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 buy?

Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces, rather than cutting them using blades. They are considered superior to blade grinders. What characteristics should you look out for in a burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

As its name implies, conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring within another ring with the teeth angled. This shape permits more efficient grinding process, since the burrs revolve around an axis. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly and creates less heat, which is desirable because excessive heat can lead to bitter flavor notes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs are susceptible to warping and become dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground coffee that is unevenly ground. They are also more brittle, meaning that small stones or other debris could cause damage to the burrs over time. Additionally, flat burrs generate more noise and require regular 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 have large, flattened teeth. They are often paired up with motors that are weak, resulting in inconsistent grounds. They are not genuine burr mills and contrary to what some people think, they do not 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 coffee grinder can influence the final taste. These theories are largely based on anecdotes but they hold gained a strong hold on the minds of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs can bring out the unique flavor of exotic beans, while flat burrs enhance dark roasts.

This could be true. But it is something you should think about when you are deciding whether your grinder will have an impact on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing a grinder with the beans that you are planning to use will you be sure. The overall layout of the grinder and its operating features will have more of an impact on the final cup than the style or burrs. This is why it's essential to assess a grinder based on other criteria such as the reputation of the brand as well as customer reviews.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that many coffee machine grinder lovers swear by. It has been praised by several reviewers as an "time tried and tested product" that is a great value for money and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.

The grinder utilizes burrs that rotate instead of blades for grinding the beans, which produces larger, more uniformly-sized grounds than a blender or another burr grinders, according to the company. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the flavor and aroma of beans.

Blade grinders however, can produce excessive heat and unevenly-sized grinds that affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this could 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 are facing each one. We do not recommend them for espresso as they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a top-of-the-line burr grinder that is flat such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we've tested allow you to set how long the machine will be grinding for a particular amount of time. This is handy if you're brewing espresso. Some, like our top pick the Baratza Sette 270 a built-in intelligent timer that can provide split-second precision. This feature is not required for the majority of brewing methods and most burr grinders under $200 have an upgraded version of a windup clock.

The most affordable models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means you need to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious but is a great option if you're looking to get an easy, compact, and inexpensive alternative that doesn't require electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is a reasonable option. It's louder than the other models we've tried but is still a good choice for those who don't mind a little noise. The more quiet a grinder will be, in general the more expensive. This is due to the more advanced materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.

3. Easy of Use

A burr grinder is an instrument that all experts recommend to those who are just beginning to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders provide a more consistent, finer grind than what you can get from a standard blade coffeee grinder, and can assist in making beverages that are more balanced in flavor, body and acidity. They also tend to do it more reliably. As you would expect, a high-quality burr mill can cost anywhere from $200 to $200 and is difficult to use.

We asked experts for their suggestions on the most efficient electric burr grinders you can use. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to a lot of people as well as those who don't want to spend a fortune. It has multiple settings that allow it to handle a variety brewing methods from pour-over, French press, to drip coffee. It also performed well during our testing.

It's also a bit quieter than some other electric grinders we tested, and it doesn't create as much heat as some other grinders do. This is important because excessive heat can damage the delicate aromas in your beans.

The OXO grinder has only one flaw 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 higher-end burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders, which are powered by cranking, are more simple to use and are perfect for those who drink only just a cup or two of coffee a day. They're a good choice for people who travel or want to make a single serving of pour-over.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder that has 41 adjustable settings that are capable of making a great brew for any method you choose--except espresso (the flat burrs made of steel don't grind well enough). It's easy to use for anyone who doesn't mind some messes and flyaway particles, and it's also relatively quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, 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 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 create a tiny amount of fines, which are small pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of the official grind you choose. However this isn't noticeable to most coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth that face one another. They are less common but are favored by coffee geeks because they give a uniform grind size, which is ideal for French press and espresso. 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.

The Baratza ESP has the most cost-effective combination of price and capability for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's less than $200 and is far more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm flat burr set that is ideal for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade to other sets similar to the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a good affordable option that has a solid performance record in our tests. Its burrs may not be as precise as those in more expensive models, but it does have multiple settings that perform well for drip and French press and its user interface is easy to use. While true coffee geeks would prefer a more sophisticated model, the OXO is a great starting point for the majority of people.

For those who prefer to crank their beans by hand We also tried a handful of manual burr grinders, which are great for use on the go and for those who need to make just one or two cups at one time. These models utilize the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders but operate using a hand crank instead of a motor. They are also usually quieter than electric units.