis material. It receives rave reviews from customers and is reasonably priced, starting at $40.

These are just a few examples among the hundreds of options available at local dispensaries, smoke shops, and online retailers. It is not uncommon to try out multiple grinders before finding the perfect fit for your needs. Happy grinding!

In conclusion, when it comes to finding the best grinder brands, the options are truly endless. Whether you're looking for a high-quality grinder for your kitchen spices or a top-notch weed grinder for a smooth smoking experience, there is something for everyone. From the sleek and efficient designs of the Brilliant Cut Grinder and the Santa Cruz Shredder, to the innovative technology of the Banana Bros OTTO Go, the market is filled with exceptional choices. So why settle for anything less than the best? Step up your grinding game with one of these top picks for 2023 and elevate your herb and spice game to new heights. Cheers to flavorful and finely ground concoctions!