7 Best Burr Coffee Grinders In 2021: Coffee Just Got Better!

Want a great cup of coffee?

Make it yourself, at home!

Want a perfect homemade cup of coffee?

Turn those freshly roasted coffee beans into even grinds and the rest will be history.

Having perfect coffee grind easily accounts for 80+% of the way your coffee tastes, and to get those 80%+ you need something called best burr coffee grinder!

Ok just kidding it’s not called like that, but you may want to find something that could be described as it. And to make it simple, just scroll down and get to know a few of the best pieces of equipment that will make your coffee that much better.

Also if you are on a tighter budget take a look at our Best Budget Coffee Grinders or manual burr grinder versions (that also saves costs) in this Best Manual Coffee Grinders post.

7 Best Burr Coffee Grinders

You’ll find many grinders that you could use at home for your daily coffee grinding adventures, and there are thousands of them available in the market. You will not have difficulties in finding one whether you’re looking for a grinder that can produce fine grind for espresso, or a standard brew of a French press.

However, the difficulty lies in what to choose from among the thousands of choices. You don’t have to go through that trouble as we made that work for you, because we love to help people.

So, let’s read on and see our list of the best grinders for coffee.

Bodum Bistro Coffee Mill

The first thing you’ll notice with the Bodum Bistro grinder is its sleek design, and mind you guys, this coffee grinder comes in six colors to choose from. It is available in black, die-cast copper, pure black, red, shiny copper, and white so you can choose the best color that matches your kitchen design.

Regarding its functionality, it is equipped with a 12-adjustable grind setting that fairly produces consistent grounds from French to espresso. It also has a built-in timer, so you can set it to your desired amount of coffee ground you need.

The ground catcher is made of borosilicate glass that reduces static for a mess-free grinding. It also has a silicone grip to prevent slips, and for better handling.

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OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder

The OXO Brew coffee grinder is designed to fit coffee enthusiasts who love to enjoy a coffee brew at home. It creates uniform grounds with its 40 mm conical burrs made of stainless steel.

It has 15 main settings with 2 smaller increments to adjust the grind that suits your preference. The total of 30 adjustable settings gives you more control over various grind sizes, even with the espresso that requires consistent finer grounds.

You can set the timer from 1 to 30 seconds, depending on how much grounds of coffee you need for brewing. It also has a one-touch grind button that retains your last timer setting for convenience.

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Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

The Baratza Encore is the brand’s best selling entry-level grinder for coffee. The body is made from hard plastic and feels sturdy, and in fact, it’s heavier than the OXO coffee mill.

The operation of Encore is so basic that one would find it to lack in features. It doesn’t have a timer, but just an on/off dial switch and a pulse grind button.

However, never underestimate the Encore as its hardened alloy steel burrs powered by a strong DC motor can crush beans without any problems. The 40 adjustable grind selector gives you better control over the consistency of the ground perfect for various brew methods like Aeropress, Automatic brewer, Chemex, Espresso, French press, and Hario V60.

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Breville Smart Grinder Pro

What you’ll notice about the Breville Smart Grinder is its sleek design, which you could tell at first glance that it’s a high technology grinder. What’s more interesting is it’s available in 3 color designs namely, brushed stainless steel, cranberry red, and sesame black.

This conical burr grinder is packed with 40 mm conical stainless-steel burrs combined with 60 steps grind selection for more precise grind preferences. Though it may not match the precision of most dedicated high-end espresso grinders in the market, it’s designed to grind for espresso, and it does its job very well.

Settings are displayed on an LCD screen, so you can easily review your them.

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Baratza Virtuoso+

The Baratza Virtuoso Plus is an upgrade of its original model. This grinder is equipped with a commercial-grade 40 mm hardened alloy steel burrs, paired with a powerful motor that rotates steadily at 550 rpm aided by gear reduction system.

The 40 steps adjustable grind selection help you explore different brew options like Aeropress, automatic brewers, Chemex, Espresso, Frenc press, and Hario V60. The grinder also has an accurate digital timer that can be adjusted in a 0.1-second increment.

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Baratza Sette 30 AP Espresso Coffee Grinder

One defining trait of the Sette 30 grinder is its space-age design, and you can’t help but get fascinated by its facade. This grinder is one of the best grinders manufactured by Baratza and has been part of the daily coffee grinding of many home coffee brewers.

The Sette 30 coffee mill comes with a 40 mm steel all-purpose burrs designed for finer grinds ideal for espresso. The 30 steps grind selector gives you better control over the coffee grinding process.

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Rancilio Rocky Doserless Espresso Grinder

The Rancilio Rocky has commercial-grade burrs and motor. It’s also one of the best home grinders out there. It uses 50 mm flat burrs that rotate at 1725 RPM, which is quite fast but quiet and remains cool due to its above par design.

It has no grounds bin and directly grinds into a portafilter for convenience. The 55 stepped settings give you the option to do various brew methods.

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Buyers Guide For Burr Coffee Grinder

As promised, we’ll not just show you the best grinders, but we’ll also show you some factors to consider when buying your first electric burr grinder.

This Rancilio Rocky model can be one of the best professional-consumer coffee grinders you can find. However, its premium price could give you a difficult decision to make.

If you’re serious about your coffee brewing adventures, then the versatility of the Rocky is worth the price you’re spending for.

Conical vs. Flat Burrs

There’s always a debate when it comes to which is better between the conical and flat burr. Both types are capable of producing uniform ground size, so why debate?

Coffee enthusiasts, though they’re experts in the art of coffee brewing have their individual preferences. So based on their experiences and personal preferences, arise the endless debates.

Instead of debating which is better, let’s just get to know the differences between the two types of burrs.

Conical Burrs

Conical burrs are made up of two cone-shaped rings, where the hollow one is fixed, and the other one rotates. The rotating ring has spiraling teeth that push the beans in between the burrs for grinding. Both rings sit in a vertical orientation.

Baristas find conical burrs more gentle as it rotates more slowly, thus, preventing heat build-up, which may spoil the oil that gives flavor to coffee. Generally, conical burrs retain less ground after grinding because of its vertical position.

Conical burrs are often used in entry-level grinders used at home, but baristas also use commercial grinders equipped with conical burrs.

Flat Burrs

Flat burrs are also composed of two flat rings, where one sits face-up, and the other one face-down. Both rings sit horizontally where one is also fixed, and the other one rotates.

Flat burrs are often used in commercial grinders because of their speed, though, some say that the speed generates more heat that can destroy the flavor of your coffee. Contrary to this theory, the speed and design of the burr dissipate heat faster, thus, reducing heat build-up while grinding.

Flat burrs are often used in brew methods requiring consistent finer ground used in espresso and Turkish coffee.

To sum it up, both burr types do their jobs of bringing out the best in coffee beans by producing a variety of grind sizes consistently. Generally, most conical burrs are installed in most low-end and entry-level grinders because they are easier to adjust, thus, fit most home brewing coffee enthusiasts.

On the other hand, flat burrs are mostly found in commercial and professional-grade grinders due to its speed. Additionally, flat burrs are better in producing consistent fine grounds for espresso, which is also the base used for other blends like lattes and cappuccinos.

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Ceramic vs. Steel

Another source of debate in the coffee grinding realm is the ceramic vs. steel burrs. Like the conical and flat burr debate, both the ceramic and steel burrs do their jobs in grinding uniform coffee ground.

But what separates the two? Let’s find out by learning a few facts.

• Ceramic does not conduct heat, unlike steel, so the heat generated by the grinding of beans stays within the grounds. Therefore, affecting the flavor of the grounds.
• Ceramic is harder than steel.
• Ceramic is brittle than steel, so hard tiny stones from the coffee beans may chip or shatter the ceramic.
• Steel is a little bit softer, but it is not prone to shattering, unlike ceramic.
• Steel is also prone to chipping and denting when a hard stone from the beans is encountered.
• Steel conducts heat, so theoretically, it affects the oil within the beans.
• Both ceramic and steel equally handle any coffee roasts.

From these facts, it seems that ceramic and steel are equal in durability. So, which one’s better?

Both are equally functional as what’s important is both produce consistent ground for a variety of grind sizes because that’s what gives you the true flavor of fresh, full-bodied coffee brew.

Grind Button

Different grinders have varying designs of the grind button, and you might also want to consider this feature. Let’s start with the pulse button.

A pulse button works while you’re pressing the button, and then if you release it, the grinder stops. This could be annoying and inconvenient when you have to grind for several minutes, and when you grind several times a day.

There is also this auto-grind button, wherein you just dial in the desired cup servings, push the grind button, and there you go, you can leave it as it will automatically stop when the grind is done. This could be a convenient feature as you can do other tasks while waiting for your fresh grounds.

Finally, there’s a timed-grind button, just like the auto-grind, you just set the desired grind time, and the grinder will automatically stop at your set time. This is also a convenience feature, where you can do something else while waiting.

If you’re serving for just a cup or two, a pulse button would suffice as it will only take you a couple of seconds to finish the grind. This is perfect for coffee lovers who only brew at home, and besides, this feature comes with a cheaper tag price, than those with auto-grind and timed-grind features.

Number of Grind Settings

If you’re used to grinding beans with a blade grinder, you’ll probably be amazed at how many grind settings burr mills have. Blade grinders have no options to set the grind, so it’s more difficult to get a consistent coffee ground.

Do you need more than a hundred grind settings for your daily cup of freshly brewed coffee? For the majority of the people, they always think that more is better.

Yes, this could probably be true, but would you be needing that hundred grind settings for your home coffee brew? Instead of focusing on the number of grind settings, it is recommended to just focus on your daily coffee brewing needs.

If you want to do a lot of coffee brewing experiments, especially espresso, then 40 settings or more might be just the one you need. On the other hand, less than 40 settings will do, especially if you just plan to grind for standard brew methods like a French press or drip coffee.

Consistency of the Grind

A burr grinder is supposed to grind with consistency, although low-end cheaper grinders are poorly designed that they cannot keep up maintaining a uniform ground texture. The consistency of the grind is important to make an optimum coffee extraction.

The problem with low-end grinders is the production of fine grounds even if you set it to coarse. This could make your coffee bitter, especially when you’re preparing drip, pour-over, a French press or cold brew since the fines will just pass through the filter.

Intended Brewing Methods

Would you be brewing standard methods that would be needing coarse grounds? Or would you be aiming to make daily espresso shots?

Your intended brewing methods is also a good thing to consider as most entry-level grinders are enough to make you a perfect cup of coffee brewed right at the comfort of your home.

However, if you intend to brew espresso or Turkish coffee, then you’ll be needing Turkish or espresso grinders for that. Prepare a good amount of budget for this as grinders of this type carry a fairly huge price tag.

Budget

Lastly, you will need to base your purchase on your available funds, and even if you have a huge amount of budget, it doesn’t mean you’re going to buy the most expensive grinder you can get. Consider all the factors and analyze which grinder works best for your daily home brewing needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a burr grinder?

A burr grinder is made up of two rough surfaces where coffee beans are ground, in between. The two surfaces are called burrs that have one fixed, and the other rotates. Both burrs have sharp grooves, sometimes called burr teeth, which are designed to grind the beans into the desired grind size.

Does a burr grinder make a difference?

Yes, it does. A burr grinder produces a more consistent grind size compared to a blade grinder. Moreover, burr grinders are designed to reduce heat while grinding, to protect the integrity of the beans.

Unlike blade grinders that have only one function, which is to smash the beans without control, burr mills are designed with grind settings, so that a user has control over the grinding process. You can choose whether you want a fine or coarse ground with much uniformity in texture.

What is the best burr coffee grinder to buy?

The answer to this question depends on you. The best coffee grinder is the one that fits your daily brewing needs, and of course, the one that fits your budget.

While Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder grinds fast and with high consistency (fine or coarse) it costs almost 10 times the JavaPresse manual burr grinder. They both are excellent choices for most of the coffee enthusiasts.

So it’ s not simple to give answer A is better than B because there are several aspects to consider for every individual.

Why are burr grinders so expensive?

Not all electric burr mills are expensive, but yes, they are more expensive than their manual counterparts. There are several factors why an electric burr mill gets more expensive than a blade or manual grinder.

• they have expensive parts
• they paid for research and development
• they have electric motors
• some are designed with electronics (more expensive)
• expensive design
• metal parts are expensive
• they have more features

How often should you clean a burr grinder?

Your grinder needs regular cleaning, especially when you use it often. Coffee beans contain oil, and it can build-up over time with frequent use, especially when you use dark roast beans.

Depending on how you frequently use the grinder, you should check oil build-up at least once a week. Oil becomes rancid and may affect the flavor of your freshly ground coffee.

Grinders retain coffee grounds within burrs and the chute. These leftover grounds will soon get stale and will mix with your freshly ground coffee the next time you use the grinder.

With this in mind, it can be concluded that you need to brush the burrs and the inside of the chute after using the grinder. This may seem inconvenient, but it’s necessary if you want to get the best tasting coffee for your daily pleasure.

How long do burr grinders last?

The life expectancy of burr mills is difficult to tell as several factors may affect it. Lightly roasted beans are harder and may shorten the life of your grinder, especially when used daily.

Daily grind volume also affects your grinder’s life as the more you grind, the more it goes through wear and tear. Any rocks your grinder may run into may also affect its lifetime.

Low-end electric coffee grinders have a weak motor and may not last if run continuously. Failure to follow proper use of the grinder may shorten its life as well.

Grind size also affects your burrs as finer grounds used in Turkish coffee and espresso brew get your burrs to work harder. Although these factors affect the life of your mill, it doesn’t mean that it won’t last for long.

Typically, the best entry-level grinders could last for 5 years or more, depending on use, and the high-end mills last even longer.

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We hope you find our coffee grinder review useful.

Happy grinding!