How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is an essential tool in the home coffee maker's arsenal. What is the best one to purchase?

Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving, serrated surfaces rather than slicing them using blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. What are the features you should look out for in a burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

The name suggests that a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring that is inside another with angled teeth. This shape lets it grind more efficiently, since the burrs turn around a central point. The angled teeth cut the beans more evenly, and produce less heat, which is a good thing since excessive heat can lead to bitter notes in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs are susceptible to warping and becoming dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground coffee that is unevenly ground. They are also more brittle, which means that small stones or debris could damage the burrs over time. Flat burrs also generate more noise, and require more frequent maintenance and cleaning.

A lot of burr grinders available on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs, or no burrs even. These "false" burr grinders have large, flattened teeth. They are usually paired with weak motors that produce uneven grounds. These are not true burr mills and contrary to what many people believe, don't offer the same grind as real burr mills.

Some experts aren't convinced However, some believe that the shape and size of the burrs in a coffee grinder could influence the final taste. These theories are largely based on anecdotes, but they have an unshakeable hold on the minds of coffee lovers. For example, some think that conical burrs bring out the distinct flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs can soften and enhance dark roasts.

This may or not be true. However, it is something you should consider in the event that your grinder has a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing a grinder with the beans you are planning to use will you be certain. The overall design of the grinder and its operating features will have more of an impact on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is the reason it's crucial to evaluate a grinder based on other criteria such as the reputation of the brand and customer reviews.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. Several reviewers praise it as a "time-tested option" that provides excellent value for money and is well suited for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold coffee.

According to the company, the grinder uses rotating metal burrs rather than blades to crush beans. This results in more uniform grounds than a grinder or other burr grinders coffee. In addition, the burrs generate less heat while grinding which helps preserve the beans' aroma and flavor.

Blade grinders, on the other hand, can produce excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which can affect the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders coffee beans can also be quieter than blade grinders, though this can differ based on the model and manufacturer.

While the majority of the burr grinders that we test have conical burrs, there are some that use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). These grinders are not recommended for espresso as they are 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 we tested let you choose the amount of time the machine will grind, which can be useful when you're making espresso. Some grinders, including our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is accurate to a fraction of one second. This feature is not necessary for all brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders under $200 use a fancy version of the windup clock.

The cheapest models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, use manual burrs. This means you have to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee grinders types. This requires more effort, but is a good option if you're looking to get simple, compact and inexpensive alternative that doesn't require electricity.

The Breville smart grinder pro grinder (recent post by Articlescad) Pro is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tested, but it's still acceptable if you're willing to tolerate some noise. The more quiet a grinder is likely to generally be the more expensive. This is due to the more advanced materials and sophisticated soundproofing technologies.

3. User-Friendliness

A burr grinder is an instrument that is recommended by every expert for those who are just getting started with home coffee making. These grinders create an even, finer grind than your standard blade grinder. They can help you make brews with more balance in the flavor, body and acidity. They are generally more reliable. But, as you imagine, top-quality burr grinders can cost upwards of $200, and many are difficult to use.

We asked experts for their suggestions on the easiest electric burr grinders to use. Many people, including those on a tight budget are recommending the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It has multiple settings that allow it to accommodate a variety of options for brewing, from pour-over to French press, to drip coffee. It also did well in our tests.

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

The OXO grinder has just one drawback that it is best suited to grinding at the coarser end of its range. This can be problematic for espresso. If you're making espresso, a higher-end burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better option.

Manual burr grinders that are 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 perfect for those who travel, or just need to make only one cup of pour-over coffee.

Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Test Kitchen's director, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It comes with 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and will make a fantastic brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of flat steel don't grind precisely enough). It's easy to use for anyone who isn't afraid of a little messes and flyaway chaff, and it's relatively quiet.

4. Cost

A good burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, but is very worthwhile. 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 small amount of fines, which are small pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of grind you select. However it's not obvious to most coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth that are facing each other. They are less common but are preferred by coffee geeks due to their ability to produce a more consistent size of grind, ideal for French press and espresso. The downside is that they are expensive to purchase, and you may need to buy new burrs for each different kind of brew or roast level.

According to our experts, the Baratza is the best price and capabilities for burr mills. It's less than $200 which is much less than many competing models that don't offer the same level of capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm, flat brewer set that's perfect for all types of brewing techniques. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, including those from SSP.

The OXO is a good affordable option that has a good record in our tests. Its burrs aren't quite as precise as those of pricier models, but it comes with various settings that work for drip and French press, and its user interface is simple. The OXO is a great entry-level model for most people. True coffee geeks may want a more sophisticated model however, the OXO will work well for them.

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