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Breaking up bud with your fingers just flat out sucks.
Not to mention the fact that you’re destroying the trichomes when you do it.
A grinder is an essential stoner tool, and no smoke session should go without one.
Today, I’ll show you why the best weed grinder is a Space Case, what to look for when shopping for a grinder and just about everything there is to know about grinders!
Quick 5 Best Weed Grinders:
Rank | Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Space Case | ||
2 | |||
3 | |||
4 | |||
5 |
*Keep reading for full reviews or you can jump straight to the herb grinder reviews.
Table of Contents
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The Top Cannabis Grinders of 2019
Space Case Grinder
In the world of Cannabis, the Space Case Herb Grinder is widely considered the best weed grinders.
Known for its quality, you’ll be getting a top of the line grinder that will last you for years.
In fact, thanks to the lifetime warranty it comes with, it will last for life!
It’s a large grinder coming in at 3.5” in diameter and 2.5” high, and, of course, it’s a 4-piece grinder that even comes with a kief scraper so it is easier to load on your bowl.
Its teeth tear through bud, and it doesn’t clog easily while still allowing only trichomes to fall through keeping plant matter in the middle chamber.
The way it grinds bud also makes this a great herb grinder for vaporizers.
The neodymium magnet is strong as heck.
Plus, it’s made in the USA out of aircraft grade aluminum!
In other words, you can expect this grinder to last for 10 years!
You’ll love the smooth twist of this grinder—it's so smooth, you almost won’t think bud's in it!
One thing that stands out about this grinder is the unique threads.
You do not have to worry about cross threading like you do with cheap knockoffs.
And did I say this thing was BIG?
You can easily grind 4 or 5 grams in this grinder!
This is a perfect grinder, the only downside being the cost.
Top of the line quality requires top of the line cost when it comes to the best weed grinders!
Pros
- Comes with a pollen scraper
- Very strong neodymium magnet
- Grinder has a smooth twist
Cons
- A little too bulky to carry on you
Santa Cruz Shredder
Another big dog in the grinder game is Santa Cruz.
A lot of people look at is as Space Case vs Santa Cruz for title of the best kief grinder.
None of their products disappoint, and they go toe to toe with a Space Case grinder.
The reason I gave a slight edge to Space Case is the kief screen, and I like my bud ground up finely.
The Shredder leaves bud much more course.
You can get finer bud by grinding with the grinder flipped upside down so that it continues to get worked over by the teeth before falling into the middle chamber, but I’d prefer not to have to do that!
What’s cool about buying a Santa Cruz is you get a pollen crusher with it.
You pour all of your kief in it and press it into a little puck that’s easier to smoke.
The grinder uses a seven catch thread that prevents it from cross-threading, which is one of the biggest perks of investing in a quality grinder.
I wish they didn’t make the kief screen quite so fine, though.
Pros
- Has a kief screen for fine bud
- Can make even finer by flipping the grinder
- Comes with pollen crusher
Cons
- Pollen catcher might be too fine
Kannastör
Kannastor makes a damn good weed grinder.
I only wish they’d get more recognition.
It stands out from the pack by offering a large storage section allowing you to carry around broken up bud with you anywhere.
If you accidentally pop a hole in your kief catcher with most other brands, you’re out of luck!
But with Kannastors you can buy replacement screens should the need arise.
And the magnet is super strong with this grinder!
The holes beneath the teeth are perfect, too.
Just the right size to leave the bud with no chunks without turning your weed into powder.
I think we can all agree that bud sure is damn good to look at.
The see through middle piece giving you a view of your bud is a nice touch.
Not to mention that, thanks to its perfect screen, this is one of the best grinders for kief.
Pros
- Huge storage chamber to stash bud
- Unlike most kief grinders, has replacement pollen catchers available for purchase
- See-through middle chamber
Cons
- Clear section is plastic
Golden Gate
Stoners love Golden Gate grinders.
They are incredibly strong, durable and they feel good in your hand.
Made from aircraft grade aluminum, this grinder tears your buds up.
It's diamond cutting teeth make twisting this grinder smooth as it gets.
The magnet is amazing and helps keep the grinder closed tight helping to control the odor.
The black paint is also scratch resistant and flake free, so you don’t have to worry about it chipping off into your buds.
The kief scraper this grinder comes with is fit to perfectly scrape the kief out out your grinder and into your bowl.
I wish the grinder felt a little heavier, I know this sounds weird, but it feels very light.
I also would love to be able to buy this grinder in a larger size.
At only 2.5 inches it's the smallest on our list so far.
Pros
- Durable, made of aircraft grade aluminum
- Perfectly-shaped kief scraper
- Very small to travel with
Cons
- Can’t turn grinder over after first grind to grind more
Black Tie
Black Tie is trying to do what a lot of grinder companies can’t do—offer a premium grinder without the premium cost.
Trust us, you'll be glad you didn't miss this Black Tie Grinder review.
Now, it does fall well short of the Space Case and the Santa Cruz, but this grinder does not disappoint.
50 diamond shaped teeth sitting on top of well-sized holes make for an almost perfect grind every time.
They pay attention to the smoker's needs at Black Tie.
The kief chamber is perfectly smooth, and the sides have been rounded out making it a breeze to recover every spec of kief you collect.
It’s made from anodized aluminum, so you don’t have to worry about paint chips ever getting in your buds.
They also go the extra mile giving you a carry pouch, reinforcement of the pollen screen and two pollen scrapers.
You'll enjoy top-shelf kief thanks to its micron rating of 400, which is perfect for collecting kief.
The only issue you’ll have with this grinder is if you prefer to vape your bud it doesn’t grind the weed up fine enough.
Pros
- 50 diamond shaped teeth make for fine grind
- Comes with carry pouch and two kief scrapers
Cons
- Doesn’t grind fine enough for a vape pen
Raw Grinder Card
I know you probably didn’t think that you’d see a grinder card on this list, but I have to give this guy some credit.
These things are awesome, especially for the traveling smoker!
They are the size of a credit card, so it fits perfectly in your wallet, and actually grinds your buds up pretty well—way better than your fingers at least.
To use them all you do is place a nug on the table and run this card over the bud just like a cheese grater.
If you’re traveling with it, just rinse it off with some warm water and soap or rub it with some alcohol before putting it back in your wallet.
A cool feature of the Raw Grinder Card compared to others is the three hole sizes allowing you to grind your buds to various sizes.
Pros
- Fits in your wallet or cell phone cover
- Works like a cheese grater
- Three hole sizes to customize grind
Cons
- Not as comfortable or effective as a twist grinder
Platinum Grinders
If you don’t have the cash to invest in a premium grinder, you should look into picking up a platinum.
They come with a lower price point, but still hold their own in terms of quality.
Made from aircraft grade aluminum this grinder has 49 diamond sharped teeth that rip your buds to shreds for a perfect grind every time.
It’s a normal sized grinder—2.5” in diameter.
The magnet is good, and the kief screen is good at only letting kief pass through it.
I will say this, though, don’t buy this grinder if you don’t like your bud ground up extremely fine.
It can be a little hard to pick your bud up from the grinder screen it’s so fine.
Pros
- Kief screen only lets kief through
- With 49 diamond teeth, perfect grind every time
Cons
- Bud tend to stick in grinder screen
Zip Grinders
![Zip Grinders, Mega Crusher [Upgraded], Extra Large Herb Grinder, 2.5'...](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mq-6YzwnL.jpg)
If you like the look of the Kannastor Grinder, but it’s a little more than you wanted to spend, Zip Grinders are a great alternative.
Standing at 2.5” wide and 3.5” tall this is a decent sized grinder.
It’s huge, the transparent middle chamber can hold up to a quarter, and the magnet is good enough to feel confident storing them in there for a long time.
This grinder is smooth and fast, and it feels nice in your hands when you're twisting up buds.
Everything about this grinder works extremely well, but once you have it in feel it compared to the Kannastor, you can feel the quality difference.
Pros
- Transparent middle chamber can hold up to a quarter of weed
- Twists are smooth and fast
Cons
- Too bulky to travel with
Chromium Crusher
Ahh, the cute little Chromium Crusher.
This made the list because it’s great for the money, as in, it doesn’t cost a lot of it.
Even though it’s so cheap, it’s a pretty sturdy grinder that grinds your buds pretty damn well.
Chromium wants to be the most affordable grinder on the market, to make it at such a small price point you do have to give up a little bit.
Namely, size. (Which most Chromium Crusher reviews leave out)
This little grinder is only 1.6" in diameter and 1.75" tall, and it can only fit about a gram to a gram and a half—coincidentally the perfect amount for a blunt 😉
I do wish that the inside of the grinder wasn’t coated.
This makes me worry that over time it could chip off into your bud.
Be sure to clean it well every now and then and keep an eye out for paint chipping off the teeth.
Pros
- Sturdy for a cheap grinder
- Very small, so easy to travel with
Cons
- Paint chips, even on teeth so be sure to clean
Golden Bell
The Golden Bell is another grinder with an awesome small price to high-quality ratio.
It stands a little bigger than the Chromium Crusher (2” compared to 1.6”).
So, naturally, you’ll be able to fit more bud in it.
It comes with a scraper, and the screen is great at keeping plant matter out of your kief catcher.
It has a Poly-O ring designed to help reduce friction when you’re grinding, keeping the experience smooth.
The biggest knock against the it is its magnet is one of the weaker ones, and the lid wants to jump off sometimes.
Pros
- Poly-O ring reduces friction when grinding, making for a smooth twist
- Scraper included
Cons
- Weaker magnet strength compared to others
How Many Compartments do I Need?
Technically, you only need one chamber.
But going with a single compartment grinder does a big disservice to a grinders advantages.
You need multiple compartments if you want not only to smoke weed that has been ground to perfection, but you want that third chamber catching your kief!
It’s literally free weed, and the best part is it’s almost nothing but the awesome stuff!
- One Chamber
Weed grinders with one compartment are two part grinders and are very much as basic as a grinder gets.
The two pieces are held together with a magnet and to use it you just open it, put your bud in and twist away.
After a few twists, you open it up and shake the buds out.
The problem with these is the kief just ends up coagulating around the teeth and becomes pretty much useless since it’s damn near impossible to scrape it from the teeth.
These kind of grinders just aren’t worth it.
- Two Chambers
Dual chamber grinders come in three pieces (seeing a pattern?) and are a big step up from single compartment grinders, but still not good enough.
The second one is an open space just beneath the grinders teeth were the ground up bud falls.
Again, it’s a step up, but you if you want the best pot grinder, you need a four piece.
- Three Chambers
Grinders with three compartments allow you to catch pollen!
It can't be the best grinder for weed without the third chamber.
The first section is where you put your unbroken up bud, the ground bud falls into the second chamber, and then the kief falls through a very fine screen and settles in the bottom chamber.
Now I’ll get into the grinder brands in just a bit, but I do not recommend any grinders that aren’t four piece grinders.
The Different Materials Grinders Come in
I can only recommend metal, but you should know all the options you have. And if you want, you can go with an electric one, but for cannabis I wouldn't recommend it. An electric grinder will shred your cannabis, and you do not get to keep your kief!
Metal Grinders
Most of the grinders you’ll come across will be made of aluminum, but that is not your only option.
And, to be honest, I recommend you do not stray away from the norm on this one.
Metal grinders last longer, are of a higher-quality and are easier to clean.
Acrylic Grinders
As with anything plastic, it’s usually crap.
That may be a little too harsh, but they just don’t last as long and are prone to dings and cracks.
Plus, you have to worry about bits of plastic finding their way into your cannabis, no thank you.
They do grind up your buds well enough, and if you have a choice between nothing and a plastic one, I’d go plastic.
Wood Grinders
Wood grinders are all right.
Don’t get me wrong; the wood design actually looks pretty cool.
But I have only ever seen them come in single compartment grinders, and they are treated more like a gimmick with marijuana leaves carved in them and what not than a good grinder.
There are other kinds of models like crank and electric grinders, but I’m not even going to bother going into them.
Neither are suitable for cannabis, coffee maybe but cannabis no.
How to use a Weed Grinder
Most smokers are familiar with how to use a grinder, but we all start somewhere, right?
Since two, three and four piece grinders all grind marijuana the same, I’ll teach how to grind weed using a four piece.
Or, if you prefer, you can watch the video below of Stoner Mom walking you through the process.
How to Grind Weed:
- Take the top off the grinder.
- Place a nug or two on top of the grinder's teeth. Be careful not to overfill here, or you won't be able to twist it.
- Next, put the top back and turn it till you stop feeling a lot of resistance.
- Now, unscrew the middle chamber, and you’ll find your freshly broken up bud.
Pro tip: Before you remove your flower, shake the grinder a few times with it closed to get the kief to fall into the bottom.
Conclusion
You can’t go wrong with any of these.
And stick with a four piece grinder to get the most a grinder has to offer.
Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Last update on 2021-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I have been using metal black Class A Aluminum Grinder,I got it from Amazon. It is so far so good, I love it. It calls “Kush 4 California”. Best quality I have ever seen. It is not too big, not too small. By the way, plastic, wooden or zinc grinders are really bad for your health. My highly recommendation is getting a metal, sturdy one.
thanks for this article, Tony did you personally use these grinders? I bought a grinder from https://www.greengrinders.net/ and they were only $18 and came with a carrying case and it was a large aluminum one too, not sure why they arent here but ur viewers would definetly check that out anyways regardless good selection and post.. keep up the good work.
Your rankings are spot on. Thank you so much for this review. I would like to suggest that people interested in your number one grinder on this list consider the anodized titanium coated version of the Space Case. Almost nothing sticks to the titanium so it really stays clean. Plus, the titanium prevents aluminum from getting into your grindings. There’s a lot of talk about aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease. There is only one grinder that I like better than my Space Case, my absolute favorite grinder is the Boomers 100% Stainless Steel Grinder that is made and sold by Wacky Willey’s in Victoria BC Canada. Nothing ever sticks to the teeth because they are pyramid shaped. Watch out because they are crazy sharp teeth that will grind through any part of the plant that you feed it. Once you have ground your herbs just turn it upside down and everything falls out together so you always get 100% of your strain each time. That means there is no need to catch kief from several different strains all mixed up and upredictable. So you can rest assured that you will get 100% of your Indica strain when you need it with no worries there will be some Sativa from before to mess up your plans of a nap. Since it is made with 100% stainless steel there is nothing to worry about aluminum and Alzheimer’s but it does make the grinder heavier. It almost feels like a self defence weapon with the tacticle grip on the outside, extra heft and dangerously sharp teeth. The website claims that the stainless steel teeth won’t dull like other metals and that it can also be washed in the dishwasher unlike aluminum grinders. Cheers!
What great suggestions! Next time we edit this article, we will be sure to add your suggestions! Thanks a bunch!