How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is a vital tool in the home coffee maker's arsenal. But which one to buy?

Burr grinders grind beans between two serrated surfaces that rotate instead of cutting them with blades. They're considered to be superior to blade grinders. But what characteristics should you look for in a burr grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

Like its name suggests, a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring that is inside another with sharp teeth. This design allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs revolve around a single central point. The inclined teeth are more effective in cutting beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is a good thing since excessive heat can result in bitter taste in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs are susceptible to warping and dulling quickly, resulting in unevenly ground coffee. They are also more fragile, meaning that small stones and other particles can damage them over time. Flat burrs also create more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

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" come with large flat teeth and are often coupled with motors that have weak components that produce irregular grounds. They aren't true burr mills and contrary to what some people think, they do not offer the same grind as real burr mills.

While some experts disagree some believe that the type of burrs in the grinder can have an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are mostly speculative however they hold an unshakeable hold on the minds of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs help bring out the distinctive flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs mellow and enhance darker roasts.

This may or may not be true, but it is important to consider if you wish for your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. Only by testing the grinder with the beans that you intend to use can you be sure. The overall layout of the grinder and its operating features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the design or burrs. It is therefore crucial to take into consideration other aspects when evaluating the quality of a grinder, like its reputation and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

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

The grinder utilizes rotating metal burrs instead of blades to crush beans, which creates larger and more evenly-sized beans than a blender or other burr grinders, as per the company. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the bean's aroma and flavor.

Blade grinders, on the other hand are prone to producing excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds that affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders also tend to be quieter than blade grinders, though this can differ based on the model and manufacturer.

Some burr grinders employ flat burrs instead, rather than conical ones. These are two discs with cutting edges that face each other. These grinders aren't recommended for espresso as they are difficult to calibrate. They're also less expensive and more complicated than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders we tested allow you to select the amount of time the machine will grind. This is useful for those who are making espresso. Some grinders, like our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have built-in timers that are precise to just only a fraction of seconds. This feature is not necessary for all brewing techniques, and most burr grinders that cost less than $200 use an upgraded version of a windup clock.

The cheapest models we have in our lineup, such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs, meaning you have to crank them manually by hand to grind your coffee. This requires more effort but is a great option in the event you're seeking an easy, compact and inexpensive option without 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 it's acceptable if you're willing to tolerate some noise. The quieter a grinder will be, in general the more expensive it will be. This is due to the upgraded materials and sophisticated soundproofing technologies.

3. Easy to Use

A burr grinder is a tool that all experts recommend to those who are just getting started with home coffee brewing. These grinders create a much finer, more consistent ground than what you can get from a standard blade grinder, and can allow you to make drinks that are more balanced in body, flavor and acidity. They also perform the job more consistently. As you might imagine, a top-quality burr mill can cost up to $200 and is a challenge to use.

We sought advice from experts on the easiest electric burr grinders to use. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to many people and those who don't want to spend a fortune. It has multiple settings to handle a variety different brewing methods, from pour-over, French press, to drip Handcrafted Coffee Grinders. And it performed well during our testing.

It's also quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't generate the same amount of heat. This is important because excessive heat can harm the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder has one flaw that it is best suited to grinding at the more coarse end of its range. This can be problematic for espresso. If you're brewing espresso machine with grinder, a more sophisticated burr grinder such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking are easier to use and ideal for those who consume only about a cup of coffee every day. These grinders are perfect for those who travel or only need to make one cup of pour-over coffee.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr niche grinder with 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of making an excellent brew using any method you want, except espresso (the flat burrs of steel don't grind as finely as they should). It's simple for anyone to use so long as they're not frightened by a few messes or chaff that fly away.

4. Cost

A good burr mill will cost you a few hundred bucks, but is definitely 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 bistro 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. The grinders produce a small amount of fines, which are the tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you choose. However this isn't evident to the majority of coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other. They aren't as popular but are favored by coffee geeks because they give a consistent grind size, perfect for French press and espresso. They can be expensive and you may have to purchase new burrs every when you change the type of brew or the level of roast.

The Baratza ESP has the best mix of cost and capability for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's priced at less than $200 and is cheaper than other models that have similar capabilities. It comes with 64-mm flat burrs that's excellent for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade with other sets, like the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a similar model that is affordable with a good performance record in our tests. Its burrs may not be as precise as those found in pricier models, but it has several settings that work well for drip and French press, and its user interface is intuitive. The OXO is an excellent starter model for a lot of people. Coffee enthusiasts who are serious may want a more sophisticated model however, the OXO will work well for those who are.

We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their coffee with their hands. These are great to take on trips and for those who are only able to make one or two cups of coffee at a time. These models, which utilize the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, work with a crank instead of motors and are typically much quieter than electric units.