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How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder A coffee grinder is a vital tool for any home coffee maker's arsenal. What is the best one to purchase? Burr grinders grind beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces instead of cutting them with blades. They're generally regarded as superior to blade grinders. But what characteristics should you be looking for in a burr grinder? 1. Conical Burrs Like its name suggests, conical burr grinders have one circular burr ring inside another one with sharp teeth. This shape allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs turn around a central point. The conical teeth are more efficient in cutting beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is beneficial since excessive heat can result in bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat ones. Flat burrs are prone to warping and becoming dull quickly, which results in unevenly ground coffee that is unevenly ground. They are also more brittle as well, meaning that small stones and other debris can cause damage over time. In addition flat burrs produce more noise and require more frequent cleaning and maintenance. Many burr grinders that are sold on the market call themselves “burr grinders,” yet they have flat or no burrs. These “false burr grinders” come with large flat teeth, and are often paired with motors that are weak and produce irregular grounds. They aren't true burr grinders and, contrary to the opinions of some enthusiasts they don't provide the same quality of grind as genuine burr grinders. Some experts aren't convinced, but others believe that the size and type of burrs used in a grinder for coffee can influence the final taste. These theories are mostly speculative, but they have gained a strong hold on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. Some believe that conical burrs bring out the unique flavor of exotic beans. Flat burrs mellow and enhance darker roasts. This could or might not be true, but it is important to think about if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. Only by testing the grinder with the beans you plan to use can you be certain. The overall design of the grinder and its operational features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the style or burrs. This is the reason it's crucial 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 a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. A number of reviewers have praised it as a “time-tested option” that provides excellent value for money and is designed for drip, pour-over, French press, and cold brew. According to the company, the grinder utilizes rotating burrs of metal instead of blades to grind beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder or other burr grinders. The burrs also produce less heat and preserve the bean's aroma and flavor. In contrast, blade grinders can create excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds, which can affect the taste 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, a few have flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). We don't recommend these for espresso as they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium burr grinder that is flat such as the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+. Some of the grinders we tested allow you to select the amount of time that the machine will grind. This is useful if you are brewing espresso. Others—including our top pick the Baratza Sette270 an inbuilt smart timer that delivers split-second precision. But this feature isn't necessary for the majority of brewing methods, and most under-$200 burr grinders operate on what amounts to an upgraded version of the windup timer. The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, have manual burrs. This means you have to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This is more laborious, but is a good choice if you want simple, compact and affordable option that doesn't require electricity. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is another affordable option that uses a burr grinder. It's louder than the other models we've tested, but it's still acceptable if you don’t mind some noise. The more quiet a grinder will generally be, the more expensive it will be. This is due to the upgraded materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques. 3. Easy to Use If you're just beginning to discover the world of coffee-brewing at home, there's one tool experts agree is essential that's a burr grinder. These grinders create a much smaller, more consistent grind than what you can get from a regular blade grinder. They also allow you to make brews that are better balanced in body, flavor, and acidity. They also perform the job more consistently. As you might expect, a high-quality burr mill can cost up to $200 and can be difficult to use. So, burr mill grinder talked to experts and received their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders on the market. Many people, even those with a budget would recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It has multiple settings to handle a variety options for brewing, from pour-over to French press, to drip coffee. It also was a success during our tests. It's also quieter than other electric grinders that we tested and doesn't generate more heat. This is important because excessive heat can harm the delicate aromas of your beans. The OXO grinder's biggest 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 mill with more advanced features such as the Baratza Encore may be a better option. Manual burr grinders that run by cranking are simpler to use and are ideal for those who consume only one or two cups of coffee a day. They're a great option for people who travel or want to make just one serving of pour-over. Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder with 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of making a great drink regardless of the method you prefer, with the exception of espresso (the flat burrs made of steel do not grind fine enough). It's a breeze to use by anyone, as long as they don't mind a few messes or chaff flying away. 4. Cost A good burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, but it's well worth it. 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 little bit of fines (the tiny pieces of coffee ground that end up smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) However, this won't bother the majority of people who drink coffee and it's a low cost to pay for delicious consistent coffee grounds. Flat burrs, which are two discs that have cutting teeth facing each other, are less common in home units, but are preferred by serious coffee enthusiasts due to their ability to produce a uniform size of grind that is perfect for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you may have to purchase new burrs every time you change the type of brew or the level of roast. According to our experts, the Baratza is the best combination of cost and capabilities for a burr mill. It's less than $200 and is more affordable than many other models that have similar capabilities. It has a 64-mm flat burr set which is perfect for all brewing methods and is easy to upgrade to other sets similar to the ones from SSP. The OXO is a different option that is priced reasonably with a good track record in our tests. The burrs in this model aren't as precise as the ones in more expensive models, but its user interface and a variety of settings are suitable for French press and drip. While true coffee enthusiasts 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 beans by hand. They are ideal to take on trips and for those who only need to make two or three cups of coffee at one time. These models employ the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders, but work by hand instead of a motor. They are also generally quieter than electric models.