How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

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

Burr grinders crush beans between two rotating serrated surfaces instead of slicing them using blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. What are the features you should look for in a burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

A conical-shaped burr mill has angled teeth and a circular burr ring inserted inside the other. This design allows for more efficient grinding, as the burrs rotate around an axis. The angled teeth are more efficient in cutting beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is good because excessive heat can result in bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs are prone to warping and dulling quickly, resulting in unevenly ground coffee that is not evenly ground. They also tend to be more brittle, meaning that small stones and other debris could damage the burrs over time. Flat burrs also generate more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

Many burr grinders on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs, or no burrs at all. These "false burr grinders" have large, flat teeth and are often paired with weak motors that produce uneven ground. They are not genuine burr mills and contrary to what some people believe, don't produce the same quality grind as real burr mills.

Some experts do not agree with this assertion However, some believe that the type and size of burrs used in a grinder for coffee can affect the final taste. These theories are largely anecdotal but they hold a firm grip on the minds of commercial coffee grinder lovers. For instance, some believe that conical burrs help bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs are able to soften and enhance dark roasts.

It could be true however it is something to consider if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. The only way to determine for certain is to try the grinder with the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder as well as its operating features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the style or burrs. This is why it's essential to evaluate a grinder based on other criteria such as the reputation of the brand and customer reviews.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that many coffee lovers swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested option" that offers great value for money and is suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold coffee.

The grinder employs burrs that rotate instead of blades to grind beans, which creates larger, more uniformly-sized grounds as compared to a blender or burr grinders coffee beans (relevant internet site), according to the company. The burrs also produce less heat, which preserves the flavor and aroma of the beans.

Blade grinders however, can produce excessive heat and unbalanced-sized ground that can alter the taste of your cup. Burr grinders are also known to be quieter than blade grinders, though this can vary depending on the model and brand.

Some burr grinders use flat burrs instead, rather than conical ones. These are two discs that have cutting edges that face each one. We don't recommend them for espresso as they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium burr grinder that is flat like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we tested let you choose the amount of time the machine will grind, which can be useful if you are brewing espresso. Certain grinders, such as our top choice Baratza Sette 270, have built-in timers that are precise to just one-tenth of seconds. This feature is not required for all brewing techniques, and most burr grinders under $200 have a fancy version of the windup clock.

The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, have manual burrs. This means you need to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious, but is a great option if you are looking for a simple compact and affordable option without electrical power.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is another option for those who want to save money and uses a burr grinder. It is louder than other models that we have tried, but it's acceptable if you're not worried about some background noise. The quieter a grinder will be, in general, the more expensive it is. This is due to the upgraded materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.

3. User-Friendliness

If you're just beginning to learn about home coffee brewing, there's one tool experts agree is essential is a burr mill. These grinders produce a finer, more consistent grind than your standard blade niche grinder. They can help you make brews with more balance in flavor, body and acidity. They also do it more reliably. But, as you might expect, top burr grinders can be priced upwards of $200, and some are complicated to use.

So, we talked to experts and received their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders available on the market. Many people, even those with a budget, recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with several settings that can accommodate various coffee grinders brewing techniques, from pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it performed well in our tests.

It's also quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't generate more heat. This is crucial, since excessive heat can damage the delicate aromas in your beans.

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

Manual burr grinders, which are powered by cranking, are more easy to use and are ideal for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee every 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 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of making an excellent drink using any method you want, except espresso (the flat burrs made of steel don't grind as finely as they should). It's a breeze to operate for anyone who isn't afraid of a little messes and flyaway chaff, and it's relatively quiet.

4. Cost

A good burr mill will cost you a few hundred bucks, but is very worthwhile. 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 coffee grinder 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 end up smaller than the official grind size you choose) however it won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers, and it's a small cost to pay for delicious consistently-sized coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, that are two discs that have cutting teeth facing one another, are less common in home units but are preferred by serious coffee enthusiasts due to their ability to create a more uniform grind size which is ideal for espresso and French press. They can be costly and you may need to purchase new burrs each time you alter the type of brew or the level of roast.

The Baratza ESP offers the best combination of cost and capability for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's priced at less than $200 and is far more affordable than many other models with similar capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm, flat brewer set that's perfect for all types of brewing techniques. You can easily upgrade to other sets, such as the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a different option that is priced reasonably with a proven performance in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise as the burrs in higher-end models however, its user interface and multiple settings are suitable for both French press and drip. The OXO is an excellent starter model for the majority of people. True coffee enthusiasts may require a more sophisticated model however, the OXO is a good choice for them.

We also tried a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee by hand. They are ideal for those who travel and who only require one or two cups of coffee at each time. These models utilize the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, but work using a hand crank instead of a motor. They are also usually quieter than electric ones.