Best Burr Grinder Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A grinder is among the most essential tools in a home coffee-making arsenal. Which one should you purchase?
Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces, rather than slicing them 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 sharp teeth that are angled and the ring of a circular burr that is placed inside the other. This design allows for more efficient grinding, as the burrs rotate around a central point. The inclined teeth are more effective at cutting the beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is a good thing since excessive heat can result in bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat burrs. Flat burrs tend to warp and dull very quickly, leading to unevenly ground espresso that is not evenly ground. They are also more brittle, meaning that small stones or debris could cause damage to the burrs 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 no burrs whatsoever. These "false" burr grinders have large, flattened teeth. They are often paired up with weak motors which produce inconsistent grounds. They aren't genuine burr grinders, and, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts, don't produce the same quality of grind as real burr grinders.
Some experts do not agree with this assertion, but others believe that the size and type of the burrs in a grinder for coffee can affect the final flavor. These theories are mostly anecdotal but they have a powerful hold on the minds and hearts of coffee beans grinder drinkers. For instance, some believe that conical burrs can bring out the individual flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs can soften and enhance dark roasts.
It could be true. But it is something you should think about in the event that your grinder has a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. The only way to determine for sure is to test a grinder out with the beans you'll be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its operating features will have a bigger impact on the final cup of coffee than the design 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 burr grinder is one that a lot of coffee bean grinder machine enthusiasts swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as an "time-tested choice" that offers great value for money. It is suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold coffee.
According to the company, the grinder makes use of rotating burrs made of metal rather than blades to crush beans. This results in more uniform grounds than a grinder or other burr grinder. The burrs also produce less heat which preserves the flavor and aroma of the beans.
Blade grinders, on the other hand, 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 may vary based on the model and brand.
While the majority of the burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, a few use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth that are facing each other). We don't recommend them for espresso machines because they can be difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a high-end burr grinder with a flat-burr such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.
Some of the grinders we tested let you select the amount of time the machine will grind, which could be helpful for those who are making espresso. Some grinders, including our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have an integrated timer that's precise to one-tenth of a second. But this feature isn't necessary for all brewing methods and most under-$200 burr grinders are based on an upgraded version of the windup timer.
The cheapest models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means that you have turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a great choice in the event you're looking for an easy small, affordable alternative that doesn't require electricity.
The Breville smart grinder (look here) Pro is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tested, but it's still acceptable if you don’t mind some noise. The more quiet a grinder will generally be, the more expensive. This is due to the improved materials and advanced soundproofing technology.
3. Ease of Use
A burr grinder is an instrument that is recommended by every expert for those who are just getting started with home coffee making. These grinders produce an even, finer grind than a blade grinder. They can help you create brews with better balance in acidity, flavor and body. And they tend to perform the job more consistently. As you would expect, a good burr mill can cost anywhere from $200 to $200 and is a challenge to use.
We asked experts for their recommendations for the best coffeee grinder electric burr grinders to use. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for many people and those who don't want to spend a lot of money. It comes with several settings that can accommodate a variety of coffee brewing techniques, from pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it did well in our tests.
It's also a bit quieter than other electric grinders we tried, and doesn't create the same amount of heat as other grinders do. That's important, as excess heat can ruin the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder has one flaw that it is best suited to grinding at the more coarse end of its range. This could be a problem for espresso. If you brew espresso, a more sophisticated burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.
Manual burr grinders, which are powered by cranking, are simple to use and are perfect for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee a day. These grinders are perfect for those who travel, or only need to make 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 can be easily adjusted and produces a wonderful coffee using any method, except for espresso (the burrs made of steel aren't grinding precisely enough). It's a breeze to operate for anyone who isn't afraid of small messes and flying chaff, and it's quiet.
4. Cost
A quality burr mill can cost you a few 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 professional coffee grinder 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. The grinders produce a small amount of fines, which are tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of grind you choose. However, this is not obvious to most coffee drinkers.
Flat burrs are two discs with cutting teeth that face one another. They are not as common but are preferred by coffee geeks because they provide a more consistent grind size, perfect for French press and espresso. They can be costly and you may have to purchase new burrs every time you change the type of brew or the level of roast.
According to our experts, the Baratza offers the best combination of cost and capabilities for a burr mill. It costs less than $200 and is far more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It comes with 64-mm flat burrs that is ideal for all brewing methods and easy to upgrade with other sets like the ones 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 burrs in higher-end models, but its user interface and multiple settings are suitable for French press and drip. While true coffee lovers would prefer a more sophisticated model, the OXO is a great entry point for the majority of people.
For those who prefer to crank their beans manually We also tested a handful of manual burr grinders that are ideal for travel and for people who are able to make one or two cups at each time. These models, which use the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders, work with an actual crank, not a motor and are usually quieter than electric models.