How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder

A coffee grinder is a vital tool for any home coffee maker's arsenal. Which one should you purchase?

Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving, serrated surfaces rather than slicing them with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. What are the features you should look for in the burr mill?

1. Conical Burrs

As its name implies, a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring inside another ring with sharp teeth. This shape allows it to grind more efficiently as the burrs revolve around a central point. The conical teeth are more efficient in cutting beans evenly, and they produce less heat. This is beneficial since too much heat can cause bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs also last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs tend to warp and become dull very quickly, leading to unevenly ground espresso. They are also more brittle, which means that small stones or other debris can damage the burrs over time. Additionally flat burrs create more noise and require regular cleaning and maintenance.

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 usually paired with weak motors that produce uneven grounds. These are not true burr mills and, contrary to what some people believe, don't provide the same quality grind as real burr mills.

Although some experts do not agree with this, others believe that the type of burrs in the grinder have an impact on the final taste of the coffee. These theories are largely based on anecdotes, but they have gained a strong hold on the minds of coffee lovers. For instance, some believe that conical burrs bring out the individual flavor of exotic beans, while flat burrs can mellow and enhance dark roasts.

This may or not be true. However, it is something you should consider when you are deciding whether your grinder will have significant impact on the quality of your espresso. Only by testing the grinder with the beans you are planning to use will you be certain. The overall layout of the grinder and its operational features will have more of an impact on the final cup than the type or burrs. It's important to consider other factors when evaluating the grinder, including its reputation and reviews from customers.

2. Convenience

The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that many coffee lovers swear by. It has been praised by a number of reviewers as an "time tried and tested product" that is great value for money, and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.

The grinder utilizes rotating metal burrs instead of blades to grind the beans, resulting in more uniformly sized grounds than a blender or other burr grinder, according to the company. The burrs also produce less heat which preserves the flavor and aroma of beans.

Blade grinders, on the other hand they can generate excessive heat and unbalanced-sized ground which can affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this may differ by model and brand.

While the majority of the burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, a few make use of flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). We don't recommend them for espresso because they are more difficult to calibrate and are generally less expensive than a premium, flat-burr burr grinder such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.

Some of the grinders that we tested allow you to choose the amount of time that the machine will grind. This could be helpful if you are brewing espresso. Others, including our top choice the Baratza Sette270 a built-in smart timer that delivers the precision of a split second. However, this feature isn't essential for all brewing methods and most under-$200 burr grinders are based on an upgraded version of the windup timer.

The most affordable models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, have manual burrs. This means that you have to turn them manually yourself to grind your coffee. This requires more effort but is a great option in the event you're seeking an easy small, affordable option without electrical power.

The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is an alternative that is affordable and features a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tried but is still a good choice if you don't mind some noise. In general, the more expensive a grinder is the quieter it's likely to be due to better materials and the latest soundproofing technologies.

3. Ease of Use

A burr grinder is a tool that is recommended by every expert for those who are just starting to learn about home coffee making. These grinders produce more consistent, finer grind than your standard blade grinder. They can help you make brews with better balance in acidity, flavor and body. They are generally more reliable. As you'd expect, a high-quality burr mill can cost anywhere from $200 to $200 and is a challenge to use.

We asked experts for their recommendations on the most efficient electric burr grinders to use. Many people, even those on a tight budget are recommending the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with several settings that can accommodate various brewing methods, from pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it worked well in our testing.

It's also quieter than other electric grinders we've tested and doesn't generate more heat. This is important because excessive heat can harm the delicate aromas in your beans.

The OXO grinder's biggest drawback is that it's best home espresso grinder at grinding on the coarse end of the spectrum which 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 run by cranking are simpler to use and are ideal for those who consume only a cup or so of coffee per day. These grinders are perfect for those who travel or only 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 adjustable settings that are capable of producing an excellent brew for any method you choose--except espresso (the flat burrs made of stainless steel manual coffee grinder don't grind as finely as they should). It's easy for anyone to use for as long as they don't mind some messes or chaff flying away.

4. Cost

A good burr grinder can cost about a hundred dollars but it's well worth the price. 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 ground that end up smaller than the officially designated grind size you select), but it won't be noticeable to the majority of drinkers, and it's a small price to pay for excellent-tasting, consistent coffee grounds.

Flat burrs, which are basically two discs with cutting teeth facing one another, are less common in home units, but are preferred by serious coffee enthusiasts due to their ability to provide a more uniform grind size which is ideal for espresso and French press. The drawback is that they are expensive to purchase, and you might require a new burr for each roast level or brew type.

The Baratza ESP offers the best mix of cost and capabilities for a burr grinder according to our experts. It's priced at less than $200, which is much less than the majority of other models that don't offer the same level of capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm flat brewer set that is perfect for all methods of brewing. You can easily upgrade to other sets, such as the ones from SSP.

The OXO is a similar model that is affordable with a proven performance in our tests. The burrs aren't as precise as those found in higher-end models, but it comes with several settings that work well for drip and French press, and its user interface is intuitive. While true coffee enthusiasts may require a more sophisticated model however, the OXO is a great starting point for the majority of people.

We also tried a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding 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 use the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders, use an actual crank, not motors, and are generally quieter than electric models.