The Reasons To Focus On Making Improvements Best Burr Grinder How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A grinder is among the most important tools in the coffee-making arsenal. But which one to buy?

Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces instead of slicing them with blades. They're considered to be superior to blade grinders. What characteristics should you be looking for in the burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

The name suggests that conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring inside another ring with angled teeth. This shape permits more efficient grinding process, since the burrs rotate around an axis. The angled teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is good because excessive heat can result in bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs are prone to warping and becoming dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground coffee. They are also more brittle, which means that small stones or other debris could damage the burrs over time. In addition, flat burrs generate more noise and require regular cleaning and maintenance.

Many burr grinders that are sold on the market call themselves "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false burr grinders" have large, flat teeth and are often coupled with motors that have weak components that produce irregular ground. They aren't genuine burr grinders and, despite what some enthusiasts believe they don't have the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.


Some experts aren't convinced however, others believe that the type and size of the burrs in a coffee grinder could affect the final flavor. These theories are largely anecdotal however they hold an unshakeable hold on the minds of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs 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 if your grinder will have an impact on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing the grinder with the beans that you intend to use can you be sure. The design of the grinder as well as its working features will have a larger effect on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It's therefore important to consider other aspects when evaluating the quality of a grinder, like its reputation and customer reviews.

2. Convenience

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

The grinder employs rotating burrs made of metal instead of blades to crush the beans, which produces more uniformly sized grounds than a blender or another burr grinders, as per the company. The burrs also produce less heat which preserves the flavor and aroma of the beans.

Blade grinders on the other hand are prone to producing excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds that affect the flavor of your 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, rather than conical ones. These are two discs that have cutting edges that are facing each other. These grinders aren't recommended for espresso as they can be difficult to calibrate. They're also less expensive and more difficult than top-end flat-burr grinders such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we've tested allow you to control how long the machine will grind for a specific period of time, which is useful when you're making espresso. Others, including our top choice the Baratza Sette 270 an inbuilt smart timer that delivers precise split-second timing. This feature is not necessary for most brewing techniques, and most burr grinders under $200 use an upgraded 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, meaning you'll need to crank them manually by hand to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a great choice when you're seeking an easy small, affordable alternative without electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tested however it's still acceptable if you don't mind some noise. In general, the pricier the grinder is the quieter it's likely to be due to better materials and sophisticated soundproofing technologies.

3. Ease of Use

If you're just beginning to explore the world of home coffee brewing there's one piece of equipment that everyone agrees is necessary: a burr grinder. These grinders create a much more consistent, finer grind than you get from your standard blade grinder and allow you to make brews that are better balanced in flavor, body, and acidity. They also do it more reliably. As you would expect, a good burr mill can cost anywhere from $200 to $200 and can be difficult to use.

We asked experts for their recommendations on the most efficient electric burr grinders you can use. Many people, even those on a budget are recommending the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with several settings that can accommodate various methods of brewing such as pour-over, French press to drip coffee, and it performed well during our tests.

It's also quieter than other grinders with electric motors we've tested, and it does not produce more heat than others do. That's important, as excess heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans.

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

Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking, are more simple to use and are ideal for those who only drink a cup or two of coffee a day. These grinders are ideal for those who travel, or who only require one cup of pour-over coffee.

Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Director of Test Kitchen, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and produces a wonderful brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of flat steel don't grind precisely enough). It's a breeze for anyone to use, as long as they don't mind some messes or chaff flying around.

4. Cost

A quality burr grinder will cost you around 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 produce a small amount of fines (the tiny pieces of ground coffee that are smaller than the official grind size you select) However, this won't be noticeable to the majority of people who drink coffee and is a minor price to pay for great-tasting consistently-sized coffee grounds.

Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other. They aren't as popular 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 can be expensive to purchase, and you may need to buy new burrs for each kind of brew or roast level.

According to our experts, the Baratza has the best combination of cost and capabilities for burr mills. It's less than $200 which is far lower than many competing models that lack the same level of capabilities. It comes with 64-mm flat burrs that's excellent for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade with other sets, like the ones from SSP.

compact coffee grinder is a great, affordable alternative that has a great track record in our tests. The burrs aren't 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 easy to use. While true coffee lovers will want a more advanced model, the OXO is a great entry point for the majority of people.

We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their coffee by hand. They are ideal for those who travel and who only require two or three cups of coffee at one time. These models employ the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders but operate using a hand crank instead of a motor. They are also generally quieter than electric units.