Krups Fast Touch 203

Reviewers say the Krups Fast Touch is a simple, reliable and inexpensive blade-style grinder for automatic drip coffeemakers and French presses. Owners say their Krups grinders are still going strong after many years of use. (One reviewer even reports that it melted on contact with a stove burner, but kept on grinding). The compact Krups Fast Touch coffee grinder has a lid that fits snugly into the base, and owners report cleanup is as easy as wiping out residual grounds with a damp paper towel. The Fast Touch can hold 12 tablespoons of beans — enough for about 1.5 pots of automatic drip coffee. This budget-priced blade grinder may not produce coffee that’s fine enough for use in espresso machines; for that, experts recommend burr grinders, such as the Rancilio Rocky Doserless (*Est. $350).

Cook’s Illustrated magazine published the best review of the Krups Fast Touch 203. This is also one of the most-reviewed coffee grinders at Amazon.com, where owners give it an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of a possible five) in over 320 reviews. We also read write-ups at Epinions.com and Viewpoints.com, and the Krups Fast Touch is also included in a list of the eight top coffee grinders on About.com.