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How to Choose the best coffeee grinder Burr Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is an essential tool in the home coffee maker's arsenal. But which one to buy?
Burr grinders grind beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces instead of cutting them with blades. They're generally considered to be superior to blade grinders. But what features should you be looking for in a burr grinder?
1. Conical Burrs
The name suggests that a conical burr crusher has one circular burr ring that is inside another with sharp teeth. This shape allows it to grind more efficiently, since the burrs rotate around a single central point. The angled teeth are more efficient in cutting beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is good because excessive heat can result in bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs tend to warp and dull very quickly, which results in unevenly ground espresso. They are also more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other particles can cause damage over time. In addition flat burrs create more noise and require more frequent cleaning and maintenance.
A lot of burr grinders available for sale are marketed as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false burr grinders" come with large, flat teeth and are often paired with motors that are weak and produce inconsistent grounds. These are not true burr mills and contrary to what many people believe, don't provide the same quality grind as genuine burr mills.
Although some experts do not agree, others claim that the burrs that are used in a grinder has an impact on the final taste of the coffee. These theories are mostly anecdotal but they have a powerful hold on the minds and hearts of coffee drinkers. For instance, some people believe that conical burrs can help bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs are able to soften and enhance dark roasts.
This may or may not be true, but it is important to consider if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. The only way to know for certain is to try the grinder with the beans you plan on using it with. The overall layout of the grinder and its operational features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the style or burrs. This is why it's essential to evaluate a grinder based on other factors, such as the reputation of the brand and customer reviews.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that many coffee lovers swear by. A number of reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested choice" that provides excellent value for money and is suited for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold brew.
The grinder employs rotating metal burrs instead of blades to grind the beans, which produces more uniformly sized grounds than a blender or another burr grinders, according to 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 unevenly-sized grounds, which can impact the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders can also be quieter than blade grinders, but this can differ based on the model and brand.
While most of the burr grinders that we test have conical burrs, there are some that use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth that are facing each other). We do not recommend them for espresso machines because they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium burr grinder that is flat like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.
Some of the grinders we tested let you select the amount of time that the machine will grind, which is useful for those who are making espresso. Others--including our top pick the Baratza Sette 270 an integrated smart timer that delivers the precision of a split second. This feature isn't necessary for most brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders under $200 have an upgraded version of the windup clock.
The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, use manual burrs. This means you have turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This requires more effort but is a great choice in the event you're seeking an easy, compact and inexpensive alternative without electricity.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than some of the other models we've tested however it's still acceptable in the event that you're okay with some noise. In general, the more expensive a grinder is, the quieter it's likely to be due to improved materials and sophisticated soundproofing technology.
3. User-Friendliness
If you're just starting to learn about coffee-brewing at home there's one piece of equipment that every expert says is essential that's a burr grinder. They produce a finer, more consistent grind than your standard blade grinder. They can assist in creating brews that have more balance in the flavor, body and acidity. They are generally more reliable. As you would imagine, a top-quality burr mill can cost up to $200 and is a challenge to use.
We spoke with experts and got their recommendations for the most simple-to-use electric burr grinders that are available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for many people, including those who don't want spend a fortune. It comes with multiple settings that can handle various coffee brewing techniques including pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it worked well in our testing.
It's quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't generate the same amount of heat. This is important because excessive heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder has only one drawback It grinds the best burr grinder on the coarser end of its range. This could be a problem for espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a more advanced burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.
Manual burr grinders that run by cranking are easy to use and are ideal for those who consume only about a cup of coffee a day. These grinders are ideal for those who travel or only need to make a single 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 has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and produces a wonderful coffee using any method, except for espresso (the flat-steel burrs don't grind well enough). It's easy to operate for those who don't mind some messes and flyaway chaff, and it's relatively quiet.
4. Cost
A quality burr ceramic grinder will cost you a few hundred dollars, but it's well worth the price. 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 produce a little bit of fines (the tiny pieces of coffee that end up smaller than the official grind size you select), but it won't be noticeable to the majority of people who drink coffee and it's a low cost to pay for delicious consistently-sized coffee grounds.
Flat burrs, that are two discs that have cutting teeth facing each other They aren't as popular in home units, however they are favored by coffee enthusiasts due to their ability to produce an even grind size which is ideal for espresso and French press. They can be costly and you may have to buy new burrs each when you change the brew type or level of roast.
The Baratza ESP is the most cost-effective combination of price and capability for a burr mill, according to our experts. It costs less than $200 and is far cheaper than other models that have similar capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm, flat brewer set that's ideal for all methods of brewing. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, including those from SSP.
The OXO is another affordable option with a good performance record in our tests. The burrs aren't as precise as those in more expensive models, but it does have various settings that work for drip and French press and its user interface is intuitive. The OXO is an excellent starter model for most people. True coffee enthusiasts may want a more sophisticated model however the OXO is suitable for those who are.
For those who prefer to crank beans by hand We also tested a few manual burr grinders that are perfect for use on the go and for those who only need to make one or two cups at one time. These models utilize the same grinding mechanism of electric burr grinders, but work with a hand crank instead of a motor. They are also generally quieter than electric models.