Why No One Cares About Best Burr Grinder

How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is an essential device in the coffee maker's arsenal. What is the best home espresso grinder one to purchase?

Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces, rather than cutting them with blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. What are the features you should look out for in the burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

Like its name suggests, a conical burr crusher has one circular burr ring within another one with sharp teeth. This shape allows for a more efficient grinding, as the burrs revolve around an axis. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly, and produce less heat, which is desirable since excessive heat can lead to bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs are prone to warping and become dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground coffee. They are also more fragile, meaning that small stones and other particles could cause damage over time. Additionally, flat burrs generate more noise and require regular cleaning and maintenance.

Many burr grinders on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or no burrs whatsoever. These "false" burr grinders have large, flattened teeth and are usually paired with motors that are weak, resulting in inconsistent grounds. They aren't true burr grinders and, despite what some people believe they don't provide the same quality of grind as real burr grinders.

Some experts disagree with this claim however, others believe that the shape and size of burrs used in a coffee grinder can affect the final flavor. These theories are largely anecdotal, but they have a firm grip on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. For instance, some people believe that conical burrs bring out the distinct flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs can mellow and enhance dark roasts.

It could be the case, but it is important to think about if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. Only by testing a grinder with the beans you intend to use can you be certain. The design of the grinder as well as its working features will have a larger effect on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. This is why it's important to assess a grinder based on other factors like the quality of the product and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee lovers swear by. It has been praised by numerous reviewers as a "time tested choice" that is great value for money and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.

The grinder uses rotating metal burrs instead of blades to grind the beans, resulting in larger, more uniformly-sized grounds than a blender or other burr grinders, according to the company. Additionally, the burrs generate less heat when they grind and preserves the beans' flavor and aroma.

Blade grinders on the other hand they can generate excessive heat and unevenly-sized grinds that can alter the taste of your cup. Burr grinders can also be quieter than blade grinders, though this can differ based on the model and the brand.

Some burr grinders utilize flat burrs instead of conical. These are two discs with cutting edges that face each other. We don't recommend them for espresso as they can be difficult to calibrate and are generally more expensive than a high-end, flat-burr burr grinder such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders that we tested let you choose the amount of time the machine will grind, which can be useful for those who are making espresso. Others--including our top pick, the Baratza Sette 270--have an integrated smart timer that can deliver the precision of a split second. This feature is not required for most brewing techniques, and most burr grinders that cost less than $200 use an upgraded version of a windup clock.

The most affordable models in our lineup--such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs, meaning you have to crank them by hand to grind your coffee. This is more laborious, but is a great option in the event you're seeking an easy, compact and inexpensive alternative that doesn't require electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is another option for those who want to save money and uses a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tried, but it's acceptable if you're not worried about some sound. In general, the pricier grinder is more quiet it's likely to be due in part to the improved materials and sophisticated soundproofing technology.

3. Easy of Use

A burr grinder is a device that every expert recommends for those who are just getting started with home coffee making. These grinders create an even, finer grind than your standard blade grinder. They can help you create brews with better balance in flavor, body and acidity. They also achieve this more effectively. As you'd expect, a high-quality burr mill can cost up to $200 and is difficult to use.

So, we talked to experts and got their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to many people and those who don't wish to spend a lot of money. It comes with multiple settings that can handle different methods of brewing, from pour-over to French press to drip coffee maker with grinder, and it worked well in our tests.

It's also quieter than the other grinders that we tried, and does not produce the same amount of heat as other grinders do. This is important since excessive heat can destroy the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder's only drawback is that it's best at grinding on the coarse end of its range, which can be a problem with espresso. If you brew espresso, a more sophisticated burr grinder such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking are simpler to use and ideal for those who drink just a cup or so of coffee per day. They're a great option for those who travel or require to make a single portion of pour-over.

Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Test Kitchen's director, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and can produce a great brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of steel aren't grinding precisely enough). It's easy to operate for those who don't mind small messes and flying chaff, and it's relatively quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr mill can cost you a few hundred dollars, but it's well worth it. 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 little bit of fines (the tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you select) however this won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers and it's a low price to pay for excellent-tasting, consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, which are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other, are less common in home units, but are preferred by serious coffee machine grinder lovers due to their ability to produce a uniform size of grind that's perfect for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you may have to purchase new burrs each when you change the type of brew or the level of roast.

According to our experts, the Baratza offers the most cost-effective combination of 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 64-mm flat burrs that's excellent for all brewing methods and easy to upgrade with other sets, like the ones from SSP.

The OXO is another affordable option with a solid performance record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise as the burrs in higher-end models however its user interface and a variety of settings are suitable for both French press and drip. While true coffee enthusiasts will want a more advanced model however, the OXO is a great starting point for the majority of people.

For those who prefer to crank their beans manually, we also tested a handful of manual burr grinders that are ideal for travel and for people who need to make just one or two cups at a time. These models, which employ the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders operate with the use of a crank rather than a motor and are usually quieter than electric models.