I got a De Lhongi job from Argos for £20, seems to do the job well enough, grinds as fine as the pre ground Lavazza coffee.

^Those krupps ones are good for the price – a proper burr rather than chopper / blender types that you usually get for that price.

I was worried it’d be fragile / unreliable for the price but I’ve only just had to replaced it after 5 years use

But its useful for when you finally get bored of the stovetop and start making quicker, easier, nicer coffee in a french press instead 🙂

Yep, that Krupps looks hard to beat for the money. It won’t do you proper espresso fine (and consistent) grinding but for what you are after it would be ideal. Some would recommend a hand grinder like the porlex which might see you right for a once or twice a day stove top habit (I started here – I now go through 1.25kg of beans every 2 weeks – it’s a slippery slope!) and is great when travelling but just can’t cut it if you drink in any sort of volume.

Have a Delonghi ceramic burr grinder at home for just this purpose. It was about 20 quid and is good for the money.

Porlex – stainless steel and ceramic. Bomb proof, and can rig it up to a cordless drill for when you can’t be bothered to hand grind. Ordered mine from japan. Arrived in 3 days.

How long does hand grinding take? Or maybe how many turns needed?

About a 100 turns per cup of coffee would be my guess – i.e. to make enough grounds to fill a small one person stove top with stove top size of grounds. Maybe a few more turns if you like to grind finer. About a minute of frapping away looking like you are pleasuring yourself if seen from a distance.

I’ve got a delonghi. I found online a ‘hack’ where you add in a spacer under one of the burrs (made form plastic milk bottle). Works a treat. Grinds espresso fine and produces great results with my gaggia.