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How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is an essential device in the coffee maker's arsenal. Which one should you purchase?

Burr grinders grind beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces instead of cutting them with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. But what features should you look for in a grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

Like its name suggests, a conical burr crusher has one circular burr ring within another with sharp teeth. This design allows for more efficient grinding process, since the burrs revolve around an axis. The conical teeth are more efficient in cutting beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is good because excessive heat can create bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs can be susceptible to warping and become dull quickly, leading to unevenly ground coffee that is unevenly ground. They also tend to be more brittle, meaning that small stones and other debris could damage the burrs over time. In addition flat burrs produce more noise and require more frequent cleaning and maintenance.

A number of burr grinders sold on the market advertise themselves as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false burr grinders" feature large, flat teeth and are often coupled with weak motors that produce uneven Perfectly ground coffee with our grinders (click through the next site). They are not true burr grinders, and, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts, don't produce the same quality of grind as real burr grinders.

Although some experts disagree, others claim that the type of burrs used in a grinder has an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are largely based on anecdotes however they hold a firm grip on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. Some believe that conical burrs help bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs enhance dark roasts.

It could be the case, but it is important to consider if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. The only way to know that for certain is to test a grinder out with the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its operational features will have a bigger impact on the final cup of coffee than the design of burrs. It is therefore crucial to take into consideration other aspects when evaluating the quality of a grinder, like its reputation as well as customer reviews.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested choice" that provides excellent value for money and is designed for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold brew.

The grinder uses rotating burrs made of metal instead of blades to grind the beans, which produces larger, more uniformly-sized grounds as compared to a blender or burr grinders, according to the company. In addition, the burrs generate less heat while grinding and preserves more of the bean grinder coffee machine's flavor and aroma.

Blade grinders however are prone to producing excessive heat and unevenly-sized grinds which can affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blades grinders. However, this can differ based on the model and the brand.

While most of the burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, some use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing one another). These grinders aren't recommended for espresso because they are difficult to calibrate. They're also less expensive and more difficult than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders that we tested let you select the amount of time the machine will grind, which can be useful for those who are making espresso. Some grinders, like our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is accurate to only a fraction of one second. This feature isn't necessary for most brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders under $200 have the most expensive version of the windup clock.

The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means that you have to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious, but is a great choice in the event you're seeking a simple compact and affordable alternative without electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is also a budget-friendly alternative. It's louder than the other models we've tested, but still tolerable in the event that you're okay with a little noise. In general, the pricier the grinder is, the quieter it's likely to be due to improved materials and sophisticated soundproofing technology.

3. User-Friendliness

A burr grinder is a tool that every expert recommends for those who are just getting started with home coffee brewing. They produce more consistent, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and can assist in creating brews that have more balance in flavor, body and acidity. They also tend to achieve this more effectively. As you might expect, a high-quality burr mill can cost up to $200 and is a challenge to use.

So, we talked to experts and received their suggestions for the most user-friendly electric burr grinders on the market. Many people, including those on a budget are recommending the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with several settings that can accommodate different coffee brewing techniques including pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it did well in our testing.

It's also a bit quieter than the other grinders with electric motors we've tested, and it does not produce the same amount of heat as others do. This is crucial because too much heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder's only drawback is that it's designed when grinding at the coarse end of the scale, which can be a problem with espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a higher-end burr grinder such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders that run by cranking are simpler to use and are ideal for those who drink only about a cup of coffee per day. These grinders are ideal for those who travel, or only need to make only one cup of pour-over coffee.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder with 41 easily-adjustable settings and is capable of producing an excellent drink regardless of the method you prefer, with the exception of espresso (the flat burrs of steel don't grind well enough). It's simple to use by anyone, as you don't mind a few messes or chaff flying around.

4. Cost

A quality burr grinder will cost you a few hundred dollars, but it's worth the cost. The grinding mechanism is simple enough that even a beginner can figure out how to get the most out of it, and you'll save money in the long run by ditching the pre-ground coffee and bad-for-the-environment coffee pods.

Conical burr grinders are the standard in electric home units, and they're a great choice for most people just starting out with this whole grinding-your-own-beans-at-home thing. They produce a small amount of fines (the tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you select) however this won't be noticeable to the majority of people who drink coffee, and it's a small price to pay for great-tasting consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, that are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other, are less common in home units, however they are preferred by serious coffee geeks for their ability to produce a more uniform grind size that's perfect for espresso and French press. The drawback is that they can be expensive to purchase, and you might require a new burr for each different brew type or roast level.

According to our experts, the Baratza has the best price and capabilities for burr mills. It's less than $200 and is more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm flat brewer set that is perfect for all methods of brewing. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, including the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a decent, low-cost alternative that has a great performance record in our tests. Its burrs may not be as precise as those of higher-end models, but it does have several settings that work well for drip and French press and its user interface is simple. The OXO is a great starter model for the majority of people. True coffee geeks may want a more sophisticated model however, the OXO is suitable for them.

We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their coffee by hand. These are great for those who travel and who only require one or two cups of coffee at each time. These models utilize the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders but operate using a hand crank instead of motors. They are also generally quieter than electric units.