The 3 Greatest Moments In Best Burr Grinder History

How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is an essential device in the coffee maker's arsenal. But which one should you buy?

Burr grinders grind beans between two serrated surfaces that rotate instead of cutting them with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. What features should you be looking for in a burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

A conical burr mill has angled teeth and an elongated burr ring that is inserted within the other. This design allows it to grind more efficiently as the burrs rotate around a single central point. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly, and produce less heat, which is desirable because excessive heat can lead to bitter notes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs are susceptible to warping and becoming dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground coffee grinders types that is not evenly ground. They are more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other particles can cause damage over time. Flat burrs also generate more noise, and require regular 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 whatsoever. These "false burr grinders" come with large flat teeth and are often paired with weak motors that produce irregular grounds. They aren't true burr grinders, and, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts, don't produce the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.

Although some experts disagree some believe that the type of burrs used in the grinder can have an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are largely anecdotal but they hold an unshakeable hold on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. Some believe that conical burrs can bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs mellow and enhance darker roasts.

It could be true. However, it is something to consider if your grinder will have an impact on the quality of your espresso. The only way to be sure that for certain is to test a grinder out with the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its features of operation will have more of an impact on the final cup than the type or burrs. It's important to consider other aspects when evaluating the quality of a grinder, like its reputation and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that many coffee enthusiasts swear by. Several reviewers praise it as a "time-tested choice" that offers great value for money. It is suited for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold coffee.

The grinder utilizes burrs that rotate instead of blades to grind beans, which creates larger, more uniformly-sized grounds as compared to a blender or burr grinder, according to 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 grinds that can alter the taste of your cup. Burr grinders are also known to be quieter than blade grinders, however this can vary depending on the model and the brand.

While most of the burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, there are some that use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing one another). We don't recommend these for espresso machines because they are more difficult to calibrate and are generally more expensive than a premium, flat-burr burr grinder such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we've tested permit you to choose the amount of time it will grind for a specific amount of time, which is helpful when making espresso. Others, including our top pick the Baratza Sette270 an inbuilt smart timer that can deliver split-second precision. This feature is not necessary for most brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders under $200 have an upgraded version of the windup clock.

The cheapest models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, have manual burrs. This means that you have to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a good option if you're looking for a simple, compact coffee grinder, and affordable option that doesn't need electricity.

The Breville smart grinder (go to website) 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 background noise. The more quiet a grinder will be, in general the more expensive it is. This is due to the improved materials and advanced soundproofing technology.

3. Ease of Use

If you're just starting to discover the world of home coffee brewing there's one piece of equipment that every expert says is essential that's a burr niche grinder. These grinders produce a finer, more consistent grind than your standard blade grinder, and will help you create brews with better balance of the flavor, body and acidity. They also tend to achieve this more effectively. But, as you might expect, high-quality burr grinders can be priced upwards of $200, and many are complicated to use.

We spoke with experts and got their suggestions for the most user-friendly electric burr grinders that are available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to many people and those who don't want spend a lot of money. It has multiple settings to accommodate a variety of options for brewing, from pour-over to French press, and drip stainless coffee grinder. And it did well in our tests.

It's also quieter than other electric grinders we've tested and doesn't produce as much heat. This is crucial because excessive heat can ruin the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder's only drawback is that it's best in grinding at the coarse end of the scale which could be a problem for espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a more sophisticated burr grinder like the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are more simple to use and are great 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 a single portion of pour-over.

Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder with 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of making a great drink for any method you choose--except espresso (the flat steel burrs do not grind fine enough). It's a breeze for anyone to use so long as they don't mind a few messes or chaff flying around.

4. Cost

A good burr grinder will set you back around a hundred dollars, however, it's well worth the cost. 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 the little bits of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you choose. However this isn't noticeable to most coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs, which are basically two discs with cutting teeth facing one another They are not as common in home units, however they are preferred by serious coffee geeks for their ability to provide a uniform size of grind that is perfect for espresso and French press. They can be costly and you might have to buy new burrs each time you change the type of brew or the level of roast.

According to our experts, the Baratza has the most cost-effective combination of price and capabilities for a burr mill. It's less than $200 which is much less than the majority of other models that lack the same level of capabilities. It is equipped with a 64-mm flat brewer set that's ideal for all methods of brewing. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, such as the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a good affordable option that has a good record in our tests. The burrs aren't 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 simple. While true coffee lovers will want a more advanced model, the OXO is a great starting point for the majority of people.

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 employ the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, but work by hand instead of motors. They are also typically quieter than electric ones.