How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A grinder is one of the most essential tools in a coffee maker's arsenal. But which one should you buy?

Burr grinders grind beans between two serrated, rotating surfaces instead of cutting with blades. They are considered superior to blade grinders. But what are the features you should look for in a grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

A conical burr mill has angled teeth and an elongated burr ring that is inserted inside the other. This shape allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs rotate around a central point. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly, and produce less heat, which is desirable since excessive heat can cause bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat burrs. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull very quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso. They also tend to be more brittle, which means that small stones or other debris can damage the burrs over time. In addition flat burrs create more noise and require more frequent cleaning and maintenance.

A lot of burr grinders available for sale are marketed as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false" burr grinders have large, flattened teeth. They are often paired up with weak motors that produce inconsistent grounds. They are not true burr grinders, and, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts, don't produce the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.

Although some experts do not agree, others claim that the type of burrs in a grinder has an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are mostly anecdotal but have a strong grip on the minds and hearts of coffee drinkers. Some believe that conical burrs help bring out the distinctive flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs enhance dark roasts.

This may or may not be true however it is something to consider if you want your grinder to have a significant impact on the quality of your coffee. Only by testing a grinder with the beans you plan to use can you be sure. The overall design of the grinder and its operational features will have a greater effect on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It is therefore crucial to take into consideration other factors when evaluating the grinder, including its reputation and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee lovers swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested option" that is a great value for money. It is suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold brew.

According to the company, the grinder uses rotating metal burrs rather than blades to crush beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder, or other burr grinder. In addition the burrs produce less heat while they grind which helps preserve the beans' flavor and aroma.

In contrast, blade grinders can produce excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds, which affects the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders can also be quieter than blade grinders, though this can vary depending on the model and brand.

Some burr grinders utilize flat burrs instead of conical. These are two discs with cutting edges that face each other. These grinders are not recommended for espresso as they can be difficult to calibrate. They're also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders that we tested allow you to choose the amount of time that the machine will grind, which can be useful when you're making espresso. Certain grinders, such as our top choice Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to one-tenth of seconds. However, this feature isn't essential for all brewing methods and most under-$200 burr grinders use what's an improved version of a windup timer.

The cheapest models in our lineup--such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs. That means you'll have to crank them by hand to grind your coffee. This takes more effort however, it's a good choice if you want simple, compact and inexpensive option that doesn't need electrical power.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses burr mills and is also an affordable alternative. It's louder than the other models we've tested, but still tolerable in the event that you're okay with a bit of noise. The more quiet a grinder is likely to be, in general, the more expensive it is. This is due to the upgraded materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.

3. Ease of Use

A burr grinder is a tool that is recommended by every expert for those who are just starting to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders create an even, finer grind than a blade grinder, and will assist in creating brews that have more balance in the flavor, body and acidity. They are typically more reliable. But, as you might expect, high-quality burr grinders can cost upward of $200, and some are difficult to operate.

So, we spoke to experts and obtained their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to a lot of people as well as those who don't wish to spend a fortune. It comes with several settings that can accommodate various industrial coffee grinder brewing techniques, from pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it did well in our testing.

It's also quieter than the other grinders with electric motors we've tested, and it does not produce more heat than others do. This is important since excessive heat can ruin the delicate scents of your beans.

The OXO grinder has one disadvantage: it grinds best espresso grinder on the more coarse end of its range. This can be a problem for espresso. If you're making espresso, a higher-end burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are simple to use and are great for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee a day. These grinders are ideal for those who travel, or just need to make a single cup of pour-over coffee.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder, which has 41 adjustable settings that are capable of producing an excellent drink regardless of the method you prefer, with the exception of espresso (the flat burrs made of stainless steel coffee grinder electric don't grind as finely as they should). It's easy to operate for those who don't mind some messes and flyaway chaff, and it's quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr mill can cost you a few hundred dollars, but is well 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 mini 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. They can produce a bit of fines (the tiny pieces of ground coffee that end up smaller than the official grind size you select), but this won't be noticeable to the majority of people who drink coffee and it's a low cost to pay for delicious consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, that are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other They aren't as popular in home units, but are preferred by serious coffee geeks for their ability to produce a uniform size of grind which is ideal for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you may have to buy new burrs each time you alter the brew type or level of roast.

The Baratza ESP has the best Burr grinder 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 which is perfect for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade with other sets, like the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a different option that is priced reasonably with a good track record in our tests. Its burrs aren't quite as precise as those found in pricier models, but it does have several settings that work well for drip and French press, and its user interface is intuitive. The OXO is an excellent starter model for the majority of people. True coffee geeks might prefer a more advanced model however, the OXO is a good choice for them.

We also tested a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee with their hands. These are great for traveling and for people who are only able to make one or two 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 typically quieter than electric ones.