How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is an essential tool in the home coffee maker's arsenal. Which one should you buy?
Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces instead of cutting them using blades. They're generally thought to be superior to blade grinders. What features should you look out for in the burr mill?
1. Conical Burrs
The name suggests that a conical burr grinder has one circular burr ring within another one with angled teeth. This shape allows for a more efficient grinding, as the burrs rotate around an axis. The angled teeth cut the beans more evenly and creates less heat, which is ideal because excessive heat can cause bitter notes in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat burrs. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso that is unevenly ground. They also tend to be more brittle, meaning that small stones and other debris can damage the burrs over time. Flat burrs also produce more noise, and require regular maintenance and cleaning.
Many burr grinders that are available for sale are marketed as "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. coffeee.uk 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, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts, don't produce the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders.
Although some experts disagree some believe that the burrs that are used in the grinder can have an impact on the finished taste of the coffee. These theories are largely anecdotal however they hold a firm grip on the minds 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 may or not be the case. 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 that you plan to use can you be certain. The overall design of the grinder and its operating features will have more of an influence on the final cup than the type or burrs. It is therefore crucial to take into consideration other factors when evaluating the quality of a grinder, like its reputation as well as customer reviews.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. A number of reviewers have praised it as a "time-tested choice" that is a great value for money and is well 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 crush beans. This results in more uniform ground than a grinder or other burr grinder. The burrs also produce less heat, which preserves the flavor and aroma of beans.
In contrast, blade grinders can produce excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds, which can impact the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this can differ by model and brand.
While the majority of the burr grinders that we test have conical burrs, some use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing one another). These grinders aren't suitable for espresso because they are 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 permit you to control the amount of time it will grind for a certain amount of time, which is handy if you're brewing espresso. Some, like our top choice, the Baratza Sette 270--have an integrated smart timer that delivers precise split-second timing. This feature isn't necessary for most brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders under $200 have the most expensive version of the windup clock.
The most affordable models in our selection, like the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity--use manual burrs, meaning you'll have to crank them by hand to grind your coffee. This takes more effort but is a great option if you're looking for a simple, compact, and cost-effective alternative that doesn't require electricity.
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 tested, but still tolerable if you don't mind a bit of noise. The quieter a grinder will generally be the more expensive it will be. This is due to the improved materials and advanced soundproofing technology.
3. Easy of Use
A burr grinder is a device that is recommended by every expert for those who are just beginning to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders produce a finer, more consistent ground than the regular blade grinder. They also allow you to make brews that are better balanced in body, flavor, and acidity. And they tend to achieve this more effectively. But, as you expect, top burr grinders can cost upwards of $200, and are complicated to use.
So, we talked to experts and received their recommendations for the most simple-to-use electric burr grinders that are available on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to a lot of people, including those who don't wish to spend a lot of money. It has multiple settings to handle a variety different brewing methods, from pour-over, French press, and drip coffee. It did well in our tests.
It's quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't produce the same amount of heat. That's important, as excess heat can damage the delicate aromas in your beans.
The OXO grinder has only one drawback: it grinds best on the more coarse end of its range. This can be problematic 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 easier to use and are ideal for those who drink just one or two cups of coffee per day. These grinders are great for those who travel or just need to make a single 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 can be easily adjusted and produces a wonderful brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of steel aren't grinding precisely enough). It's a breeze to operate for anyone who isn't afraid of some messes and flyaway particles, and it's also relatively quiet.
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. The grinders produce 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 isn't obvious to most coffee drinkers.
Flat burrs, which are basically two discs that have cutting teeth facing one another They aren't as popular in home units, but 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 expensive and you might have to purchase new burrs every time you alter the brew type or level of roast.
According to our experts, the Baratza is the most cost-effective combination of price and capabilities for burr mills. It costs less than $200 and is more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It has an incredibly flat 64-mm burr set that is ideal for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade with other sets, like those from SSP.
The OXO is a similar model that is affordable with a good performance 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 French press and drip. While true coffee enthusiasts may require a more sophisticated model however, the OXO is a great starting point for most 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 need to make one or two cups of coffee at one time. These models, which use the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders, work with a crank instead of a motor and are usually quieter than electric models.