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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:   $27 List
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  ⋅  Oct 9, 2019
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53
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#10 of 12
  • Grind Consistency - 35% 4
  • Cleanliness - 25% 6
  • User Friendliness - 25% 6
  • Noise - 15% 6

Our Verdict

There is inevitably going to be a step down in grind quality when moving from a burr grinder to a blademodel. That being 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 a bit 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 in order to gain access to the whole bean shelf at the grocery store on the cheap.

Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  
Price $27 List$200 List
$199.95 at Amazon		$269 List
$249.00 at Amazon		$150 List
$129.99 at Amazon		$145 List
$139.00 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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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, burly componentsQuiet operation, good grind consistency, great for pour overAbove average grind consistency, clean operation
Cons Produces inconsistent grindsNot ideal for French press, expensiveExpensiveCan produce enough static to hang onto grinds, not great at the extreme ends of the grind spectrum (coarse and fine)Slightly pricier than some comparable models
Bottom Line A good option if you’re shopping for, and are okay with the limitations of, a blade modelOne of the best overall models on the marketGood performance with a build that is more likely to stand up to heavy useGrinds well while emitting only a relatively harmless, low-pitched humGood all around performance without any standout strengths
Rating Categories Mr. Coffee 12 Cup... the Smart Grinder... Baratza Virtuoso+ Krups GX420851 Baratza Encore
Grind Consistency (35%)
4
8
7
7
6
Cleanliness (25%)
6
8
7
5
8
User Friendliness (25%)
6
9
7
7
6
Noise (15%)
6
8
7
9
6
Specs Mr. Coffee 12 Cup... the Smart Grinder... Baratza Virtuoso+ Krups GX420851 Baratza Encore
Grinding Mechanism blade conical burr conical burr conical burr conical burr
Burr/Blade Material stainless steel stainless steel high-carbon steel stainless steel stainless steel
Dosing Mechanism timer timer timer scale manual
Dimensions 5" x 5" x 9" 12.5" x 8.5" x 16.3" 6.69" x 6.69" x 12.6" 10.2" x 6.5" X 18.5" 4.7" x 6.3" x 13.8"
Weight 1.7 lbs 6.4 lbs 7.05 lbs 6.2 lbs 6.83 lbs
Cup Material plastic, metal plastic plastic plastic plastic
Warranty One Year Limited One Year Limited One Year Limited Two Year Limited One Year Limited

Our Analysis and Test Results

If you're okay with the inconsistent grinds that are going to 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 the 12 Cup Electric.

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, but 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 is likely going to 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 inconsistent grind offered by all blade grinders, 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