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 should you buy?
Burr grinders crush beans between two revolving serrated surfaces instead of cutting them using blades. They're considered to be superior to blade grinders. But what are the features you should look for in a burr grinder?
1. Conical Burrs
A conical burr mill is equipped with an angled set of teeth and the ring of a circular burr that is placed within the other. This shape permits more efficient grinding, as the burrs revolve around an axis. The angle of the teeth cuts the beans more evenly, and produce less heat, which is a good thing because excessive heat can lead to bitter flavor notes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs tend to warp and dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground espresso that is not evenly ground. They are more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other debris could cause damage over time. Flat burrs also create more noise, and require regular maintenance and cleaning.
A number of burr grinders offered for sale call themselves "burr grinders," yet they have flat or no burrs. These "false burr grinders" come with large flat teeth and are often coupled with motors that have weak components that produce uneven ground. These are not true burr mills and contrary to what many enthusiasts think, do not produce the same quality grind as genuine burr mills.
Some experts do not agree with this assertion, but others believe that the shape and size of the burrs in a coffee grinder could affect the final flavor. These theories are mostly based on anecdotes but hold a firm grip on the minds and hearts of coffee enthusiasts. Some believe that conical burrs can bring out the unique flavor of exotic beans while flat burrs mellow and enhance darker roasts.
This may or may not be the case however it is something to consider if you wish for your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. The only way to determine for sure is to test a grinder out with the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its operating features will have more of an impact on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is why it's essential to assess a grinder on other criteria, such as the reputation of the brand and customer reviews.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. It has been praised by several reviewers as a "time tested option" that is great value for money, and is well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.
The grinder utilizes rotating metal burrs instead of blades for grinding the beans, which produces more uniformly sized grounds as compared to a blender or burr grinders, according to the company. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the flavor and aroma of the beans.
Blade grinders on the other hand are prone to producing excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds that can alter the taste of your cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blade grinders. However, this may differ based on the model and the brand.
Although the majority of burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, a few make use of flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth that are facing each other). We do not recommend them for espresso as they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a top-of-the-line burr grinder with a flat-burr like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+.
The grinders we tested let you select the amount of time that the machine will grind, which is useful for those who are making espresso. Others--including our top choice the Baratza Sette270 an integrated intelligent timer that can provide the precision of a split second. This feature isn't necessary for most brewing techniques and the majority of 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 requires more effort but is a great option in the event you're looking for an easy small, affordable alternative without electricity.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill and is a reasonable option. It is louder than other models that we have examined, but it's acceptable if you're not worried about some sound. industrial coffee grinder Coffeee is likely to be, in general the more expensive. This is due to the upgraded materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques.
3. Easy to Use
If you're just beginning to explore the world of coffee-brewing at home There's one thing that everyone agrees is necessary that's a burr grinder. These grinders provide a more consistent, finer grind than what you can get from a standard blade grinder, and can help you produce beverages that are more balanced in body, flavor and acidity. They tend to be more reliable. But, as you expect, high-quality burr grinders can cost upwards of $200, and many are difficult to use.
We spoke with experts and got their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders on the market. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to many people as well as those who don't wish to spend a lot of money. It has several settings that can accommodate different coffee brewing techniques such as pour-over, French press to drip coffee, and it worked well in our tests.
It's also quieter than some other electric grinders we tried, and doesn't produce as much heat as some other grinders do. This is crucial because excessive heat can destroy the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder's only drawback is that it's best at grinding on the coarse end of the spectrum which could be a problem with espresso. If you're looking to make espressos, a burr grinder with more advanced features like the Baratza Encore may be a better option.
Manual burr grinders that run by cranking are easy to use and are ideal for those who consume only a cup or so of coffee every day. These grinders are perfect for those who travel or just need to make one cup of pour-over coffee.
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Test Kitchen's director, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It comes with 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and can produce a great brew using any method--except for espresso (the burrs made of flat steel don't grind well enough). It's a breeze to use by anyone for as long as they're not frightened by a few messes or chaff flying around.
4. Cost
A good burr grinder can cost you about a hundred dollars however, 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 can produce a bit of fines (the tiny pieces of coffee ground that end up smaller than the official grind size you choose), but this won't bother the majority of people who drink coffee and is a minor price to pay for excellent-tasting consistently-sized coffee grounds.
Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other. They aren't as popular but are preferred by coffee geeks because they produce a more consistent grind size, perfect for French press and espresso. They can be expensive and you might have to purchase new burrs every time you change the brew type or level of roast.
The Baratza ESP is the best mix of cost and capabilities for a burr mill, according to our experts. It's less than $200 which is far lower than other models that don't offer the same capabilities. It has 64-mm flat burrs that is ideal for any brewing method and is easy to upgrade to other sets similar to those from SSP.
The OXO is a decent, low-cost option that has a good track record in our tests. The burrs in this model aren't as precise as ones found in higher-end models however, its user interface and the variety of settings work well for both French press and drip. The OXO is an excellent starter model for the majority of people. True coffee geeks may require a more sophisticated model however, the OXO will work well for the majority of people.
For those who prefer to crank beans by hand We also tested a handful of manual burr grinders that are perfect for use on the go and for those who need to make just one or two cups at each time. These models use the same grinding mechanism of electric burr grinders but operate with a hand crank instead of a motor. They are also typically quieter than electric units.