The Smeg 50’s Style CGF11CRUK Coffee Grinder is a premium electric burr grinder aimed squarely at coffee lovers who care as much about flavour as they do about looks. With its retro cream finish and tall, counter‑top presence, it’s designed to sit proudly next to a matching Smeg kettle or espresso machine.
This model uses stainless steel conical burrs, offers a generous 30 grind settings and comes with multiple preset programmes to suit everything from espresso through to cafetière. It’s more advanced – and pricier – than a basic blade grinder, but promises noticeably better consistency and taste.
Backed by an impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating from around 100 owner reviews, it’s clearly winning over most buyers, especially those stepping up from cheaper, less precise grinders.
The Smeg CGF11CRUK is ideal for home baristas who brew every day and want a clear upgrade over supermarket pre‑ground coffee or a simple blade grinder. If you’re chasing better crema from your espresso machine or more clarity in your filter coffee, the conical burrs and 30 grind settings give you the control you need.
It suits small to medium households where several coffees are made each day. The 350 g bean hopper is ample for a couple or family who like to keep fresh beans on hand, without constantly refilling. The compact footprint (17 cm wide) means it will fit on most worktops, although it is relatively tall.
Budget‑wise, this sits firmly in the premium bracket for home grinders. You’re paying for both performance and the iconic 50s‑style design, so it makes most sense if you value aesthetics as much as cup quality. If you just want something cheap to grind beans occasionally, this will likely feel over‑specified.
It’s a good match for beginners who are serious about learning, as well as more experienced coffee fans who want reliable, repeatable results without diving into commercial‑grade kit.
The stainless steel conical burrs are the star of the show, grinding with far less heat than basic blade models. That helps preserve the aromatics in your beans, so your espresso or filter coffee tastes brighter and more complex.
With 30 grind settings and 8 preset programmes, there’s plenty of scope to fine‑tune grind size for espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour‑over or cafetière. Once dialled in, you can rely on the presets for consistent, repeatable results.
The anti‑static system is a genuinely useful touch. It helps to reduce the usual cloud of coffee dust that clings to everything, keeping your counter cleaner and making dosing less messy.
A 350 g Tritan Renew bean container provides good capacity while being tough and shatter‑resistant, and the included cleaning brush makes day‑to‑day maintenance more straightforward.
Owner feedback is very strong, with a 4.8/5 rating from a substantial number of reviews, suggesting reliability and performance are in line with the premium positioning.
This is a premium grinder with a price to match, so it’s not the best choice if you’re on a tight budget or only drink the occasional coffee.
At 46 cm tall, it’s relatively high for a grinder, so it may not tuck neatly underneath low wall cupboards, particularly in smaller kitchens.
There’s no digital display, so settings and programmes are controlled with mechanical dials and indicators. Many enthusiasts will like the simplicity, but some buyers may miss the feedback and precision of a screen.
While the 150 W motor is perfectly adequate for home use, it’s not built for large, back‑to‑back batches like a commercial grinder. Heavy‑duty users might prefer a more industrial option.
Day to day, the Smeg CGF11CRUK is designed to be straightforward. You fill the 350 g hopper with beans, choose one of the 8 programmes or adjust the grind to your preferred setting, and the grinder does the rest. The 150 W motor spins the burrs at around 450 rpm – slow enough to keep heat down but fast enough that you’re not waiting long for a morning dose.
The anti‑static design and dedicated grounds container help keep stray coffee dust to a minimum, so you’re not constantly wiping down the worktop after every grind. Non‑slip feet keep the unit stable while it’s running, which makes it feel reassuringly solid when you’re adjusting settings or removing the container.
Cleaning is helped by the included brush, letting you clear out residual grounds from the burrs and chute. There’s no complex self‑cleaning system, but routine brushing and an occasional deeper clean are all that’s required for home use.
With a 1 m power cord and built‑in cord storage, it’s easy to position the grinder neatly near a socket without trailing cables, and the robust aluminium and plastic body feels built to live permanently on the counter.
Performance centres on the stainless steel conical burrs, which provide a far more consistent grind than blade grinders. Running at around 450 rpm, they minimise heat build‑up, which helps maintain the oils and aromatics in freshly ground coffee. That translates into better body and flavour in the cup, particularly noticeable with lighter roasts.
The standout feature is the 30‑step grind adjustment. This wide range allows you to move from fine espresso through to coarser grinds for filter and cafetière with small, controlled increments. Paired with 8 preset programmes, it’s easy to find a reliable setting for each brewing method you use regularly, without needing to experiment from scratch every time.
The Tritan Renew bean hopper holds up to 350 g of beans, plenty for several days’ use in most households, and the matching grounds container is robust and stain‑resistant. Tritan is known for being durable and clear, so you can easily see remaining beans and check your ground coffee level at a glance.
Convenience touches include an anti‑static system to reduce mess, non‑slip feet for stability and integrated cord storage to keep things tidy on the worktop. There’s no screen or app control, but the manual dials will appeal to those who prefer a more tactile, analogue feel.
With a 2‑year manufacturer warranty and a strong track record of owner satisfaction, the grinder’s feature set and build quality are well aligned with its premium branding, particularly if you already own other Smeg 50s‑style appliances.
At around £219, the Smeg CGF11CRUK sits at the higher end of the home coffee grinder market, especially compared with simple blade grinders and more utilitarian burr models. You’re paying a clear premium for design and brand, but also for the step up in grind consistency, adjustability and overall finish.
For committed coffee drinkers who brew daily and appreciate the retro styling, the cost is easier to justify. The 30 grind settings, conical burrs and low‑mess design offer a tangible improvement in cup quality and everyday experience over cheaper options.
The excellent 4.8/5 user rating from around 100 reviews reinforces the sense that most buyers feel they’ve had good value, despite the initial outlay. If you’re less concerned about aesthetics and more focused purely on function, there are likely plainer grinders that undercut it on price, but few that combine looks, performance and owner satisfaction as well as this one.
The Smeg 50’s Style CGF11CRUK Coffee Grinder is a stylish, well‑specced burr grinder that delivers consistent, flavourful results and looks superb on the worktop. Its combination of stainless steel conical burrs, a wide 30‑step grind range and practical touches like anti‑static design make it a genuine upgrade for anyone moving beyond entry‑level equipment.
It’s not the cheapest option, and the tall body plus lack of a digital display may put off a few buyers. However, for most coffee enthusiasts who value both performance and design, those are minor compromises.
If you brew coffee every day and want a grinder that can keep up with your espresso machine or filter kit while matching your Smeg appliances, this model is an excellent choice. Casual drinkers on a tighter budget may be better served by a simpler grinder, but for serious home coffee fans, the CGF11CRUK earns its place on the counter.
