Krups Fast Touch Coffee Grinder: A No-Nonsense Review From Someone Who Actually Uses One

The Krups Fast Touch is one of those grinders that seems too cheap and too simple to be any good. It's a blade grinder that costs about $20, has one button, and no grind settings. Yet it has been one of the best-selling coffee grinders on Amazon for years. I bought one as a backup grinder for travel, and I've used it enough to know exactly what it does well and where it falls apart.

Short answer: the Krups Fast Touch is a fine grinder for casual coffee drinkers who use drip machines and don't want to spend more than $25. If you care about grind consistency for pour-over, French press, or espresso, you need something else. Let me explain why.

How the Krups Fast Touch Works

There's not much to explain here, and that's kind of the point. You pour beans into the stainless steel bowl, press the lid down (it doubles as the power button), and a blade at the bottom spins and chops the beans. Hold it longer for a finer grind. Release sooner for coarser.

The motor runs at high speed, and the whole grinding process takes about 10-15 seconds for a drip-coffee grind. There's no timer, no automatic shutoff, no grind selector. Your finger on the button is the only control you have.

The capacity is listed at 3 ounces, which is roughly 85 grams. That's enough for about a 10-12 cup pot of drip coffee. For smaller batches, you just eyeball the amount. There are no measurement markings inside the bowl.

Build Quality

The body is a mix of plastic and stainless steel. It feels light but not flimsy. The lid fits snugly and doesn't wobble during grinding. Mine has survived three years of regular use, a few drops, and being tossed in luggage for road trips. The blade still looks sharp. For a $20 product, the build quality is reasonable.

Grind Quality: Where the Blade Grinder Falls Short

I won't sugarcoat this. The Krups Fast Touch produces inconsistent grinds. This is not a Krups problem; it's a blade grinder problem. Every blade grinder has this issue because blades chop randomly instead of crushing to a uniform size.

After a 10-second grind, you'll get a mix of fine powder at the bottom and larger chunks near the top. The beans closest to the blade get pulverized while the ones at the edges barely get touched. You can improve this somewhat by shaking the grinder while pressing the button, but you'll never match what even a budget burr grinder produces.

What This Means for Your Coffee

For a basic drip machine with a standard paper filter, the inconsistency doesn't ruin the cup. The paper filter catches the fines, and the larger particles contribute some body. The coffee won't be amazing, but it'll taste like fresh-ground coffee, which is still better than pre-ground from a can.

For pour-over, French press, or AeroPress, the inconsistency becomes a real problem. Fine particles clog pour-over filters and over-extract in French press, giving you a bitter, muddy cup. If these are your brew methods, check our best coffee grinder roundup for burr grinder options that start around $50-60.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

I've figured out a few techniques that get better results from this grinder:

The Pulse Technique

Instead of holding the button down continuously, pulse it. Press for 2 seconds, release, shake the grinder gently, repeat. This moves the beans around so the blade contacts more of them evenly. Five to seven pulses usually gets me to a medium grind suitable for drip.

Grind Size by Time

These are approximate, but they've worked consistently for me:

Coarse (French press): 5-7 seconds of total pulse time. Still inconsistent, but usable.
Medium (drip): 10-12 seconds of total pulse time. The most forgiving setting.
Fine (espresso/Moka pot): 15-20 seconds. The grinder heats up at this point, which can affect flavor.

Avoid Overheating

If you grind for more than 15 seconds straight, the blade generates heat through friction. This heat can scorch the coffee oils and add a burnt taste. If you need a fine grind, pulse with 5-second breaks between to let things cool down.

Tilt and Shake

While grinding, tilt the grinder at a 45-degree angle and give it a gentle shake. This forces the larger pieces back toward the blade. It sounds silly, but it noticeably improves consistency.

What Else Can You Grind?

One advantage the Krups Fast Touch has over burr grinders is versatility. The blade design handles more than just coffee:

Spices: Works great for whole spices like cumin, coriander, and peppercorns. I actually use mine more for spices than coffee these days.
Flax seeds: Grinds them quickly and fine enough for smoothies.
Small nuts: Almonds and walnuts chop up nicely for baking.
Dried herbs: A few pulses turns dried rosemary or oregano into a fine powder.

Just keep in mind that flavors transfer. If you grind cumin and then grind coffee, your coffee will taste like cumin. Clean the bowl thoroughly between different uses, or buy a second unit. At $20, a dedicated spice grinder is an easy purchase.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning the Krups Fast Touch is simple. The bowl and blade don't detach, so you can't put them in the dishwasher. Here's what works:

Wipe the bowl with a damp paper towel after each use
For deeper cleaning, grind a small amount of dry rice (about a tablespoon). The rice absorbs oils and scrubs the blade.
Wipe again with a clean, dry cloth
Never submerge the unit in water. The motor is directly below the bowl.

Every few weeks, I use a cotton swab dipped in a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol to clean around the blade's base where coffee oils accumulate. This keeps things fresh.

Should You Buy the Krups Fast Touch?

Here's my honest assessment based on who you are:

Buy it if: - You drink drip coffee from an automatic machine - You want fresh-ground coffee without spending more than $25 - You also need a spice grinder - You want something small and simple for travel

Skip it if: - You make pour-over, French press, or espresso - Grind consistency matters to you - You're willing to spend $50 or more on a grinder

The Krups Fast Touch isn't a bad product. It's a simple product that does a limited job adequately. For anyone starting their coffee journey, it's a reasonable first grinder. You'll taste the difference between this and pre-ground, and that experience alone might push you toward upgrading to a burr grinder later. If you're ready for that step, our top coffee grinder guide has options at every price point.

FAQ

How long does a Krups Fast Touch grinder last?

With normal home use (grinding once or twice daily), expect 3-5 years before the blade dulls noticeably or the motor starts struggling. The blade doesn't have replacements available, so when it goes, you buy a new unit. At $20, most people treat it as disposable.

Can I grind for espresso with the Krups Fast Touch?

You can get a fine grind by running it for 15-20 seconds, but the particle consistency won't be good enough for a pressurized espresso machine to produce quality shots. Unpressurized portafilters won't work at all. For espresso, you really need a burr grinder with a stepless fine adjustment.

Why does my Krups grinder smell like burning?

The blade generates heat through friction, especially during long grind sessions. If you're grinding for more than 15 seconds straight, the coffee oils can burn. Use the pulse technique (2-3 second bursts with pauses) and avoid grinding more than 30 seconds total per batch.

Is the Krups F203 the same as the Fast Touch?

Yes. The Krups F203 is the model number for the Fast Touch. You'll see both names used interchangeably online. The F203 has been the main model for years, with minor cosmetic updates but the same blade and motor design.

The Bottom Line

The Krups Fast Touch is the Honda Civic of coffee grinders. It's cheap, reliable, and gets the job done without any flair. If you're grinding for drip coffee on a budget, it'll serve you well. Just manage your expectations about grind quality, and use the pulse-and-shake technique to get the most even results possible.