To make the perfect shot of espresso, your coffee must be freshly ground, right before you brew it. If you decided to go for an espresso machine with a built-in grinder, this should not be an issue as the machine will grind the coffee for you automatically before brewing. If you go for another type of machine, then you will definitely need a grinder.The best type of coffee grinder for espresso is a conical burr grinder; this is a grinder that uses steel burrs that slowly rotate to perfectly grind the beans quietly and without a mess. To brew espresso, the coffee must be very finely ground.Many people decide to skimp on the coffee grinder, and that’s the worst decision you can make. The coffee ground you use will make or break the quality of your espresso, and you’ will throw the blame on the machine when it’s actually the coffee you’re using that could be wrong.