How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A grinder is one of the most important tools in a home coffee-making arsenal. But which one should you buy?

Burr grinders grind beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces instead of cutting them with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. But what are the features you should look for in a burr grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

The name suggests that a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring inside another one with the teeth angled. This design allows it to grind more efficiently as the burrs turn around a central point. The angled teeth cut the beans more evenly, and produce less heat, which 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 become dull very quickly, which results in unevenly ground espresso that is unevenly ground. They are also more fragile, which means that small stones and other debris can damage them over time. Flat burrs also produce more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

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 have weak components that produce uneven grounds. They aren't true burr grinders, and, despite what some people believe they don't provide the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.

While some experts do not agree, others claim that the burrs that are used in the ceramic grinder can have an impact on the final taste of the coffee. These theories are mostly anecdotal but hold a firm grip on the minds and hearts of coffee lovers. For example, some think 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 could or might not be the case however it is something to consider if you wish for your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. Only by testing a grinder with the beans that you plan to use can you be certain. The overall design of the grinder as well as its operational features will have a greater influence on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is why it's essential to assess a grinder on other factors, such as the quality of the product 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 several reviewers as a "time tried and tested product" that is a great value for money and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.

According to the company, the grinder utilizes rotating burrs made of metal rather than blades to grind beans. This creates more uniform grounds than a grinder, or other burr grinders. The burrs also produce less heat, which preserves the flavor and aroma of the beans.

In contrast, blade grinders produce excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which affects the taste of the final cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this could vary by model and brand.

Some burr grinders use flat burrs instead of conical burrs. These are two discs with cutting edges that are facing each other. We do not recommend them for espresso machines because they can be difficult to calibrate and are generally more expensive than a premium burr grinder with a flat-burr such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders we've tested allow you to set the length of time that the machine will grind for a certain amount of time. This is useful when you're making espresso. Others--including our top pick the Baratza Sette 270 a built-in intelligent timer that can provide precise split-second timing. However, this feature isn't essential for most brewing methods, and the majority of burr grinders priced under $200 operate on what amounts to a fancier version of a windup timer.

The most affordable models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means you have turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This requires more effort however, it's a good choice if you want a simple, compact, and affordable option that doesn't require electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is a reasonable alternative. It's louder than some of the other models we've tried however it's still acceptable in the event that you're okay with some noise. The more quiet a grinder is likely to be, in general the more expensive it is. This is due to the more advanced materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.

3. Easy of Use

If you're just beginning to explore the world of home coffee brewing there's one piece of equipment that every expert says is essential that's a burr grinder. They produce an even, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and will assist in creating brews that have better balance in flavor, body and acidity. They are generally more reliable. As you'd expect, a good burr mill can cost up to $200 and is difficult to use.

We asked experts for their suggestions on the easiest electric burr grinders to use. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for a lot of people and those who don't wish to spend a fortune. It comes with multiple settings to accommodate a variety of options for brewing, from pour-over to French press, to drip coffee. And it was a success during our tests.

It's also a bit quieter than the other grinders that we test, and it does not produce as much heat as some others do. This is important because excessive heat can destroy the delicate scents of your beans.

The OXO grinder has just one drawback that it is best conical burr grinder suited to grinding at the coarser side of the spectrum. This can be a problem for espresso. If you're a fan of brewing espressos, a burr mill with more advanced features like the Baratza Encore may be a better choice.

Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking are easier to use and perfect for those who consume only about a cup of coffee per day. These grinders are perfect for those who travel or just need to make a single cup of pour-over coffee.

Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Test Kitchen's director, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and produces a wonderful beverage using any method - except for espresso (the burrs made of flat stainless steel manual coffee grinder don't grind precisely enough). It's easy to use for anyone who isn't afraid of a little messes and flyaway particles, and it's also relatively quiet.

4. Cost

A good burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, but is well worth it. 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 small amount of fines (the tiny bits of coffee that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) However, this won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers and is a minor price to pay for great-tasting consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, which are basically two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other They are not as common in home units but are favored by coffee lovers due to their ability to produce a more uniform grind size that's perfect for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you might have to purchase new burrs each time you change the brew type or level of roast.

The Baratza ESP has the best coffeee grinder mix of cost and capability for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's less than $200 and is 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. You can easily upgrade to other sets, like the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a great, affordable alternative that has a great record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise as the ones found in higher-end models however, its user interface and the variety of settings are suitable for French press and drip. While true coffee geeks will want a more advanced model however, the OXO is a great entry point for most people.

We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee with their hands. These are great for traveling and for people who only need to make two or three cups of coffee grinder consistency at each time. These models, which employ the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, use a crank instead of a motor and are usually much quieter than electric units.