How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A grinder is one of the most essential tools in a coffee maker's arsenal. What kind of grinder should you get?
Burr grinders grind beans between two serrated surfaces that rotate instead of cutting them with blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. But what features should you look for in a grinder?
1. Conical Burrs
Like its name suggests, conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring within another one with angled teeth. This shape allows for a more efficient grinding process, since the burrs revolve around an axis. The angled teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is a good thing since excessive heat can create bitter taste in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso that is not evenly ground. They are more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other particles can cause damage over time. Flat burrs also create more noise and require more frequent maintenance and cleaning.
A number of burr grinders offered for sale advertise themselves as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false burr grinders" have large, flat teeth and are often paired with motors that have weak components that produce inconsistent grounds. They aren't genuine burr grinders, and, despite what some enthusiasts believe they don't have the same quality of grind as real burr grinders.
Some experts disagree with this claim however, others believe that the type and size of the burrs in a coffee grinder can influence the final flavor. These theories are largely based on anecdotes but they hold a firm grip on the minds of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans. Flat burrs enhance dark roasts.
It could 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 plan to use can you be sure. The overall design of the grinder as well as its operating features will have more of an impact on the final cup than the design or burrs. This is the reason it's crucial to assess a grinder on other criteria, such as the reputation of the brand and reviews from customers.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that many coffee enthusiasts swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as an "time-tested option" that is a great value for money and is well suited for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold coffee.
According to the company, the grinder uses rotating burrs of metal instead of blades to crush beans. This creates more uniform grounds than a grinder, or other burr grinder. The burrs also produce less heat which preserves the flavor and aroma of beans.
Blade grinders however are prone to producing excessive heat and unbalanced-sized ground which can affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this can 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 face each one. We don't recommend these for espresso machines because they can be difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a high-end burr grinder with a flat-burr such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.
A few of the grinders we've tested permit you to choose how long the machine will be grinding for a particular amount of time. This is handy if you're brewing espresso. Some grinders, including our top choice Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to only a fraction of seconds. This feature isn't necessary for the majority of brewing methods and most burr grinders that cost less than $200 use the most expensive version of a windup clock.
The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, use manual burrs. This means you have to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious but is a great option if you're looking for a simple, compact, and affordable alternative that doesn't require electrical power.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is another option for those who want to save money and uses a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tested, but still tolerable for those who don't mind a little noise. The more quiet a grinder is likely to be, in general the more expensive it will be. This is due to the improved materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.
3. Ease of Use
If you're just starting to learn about home coffee brewing there's one piece of equipment that everyone agrees is necessary is a burr mill. These grinders create more consistent, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and will help you create brews with better balance of flavor, body and acidity. They are generally more reliable. But, as you expect, high-quality burr grinders can cost upwards of $200, and some are difficult to use.
We sought advice from experts on the easiest electric burr grinders to use. Many people, including those with a budget, recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with multiple settings to manage a variety of options for brewing, from pour-over to French press, to drip coffee. It did well in our tests.
It's quieter than other electric grinders that we tested and doesn't produce more heat. This is crucial because excessive heat can destroy the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder has only one flaw: it grinds best on the coarser end of its range. This can be problematic for espresso. If you're a fan of brewing espressos, a grinder with more advanced features, like the Baratza Encore may be a better option.
Manual burr grinders powered by cranking are easy to use and ideal for those who consume only about a cup of coffee per day. They're an excellent choice for people who travel or want to brew up a single portion of pour-over.
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 producing an excellent brew regardless of the method you prefer, with the exception of espresso (the flat burrs of steel don't grind as finely as they should). compact coffee grinder for anyone to use so long as they're not frightened by the occasional mess or chaff that fly away.
4. Cost
A good burr grinder can cost you about a hundred dollars but it's well worth the cost. 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 tiny amount of fines, which are tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of the official grind you choose. However, this is not noticeable to most coffee drinkers.
Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth facing one another. They aren't as popular but are preferred by coffee geeks because they provide a more consistent grind size, perfect for French press and espresso. The drawback is that they can be expensive to purchase, and you may require a new burr for each kind of brew or roast level.
According to our experts, the Baratza has the most cost-effective combination of price and capabilities for a burr mill. It's less than $200, which is much less than other models that don't have the same capabilities. It has an incredibly flat 64-mm burr set that is ideal for all brewing methods and is easy to upgrade to other sets similar to the ones from SSP.
The OXO is a decent, low-cost alternative that has a great record in our tests. Its burrs may not be as precise as those in pricier models, but it comes with several settings that work well for drip and French press, and its user interface is easy to use. While true coffee lovers would prefer a more sophisticated model however, the OXO is a great starting point for most people.
For those who prefer to crank their beans manually We also tested a handful of manual burr grinders, which are great for travel and for people who need to make just one or two cups at each time. These models, which employ the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders, operate with the use of a crank rather than motors, and are generally much quieter than electric units.