How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is a vital tool in the home coffee maker's arsenal. But which one to buy?
Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces instead of slicing them using blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. What characteristics should you look out for in the burr mill?
1. Conical Burrs
Like its name suggests, conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring inside another with angled teeth. This design allows for more efficient grinding, as the burrs revolve around an axis. The angled teeth cut the beans more evenly and generate less heat, which is desirable since excessive heat can cause bitter flavor notes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso. They also tend to be more brittle, which means that small stones and other debris could cause damage to the burrs over time. Flat burrs also produce more noise and require regular maintenance and cleaning.
Many burr grinders on the market claim to be "burr grinders," but they have flat burrs or have no burrs whatsoever. These "false" burr grinders have large, flattened teeth and are often coupled with weak motors that produce inconsistent grounds. They are not true burr grinders and, contrary to what some people believe, don't produce the same quality of grind as genuine burr grinders.
While some experts do not agree, others claim that the type of burrs in a grinder has an impact on the final taste of the coffee. These theories are largely based on anecdotes however they hold a firm grip on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. Some believe that conical burrs bring out the unique flavor of exotic beans. Flat burrs enhance dark roasts.
This could or might not be the case, but it is important to think about 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 using the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its features of operation will have more of an influence on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is why it's essential to evaluate a grinder based on other criteria such as the reputation of the brand and reviews from customers.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that many coffee lovers swear by. Many reviewers have praised it as an "time-tested option" that offers great value for money and is well suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold brew.
The grinder utilizes burrs that rotate instead of blades for grinding the beans, which produces larger, more uniformly-sized grounds as compared to a blender or burr grinder, according to the company. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the flavor and aroma of beans.
Blade grinders, on the other hand are prone to producing excessive heat and unevenly-sized grinds that can alter the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders also tend to be quieter than blade grinders, however this can vary depending on the model and brand.
Some burr grinders utilize flat burrs instead of conical. These are two discs that have cutting edges that face each opposite. These grinders aren't recommended for espresso, as they can be difficult to calibrate. They're also less expensive and more difficult than high-end flat-burr machines like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.
Some of the grinders we've tested permit you to control the amount of time it will grind for a certain amount of time, which is useful when you're making espresso. Some grinders, including our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have built-in timers that are accurate to one-tenth of seconds. However, this feature isn't essential for the majority of brewing methods, and most under-$200 burr grinders operate on what amounts to an improved version of the windup timer.
The cheapest models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, use manual burrs. This means you have to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious however, it's a good option if you're looking to get simple, compact and affordable alternative that doesn't require electricity.
Coffeee is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than some of the other models we've tried but is still a good choice in the event that you're okay with a little noise. The quieter a grinder will generally be, the more expensive. This is due to the improved materials and advanced soundproofing technology.
3. Simple to Use
A burr grinder is a tool that is recommended by every expert for those who are just getting started with home coffee brewing. These grinders provide a finer, more consistent ground than the standard blade grinder, and can help you produce beverages that are more balanced in body, flavor, and acidity. They are typically more reliable. As you might expect, a high-quality burr mill could cost up to $200 and can be difficult to use.
We spoke with experts and got their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder for a lot of people and those who don't want spend a lot of money. It has several settings that can accommodate different methods of brewing including pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it worked well during our tests.
It's also a bit quieter than some other grinders that we test, and it doesn't produce more heat than others do. This is important since excessive heat can destroy the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder has one drawback It grinds the best on the coarser side of the spectrum. This can be problematic for espresso. If you're brewing espresso, a higher-end burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice.
Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are simple to use and are great for those who consume only one or two cups of coffee a day. These grinders are ideal for those who travel, or just need to make one cup of pour-over coffee.
Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder that has 41 easily-adjustable settings and is capable of making a great brew using any method you want, except espresso (the flat burrs made of steel don't grind as finely as they should). It's easy to use by anyone for as long as they're not frightened by a few messes or chaff flying away.
4. Cost
A quality burr mill can cost you around a hundred bucks, 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 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 ground that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) However, it won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers and is a minor price to pay for excellent-tasting consistent coffee grounds.
Flat burrs, which are two discs with cutting teeth that are facing each other They are not as common in home units, however they are preferred by hardcore coffee geeks for their ability to create a more uniform grind size that is 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.
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 many competing models that don't offer the same capabilities. It is equipped with a 64-mm flat brewer set that is perfect for all brewing methods. You can easily upgrade to other sets, like the ones 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, but its user interface and multiple settings work well for both French drip and press. The OXO is a great entry-level model for the majority of people. True coffee enthusiasts might prefer a more advanced model however the OXO is a good choice for those who are.
We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their coffee by hand. These are great to take on trips and for those who only require one or two cups of coffee at each time. These models, which utilize the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders operate with the use of a crank rather than a motor and are usually quieter than electric models.