Sur La Table Coffee Grinders: What They Carry and Whether It's Worth Shopping There
If you've walked into a Sur La Table store looking for a coffee grinder, you probably noticed they carry a curated selection rather than a massive wall of options. That's intentional. Sur La Table stocks mid-range to premium kitchen equipment and skips the budget brands entirely.
I've bought coffee gear from Sur La Table multiple times, and I want to share what you can actually find there, how their prices compare, and whether the in-store experience adds enough value to justify shopping there over Amazon or other retailers.
What Coffee Grinders Does Sur La Table Sell?
Sur La Table's grinder selection rotates, but they consistently stock these brands:
Breville
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro (BCG820) is almost always on the shelf. It runs $199 to $249 depending on sales, and it's one of the most popular mid-range grinders for home use. Sur La Table sometimes stocks the Breville Dose Control Pro too, which is the simpler, cheaper version.
Baratza
You'll typically find the Baratza Encore and Baratza Virtuoso+ at Sur La Table. The Encore runs around $170 and the Virtuoso+ about $250. These are the two grinders that show up on every "best grinder" list, and for good reason. Baratza's build quality and customer support are hard to match.
Fellow
The Fellow Ode Brew Grinder has been popping up at Sur La Table more frequently. It's a flat-burr grinder designed specifically for filter coffee, priced around $300. It looks great and grinds well, but it intentionally doesn't go fine enough for espresso.
Cuisinart
Some locations carry the Cuisinart DBM-8 or the Cuisinart Touchscreen Burr Grinder at the lower end of their price range, usually $60 to $90.
Specialty and Limited Runs
Sur La Table occasionally carries exclusive colors or bundles that you can't find at other retailers. I've seen Breville grinders in colors like "Damson Blue" and "Sea Salt" that weren't available on Amazon at the same time. If aesthetics matter to you, this is a legitimate perk.
Pricing: How Does Sur La Table Compare?
Here's where things get honest. Sur La Table's regular prices are almost always the same as the manufacturer's suggested retail price. They rarely undercut Amazon or other online retailers.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro sits at $199.95 at Sur La Table. On Amazon, it regularly dips to $179 or even $149 during Prime Day and Black Friday sales. That's a $50 difference at peak savings.
The Baratza Encore retails at $170 everywhere, including Sur La Table. Amazon's price is usually identical, though it occasionally drops to $140 to $150 during sales events.
Where Sur La Table gets competitive is during their seasonal sales events. They run 20% to 25% off sales a few times per year, usually tied to holidays. During those events, you can pick up a Breville Smart Grinder for $150 to $160, which is comparable to Amazon's best prices.
They also have a loyalty program (SLT Rewards) that earns points toward future purchases. It's not a dramatic discount, but if you shop there regularly for kitchen gear, the points add up.
For comparison shopping, our best coffee grinder roundup lists current prices across multiple retailers.
The In-Store Advantage
The main reason to buy from Sur La Table instead of clicking "Add to Cart" online is the in-store experience. And honestly, it's worth more than I initially thought.
Hands-On Testing
Most Sur La Table locations have display models you can actually touch. You can feel the weight of the grinder, turn the hopper adjustment, check the build quality, and see the actual size on a countertop-like display. Photos online don't communicate how big (or small) a grinder really is.
I've talked myself out of two purchases and into one after seeing grinders in person. The Breville looked smaller and better built than I expected. The Fellow Ode was larger than the photos suggested, which mattered for my counter space.
Staff Knowledge
Sur La Table hires people who actually know kitchen equipment. Not all of them, obviously, but I've had several conversations with staff who could explain the difference between conical and flat burrs, why grind retention matters, and which grinder pairs best with different brew methods. That's rare in retail.
Compare that to buying on Amazon where your "product expert" is the Q&A section filled with answers from people who don't own the product.
Returns
Sur La Table's return policy gives you 60 days for a full refund with receipt. If a grinder doesn't work out for your setup, returning it in store is faster and easier than boxing it up and shipping it back to Amazon. No printing labels, no drop-off points, no waiting for the refund to process.
Online Shopping at Sur La Table
Sur La Table's website (surlatable.com) carries the same inventory as their stores plus some online-only items. Shipping is free on orders over $75, which any grinder will clear easily.
Their website is clean and easy to search, but the product descriptions don't go into the same detail as dedicated coffee sites or even Amazon listings. You'll get basic specs and a paragraph or two of marketing copy. For detailed comparisons and real user reviews, you're better off researching elsewhere and then buying from Sur La Table if the price works.
They do offer price matching on select items if you find a lower price at a competitor. The policy has some restrictions (no marketplace sellers, no clearance items), but it's worth asking if you prefer shopping with them.
Should You Buy a Grinder at Sur La Table?
It depends on what you value.
Buy from Sur La Table if: - You want to see and handle the grinder before purchasing - You value knowledgeable staff who can answer questions - You prefer easy in-store returns - There's a seasonal sale running (20-25% off brings prices in line with Amazon) - You want a color or bundle that's exclusive to their stores
Buy elsewhere if: - You already know exactly which grinder you want - Price is your top priority (Amazon usually wins by $20-$50) - You don't have a Sur La Table location nearby - You want a budget grinder under $50 (they don't stock them)
For a full breakdown of grinders across every budget tier, our top coffee grinder guide has you covered.
Other Coffee Gear Worth Checking Out at Sur La Table
While you're there, Sur La Table stocks some coffee accessories that are harder to find in regular stores:
- Hario V60 kits with matching server and filters
- Fellow Stagg kettles (the gooseneck pour-over kettle) in multiple colors
- Acaia coffee scales for precise dosing
- Chemex brewers in various sizes
They also carry whole bean coffee from smaller roasters. The selection varies by location, but I've found interesting single-origin beans at my local store that I wouldn't have discovered online.
FAQ
Does Sur La Table offer coffee grinder demos?
Some locations do, especially during events and Saturday morning cooking classes. Call your local store to ask. When they do demos, you can sometimes see the grinder in action and taste coffee made with it, which is a better test than reading reviews.
Can I order online and pick up in store?
Yes. Sur La Table offers buy online, pick up in store at most locations. You'll get the item same-day if it's in stock at your local store. This is useful if you want to avoid shipping wait times.
Does Sur La Table sell grinder accessories?
They carry cleaning brushes, Grindz cleaning tablets, and some replacement hoppers. For specific replacement parts (like Baratza burrs or adjustment rings), you'll need to go directly to the manufacturer's website.
Is Sur La Table more expensive than Williams Sonoma for grinders?
Pricing is similar between the two stores. Both carry premium brands at manufacturer's suggested retail prices. Williams Sonoma occasionally has exclusive Breville models that Sur La Table doesn't, and vice versa. For the overlapping products, the prices are typically identical.
The Summary
Sur La Table is a solid place to buy a coffee grinder if you take advantage of their sales events or value the in-store experience. Their regular prices aren't bargains, but their staff knowledge, easy returns, and hands-on testing make the shopping experience better than most alternatives. If you know what you want and just need the lowest price, Amazon will usually beat them. But if you're still deciding, walking into a Sur La Table with your questions ready is a smart way to spend 20 minutes before committing $150 to $300 on a grinder.