How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is an essential tool for any home coffee grinder compact maker's arsenal. But which one to buy?

Burr grinders crush beans between two rotating serrated surfaces instead of cutting them with blades. They are considered superior to blade grinders. But what features should you be looking for in a burr grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

A conical burr mill has sharp teeth that are angled and the ring of a circular burr that is placed within the other. This shape allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs turn around a single central point. The conical teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is a good thing since too much heat can cause bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs also last longer than flat burrs. Flat burrs can warp and become dull very quickly, which results in unevenly ground espresso. They are also more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other particles can damage them over time. Flat burrs also produce more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

Many burr grinders that are available for sale advertise themselves as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false burr grinders" come with large flat teeth, and are often coupled with motors that are weak and produce irregular ground. They aren't true burr mills and contrary to what some people think, they do not provide the same quality grind as real burr mills.

While some experts do not agree, others claim that the burrs that are used in the grinder can have an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are largely anecdotal but they hold a firm grip on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. For instance, some believe that conical burrs can bring out the distinct flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs can mellow and enhance dark roasts.

This may or not be the case. However, it is something you should consider when you are deciding whether your grinder will have an impact on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing a grinder with the beans you plan to use can you be certain. The overall design of the grinder and its operational features will have more of an impact on the final cup than the design or burrs. This is why it's essential to evaluate a grinder based on other factors, such as the quality of the product and customer reviews.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. Several reviewers praise it as an "time-tested choice" that provides excellent value for money and is suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold coffee.

The grinder uses rotating burrs made of metal instead of blades for grinding the beans, which produces larger, 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 beans.

Blade grinders on the other hand, can produce excessive heat and unbalanced-sized ground which can affect the flavor of your final cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this may vary by model and brand.

Some burr grinders employ flat burrs instead of conical. These are two discs with cutting edges facing each other. These grinders are not recommended for espresso as they are difficult to calibrate. They're also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

A few of the grinders we've tested allow you to set how long the machine will grind for a specific period of time, which is handy if you're brewing espresso. Some grinders, including our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to a fraction of seconds. This feature is not required for all brewing techniques, and most burr grinders that cost less than $200 use a fancy version of the windup clock.

The cheapest models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, have manual burrs. This means that you have to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious, but is a great option if you are seeking a simple, compact coffee grinder and inexpensive alternative without electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr coffeee grinder. It's louder than some of the other models we've tried, but still tolerable for those who don't mind a little noise. In general, the pricier the grinder is more quiet it's likely to be due to better materials and sophisticated soundproofing technologies.

3. User-Friendliness

A burr grinder is a tool that every expert recommends for those who are just getting started with home coffee making. These grinders produce a finer, more consistent ground than what you can get from a standard blade grinder, and can help you produce brews that are better balanced in body, flavor and acidity. They are generally more reliable. But, as you expect, high-quality burr grinders can cost upwards of $200, and are difficult to use.

So, we spoke to experts and got their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders on the market. Many people, including those on a tight budget, recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It has several settings that can accommodate various coffee brewing techniques, from pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it performed well in our tests.

It's also a bit quieter than other grinders with electric motors we've test, and it doesn't produce more heat than other grinders do. That's important, as excess heat can damage the delicate aromas in your beans.

The OXO grinder's biggest disadvantage is that it's only effective when grinding at the coarse end of the spectrum which could be a problem with espresso. If you're looking to make espressos, a grinder with more advanced features, like the Baratza Encore may be a better choice.

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

Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Director of Test Kitchen, is a fan of the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It comes with 41 settings that are easily adjustable and will make a fantastic brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of flat stainless steel coffee grinder electric don't grind well enough). It's easy to use for those who don't mind small messes and flying particles, and it's also relatively quiet.

4. Cost

A quality burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, 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 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 can produce a bit of fines (the tiny bits of ground coffee that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) however it won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers, and it's a small cost to pay for delicious consistently-sized coffee grounds.

Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth facing one another. They are not as common but are favored by coffee enthusiasts because they produce a more consistent size of grind, ideal for French press and espresso. They can be costly and you might have to buy new burrs each when you change the brew type or level of roast.

According to our experts, the Baratza has the best price and capabilities for burr mills. It's less than $200 and is far more affordable than many other models with similar 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 good performance record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise as the ones in more expensive models however its user interface and a variety of settings are suitable for French press and drip. The OXO is an excellent starter model for a lot of people. True coffee enthusiasts may want a more sophisticated model, but the OXO is suitable for them.

We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their beans by hand. These are great to take on trips and for those who are only able to make two or three cups of coffee at one time. These models, which employ the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders use an actual crank, not motors and are typically more quiet than electric models.

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