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Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric Review

One of the better blade models on the market, but definitely don't expect it to produce consistent grinds
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric
Credit: Mr. Coffee
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Price:   $25 List | $21.97 at Amazon
Pros:  Relatively clean and easy to use, quieter than most blade models
Cons:  Produces inconsistent grinds
Manufacturer:   Mr. Coffee
By Max Mutter and Michelle Powell  ⋅  Aug 9, 2021
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53
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#11 of 14
  • Grind Consistency - 35% 4
  • Cleanliness - 25% 6
  • User Friendliness - 25% 6
  • Noise - 15% 6

Our Verdict

There will inevitably be a step down in grind quality when moving from a burr grinder to a blade model. That said, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric is one of the best blade grinders that has come through our testing lab. It tends to do a slightly better job at minimizing the randomness of blade-ground coffee, keeps things a bit tidier, and is slightly less cacophonous than most of the other blade models we've tested. It certainly can't come close to the quality of a burr model, but it sells for much less than any of those burr models, making it a compelling option for those that don't mind dealing with some grind inconsistencies.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award   
Price $25 List
$21.97 at Amazon		$200 List
$199.95 at Amazon		$100 List
$89.95 at Amazon		$50 List$30 List
$19.97 at Amazon
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Pros Relatively clean and easy to use, quieter than most blade modelsGreat grind consistency, intuitive interface, relatively clean and quietGood grind consistency, relatively inexpensiveInexpensive, small footprintInexpensive, relatively quiet for a blade model
Cons Produces inconsistent grindsNot ideal for coarser grinds, expensiveSomewhat loud, can make a messInconsistant grind-sizes, heavy staticInconsistent grinds, messy, hard to clean
Bottom Line One of the better blade models on the market, but definitely don't expect it to produce consistent grindsThis grinder provides top-notch performance in every category except for the coarsest of grindsExcellent performance and one of the best values on the market make this a great choiceA basic burr grinder one-step above a blade grinder, providing mediocre grind consistencyThis grinder has all the disadvantages of a blade model without many redeeming qualities
Rating Categories Mr. Coffee 12 Cup E... the Smart Grinder Pro Bodum Bistro Krups GX500050 Mueller HyperGrind...
Grind Consistency (35%)
4.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
Cleanliness (25%)
6.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
User Friendliness (25%)
6.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
Noise (15%)
6.0
8.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Specs Mr. Coffee 12 Cup E... the Smart Grinder Pro Bodum Bistro Krups GX500050 Mueller HyperGrind...
Grinding Mechanism Blade Conical burr Conical burr Flat burr Blade
Burr/Blade Material Stainless steel Stainless steel Stainless steel Metallic Stainless steel
Dosing Mechanism Timer Timer Timer Timer Manual
Best Brew Application Pour over, french press Pour over, espresso Pour over, french press Pour over, french press Pour over, french press
Dimensions 5" x 5" x 9" 12.5" x 8.5" x 16.3" 7.6" x 7.1" x 12.5" 4.29" x 7.24" x 10.4" 7.8" x 4.5" x 4.3"
Weight 1.7 lbs 6.4 lbs 3.2 lbs 3.2 lbs 1.45 lbs
Cup Material Plastic, metal Plastic Plastic Plastic Plastic

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you're okay with the inconsistent grinds that will come out of any blade grinder, we think the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric is a great choice. It outdid many of its blade-equipped siblings in our testing lab.

Performance Comparison


Though blade models performed noticeably worse than burr models in...
Though blade models performed noticeably worse than burr models in our grind consistency testing, the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric was one of the better ones.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Likes


By far, the most enticing aspect of the 12 Cup Electric is its price --even in the world of inexpensive blade grinders, it is quite cheap. In fact, it's not hard to find a bag of artisanal coffee beans that cost more than this grinder.

Beyond the low price, our favorite thing about this grinder is that it generally outperforms other blade grinders on the market. Its grind consistency is still beholden to the intrinsic randomness of a blade spinning through a chamber full of coffee beans. Still, in our tests, it was able to produce considerably more consistent extraction times than the other blade models. It still has that fork stuck in the garbage disposal sound of all blade grinders but manages to keep the pitch a bit lower, making the sound slightly less startling. It also produces less static than most other blade models, meaning far fewer grinds stick to the grind cup and make a mess when you try to tap them loose.

The Mr. Coffee provided a slightly more consistent grind than most...
The Mr. Coffee provided a slightly more consistent grind than most of the other blade models we tested.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Dislikes


We don't mean to sound pedantic here, but our biggest complaint about the 12 Cup Electric is the fact that it's a blade grinder. Yes, blade grinders are very inexpensive and quite compact when compared to burr models, but their grind quality is lightyears behind. Because the blade grinds the beans randomly, you're almost inevitably going to end up with some fine coffee dust, as well as some large, barely ground chunks. That means the extraction you get from your coffee will likely be different each day you use the grinder. Sure, the 12 Cup Electric does better than most in this regard, but it is still quite inconsistent.

Like all blade models, the grind chamber can be a bit difficult to...
Like all blade models, the grind chamber can be a bit difficult to clean, but we found this model to be a bit easier than most of its blade-equipped counterparts.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Value


Like most blade options out there, the 12 Cup Electric is inexpensive. If you're aware of and are okay with the inherent disadvantages of a blade grinder, we think this model represents a fairly good value.

Conclusion


If you don't mind the shortcomings of a blade grinder and are just looking for a relatively inexpensive way to access the whole bean shelf of the coffee aisle, we think the Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric is one of the best options out there.

— Max Mutter and Michelle Powell