The Three Greatest Moments In Best Burr Grinder History

How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A grinder is among the most important tools in the coffee-making arsenal. Which one should you buy?

Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces, rather than slicing them with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. But what are the features you should be looking for in a burr grinder?

1. Conical Burrs

Like its name suggests, a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring within another ring with angled teeth. This shape allows it to grind more efficiently as the burrs rotate around a central point. The angled teeth cut the beans more evenly and creates less heat, which is desirable because excessive heat can cause bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground espresso that is unevenly ground. They are also more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other debris can cause damage over time. Flat burrs also produce more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.

A lot of burr grinders available on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or have no burrs at all. These "false burr grinders" have large, flat teeth and are often coupled with motors that have weak components that produce irregular grounds. They aren't genuine burr grinders, and, despite what some people believe they don't provide the same quality of grind as genuine burr grinders.

Some experts do not agree with this assertion However, some believe that the type and size of the burrs in a coffee grinder can affect the final flavor. These theories are mostly based on anecdotes but have a strong grip on the minds and hearts of coffee lovers. Some believe that conical burrs help bring out the unique flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs mellow and enhance darker roasts.

This could or might not be the case however it is something to consider if you want your grinder to have a significant impact on the quality of your coffee. The only way to be sure for sure is to test the grinder using the beans you plan on using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its operational features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the design or burrs. It's important to consider other factors when evaluating a grinder, such as its reputation and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee lovers swear by. Several reviewers praise it as an "time-tested choice" that is a great value for money and is designed for drip, pour-over, 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 produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder or other burr grinders. Additionally the burrs create less heat when they grind which helps preserve more of the bean's aroma and flavor.

Blade grinders on the other hand they can generate excessive heat and unbalanced-sized ground that affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders can also be quieter than blade grinders, though this can vary depending on the model and brand.

Although the majority of burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, some use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). These grinders are not recommended for espresso, as they can be difficult to calibrate. They're also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.

The grinders we tested allow you to choose the amount of time that the machine will grind, which could be helpful if you are brewing espresso. Some grinders, including our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to just a fraction of a second. But this feature isn't necessary for the majority of brewing methods, and the majority of grinders under $200 are based on a fancier version of a windup timer.

The cheapest models in our lineup--such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs. This means you'll have to crank them by hand to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a great option when you're seeking a simple small, affordable alternative without electricity.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill and is also an affordable alternative. It's louder than some of the other models we've tested but is still a good choice in the event that you're okay with a bit of 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 sophisticated soundproofing technologies.

3. Simple to Use

If you're just starting to learn about ceramic coffee grinder-brewing at home, there's one tool everyone agrees is necessary that's a burr grinder. These grinders create an even, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and can help you make brews with better balance of flavor, body and acidity. They also do it more reliably. As you would expect, a high-quality burr mill could cost up to $200 and is difficult to use.

So, we spoke to experts and obtained their recommendations for the most simple-to-use electric burr grinders available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for a lot of people as well as those who don't want spend a fortune. It comes with 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 worked well in our testing.

It's also a bit quieter than some other mini electric coffee grinder grinders we test, and it doesn't create more heat than others do. This is important because too much heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans.

The OXO grinder's only drawback is that it's designed when grinding at the coarse end of its range, which can be a problem with espresso. If you're a fan of brewing espressos, a burr mill with more advanced features, like the Baratza Encore may be a better option.

Manual burr grinders, which are powered by cranking, are more user-friendly and are great for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee a day. They're an excellent choice for people who travel or want to make a single serving of pour-over.

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 can produce a great beverage using any method - except for espresso (the burrs made of flat stainless steel grinder don't grind precisely enough). It's easy for anyone to use for as long as they're not frightened by the occasional mess or chaff flying away.

4. Cost

A good burr mill will 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 coffee and bad-for-the-environment coffee pods.

Conical burr grinders are the standard in non electric coffee grinder 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 create a tiny amount of fines, which are small pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of the official grind you select. However, this is not obvious to most coffee drinkers.

Flat burrs, which are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other They aren't as popular in home units, but are preferred by hardcore industrial coffee grinder geeks for their ability to produce an even grind size which is ideal for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you may need to purchase new burrs each time you alter the type of brew you use or the amount of roast.

According to our experts, the Baratza offers the best price and capabilities for a burr mill. It's less than $200, which is far lower than the majority of other models that lack the same level of capabilities. It has 64-mm flat burrs that is ideal for all brewing methods and is easy to upgrade to other sets similar to those from SSP.

The OXO is a decent, low-cost alternative that has a great record in our tests. Its burrs aren't quite as precise as those in pricier models, but it has multiple settings that perform well for drip and French press, and its user interface is simple. While true coffee lovers will want a more advanced model but the OXO is a great starter for most people.

We also tested a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee with their hands. They are ideal to take on trips and for those who only require two or three cups of coffee at a time. These models, which employ the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders work with the use of a crank rather than motors and are typically quieter than electric models.