Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Grinding your own beans for your coffee is a great way to improve your morning cup. There are a variety of grinders.
This OXO smart grinder pro makes use of conical burrs to produce a grind that works well for drip, French press and espresso. This grinder is a great option for those who are just beginning, however the most dedicated coffee enthusiasts will require a more precise grind.
OXO Brew
If you're planning to make your own coffee at home, then you know that it requires a good grinder to produce the best grinder machine flavor. But a quality burr grinder can run upwards of $200, which can be prohibitive for someone who's not certain if they'll use it regularly or not. The OXO Brew is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enjoy freshly ground coffee bean grinder machine without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy but it looks solid. The stainless steel body comes with a permanent water reservoir in the rear and a thermal caafe at the front. The tanks and carafe are designed in that the structure can fit comfortably in smaller kitchens. The controls are recessed beneath the carafe to reduce clutter, and there is an indicator light that lets you know when it's heating or brewing.
Oxo consistently brewed well during our tests. The temperature of the water remained within a narrow range--197.4 F to 205 F--for the entire test, as measured by thermocouples in the basket for grounds and the water tank. Its brewing time was also close to the time that the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for an excellent drip.
The OXO Brew also has a single-serve feature that allows you to pour coffee machine grinder directly into your cup. This isn't an option that's available in other models with a higher price and can be an important benefit for those who want to make their own servings of coffee, but don't wish to hassle with brewing a full carafe of coffee.
The only issue with the OXO Brew is that it doesn't include an alarm clock or a timer that can be set to automatically start time, which can be a problem when you have a hectic schedule. Furthermore, the water tank can be tricky to remove because it has a lid that needs to be slid off to access the reservoir. It does have an inbuilt descaler, which assists in preventing mineral deposits from accumulating in the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
If you're a coffee lover looking for the best burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is your top pick. This version of the original Encore was re-engineered to include improvements that make it compatible with a greater variety of brewing methods, and offer more flexibility than ever before. It's for home baristas who are just starting out and anyone looking to have a variety of brewing options in one grinder. It has a the ability to adjust the grind in a step and has simple controls for novice baristas, as well as marked and notched settings to ensure consistency. Its M2 burrs ensure uniform grinding, and its hopper has an easy-to-clean quick release feature.
The ESP uses a high-torque DC motor with gear reduction, just like the original Encore. However it runs at lower speeds to minimize static charge and heat. It is also quieter than the classic Encore and has a metal plate that increases burr consistency and stability. It comes with conical burrs of 40 millimeters similar to those that are found in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This helps to attain a greater grind size distribution and uniform shots.
Each step of the ESP's grind adjustment is 9 microns, which provides high resolution when dialing in espresso and finer grinding for pour over. It features a new dosing cup that can be used with both 54 and 58 mm portafilters, which improves the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be used in conjunction with the traditional grounds bin in the event that you prefer a hopper based workflow.
One drawback of the ESP is its inconsistency during back-to-back consistency tests however, it is still superior to other grinders in this price range. The stepped settings are inconsistant, making it difficult to determine the ideal setting for your specific brewing method. However, the ESP is well-suited for a wide range of brew methods and offers an amazing value for the versatility it offers.
The Encore ESP is also a little more expensive than some of the other models on this list, but it's well worth the extra expense for its incredible versatility. It can grind for filter or espresso drinks. The included shims will maximize its performance for Pour Over Brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 is a good grinder that is compatible with pour-over brewing and espresso. The burrs can be upgraded to enhance performance and the hopper can be large enough for a variety of sizes of grind. The DF64 has only a few moving parts, making it easy to maintain and operate. This is a great choice for anyone who is looking for an affordable, high-quality grinder.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a massive improvement over the original version and will have a hard time being beat by any other grinder at the same price. The new model is more appealing to the eye. It features a simple flat-rounded base which can withstand up to The cradle is able to hold 20 grams at a time. It also comes with a rubber bellows that is able to push air through the grinder as you do your dose to force out the excess grinds and decrease retention.
One of the major problems with the original DF64 was popcorning, which is when coffee beans bounce upward out of the burrs instead of grinding down. This is a common problem with hopper-based grinders that can affect the consistency of your grind. The new DF64 has a much-improved anti-popcorning system that eliminates this problem.
Other issues with the DF64 included a poor quality build, a loose design that caused gaps around the edges of the hopper, a heavyweight, a mandatory use of bellows, regular alignment challenges, a plastic adjust collar that mis-threaded easily, vinyl wrap instead of powder coating, and the all-but-mandatory need for two aftermarket upgrades (anti-popcorning, declumper). The DF64 Gen 2 addresses these issues and many more.
The DF64 has a powerful 250W motor that spins the burrs at about 1,400 RPM. This is a little faster than the Encore ESP, but it’s still slower than other popular burr grinders like the Mahlkönig EK43. The DF64 is also less noisy than the Encore ESP, making it easier to work with in a busy cafe environment.
The DF64 has an easy-to-read, step-by-step adjustment system that allows you to fine-tune your grind size for different brewing methods. It also comes with a wide selection of burrs, which makes it possible to experiment and find the perfect grind for your particular coffee bean. The DF64 also has a convenient dosing system, which allows you to direct the ground coffee directly into your portafilter or mug.
Fellow Ode
A popular maker of home coffee equipment, Fellow makes some seriously aesthetically appealing gear. Their kettles, French presses, and other home coffee brewing machines have an elegant and modern matte finish that suits any kitchen aesthetic. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that their grinders look equally as good. The Ode is a sleek and compact grinder with a number of easy-to-use features designed for precise, single-dose brewing.
The Ode is unique among coffee grinders because it uses flat burrs, rather than conical ones. Usually, you only see flat burrs on professional or commercial grinders due to their ability to reduce grind time and heat generation and improve grind particle consistency. The 64mm flat burrs in the Ode also give it a much smoother grind than you would find in a typical home appliance grinder. And they are designed with single-dosing in mind, meaning that the grinder shuts off as soon as the hopper is empty. This helps to prevent over-grinding, which can rob your brews of flavor and aroma.
The hopper itself holds 100 grams, which is enough for one large pour-over or two small cups of espresso. The Ode has a variety of other neat features, including a built-in scale and a cool grind size chart that is mapped out on the underside of the lid. This shows the brewing methods that each setting is most suitable for, with pour-over and cold brews on the fine end of the range, and French press on the coarse end.
Another great feature of the Ode is that it has a quiet, almost purr-like sound during operation and is very fast. The grinder has a high-force spring that knocks excess ground beans and chaff into the catch, which helps to reduce grind retention and make clean-up a breeze. It’s also very easy to disassemble and is compatible with coffee tablet cleaners.
Despite some minor hiccups in the initial launch, the Ode is still a top contender for those looking for an excellent and aesthetically pleasing conical Coffee Grinders burr mill grinder grinder. Fortunately, the company is committed to improving the product and recently released the Gen 2 version, which addresses some of the issues with the original. However, for those who want a better-suited grinder for espresso, the Baratza DF64 is an excellent alternative that is both visually and functionally superior to the Fellow Ode.