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How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder A grinder is one of the most important tools in a coffee maker's arsenal. What is the best one to purchase? Burr grinders grind beans between two serrated surfaces that rotate instead of slicing with blades. They are considered superior to blade grinders. But what coffee machine grinder should you look for in a burr grinder? 1. Conical Burrs The name suggests that a conical burr crusher has one circular burr ring within another with the teeth angled. This shape allows for a more efficient grinding, because the burrs revolve around a central point. The angled teeth cut the beans more evenly and generate less heat, which is desirable since excessive heat can result in bitter flavors in your coffee. Conical burrs last longer than flat ones. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and dull quickly, leading to unevenly ground espresso that is unevenly ground. They also tend to be more brittle, which means that small stones or other debris could damage the burrs over time. Flat burrs also generate more noise, and require regular maintenance and cleaning. Many burr grinders on the market claim to be “burr grinders,” but they have flat burrs or have no burrs even. These “false” burr grinders have large, flattened teeth and are often paired up with motors that are weak, resulting in uneven ground. They aren't genuine burr grinders and, despite the opinions of some enthusiasts they don't provide the same quality of grind as genuine burr grinders. Although some experts disagree, others claim that the type of burrs in the grinder have an impact on the final taste of the coffee. These theories are largely based on anecdotes however they hold an unshakeable hold on the minds of coffee enthusiasts. For instance, some believe that conical burrs can bring out the distinct flavors of exotic beans, while flat burrs can soften and enhance dark roasts. It could be true 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 that for certain is to test a grinder out with the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its working features will have a greater effect on the final cup of coffee than the design of burrs. This is why it's important to assess a grinder on other factors, such as the reputation of the brand as well as customer reviews. 2. Convenience The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee lovers swear by. A number of reviewers have praised it as an “time-tested choice” that offers great value for money and is well suitable for pour-over, drip, French press, and cold coffee. The grinder utilizes burrs that rotate instead of blades to grind the beans, resulting in 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 beans. In contrast, blade grinders produce excessive heat and unevenly sized grounds, which can impact the flavor of the final cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blades grinders. However, this can differ based on the model and the brand. While the majority of the burr grinders we test feature conical burrs, some have flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing each other). We do not recommend them for espresso machines because they are more difficult to adjust and are generally less expensive than a premium burr grinder that is flat like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 or the Baratza Virtuoso+. Some of the grinders we've tested permit you to choose the length of time that the machine will be grinding for a particular amount of time, which is handy if you're brewing espresso. Some grinders, like our top choice Baratza Sette 270, have a built-in timer that is accurate to only a fraction of one second. This feature isn't necessary for the majority of brewing methods and most burr grinders under $200 have the most expensive version of a windup clock. The most affordable models we have in our lineup, such as the Porlex II and the Capresso Infinity—use manual burrs. That means you'll need to crank them manually by hand to grind your coffee. This is more laborious, but is a good option if you're looking to get simple, compact and inexpensive alternative that doesn't require electrical power. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is also a budget-friendly option. It is louder than other models that we have tested, but it's still acceptable if you don’t mind some background noise. The more quiet a grinder will be, in general, the more expensive. This is due to the improved materials and advanced soundproofing technology. 3. Ease of Use A burr grinder is a tool that is recommended by every expert for those who are just beginning to learn about home coffee brewing. These grinders provide a more consistent, finer grind than you get from your standard blade grinder, and can assist in making beverages that are more balanced in flavor, body and acidity. And they tend to do it more reliably. However, as you may expect, top burr grinders can cost upward of $200, and are complicated to use. We asked experts for their suggestions on the easiest electric burr grinders to use. Many people, including those on a tight budget would recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It has multiple settings that can handle a variety of coffee brewing techniques including pour-over to French press to drip coffee, and it performed well during our tests. It's also a bit quieter than the other grinders that we test, and it doesn't produce as much heat as some others do. That's important, as excess heat can damage the delicate aromas of your beans. The OXO grinder has only one disadvantage that it is best suited to grinding at the coarser side of the spectrum. This can be problematic for espresso. If you're making espresso, a higher-end burr grinder, such as the Baratza Encore might be a better choice. Manual burr grinders that are powered by cranking, are more easy to use and are ideal for those who consume only just a cup or two of coffee a day. They're a good choice for people who travel or want to brew up a single serving of pour-over. Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Director of Test Kitchen, loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder. It comes with 41 settings that are easily adjustable and will make a fantastic brew using any method—except for espresso (the flat-steel burrs don't grind precisely enough). It's simple for anyone to use for as you don't mind some messes or chaff flying away. 4. Cost A good burr mill will cost you around a hundred dollars, but it's definitely 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. The grinders create a tiny amount of fines, which are little bits of coffee ground that are smaller than the official grind size you select. However, this is not noticeable 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 preferred by hardcore coffee enthusiasts due to their ability to produce a more uniform grind size that's perfect for espresso and French press. The downside is that they are expensive to purchase, and you might need to buy new burrs for each different brew type or roast level. According to our experts, the Baratza offers the best combination of cost and capabilities for burr mills. It costs less than $200 and is cheaper than other models with 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 another affordable option with a solid performance in our tests. The burrs in this model aren't as precise as the ones in more expensive models however, its user interface and a variety of settings work well for both French press and drip. The OXO is an excellent starter model for a lot of people. Coffee enthusiasts who are serious may want a more sophisticated model, but the OXO is a good choice for those who are. We also tested a couple of manual burr grinders for those who prefer grinding their coffee with their hands. These are great to take on trips and for those who only require one or two cups of coffee at each time. These models employ the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders but operate with a hand crank instead of motors. They are also typically quieter than electric units.