From All Over The Web: 20 Fabulous Infographics About Best Burr Grinder
How to Choose the Best Burr Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is a vital device in the coffee maker's arsenal. But which one to buy?
Burr grinders crush beans between two rotating serrated surfaces instead of slicing them with blades. They are considered superior to blade grinders. What features should you be looking for in the burr mill?
1. Conical Burrs
A conical burr mill is equipped with angled teeth and the ring of a circular burr that is placed inside the other. This design allows it to grind more efficiently as the burrs revolve around a central point. The angled teeth are more efficient at cutting the beans evenly, and also produce less heat. This is beneficial since excessive heat can create bitter tastes in your coffee. Conical burrs are also more durable than flat burrs. Flat burrs are more prone to warping and become dull very quickly, resulting in unevenly ground espresso that is unevenly ground. They are also more brittle, meaning that small stones and other debris could damage the burrs over time. In addition, flat burrs generate more noise and require regular cleaning and maintenance.
A number of burr grinders available for sale advertise themselves as "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 ground. They aren't true burr mills and contrary to what some people believe, don't produce the same quality grind as actual burr mills.
While some experts do not agree with this, others believe that the type of burrs in the grinder 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 lovers. For instance, some people believe that conical burrs can bring out the distinct flavor of exotic beans, while flat burrs are able to soften and enhance dark roasts.
This could be true. However, coffee grinders sale is something you should consider if your grinder will have a significant effect on the quality of your espresso. The only way to know for certain is to try the grinder with the beans you will be using it with. The overall design of the grinder and its working features will have a bigger impact on the final cup of coffee than the type of burrs. It's important to consider other aspects when evaluating a grinder, such as its reputation and reviews from customers.
2. Convenience
The Baratza Encore is a burr grinder that a lot of coffee enthusiasts swear by. It has been praised by a number of reviewers as an "time tested option" that is great value for money and well-suited for French press, French drip, and cold brew.
The grinder utilizes rotating metal burrs instead of blades for grinding beans, which creates more uniformly sized grounds as compared to a blender or burr grinders, as per 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 unbalanced-sized ground that affect the taste of your finished cup. Burr grinders are also quieter than blades grinders. However, this could differ based on the model and the brand.
Although the majority of burr grinders we tested have conical burrs, there are some that have flat burrs (two discs with cutting teeth facing one another). These grinders aren't recommended for espresso, as they are difficult to calibrate. They are also cheaper and less difficult than high-end flat-burr grinders like the Fellow Ode Gen 2 and the Baratza Virtuoso+.
The grinders we've tested allow you to set how long the machine will grind for a certain amount of time, which is handy if you're brewing espresso. Certain grinders, such as our top choice Baratza Sette 270, have built-in timers that are precise to one-tenth of seconds. However, this feature isn't required for all brewing methods and the majority of grinders under $200 use what's an upgraded version of a windup timer.
The cheapest 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 yourself by hand to grind your coffee. This requires more effort but is a great option in the event you're seeking a simple compact and affordable option without electrical power.
The Breville Smart Grinder Pro uses a burr mill, and is a reasonable alternative. It's louder than other models we've tried, but it's acceptable if you're willing to tolerate some background noise. The more quiet a grinder is likely to be, in general the more expensive it will be. This is due to the more advanced materials and advanced soundproofing technology.
3. Simple to Use
A burr grinder is a device that every expert recommends for those who are just getting started with home coffee brewing. They produce an even, finer grind than your standard blade grinder, and will assist in creating brews that have better balance of flavor, body and acidity. They are typically more reliable. As you'd imagine, a top-quality burr mill could cost up to $200 and is difficult to use.
So, we talked to experts and got their recommendations for the easiest-to-use electric burr grinders that are available on the market. Many people, including those on a tight budget would recommend the OXO Conical Burr Grinder. It has multiple settings to manage a variety of options for brewing, from pour-over to French press, and drip coffee. And it did well in our tests.
It's also quieter than other electric grinders we tested, and it doesn't create the same amount of heat as others do. This is important because excessive heat can harm the delicate aromas of your beans.
The OXO grinder has only one drawback that it is best suited to grinding at the more coarse end of its range. This can be a problem for espresso. If you're a fan of brewing espressos, a grinder with more advanced features like the Baratza Encore may be a better option.
Manual burr grinders, powered by cranking, are user-friendly and are perfect for those who drink only one or two cups of coffee a day. These grinders are great for those who travel, or just need to make only one cup of pour-over coffee.
Bon Appetit Test Kitchen director Chris Morocco loves the Fellow Ode Gen 2 Burr Grinder that has 41 settings that can be easily adjusted and is capable of making a great brew regardless of the method you prefer, with the exception of espresso (the flat steel burrs don't grind well enough). It's easy to use by anyone so you don't mind a few messes or chaff flying around.
4. Cost
A quality burr grinder will cost about a hundred dollars but 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. The grinders produce a small amount of fines, which are the small pieces of coffee ground that are smaller than the size of grind you choose. However this isn't obvious to most coffee drinkers.
Flat burrs are two discs that have cutting teeth that are facing each other. They aren't as popular but are favored by coffee enthusiasts because they give a uniform grind size, which is ideal for French press and espresso. They can be costly and you might have to buy new burrs each when you change the brew type or level of roast.
The Baratza ESP has the most cost-effective combination of price and capabilities for a burr grinder according to our experts. It's priced at less than $200, which is far lower than many competing models that don't offer the same capabilities. It comes with an incredibly flat 64-mm burr set that is ideal for all brewing methods and easy to upgrade with other sets, like the ones from SSP.
The OXO is a different option that is priced reasonably with a good track record in our tests. The burrs on this model aren't as precise as the ones in more expensive models however, its user interface and multiple settings are suitable for both French drip and press. While true coffee enthusiasts would prefer a more sophisticated model but the OXO is a great starting point for most people.
For those who prefer to grind beans by hand We also tested a few manual burr grinders that are perfect for travel and for people who only need to make one or two cups at one time. These models, which use the same mechanism for grinding as electric burr grinders work with a crank instead of motors and are typically much quieter than electric units.