How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is an essential tool in the home coffee maker's arsenal. Which one should you buy?
Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces, rather than cutting them using blades. They're generally thought to be superior to blade grinders. What features should you be looking for in the burr mill?
1. Conical Burrs
A conical burr mill has sharp teeth that are angled and a circular burr ring inserted between the other. This design allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs turn around a central point. The inclined teeth are more effective in cutting beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is a good thing since excessive heat can result in bitter tastes in your coffee. espresso grinders are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs can warp and become dull very quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso. They are also more brittle, meaning that small stones or other debris could cause damage to the burrs over time. Additionally, flat burrs generate more noise and require regular cleaning and maintenance.
A number of burr grinders offered for sale are marketed as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false" burr grinders feature large, flattened teeth and are usually paired with weak motors that produce inconsistent grounds. They aren't genuine burr grinders and, contrary to what some enthusiasts believe they don't provide the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.
Some experts disagree with this claim, but others believe that the size and type of the burrs in a coffee grinder could influence the final flavor. These theories are mostly speculative, but they have a firm grip on the minds of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs can bring out the distinctive flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs soften and enhance darker roasts.
This could be true. However, it is something you should consider if your grinder will have an impact on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing a grinder with the beans that you plan to use can you be sure. The design of the grinder as well as its operating features will have a larger effect on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It's important to consider other factors when evaluating a grinder, such as its reputation as well as customer reviews.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that many coffee enthusiasts swear by. It has been praised by numerous reviewers as a "time tried and tested product" that offers great value for money, and is well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.
According to the company, the grinder makes use of rotating metal burrs rather than blades to crush beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder or other burr grinders. The burrs also produce less heat which preserves the bean's aroma and flavor.
Blade grinders however they can generate excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds which can affect the taste of your cup. Burr grinders are also known to be quieter than blade grinders, but this can vary depending on the model and the brand.
While the majority of the burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, there are some that use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). We don't recommend these for espresso machines because they can be difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium burr grinder that is flat such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.
Some of the grinders we've tested allow you to control the length of time that the machine will grind for a certain period of time, which is handy if you're brewing espresso. Some grinders, like our top choice Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to a fraction of seconds. However, this feature isn't required for the majority of brewing methods, and most under-$200 burr grinders operate on what amounts to a fancier version of the windup timer.
The most affordable models in our selection, like the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs, meaning you'll need to crank them yourself by hand to grind your coffee. This requires more effort but is a great choice in the event you're looking for an easy, compact and inexpensive alternative without electricity.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses burr mills and is a reasonable option. It is louder than other models that we have tried, but it's acceptable if you're willing to tolerate some sound. The quieter a grinder will generally be, the more expensive. This is due to the improved materials and advanced soundproofing technology.
3. Easy of Use
A burr grinder is a device that all experts recommend to those who are just getting started with home coffee brewing. These grinders produce a smaller, more consistent grind than the standard blade grinder, and can assist in making brews that are better balanced in flavor, body and acidity. They are typically more reliable. However, as you may expect, top burr grinders can be priced upwards of $200, and are complicated to use.
So, we talked to experts and got their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders that are available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to many people, including those who don't wish to spend a fortune. It comes with multiple settings that can handle different 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 electronic grinders that we tested and doesn't generate more heat. This is crucial because too much heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder has only one disadvantage: it grinds best on the coarser side of the spectrum. This can be a problem for espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a more advanced burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better option.
Manual burr grinders, which are powered by cranking, are more easy to use and are great for those who drink only one or two cups of coffee per day. They're a great option for people who travel or want to make just one portion of pour-over.
Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder that has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of producing an excellent brew using any method you want, except espresso (the flat steel burrs don't grind as finely as they should). It's a breeze to operate for anyone who isn't afraid of small messes and flying particles, and it's also relatively quiet.
4. Cost
A quality burr mill can cost you around a hundred dollars, but it's well worth it. 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 little bit of fines (the tiny bits of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you select) However, it won't be noticeable to most average drinkers and is a minor price to pay for great-tasting, consistent coffee grounds.
Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth facing one another. They are less common but are preferred by coffee geeks due to their ability to provide a more uniform grind size, which is ideal for French press and espresso. They can be expensive and you might have to buy new burrs each time you alter the type of brew or the level of roast.
According to our experts, the Baratza is the best combination of cost and capabilities for a burr mill. It's priced at less than $200, which is much less than many competing models that don't offer the same level of capabilities. It has an incredibly flat 64-mm burr set which is perfect for all brewing methods and easy to upgrade to other sets similar to those from SSP.
The OXO is a different option that is priced reasonably with a proven performance in our tests. Its burrs aren't quite as precise as those found in higher-end models, but it has 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 but the OXO is a great starter for the majority of people.
We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee with their hands. These are great to take on trips and for those who only need to make one or two cups of coffee at each time. These models, which employ the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders operate with the use of a crank rather than a motor and are usually much quieter than electric units.