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How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder A coffee grinder is an essential tool for any 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 considered to be superior to blade grinders. But what are the features you should look for in a grinder? 1. Conical Burrs A conical burr mill has sharp teeth that are angled and an elongated burr ring that is inserted between the other. This design allows it to grind more efficiently, as the burrs rotate around a central point. The inclined teeth are more effective in cutting beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is good because excessive heat can create bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat burrs. Flat burrs are susceptible to warping and dulling quickly, leading to unevenly ground coffee. They are also more brittle, meaning that small stones and other debris can damage the burrs over time. Flat burrs also generate more noise and require more frequent maintenance and cleaning. Many burr grinders on the market claim to be “burr grinders,” but they have flat burrs or no burrs at all. These “false burr grinders” come with large flat teeth and are often paired with motors that have weak components that produce inconsistent ground. They are not true burr grinders, and, despite what some enthusiasts believe, don't produce the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders. While some experts do not agree, others claim that the type of burrs used in the grinder can have an impact on the finished 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 distinctive flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs enhance dark roasts. It could be true. But it is something you should consider when you are deciding whether your grinder will have a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. The only way to know for certain is to try a grinder out with the beans you plan on using it with. The overall design of the grinder as well as its operating features will have a greater impact on the final cup than the type or burrs. This is the reason it's crucial to assess a grinder based on other factors like the quality of the product and reviews from customers. 2. Convenience The Baratza Encore burr grinder is one that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. It has been praised by a number of reviewers as a “time tried and tested product” that offers great value for money, and is well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew. The grinder utilizes burrs that rotate instead of blades for grinding beans, which creates more uniformly sized grounds than a blender or other 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, can produce excessive heat and unevenly-sized grounds, which can impact the taste of the finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blades grinders. However, this could differ based on the model and the brand. While the majority of the burr grinders we test feature conical burrs, a few use flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing one another). We don't recommend them for espresso machines because they can be difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium, flat-burr burr grinder like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+. The grinders we tested allow you to choose the amount of time that the machine will grind. This can be useful when you're making espresso. Some grinders, like our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to just a fraction of seconds. However, this feature isn't required for the majority of brewing methods, and most under-$200 burr grinders operate on what amounts to an improved version of a windup timer. The cheapest models, like the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, utilize manual burrs. This means that you have to turn them by hand yourself to grind your coffee. This takes more effort, but is a great choice when you're looking for an easy, compact and inexpensive alternative without electricity. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill and is also an affordable option. It is louder than other models that we have tried, but it's acceptable if you don’t mind some sound. The more quiet a grinder will be, in general the more expensive it is. This is due to the improved materials and sophisticated soundproofing technologies. 3. User-Friendliness If you're just starting to discover the world of coffee-brewing at home There's one thing that every expert says is essential is a burr mill. These grinders produce a finer, more consistent grind than your standard blade grinder. They can help you create brews with better balance of acidity, flavor and body. They tend to be more reliable. But, as you might imagine, top-quality burr grinders can cost upward of $200, and many are difficult to operate. We asked experts for their recommendations on the most efficient electric burr grinders to use. Many people, including those on a tight budget would recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It comes with various settings that can be used to handle various coffee brewing techniques such as pour-over, French press to drip coffee, and it worked well in our tests. It's also a bit quieter than some other grinders that we test, and it doesn't create as much heat as some other grinders do. This is crucial, since excessive heat can harm the delicate aromas in your beans. The OXO grinder has one disadvantage: it grinds best on the more coarse end of its range. This could be a problem for espresso. If you like to brew espressos, a grinder with more advanced features, like the Baratza Encore may be a better option. Manual burr grinders, which are powered by cranking, are more easy to use and are perfect for those who consume only one or two cups of coffee every day. These grinders are ideal for those who travel, or only need to make a single 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 will make a fantastic beverage using any method – except for espresso (the burrs made of steel aren't grinding precisely enough). It's easy to use for anyone who isn't afraid of small messes and flying chaff, and it's relatively quiet. 4. Cost A quality burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, but it's 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. The grinders produce a small amount of fines, which are the tiny pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of the official grind you select. However it's not evident to the majority of coffee drinkers. Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that face one another. They are not as common but are favored by coffee geeks because they give a consistent size of grind, ideal for French press and espresso. They can be expensive and you might have to purchase new burrs each time you alter the brew type or level of roast. According to our experts, the Baratza has the best combination of cost and capabilities for burr mills. smart grinder 's less than $200, which is far lower than many competing models that don't offer the same capabilities. It comes with a 64-mm flat brewer set that's perfect for all brewing methods. You can easily upgrade to other sets, such as those from SSP. The OXO is another affordable option with a proven 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 a variety of settings work well for both French press and drip. While true coffee geeks will want a more advanced model but the OXO is a great starting point for the majority of people. We also tried a few manual burr grinders for those who prefer to grind their coffee by hand. These are great for those who travel and who only require two or three cups of coffee at a time. These models, which utilize the same grinding mechanism as electric burr grinders, use the use of a crank rather than a motor and are usually quieter than electric models.