Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders

Grinding your own coffee beans is a great way to improve your morning cup. There are a myriad of different kinds of grinders.

This OXO grinder features conical burrs which produce the perfect grind for French press, espresso and drip coffee. This grinder is a great option for beginners, but those who are serious about coffee will require an even more precise grind.

OXO Brew

You probably know if you make your own coffee that a high-quality grinder is essential to achieve the most flavor. However, a high-quality burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which could be prohibitive for someone who's not sure if they'll use regularly or not. This is why the OXO Brew is a great alternative for anyone looking to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.

The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy, but it looks sturdy and expensive. The stainless steel body has a permanent water tank in the back and a thermal carafe at the front. The tanks and carafe are shaped in such that the body can be easily incorporated in smaller kitchens. The controls are hidden under the carafe, reducing the clutter. There is also a light that lets you know when the carafe is heating or brewing.

Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. The temperature of the water was within a small range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test according to thermocouples located in the basket for the grounds. The brewing times were very close to the Specialty coffee bean grinder machine Association's recommended times for a high-quality drip.

The OXO Brew also comes with the single-serve option that lets you to pour coffee directly into your cup. This feature isn't available on other models with a higher price. It's an advantage for those who wish to make individual portions of their coffee, but don't like the hassle of making the entire carafe.

The only drawback to the OXO is that there is no clock or automated start time. This can be a problem if you are working on a tight schedule. Furthermore, the water tank can be difficult to remove because it has a lid that must be lifted off to access the reservoir. It comes with a built-in mineral descaler that can help prevent mineral deposits from accumulating in the machine.

Baratza Encore ESP

If you're a lover of coffee and are looking for the best burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is your best choice. This version of the classic Encore was revamped to include upgrades that make it more compatible with a greater variety of brewing techniques and offer more flexibility than ever before. It's for baristas in the home who are just beginning their journey and anyone looking to have a variety of brewing options on one grinder. It features stepped grind adjustments and simple controls for novices, along with labeled and notched settings to ensure consistency. Its M2 burrs ensure uniform grinding, and its hopper comes with a quick and easy release feature.

The ESP employs the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor that was used in the original Encore but operates at lower speeds to lessen static charge and heat buildup during the operation. It's also quieter than the classic Encore and features a steel plate that increases burr stability and consistency. It's equipped with conical burrs of 40 millimeters, similar to those found in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This helps it achieve a better grind size distribution and consistent shots.

The ESP grind adjustment is 9 microns between each step, ensuring excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. The new dosing cups fit both 54 and 58mm portafilters. This improves the ergonomics for manual dosing. The grinder can also be used with traditional grounds bins for those who prefer the hopper-based method of working.

One drawback of the ESP is its inconsistent performance in back-to-back consistency tests, although it is still superior to other grinders coffee beans in this price range. The settings for stepped grinds are also inconsistent, making it difficult to determine the ideal setting for your particular style of brewing. The ESP is a versatile brewer that can be used to make a variety of brewing methods.

The Encore ESP costs a little less than other models, but its versatility is worth the cost. It can grind for filter or espresso drinks. The shims included can optimize the performance of Pour Over making.

Baratza DF64

The Baratza DF64 grinder is a good one that works well for pour-over and espresso brewing. The burrs can be upgraded to increase efficiency and the hopper can be used to accommodate various grind sizes. The DF64 is also simple to use and maintain, with few moving parts. It is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a top-quality grinder for a reasonable price.

The DF64 Gen 2 is a significant improvement over the initial version and should have a hard time being defeated by any other grinder that is priced in the same range. The new model comes with an updated appearance that is more appealing to the eyes. It is a flat-rounded base which can withstand up to 20 grams of beans at a time, and a single dose cradle. It also has a rubber hose that pushes air through the grinder, thereby forcing out any excess grinds.

One of the major problems with the original DF64 was popcorning, which is when coffee beans bounce upward out of the burrs instead of grinding down. This is a common problem with hopper-based grinders that can affect the consistency of your grind. The new DF64 has a much-improved anti-popcorning system that eliminates this problem.

Other issues with the DF64 included a poor quality build, a loose design that caused gaps around the edges of the hopper, a heavyweight, a mandatory use of bellows, regular alignment challenges, a plastic adjust collar that mis-threaded easily, vinyl wrap instead of powder coating, and the all-but-mandatory need for two aftermarket upgrades (anti-popcorning, declumper). The DF64 Gen 2 addresses these issues and many more.

The DF64 has a powerful 250W motor that spins the burrs at about 1,400 RPM. This is a little faster than the Encore ESP, but it’s still slower than other popular burr grinders like the Mahlkönig EK43. The DF64 is also less noisy than the Encore ESP, making it easier to work with in a busy cafe environment.

The DF64 has an easy-to-read, step-by-step adjustment system that allows you to fine-tune your grind size for different brewing methods. It also comes with a wide selection of burrs, which makes it possible to experiment and find the perfect grind for your particular coffee bean. The DF64 also has a convenient dosing system, which allows you to direct the ground coffee directly into your portafilter or mug.
Fellow Ode

A popular maker of home coffee equipment, Fellow makes some seriously aesthetically appealing gear. Their kettles, French presses, and other home coffee grinders types brewing machines have an elegant and modern matte finish that suits any kitchen aesthetic. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that their grinders look equally as good. The Ode is a sleek and compact grinder with a number of easy-to-use features designed for precise, single-dose brewing.

The Ode is unique among coffee grinders because it uses flat burrs, rather than conical ones. Usually, you only see flat burrs on professional coffee grinder or commercial grinders due to their ability to reduce grind time and heat generation and improve grind particle consistency. The 64mm flat burrs in the Ode also give it a much smoother grind than you would find in a typical home appliance grinder. And they are designed with single-dosing in mind, meaning that the grinder shuts off as soon as the hopper is empty. This helps to prevent over-grinding, which can rob your brews of flavor and aroma.

The hopper itself holds 100 grams, which is enough for one large pour-over or two small cups of espresso. The Ode has a variety of other neat features, including a built-in scale and a cool grind size chart that is mapped out on the underside of the lid. This shows the brewing methods that each setting is most suitable for, with pour-over and cold brews on the fine end of the range, and French press on the coarse end.

Another great feature of the Ode is that it has a quiet, almost purr-like sound during operation and is very fast. The grinder has a high-force spring that knocks excess ground beans and chaff into the catch, which helps to reduce grind retention and make clean-up a breeze. It’s also very easy to disassemble and is compatible with coffee tablet cleaners.

Despite some minor hiccups in the initial launch, the Ode is still a top contender for those looking for an excellent and aesthetically pleasing conical burr grinder. Fortunately, the company is committed to improving the product and recently released the Gen 2 version, which addresses some of the issues with the original. However, for those who want a better-suited grinder for espresso, the Baratza DF64 is an excellent alternative that is both visually and functionally superior to the Fellow Ode.