20 Trailblazers Setting The Standard In Best Conical Burr Grinder
Best Conical burr coffee grinders - Recommended Reading -
Grinding your own beans for your coffee is a great method to improve your morning cup. But, there are a lot of different grinders on the market.
This OXO grinder makes use of conical burrs that create an excellent grind for drip, French press and espresso. Hardcore coffee geeks may want more precision from this grinder, however it's a fantastic option for beginners.
OXO Brew
If you make your own coffee that a quality grinder is necessary to ensure the most flavor. However, a high-quality burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which can be prohibitive for someone who's not certain if they'll be using it regularly or not. That's why the OXO Brew is an excellent alternative for anyone looking to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy, however it appears sturdy and expensive. Its stainless steel body features an enduring water tank at the back, and an insulated thermal carafe in the front. The carafe and tanks are designed in such that the body can fit comfortably in smaller kitchens. The controls are placed below the carafe to minimize clutter, and there's a light that informs you when it's heating or brewing.
Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. The water temperature was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test, as measured by thermocouples located in the basket for the grounds. The brewing time was very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's recommended times for a high-quality drip.
The OXO Brew also comes with a single-serve feature that allows you brew coffee grinders types directly into your cup. This feature isn't present in other models that are more expensive. It can be an advantage for those who want to make individual portions of their coffee, but don't like the hassle of brewing an entire carafe.
The only drawback to the OXO is that it has no clock or an automatic start time. This could be a problem when you are on a tight schedule. The water tank can be difficult to remove since it has a lid that has to be slid in order to access the reservoir. It comes with an inbuilt descaler, which helps to avoid mineral deposits from building up inside the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore is the best burr mill for coffee enthusiasts. This version of the classic Encore has been re-engineered with improvements that make it more compatible with a variety of brewing techniques and provide greater flexibility than ever before. It's for baristas at home who are just beginning their journey and anyone looking to have a range of brewing options in one grinder. It comes with step-up grind adjustments and easy controls for beginners, with labeled and notched settings to ensure consistency. The M2 burrs guarantee uniform grinds. The hopper has a new quick release feature that makes cleaning a breeze.
The ESP uses a DC motor that has high torque and gear reduction, just like the original Encore. However, it runs at lower speeds in order to reduce static charge and heat. It's also quieter than classic Encore and comes with a metal plate that improves burr consistency and stability. It's fitted with 40mm conical M2 burrs that are similar to those in the more expensive Virtuoso Plus which allows it to achieve better grind size distribution and more reliable shots.
The ESP grind adjustment has 9 microns between each step, offering excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. It comes with a dosing cup that can be used with both 54 and 58 millimeter portafilters, which improves the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be combined with the traditional grounds bin in the event that you prefer a hopper based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistent performance in tests of consistency is a drawback, but it still performs better in comparison to other grinders in this price range. The stepped settings can be inconsistant, making it difficult to find the right setting for your particular brewing process. However the ESP is ideally suited to a wide range of brew methods and offers an amazing value for its versatility.
The Encore ESP is also a bit more expensive than some of the other models on this list, but it's well worth the extra expense for its impressive capabilities. It can grind for espresso and filter brews, and also use the included shims to optimize its performance when pour over making.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 is a good grinder that works well with pour-over brewing and espresso. The burrs are upgradeable to increase performance, and the hopper can accommodate a variety of different grind sizes. The DF64 is also easy to use and maintain with few moving parts. It is a great option for those seeking a top-quality grinder at a low cost.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a massive improvement over the original version and should be difficult to be defeated by any other smart grinder pro that is priced in the same range. The new model is more appealing to the eye. It has a simple, flat, rounded base that can hold up to The cradle is able to hold 20 grams at one time. It also has a rubber bellows that is able to push air through the grinder as you take your dose to force out the excess grinds and decrease retention.
One of the major problems with the original DF64 was popcorning, which is when coffee beans bounce upward out of the burrs instead of grinding down. This is a common problem with hopper-based grinders that can affect the consistency of your grind. The new DF64 has a much-improved anti-popcorning system that eliminates this problem.
Other issues with the DF64 included a poor quality build, a loose design that caused gaps around the edges of the hopper, a heavyweight, a mandatory use of bellows, regular alignment challenges, a plastic adjust collar that mis-threaded easily, vinyl wrap instead of powder coating, and the all-but-mandatory need for two aftermarket upgrades (anti-popcorning, declumper). The DF64 Gen 2 addresses these issues and many more.
The DF64 has a powerful 250W motor that spins the burrs at about 1,400 RPM. This is a little faster than the Encore ESP, but it’s still slower than other popular burr grinders like the Mahlkönig EK43. The DF64 is also less noisy than the Encore ESP, making it easier to work with in a busy cafe environment.
The DF64 has an easy-to-read, step-by-step adjustment system that allows you to fine-tune your grind size for different brewing methods. It also comes with a wide selection of burrs, which makes it possible to experiment and find the perfect grind for your particular coffee bean. The DF64 also has a convenient dosing system, which allows you to direct the ground red coffee grinder directly into your portafilter or mug.
Fellow Ode
A popular maker of home coffee equipment, Fellow makes some seriously aesthetically appealing gear. Their kettles, French presses, and other home coffee brewing machines have an elegant and modern matte finish that suits any kitchen aesthetic. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that their grinders look equally as good. The Ode is a sleek and compact grinder with a number of easy-to-use features designed for precise, single-dose brewing.
The Ode is unique among coffee grinders because it uses flat burrs, rather than conical ones. Usually, you only see flat burrs on professional or commercial grinders due to their ability to reduce grind time and heat generation and improve grind particle consistency. The 64mm flat burrs in the Ode also give it a much smoother grind than you would find in a typical home appliance grinder. And they are designed with single-dosing in mind, meaning that the grinder shuts off as soon as the hopper is empty. This helps to prevent over-grinding, which can rob your brews of flavor and aroma.
The hopper itself holds 100 grams, which is enough for one large pour-over or two small cups of espresso. The Ode has a variety of other neat features, including a built-in scale and a cool grind size chart that is mapped out on the underside of the lid. This shows the brewing methods that each setting is most suitable for, with pour-over and cold brews on the fine end of the range, and French press on the coarse end.
Another great feature of the Ode is that it has a quiet, almost purr-like sound during operation and is very fast. The grinder has a high-force spring that knocks excess ground beans and chaff into the catch, which helps to reduce grind retention and make clean-up a breeze. It’s also very easy to disassemble and is compatible with coffee tablet cleaners.
Despite some minor hiccups in the initial launch, the Ode is still a top contender for those looking for an excellent and aesthetically pleasing conical burr grinder. Fortunately, the company is committed to improving the product and recently released the Gen 2 version, which addresses some of the issues with the original. However, for those who want a better-suited grinder for espresso, the Baratza DF64 is an excellent alternative that is both visually and functionally superior to the Fellow Ode.