20 Trailblazers Lead The Way In Best Burr Grinder

How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A grinder is one of the most essential tools in a home coffee-making arsenal. Which one should you purchase?

Burr grinders crush beans between two rotating serrated surfaces, rather than cutting them using blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. What features should you be looking for in a burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

Like its name suggests, a conical burr crusher has one circular burr ring within another with angled teeth. This design allows for more efficient grinding, because the burrs rotate around an axis. The conical teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is a good thing since too much heat can cause bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs are susceptible to warping and become dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground coffee that is not evenly ground. They are also more fragile, which means that small stones and other particles could cause damage over time. Flat burrs also create more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

A number of burr grinders sold on the market call themselves "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false" burr grinders feature large, flattened teeth and are often paired up with motors that are weak, resulting in uneven ground. 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 aren't convinced, but others believe that the size and type of burrs used in a coffee grinder can influence the final taste. These theories are mostly speculative however they hold gained a strong hold on the minds of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans. Flat burrs mellow and enhance darker roasts.

This could be true. However, it is something you should consider in the event that your grinder has a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing a grinder with the beans that you intend to use can you be certain. The overall design of the grinder and its features of operation will have more of an impact on the final cup than the style or burrs. This is why it's important to assess a grinder on other factors like the reputation of the brand as well as reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of compact coffee grinder lovers swear by. Several reviewers praise it as a "time-tested choice" that offers great value for money and is well suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold coffee.

According to the company, the grinder utilizes rotating metal burrs rather than blades to grind beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder, or other burr grinders. Additionally the burrs produce less heat while they grind and preserves more of the bean's flavor and aroma.

In contrast, blade grinders can create excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which can affect the taste of the final cup. Burr grinders can also be quieter than blade grinders, but this can differ based on the model and brand.

While the majority of the burr grinders that we test have conical burrs, some use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). We don't recommend them for espresso because they tend to be more difficult to calibrate and are generally less expensive than a top-of-the-line burr grinder that is flat like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we've tested allow users to set the length of time that the machine will grind for a certain period of time, which is helpful when making espresso. Certain grinders, such as our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have built-in timers that are precise to one-tenth of a second. However, this feature isn't essential for most brewing methods, and most under-$200 burr grinders operate on what amounts to an improved version of a windup timer.

The cheapest models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means that you have to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This requires more effort however, it's a good option if you're looking to get a simple, Compact coffee grinder, and cost-effective option that doesn't need electrical power.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is another affordable option that uses a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tried, but still tolerable for those who don't mind a little noise. In general, the pricier the grinder is the quieter it's likely to be due to improved materials and the latest soundproofing technology.

3. User-Friendliness

A burr grinder is an instrument that all experts recommend to those who are just starting to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders create more consistent, finer grind than a blade grinder, and can help you make brews with more balance in acidity, flavor and body. They are generally more reliable. As you might expect, a good burr mill can cost up to $200 and is difficult to use.

We asked experts for their suggestions for the best electric burr grinders to use. Many people, even those with a budget, recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It has multiple settings that allow it to manage a variety of brewing methods from pour-over, French press, to drip coffee. It did well in our tests.

It's also quieter than other electronic grinders we've tested, and doesn't generate as much heat. This is crucial because too much heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder has one drawback It grinds the best on the more coarse end of its range. This could be a problem for espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a more advanced burr grinder like the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are simple to use and are perfect for those who only drink one or two cups of coffee a day. They're an excellent choice for those who travel or need to make just one serving of pour-over.

Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Test Kitchen's director, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It comes with 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 well enough). It's simple for anyone to use, as you don't mind a few messes or chaff flying away.

4. Cost

A good burr grinder will set you back around a hundred dollars, however, it's well worth the price. 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. The grinders produce a small amount of fines, which are tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you select. However this isn't noticeable to most coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth that face one another. They are not as common but are preferred by coffee geeks due to their ability to provide a more consistent size of grind, ideal for French press and espresso. The downside is that they can be expensive to purchase, and you might require a new burr for each kind of brew or roast level.

The Baratza ESP offers the best combination of cost and capability for a burr grinder, according to our experts. It costs less than $200 and is more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It has a 64-mm flat burr set that is ideal for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade with other sets like those from SSP.

The OXO is a great, affordable option that has a solid track record in our tests. The burrs aren't as precise as those found in higher-end models, but it comes with several settings that work well for drip and French press and its user interface is intuitive. While true coffee lovers would prefer a more sophisticated model but the OXO is a great starter for the majority of people.

We also tested a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee by hand. They are ideal for those who travel and who are only able to make two or three cups of coffee at a time. These models use the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders but operate by hand instead of a motor. They are also generally quieter than electric ones.