How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is a vital device in the coffee maker's arsenal. What kind of grinder should you get?
Burr grinders grind beans between two serrated, rotating surfaces instead of cutting them with blades. They're considered superior to blade grinders. But what are the features you should be looking for in a burr grinder?
1. Conical Burrs
As its name implies, conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring within another with angled teeth. This design allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs turn around a single central point. The inclined teeth are more effective in cutting beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is good because too much heat can cause bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs also last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs can warp and dull very quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso that is not evenly ground. They are more fragile, which means that small stones and other debris could cause damage over time. Flat burrs also generate more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.
Many burr grinders that are on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or no burrs whatsoever. These "false" burr grinders feature large, flattened teeth and are often paired up with motors that are weak, resulting in uneven ground. They are not true burr grinders and, contrary to what some people believe, don't produce the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.
Some experts disagree with this claim, but others believe that the type and size of burrs used in a coffee grinder could affect the final flavor. These theories are mostly anecdotal but hold a firm grip on the minds and hearts of coffee lovers. For instance, some people believe that conical burrs help bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs are able to soften and enhance dark roasts.
It could be the case. But it is something to consider when you are deciding whether your grinder will have a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. The only way to know for sure is to test the grinder using the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its working features will have a larger impact on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It's important to consider other aspects when evaluating a grinder, such as its reputation 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 numerous reviewers as a "time tested choice" that is great value for money, and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.
The grinder utilizes rotating burrs made of metal instead of blades to crush the beans, resulting in larger, more uniformly-sized grounds than a blender or another burr grinders, according to the company. In addition, the burrs generate less heat while grinding which helps preserve more of the bean's flavor and aroma.
In contrast, blade grinders can create excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which can impact the taste of the finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blades grinders. However, this can differ by model and brand.
Some burr grinders use flat burrs instead, rather than conical ones. These are two discs with cutting edges facing each one. We don't recommend them for espresso as they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium burr grinder with a flat-burr such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.
The grinders we've tested allow users to control the length of time that the machine will be grinding for a particular amount of time, which is useful when you're making espresso. Some, like our top choice the Baratza Sette 270 a built-in smart timer that can deliver the precision of a split second. This feature is not necessary for the majority of brewing methods and most burr grinders under $200 have an upgraded version of the windup clock.
The most affordable models we have in our lineup, such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs, meaning you'll need to crank them manually by hand to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a great option when you're looking for a simple small, affordable option without electrical power.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is also a budget-friendly option. It's louder than the other models we've tried however it's still acceptable in the event that you're okay with a bit of noise. The more quiet a grinder will generally be the more expensive it is. best grinder machine is due to the more advanced materials and sophisticated soundproofing technologies.
3. User-Friendliness
If you're just beginning to learn about coffee-brewing at home, there's one tool experts agree is essential is a burr mill. These grinders provide a finer, more consistent ground than what you can get from a regular blade grinder. They also help you produce brews that are better balanced in body, flavor and acidity. They also perform the job more consistently. As you might imagine, a top-quality burr mill could cost up to $200 and can be difficult to use.
We spoke with experts and obtained their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to a lot of people and those who don't want to spend a fortune. It has various settings that can be used to handle a variety of coffee brewing techniques such as pour-over, French press to drip coffee, and it did well in our testing.
It's also quieter than the other grinders with electric motors we've tried, and doesn't create more heat than others do. This is crucial, since excessive heat can harm the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder's biggest disadvantage is that it's only effective at grinding on the coarse end of its range, which can be a problem for espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a more sophisticated burr grinder like the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.
Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are user-friendly and are perfect for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee a day. These grinders are great for those who travel or who only require one cup of pour-over coffee.
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Director of Test Kitchen, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It comes with 41 settings that are easily adjustable and produces a wonderful beverage using any method - except for espresso (the flat-steel burrs don't grind finely enough). It's a breeze to operate for anyone who doesn't mind a little messes and flyaway chaff, and it's relatively quiet.
4. Cost
A quality burr grinder will cost a few hundred dollars, however, it's well worth the cost. 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 coffee that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) However, this won't be noticeable to most average drinkers, and it's a small price to pay for excellent-tasting consistently-sized coffee grounds.
Flat burrs, which are basically two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other, are less common in home units, however they are favored by coffee geeks for their ability to produce a more uniform grind size that's perfect for espresso and French press. They can be costly and you might have to buy new burrs each time you alter the type of brew or the level of roast.
According to our experts, the Baratza offers the best price and capabilities for burr mills. It's less than $200 which is far lower than the majority of other models that lack the same capabilities. It is equipped with a 64-mm flat brewer set that's ideal for all brewing methods. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, such as those from SSP.
The OXO is a great, affordable option that has a good performance record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise, as ones found in higher-end models however its user interface and multiple settings are suitable for both French press and drip. The OXO is a great starter model for a lot of people. Coffee enthusiasts who are serious might prefer a more advanced model however the OXO is a good choice for the majority of people.
We also tried a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their beans by hand. These are great to take on trips and for those who only require one or two cups of coffee at a time. These models, which utilize the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders use a crank instead of motors, and are generally much quieter than electric units.