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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. Which one should you buy? Burr grinders grind beans between two rotating, serrated surfaces instead of slicing with blades. They're considered to be superior to blade grinders. What features should you look for in the burr mill? 1. Conical Burrs The name suggests that a conical burr crusher has one circular burr ring that is inside another with sharp teeth. This design allows for more efficient grinding process, since the burrs rotate around a central point. The angled teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly and produce less heat. This is a good thing since excessive heat can create bitter taste in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso. They are also more brittle, meaning that small stones and 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 offered for sale are marketed as “burr grinders,” yet they have flat or no burrs. These “false burr grinders” feature large flat teeth, and are often paired with weak motors that produce uneven ground. They are not true burr grinders and, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts they don't provide the same quality of grind as actual burr grinders. Some experts aren't convinced however, others believe that the shape and size of burrs used in a coffee grinder could influence the final flavor. These theories are mostly based on anecdotes but they have a powerful hold on the minds and hearts of coffee enthusiasts. For example, some think that conical burrs bring out the individual flavors of exotic beans while flat burrs can mellow and enhance dark roasts. This may or may not be true however it is something to consider if you want your grinder to have a significant effect on the quality of your coffee. Only by testing a 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 a greater effect on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It's important to consider other aspects when evaluating the grinder, including its reputation as well as customer reviews. 2. Convenience The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee lovers swear by. It has been praised by several reviewers as an “time tested choice” that is a great value for money, and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew. According to the company, the grinder utilizes rotating metal burrs rather than blades to grind beans. This produces more uniformly-sized grounds than a grinder or other burr grinders. Additionally the burrs produce less heat while grinding which helps preserve more of the bean's flavor and aroma. Blade grinders however they can generate excessive heat and unevenly-sized grinds which can affect the taste of your cup. Burr grinders are also known to be quieter than blade grinders, but this can vary depending on the model and brand. Some burr grinders use flat burrs instead, rather than conical ones. These are two discs with cutting edges that are facing each one. 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+. Some of the grinders we've tested allow you to control the amount of time it will grind for a certain amount of time. This is handy if you're brewing espresso. Certain grinders, such as our top pick Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is precise to just only a fraction of a second. This feature is not required for all brewing techniques and the majority of burr grinders that cost less than $200 use the most expensive version of a windup clock. The most affordable models, such as the Porlex II or the Capresso infinity, use manual burrs. This means you have 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 a simple, compact and inexpensive alternative that doesn't require electricity. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses burr mills and is also an affordable option. professional coffee grinder than other models we've tried, but it's acceptable if you don’t mind some sound. The more quiet a grinder is likely to be, in general, the more expensive it is. This is due to the improved materials and the advanced soundproofing techniques. 3. Easy of Use A burr grinder is a device that all experts recommend to those who are just starting to learn about home coffee making. These grinders create a much smaller, more consistent grind than you get from your standard blade grinder and allow you to make beverages that are more balanced in body, flavor and acidity. They are generally more reliable. As you'd imagine, a top-quality burr mill can cost anywhere from $200 to $200 and can be difficult to use. We asked experts for their suggestions on the easiest electric burr grinders you can use. They recommend the OXO conical burr grinder to many people, including those who don't wish to spend a lot of money. It has multiple settings that can handle various brewing methods such as pour-over, French press to drip coffee, and it did well in our testing. It's quieter than other electric grinders we've tested, and doesn't generate the same amount of heat. This is important because excessive heat can ruin the delicate aromas of your beans. The OXO grinder's only drawback is that it's best in grinding at the coarse end of the scale, which can be a problem with espresso. If you're a fan of brewing espressos, a burr mill with more advanced features such as the Baratza Encore may be a better choice. Manual burr grinders that run by cranking are simpler to use and perfect for those who drink only about a cup of coffee every day. They're a great option for those who travel or need to make just one portion of pour-over. Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder, which has 41 easily-adjustable settings and is capable of making an excellent beverage regardless of the method you prefer, with the exception of espresso (the flat burrs of steel don't grind well enough). It's easy to operate for those who don't mind a little messes and flyaway particles, and it's also relatively quiet. 4. Cost A good burr mill will cost you a few hundred dollars, but is 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 that are smaller than the officially designated grind size you choose) however this won't bother the majority of people who drink coffee and is a minor cost to pay for delicious, consistent coffee grounds. Flat burrs, which are two discs that have cutting teeth facing one another, are less common in home units, but are favored by coffee lovers due to their ability to produce a more uniform grind size which is ideal for espresso and French press. They can be expensive and you may have to purchase new burrs each time you alter the type of brew or the level of roast. According to our experts, the Baratza is the best combination of cost and capabilities for burr mills. It's less than $200 which is much less than the majority of other models that don't offer the same level of capabilities. It has an incredibly flat 64-mm burr set which is perfect for all brewing methods and is easy to upgrade with other sets, like those from SSP. The OXO is a decent, low-cost option that has a good performance record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise, as burrs in higher-end models, but its user interface and multiple settings work well for both French press and drip. While true coffee enthusiasts would prefer a more sophisticated model but the OXO is a great starter for the majority of people. We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee by hand. They are ideal for those who travel and who only need to make one or two cups of coffee at each time. These models utilize the same grinding mechanism of electric burr grinders, but work using a hand crank instead of a motor. They are also generally quieter than electric models.