Femobook A68 Grinder: A Budget Electric Grinder Worth Considering?

The Femobook A68 is a compact electric coffee grinder that has gained attention as a budget-friendly option for home coffee enthusiasts. It sits in the under-$50 price range and promises features like multiple grind settings, a decent capacity, and an electric motor that saves you from hand-cranking your morning dose.

I picked one up out of curiosity after seeing it pop up in online coffee communities. Budget grinders are hit or miss, and I wanted to see whether the A68 lands closer to "surprisingly good for the price" or "you get what you pay for." After several weeks of daily use across multiple brew methods, I have a clear picture of what this grinder can and cannot do.

Design and Build Quality

The Femobook A68 has a slim, vertical design that takes up less counter space than many grinders in its class. It is made mostly of plastic with some metal accents, which is typical for this price range. The hopper sits on top and holds about 200 to 250 grams of whole beans.

The grind adjustment is controlled by a numbered dial, usually ranging from fine to coarse across multiple settings. The grounds drop into a container at the bottom, which pulls out for easy transfer to your brew device.

First Impressions

Out of the box, the grinder feels lighter than expected. The plastic body does not inspire confidence in long-term durability, but it does make the unit easy to move around the kitchen. The hopper lid snaps into place securely, and the grind container aligns properly without fiddling.

The motor is louder than I anticipated. Not blender-loud, but noticeably louder than hand grinding. In my kitchen, it registered about the same volume as a decent blade grinder. If you are grinding before the rest of the house wakes up, the noise might be an issue.

Grind Quality Across Brew Methods

This is where budget grinders separate themselves from the pack. A $40 grinder that produces a consistent medium grind is a worthwhile purchase. A $40 grinder that sprays uneven particles everywhere is a waste of money.

Drip and Pour-Over (Medium Grind)

On medium settings, the A68 does a reasonable job. The particle size is mostly uniform with some variation. I would estimate about 70 to 75% of particles are within an acceptable range, with some fines (smaller particles) and some boulders (larger fragments) mixed in.

For a standard drip machine, this level of consistency is perfectly fine. Your drip maker is forgiving enough that minor particle variation will not ruin the cup. For a pour-over like a V60 or Chemex, the inconsistency is more noticeable. My V60 brews ran about 15 to 20 seconds faster than they should have, suggesting the larger particles were allowing water to flow through channels without fully extracting.

French Press (Coarse Grind)

Coarse settings produce a passable French press grind, but there are more fines than I would like. Those fines slip through the French press mesh filter and create sediment in the cup. If you do not mind a slightly muddy cup, it works. If you want a clean French press brew, the A68 will frustrate you.

Espresso (Fine Grind)

Not recommended. The finest settings on the A68 do not reach true espresso fineness, and even if they did, the consistency is not there. Espresso requires a very narrow particle distribution, and this grinder cannot deliver that. If espresso is your thing, you need a different grinder entirely.

AeroPress

This is the sweet spot for the A68. The AeroPress is incredibly forgiving of grind inconsistency, and the medium to medium-fine range where the A68 performs best is exactly what the AeroPress wants. I got consistently good cups using the A68 with my AeroPress.

How It Compares to the Competition

At this price point, the A68 competes with other budget electric burr grinders and with manual hand grinders. Here is how it stacks up.

vs. Budget Electric Grinders

The A68 is comparable to other sub-$50 electric options in grind quality. It is not going to beat a grinder that costs three times as much, but within its class it holds its own. The main differentiators at this price are usually capacity, noise level, and how easily the grinder clogs with oily beans.

The A68 handles medium-roast beans without issues. Dark, oily beans caused some clumping and occasional clogging in the chute during my testing. A quick tap on the side of the grinder cleared it each time, but it is worth noting if you drink dark roasts exclusively.

vs. Hand Grinders at the Same Price

Here is the thing: a $40 manual hand grinder with ceramic or steel burrs will typically produce a more consistent grind than a $40 electric grinder. The hand grinder has no motor, so the money goes entirely into the burrs and construction. You pay for that consistency with time and effort, of course.

If you value convenience and speed, the A68 wins. If you value grind quality above all else, a hand grinder at the same price is the better choice.

For a broader look at what is available, check out our roundup of the best coffee grinders to see how the A68 fits into the wider market.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Keeping the A68 clean is straightforward. The hopper and grounds container detach for washing (hand wash only, not dishwasher safe). The burrs can be accessed by removing the upper hopper, and a small brush is usually included for sweeping out retained grounds.

My Cleaning Routine

• After each use: Remove the grounds container and tap out any stuck grounds. Run the grinder empty for 2 to 3 seconds to clear the chute.
• Weekly: Disassemble the hopper and brush the burrs with the included brush. Wipe down the exterior.
• Monthly: Run a capful of grinder cleaning tablets through to remove oil buildup from the burrs.

One issue I noticed is that the A68 retains more grounds between sessions than higher-end grinders. About 2 to 3 grams stay trapped in the burr chamber and chute after each use. That means your first grind of the day includes some stale grounds from yesterday. The easy fix is to grind a few grams of fresh beans and discard them before your actual dose, but that does waste some coffee.

Who Should Buy the Femobook A68?

This grinder fits a specific type of buyer. It is not for everyone, but for the right person, it is a solid purchase.

Good fit for: - Drip coffee drinkers who want to upgrade from pre-ground - AeroPress users who want a quick, electric grind - Anyone on a tight budget who values convenience over perfection - College students or apartment dwellers with limited kitchen space - People who want to try fresh grinding before investing in a premium grinder

Not a good fit for: - Espresso brewers (the grind is not fine or consistent enough) - Pour-over enthusiasts who care about dialing in precise extraction - French press drinkers who want a clean, silt-free cup - Anyone looking for a grinder to last 5+ years of daily use

If you are on the fence, browse our top coffee grinder list to see alternatives at various price points. Sometimes spending an extra $20 to $30 gets you a significant jump in grind quality.

Long-Term Durability Concerns

After several weeks of daily use, the A68 is still working fine. But I do have some concerns about long-term durability based on the build quality.

The plastic adjustment dial feels like the most likely failure point. It does not have the precision detent system that better grinders use, and I can see it wearing out over time. The motor seems adequate for home use, but the duty cycle is unclear. I would not try grinding more than 50 to 60 grams in a single session without letting it cool down.

Budget grinders in this class tend to last 1 to 3 years with daily use. If you go in with that expectation, you will not be disappointed. Think of it as a stepping stone rather than a long-term investment.

FAQ

Is the Femobook A68 a burr grinder or blade grinder?

It uses a burr grinding mechanism, not blades. Burr grinders produce more consistent grinds than blade grinders, which chop beans unevenly. Even at the budget level, a burr grinder is a better choice than a blade grinder for most brew methods.

Can the Femobook A68 grind for espresso?

I would not recommend it. The finest setting is not quite fine enough for true espresso, and the particle consistency at fine settings is not tight enough for good espresso extraction. Use it for drip, AeroPress, or French press instead.

How loud is the Femobook A68?

It is noticeably louder than a hand grinder but comparable to other budget electric grinders. Expect about the same noise level as a blade grinder or small food processor. Grinding a single dose takes 10 to 20 seconds, so the noise is brief.

How much coffee does the Femobook A68 hold?

The hopper holds about 200 to 250 grams of whole beans, which is enough for 10 to 12 cups of drip coffee. The grounds container holds about 40 to 50 grams. In practice, you will grind one or two doses at a time rather than filling the hopper completely, since whole beans stay fresher in a sealed bag.

The Bottom Line

The Femobook A68 does what a $40 electric grinder should do: it grinds beans quickly with acceptable consistency for drip and AeroPress brewing. It is not a precision instrument, and it will not impress anyone who has used a $150+ grinder. But if you are switching from pre-ground coffee to fresh grinding and want an electric option that fits a tight budget, the A68 is a reasonable starting point. Use it for a year, learn what you like about fresh coffee, and then upgrade to something better when you are ready.