How to Choose the best burr grinder Burr Coffee Grinder

A grinder is among the most essential tools in a home coffee-making arsenal. Which one should you purchase?

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

1. Conical Burrs

A conical-shaped burr mill has angled teeth and the ring of a circular burr that is placed within the other. This design allows for more efficient grinding, as the burrs are arranged around the central point. The angled teeth are more efficient in cutting beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is a good thing since too much heat can cause bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs can warp and dull very quickly, leading to unevenly ground espresso that is not evenly ground. They also tend to be more brittle, meaning that small stones or other debris can damage the burrs over time. In addition flat burrs produce more noise and require more frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Many burr grinders on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or no burrs even. These "false" burr grinders feature large, flattened teeth and are often paired up with weak motors which produce inconsistent grounds. These are not true burr mills and, contrary to what some enthusiasts think, do not provide the same quality grind as real burr mills.

Some experts aren't convinced however, others believe that the size and type of burrs used in a coffee grinder can affect the final flavor. These theories are largely based on anecdotes, but they have a firm grip on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. Some believe that conical burrs can bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs soften and enhance darker roasts.

This may or not be the case. However, it's something you should consider when you are deciding whether your grinder will have a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. The only way to determine for certain is to try the grinder using the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder as well as its operational features will have more of an influence on the final cup than the style or burrs. It is therefore crucial to take into consideration other aspects when evaluating the grinder, including its reputation as well as customer reviews.

2. Convenience

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

According to the company, the grinder uses rotating burrs made of metal rather than blades to grind beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder or other burr grinder. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the flavor and aroma of beans.

In contrast, blade grinders can create excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which affects the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders are also known to be quieter than blade grinders, however this may vary based on the model and manufacturer.

While most of the burr grinders we test feature conical burrs, a few make use of flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). We don't recommend them for espresso as they tend to be more difficult to calibrate and are generally less expensive than a top-of-the-line, flat-burr burr grinder such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders we tested let you select the amount of time that the machine will grind, which could be helpful if you are brewing espresso. Some, like our top pick the Baratza Sette270 an inbuilt smart timer that delivers the precision of a split second. This feature is not necessary for most brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders under $200 have a fancy version of a windup clock.

The most affordable models we have 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 coffee grinder and inexpensive option that doesn't require electricity.

The Breville smart grinder pro - helpful hints - is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models that we have tested, but it's still acceptable if you don’t mind some background noise. In general, the pricier a grinder is the quieter it's likely to be due to better materials and advanced soundproofing technologies.

3. Ease of Use

A burr grinder is a device that every expert recommends for those who are just starting to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders create a much more consistent, finer grind than the standard blade grinder, and can allow you to make beverages that are more balanced in flavor, body, and acidity. They also do it more reliably. But, as you expect, top burr grinders can be priced upwards of $200, and are difficult to operate.

So, we talked to experts and received their recommendations for the most simple-to-use electric burr grinders that are available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for many people and those who don't wish to spend a lot of money. It has multiple settings that allow it to accommodate a variety of brewing methods from pour-over, French press, and drip coffee. It performed well during our testing.

It's also a bit quieter than some other grinders with electric motors we've tried, and doesn't produce more heat than others do. This is crucial because excessive heat can ruin the delicate scents of your beans.

The OXO grinder's main drawback is that it's designed at grinding on the coarse end of the spectrum which could be a problem with espresso. If you're looking to make espressos, a burr mill with more advanced features such as the Baratza Encore may be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking, are easy to use and are perfect for those who only drink a cup or two of coffee per day. They're a great option for people who travel or want to make just one serving of pour-over.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder that has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of making a great beverage using any method you want, except espresso (the flat burrs of stainless steel manual coffee grinder do not grind fine enough). It's a breeze to operate for anyone who doesn't mind small messes and flying chaff, and it's quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr mill will cost you around a 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 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. They can produce a bit of fines (the tiny bits of coffee beans grinder machine that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) However, it won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers, and it's a small price to pay for great-tasting consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that face one another. They are not as common but are preferred by coffee geeks because they give a consistent size of grind, ideal for French press and espresso. They can be costly and you might have to purchase new burrs each time you alter the brew type or level of roast.

The Baratza ESP is the best combination of cost and capabilities for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's less than $200 and is more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm, flat brewer set that's perfect for all methods of brewing. You can easily upgrade to other sets, like those from SSP.

The OXO is a good affordable option that has a solid performance record in our tests. Its burrs aren't quite as precise as those found in higher-end models, but it does have various settings that work for drip and French press and its user interface is easy to use. The OXO is an excellent starter model for a lot of people. True coffee geeks might prefer a more advanced model, but the OXO is suitable for those who are.

We also tested a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their beans by hand. They are ideal for those who travel and who are only able to make one or two cups of coffee at a time. These models use the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders but operate using a hand crank instead of motors. They are also usually quieter than electric ones.