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 grind beans between two serrated, rotating surfaces instead of cutting with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. But what characteristics should you look for in a grinder?
1. Conical Burrs
As its name implies, conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring that is inside another with angled teeth. This shape permits more efficient grinding, because the burrs revolve around an axis. The inclined teeth are more effective in cutting beans evenly and produce less heat. This is good because too much heat can cause bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs can be susceptible to warping and become dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground coffee that is unevenly ground. They also tend to be more brittle, which means that small stones or other debris could cause damage to the burrs over time. Flat burrs also produce more noise and require more frequent maintenance and cleaning.
Many burr grinders on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs, or no burrs even. These "false" burr grinders have large, flattened teeth and are usually paired with weak motors that produce inconsistent grounds. These are not true burr mills and contrary to what many people think, they do not provide the same quality grind as actual burr mills.
Some experts disagree with this claim however, others believe that the size and type of the burrs in a grinder for coffee can influence the final flavor. These theories are mostly based on anecdotes but they have a powerful hold on the minds and hearts of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans. Flat burrs enhance dark roasts.
It could be true. But it is something to consider if your grinder will have a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing the grinder with the beans you plan to use can you be sure. The overall design of the grinder and its operational features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is why it's essential to assess a grinder on other factors like the reputation of the brand and reviews from customers.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee lovers swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested choice" that offers great value for money and is suited for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold brew.
According to the company, the grinder uses rotating burrs of metal instead of blades to grind beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder or other burr grinders. Additionally the burrs produce less heat while they grind which helps preserve the beans' aroma and flavor.
Blade grinders, on the other hand, can create excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which affects the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blades grinders. However, this could differ by model and brand.
Some burr grinders utilize flat burrs instead of conical. These are two discs that have cutting edges that are facing each one. These grinders are not recommended for espresso as they can be difficult to calibrate. They are also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.
The grinders we've tested allow you to set how long the machine will grind for a specific amount of time, which is helpful when making espresso. Others--including our top pick the Baratza Sette 270 an integrated intelligent timer that can provide split-second precision. This feature is not required for all brewing techniques and most burr grinders that cost less than $200 use an upgraded version of the windup clock.
The most affordable models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means you need to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a good choice if you want an easy, compact, and cost-effective option that doesn't need electrical power.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses burr mills and is a reasonable alternative. It's louder than the other models we've examined, but it's acceptable if you're willing to tolerate some sound. The more quiet a grinder is likely to be, in general, the more expensive. This is due to the more advanced materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.
3. Easy to Use
If you're just beginning to discover the world of coffee-brewing at home there's one piece of equipment that every expert says is essential that's a burr grinder. They produce more consistent, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and will help you create brews with better balance of flavor, body and acidity. They also perform the job more consistently. But, as you might imagine, top-quality burr grinders can be priced upwards of $200, and are complicated to use.
So, we talked to experts and got their recommendations for the most simple-to-use electric burr grinders available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for many people, including those who don't wish to spend a fortune. It has multiple settings to handle a variety different brewing methods, from pour-over, French press, and drip coffee. It performed well during our testing.
It's quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't produce as much heat. That's important, as excess heat can damage the delicate aromas in your beans.
The OXO grinder has just one flaw that it is best suited to grinding at the coarser end of its range. This could be a problem for espresso. If you're making espresso, a more advanced burr grinder such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.
Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking, are more user-friendly and are great for those who drink only a cup or two of coffee every day. They're a great option for those who travel or need to make just one serving of pour-over.
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 will make a fantastic brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of flat steel don't grind precisely enough). It's a breeze for anyone to use so long as they're not frightened by the occasional mess or chaff that fly away.
4. Cost
A quality burr grinder will set you back about a hundred dollars but 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. The grinders produce a tiny amount of fines, which are little bits of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of the official grind you select. However, this is not evident to the majority of coffee drinkers.
Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that face one another. They aren't as popular but are preferred by coffee geeks due to their ability to give a consistent grind size, perfect for French press and espresso. They can be expensive and you might have to buy new burrs each time you alter the type of brew or the level of roast.
The Baratza ESP has the most cost-effective combination of price and capability for a burr grinder according to our experts. ceramic coffee grinder 's priced at less than $200 and is more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It is equipped with a 64-mm flat brewer set that's perfect for all types of brewing techniques. It is easy to upgrade to other sets, including those from SSP.
The OXO is a similar model that is affordable with a good performance record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise, as burrs in higher-end models however its user interface and the variety of settings are suitable for both French press and drip. The OXO is a great starter model for most people. True coffee geeks may require a more sophisticated model however the OXO is a good choice for the majority of people.
We also tested a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their beans by hand. They are ideal to take on trips and for those who only require two or three cups of coffee at a time. These models employ the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders, but work by hand instead of a motor. They are also typically quieter than electric ones.