10 Essentials About Best Burr Grinder You Didn t Learn In School

How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

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

Burr grinders crush beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces rather than slicing them using blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. But what characteristics should you be looking for in a burr grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

A conical-shaped burr mill has sharp teeth that are angled and the ring of a circular burr that is placed inside the other. This design allows for more efficient grinding process, since the burrs rotate around an axis. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly and generate less heat, which is a good thing since excessive heat can result in bitter notes in your coffee beans and grinder. 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, which means that small stones and other debris can damage them over time. Additionally, flat burrs generate more noise and require regular cleaning and maintenance.

A lot 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 uneven grounds. They aren't true burr grinders and, contrary to what some enthusiasts believe they don't have the same quality of grind as real burr grinders.

Some experts do not agree with this assertion however, others believe that the size and type of the burrs in a coffee grinder can influence the final taste. These theories are mostly speculative, but they have a firm grip on the minds of commercial coffee grinder enthusiasts. For instance, some believe that conical burrs can help bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs can mellow and enhance dark roasts.

This could be the case. But it is something to 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 that you are planning to use will you be sure. The overall design of the grinder as well as its features of operation will have more of an influence on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is the reason it's crucial to assess a grinder based on other criteria such as the quality of the product and customer reviews.

2. Convenience

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

The grinder uses rotating metal burrs instead of blades to crush the beans, which produces larger and more evenly-sized beans than a blender or other burr grinders, according to the company. In addition the burrs create less heat while they grind and preserves more of the bean's flavor and aroma.

In contrast, blade grinders can create excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds, which can affect the taste of the finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this can differ by model and brand.

Some burr grinders employ flat burrs instead of conical burrs. These are two discs with cutting edges facing each opposite. We do not recommend them for espresso as they tend to be more difficult to calibrate and are generally less expensive than a premium 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 allow users to set the amount of time it will be grinding for a particular period of time, which is useful when you're making espresso. Others--including our top choice the Baratza Sette 270 a built-in smart timer that delivers precise split-second timing. This feature isn't necessary for all brewing techniques and most burr grinders that cost less than $200 use a fancy version of the windup clock.

The most affordable models we have in our lineup, such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs, meaning you have to crank them yourself by hand to grind your coffee. This takes more effort however, it's a good option if you're looking to get a simple, Compact Coffee Grinder, and affordable option that doesn't need electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is a reasonable alternative. It's louder than the other models that we have examined, but it's acceptable if you don’t mind some sound. The more quiet a grinder will generally be the more expensive it will be. This is due to the more advanced materials and advanced soundproofing technology.

3. Easy of Use

If you're just starting to explore the world of coffee-brewing at home, there's one tool every expert says is essential: a burr grinder. These grinders create more consistent, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and will help you create brews with more balance in flavor, body and acidity. And they tend to achieve this more effectively. As you'd expect, a high-quality burr mill could cost up to $200 and can be difficult to use.

We spoke with 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 a lot of people as well as those who don't wish to spend a lot of money. It has multiple settings that can handle a variety of methods of brewing including pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it did well in our testing.

It's also a bit quieter than other electric grinders we tried, and does not produce more heat than other grinders do. This is important because too much heat can damage the delicate scents of your beans.

The OXO grinder has just one disadvantage: it grinds best on the coarser side of the spectrum. This can be problematic for espresso. If you're looking to make espressos, a grinder with more advanced features like the Baratza Encore may be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are more simple to use and are ideal for those who drink only one or two cups of coffee every day. They're an excellent choice for those who travel or require to brew up a single serving of pour-over.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder that has 41 adjustable settings that are capable of making a great brew using any method you want, except espresso (the flat burrs of stainless steel manual coffee grinder don't grind as finely as they should). It's a breeze to operate for those who don't mind a little messes and flyaway chaff, and it's quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr grinder will set you back about a hundred dollars but it's well worth the price. 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 that end up smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose), but this won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers and is a minor cost to pay for delicious, consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, that are two discs that have cutting teeth facing one another They aren't as popular in home units but are preferred by serious coffee geeks for their ability to provide a more uniform grind size that's perfect for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you might have to purchase new burrs every time you alter the type of brew or the level of roast.

The Baratza ESP is the most cost-effective combination of price and capability for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's less than $200 which is much less than the majority of other models that lack the same level of capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm, flat brewer set that's ideal for all brewing methods. You can easily upgrade to other sets, like those from SSP.

The OXO is a decent, low-cost option that has a good record in our tests. Its burrs may not be as precise as those in more expensive models, but it comes with various settings that work for drip and French press, and its user interface is simple. While true coffee geeks may require a more sophisticated model, the OXO is a great starter for the majority of people.

For those who prefer to grind beans by hand We also tested a few manual burr grinders that are perfect for use on the go and for those who only need to make one or two cups at each time. These models employ the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, but work with a hand crank instead of motors. They are also usually quieter than electric ones.