How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

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

Burr grinders grind beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces instead of slicing with blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. What are the features you should look for in a burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

A conical burr mill has angled teeth and a circular burr ring inserted within the other. This shape permits more efficient grinding, as the burrs rotate around an axis. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly and creates less heat, which is a good thing because excessive heat can lead to bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, leading to unevenly ground espresso that is unevenly ground. They are also more fragile, which means that small coffee grinder stones and other debris can damage them over time. In addition, flat burrs generate more noise and require more frequent cleaning and maintenance.

A lot of burr grinders available on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or have no burrs even. These "false burr grinders" have large, flat teeth and are often coupled with motors that have weak components that produce uneven ground. They aren't true burr mills and contrary to what many people think, they do not provide the same quality grind as actual burr mills.

Although some experts disagree, others claim that the type of burrs in the grinder can have an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are mostly based on anecdotes but hold a firm grip on the minds and hearts of coffee lovers. For instance, some believe that conical burrs bring out the distinct flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs can mellow and enhance dark roasts.

It could be true, but it is important to think about if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. The only way to be sure for certain is to try the grinder with the beans you'll be using it with. The grinder's overall design and operational features will have a greater impact on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It is therefore crucial to take into consideration other factors when evaluating the quality of a grinder, like its reputation and customer reviews.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that many coffee lovers swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested choice" that is a great value for money and is suited for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold brew.

According to the company, the grinder makes use of rotating metal burrs rather than blades to grind beans. This creates more uniform ground than a grinder or other burr grinders. The burrs also produce less heat, which preserves the bean's aroma and flavor.

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

Some burr grinders utilize flat burrs instead of conical. These are two discs that have cutting edges facing each opposite. These grinders aren't suitable for espresso, as they are difficult to calibrate. They're also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr grinders like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders we've tested allow users to set the length of time that the machine will grind for a certain amount of time. This is helpful when making espresso. Certain grinders, such as our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to only a fraction of one second. However, this feature isn't required for all brewing methods and the majority of burr grinders priced under $200 use what's an upgraded version of the windup timer.

The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, use manual burrs. This means you need to turn them by hand yourself to grind your stainless steel coffee grinder. This requires more effort, but is a good choice if you want an easy, compact, and inexpensive option that doesn't require electrical power.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill and is also an affordable option. It's louder than other models that we have examined, but it's acceptable if you don’t mind some background noise. In general, the pricier a grinder is more quiet it's likely to be due to better materials and advanced soundproofing technology.

3. Easy to Use

A burr grinder is a tool that all experts recommend to those who are just starting to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders produce a more consistent, finer grind than what you can get from a standard blade grinder, and can help you produce drinks that are more balanced in flavor, body, and acidity. They also tend to achieve this more effectively. As you'd expect, a good burr mill could cost up to $200 and is difficult to use.

We spoke with experts and obtained their recommendations for the most simple-to-use electric burr grinders that are available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to a lot of people and those who don't want to spend a fortune. It comes with several settings that can accommodate different coffee brewing techniques including pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it performed well during our tests.

It's also a bit quieter than other grinders with electric motors we've tried, and doesn't create more heat than other grinders do. This is important because excessive heat can ruin the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder has one drawback It grinds the best burr grinder on the more coarse end of its range. This can be a problem for espresso. If you're looking to make espressos, a burr mill with more advanced features like the Baratza Encore may be a better option.

Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking, are more user-friendly and are perfect for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee every day. They're an excellent choice 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, which has 41 adjustable settings that are capable of making a great beverage using any method you want, except espresso (the flat stainless steel coffee grinder burrs don't grind well enough). It's easy to use for anyone who isn't afraid of small messes and flying chaff, and it's quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, but is 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 Bistro Electric Coffee Grinder 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 ground that are smaller than the official grind size you choose) However, this won't be noticeable to the majority of people who drink coffee and it's a low price to pay for great-tasting, consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, that are two discs that have cutting teeth facing one another, are less common in home units, however they are preferred by hardcore coffee geeks for their ability to provide a uniform size of grind that's perfect for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you might have to purchase new burrs each time you alter the brew type or level of roast.

According to our experts, the Baratza is the best grinder machine price and capabilities for a burr mill. It's priced at less than $200, which is much less than many competing models that lack the same capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm, flat brewer set that's perfect for all brewing methods. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, such as those from SSP.

The OXO is a decent, low-cost option that has a solid record in our tests. Its burrs aren't quite as precise as those found in pricier models, but it has several settings that work well for drip and French press and its user interface is easy to use. The OXO is a great starter model for most people. Coffee enthusiasts who are serious may require a more sophisticated model however the OXO is suitable for the majority of people.

We also tried a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their beans by hand. They are ideal for those who travel and who only require two or three cups of coffee at a time. These models employ the same grinding mechanism of electric burr grinders, but work using a hand crank instead of motors. They are also usually quieter than electric units.