Coffee is best made with freshly ground coffee beans. Having a coffee grinder also expands your coffee options because some beans are only offered in whole-bean packages. Unless you have a coffee maker with a grinder—which can be a convenient option—you will need to have a dedicated coffee bean grinder, and picking the right one can be as important as choosing the right coffee maker.

Coffee grinders vary in a few ways. Most importantly, they vary by grinding style. A traditional manual coffee grinder doesn’t use electricity because it is cranked by hand. It is a quiet option, but it does take a little time and elbow grease. The two more popular options are both electric: the blade coffee grinder and the burr coffee grinder.

The blade grinder can be compact and is perfect if you’re usually preparing one or two cups of coffee at once. To get different-sized grounds, however, you will need to eyeball the results. Meanwhile, a burr coffee grinder can be set to different coffee grind sizes, such as medium for drip coffee makers, large for French press or fine for espresso makers.

First, think about which type of coffee grinder will work best for you: manual, blade or burr. If you have a combo coffee and espresso machine and want consistency in the fineness or coarseness of your coffee grounds, then a burr machine is the best choice for you. Otherwise, deciding between a manual grinder and a blade grinder really comes down to how much time and effort you want to put into grinding coffee beans.

Once you’ve chosen a coffee grinder type, consider capacity. How much coffee do you want to grind at once? When choosing, you should consider how many settings individual coffee grinders offer and whether they match your needs. You should also think about whether you want any additional features, like auto shut-off or a coffee grinder with a safety lock.

Finally, make sure you invest in all the elements that will keep your home-brewed coffee tasting incredible. Use a water filter to purify the water you put through your coffee maker and clean and descale your coffee maker as needed—following the manufacturer’s guidelines—to ensure that there is no mineral or oil buildup.