The Ultimate Glossary Of Terms About Best Burr Grinder

How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

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

Burr grinders crush beans between two rotating serrated surfaces, rather than slicing them with blades. They're considered superior to blade grinders. But what characteristics should you be looking for in a burr grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

Like its name suggests, a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring inside another one with the teeth angled. This design allows for more efficient grinding, because the burrs are arranged around an axis. The angled teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is beneficial since excessive heat can create bitter taste in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs tend to warp and become dull very quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso. They are also more brittle, which means that small stones or other debris can damage the burrs over time. Flat burrs also create more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

Many burr grinders on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or have no burrs even. These "false burr grinders" come with large, flat teeth and are often coupled with weak motors that produce inconsistent ground. They aren't true burr mills and, contrary to what some people believe, don't offer the same grind as real burr mills.

Some experts do not agree with this assertion, but others believe that the type and size of the burrs in a coffee grinder can affect the final taste. These theories are mostly anecdotal but they have a powerful hold on the minds and hearts of coffee drinkers. Some believe that conical burrs help bring out the unique flavor of exotic beans. Flat burrs enhance dark roasts.

It could be the case however it is something to think about if you want your grinder to have a significant impact on the quality of your coffee. The only way to be sure for sure is to test a grinder out with the beans you'll be using it with. The design of the grinder as well as its working features will have a greater impact on the final cup of coffee than the design of burrs. This is why it's essential to assess a grinder on other factors such as the reputation of the brand and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

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

The commercial grinder utilizes rotating burrs made of metal instead of blades to crush beans, which creates more uniformly sized grounds than a blender or another burr grinders, as per the company. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the bean's aroma and flavor.

In contrast, blade grinders can create excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds, which can affect the taste of the finished cup. Burr grinders can also be quieter than blade grinders, however this can differ based on the model and brand.

Some burr grinders utilize flat burrs instead, rather than conical ones. These are two discs with cutting edges that face each one. These grinders aren't recommended for espresso, as they can be difficult to calibrate. They are also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr grinders like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we've tested permit you to control the length of time that the machine will grind for a certain amount of time, which is helpful when making espresso. Some, like our top pick the Baratza Sette270 a built-in smart timer that can deliver split-second precision. This feature isn't necessary for most brewing techniques, and most burr grinders under $200 have an upgraded version of a windup clock.

The most affordable models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, have manual burrs. This means you have to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This requires more effort but is a great option if you're looking for a simple, compact, and cost-effective alternative that doesn't require electrical power.

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 a little noise. The more quiet a grinder is likely to generally be, the more expensive. This is due to the upgraded materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.

3. Simple to Use

If you're just starting to discover the world of coffee-brewing at home there's one piece of equipment that every expert says is essential that's a burr grinder. These grinders produce a finer, more consistent ground than what you can get from a regular blade grinder. They also help you produce beverages that are more balanced in flavor, body and acidity. They tend to be more reliable. However, as you may expect, top burr grinders can cost upwards of $200, and some are difficult to use.

So, we spoke to experts and received their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders available on the market. Many people, including those on a budget, recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with multiple settings to manage a variety of brewing methods from pour-over, French press, to drip coffee. It performed well during our testing.

It's quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't generate as much heat. This is crucial because too much heat can damage the delicate scents of your beans.

The OXO grinder has one drawback: it grinds best on the coarser side of the spectrum. This can be a problem for espresso grinders. If you're a fan of brewing 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 easier to use and ideal for those who consume only one or two cups of coffee a day. They're an excellent choice for those who travel or require to make just one serving 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 producing an excellent drink using any method you want, except espresso (the flat burrs of steel do not grind fine enough). It's easy to use by anyone for as long as they're not frightened by some messes or chaff that fly away.

4. Cost

A good burr mill will cost you around a hundred bucks, but is very worthwhile. 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 grinders sale 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. The grinders create a tiny amount of fines, which are small pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you choose. However this isn't obvious to most coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth that face one another. They are not as common but are favored by coffee geeks due to their ability to give a consistent size of grind, ideal for French press and espresso. The drawback is that they can be expensive to purchase, and you might have to purchase new burrs for each different brew type or roast level.

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 and is far cheaper than other models with similar capabilities. It comes with an incredibly flat 64-mm burr set which is perfect for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade with other sets like those from SSP.

The OXO is a great, affordable option that has a good performance 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 intuitive. While true coffee geeks will want a more advanced model, the OXO is a great entry point for the majority of people.

For those who prefer to grind their beans manually We also tried a few manual burr grinders, which are great for those on the move and who only need to make one or two cups at a time. These models, which utilize the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, work with a crank instead of motors, and are generally more quiet than electric models.