Best Burr Coffee Grinders for True Coffee Aficionados

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 1, 2024
Even the best ground coffee is only fresh for a couple of days and for a true coffee aficionado, it is a no-no. To have the freshest coffee at home, you need a coffee grinder. While blade grinders still exist, the quality of their grinding is no match for burr models so we've decided to review the most popular of the latter. Read on and find your personal favorite. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
GRINDER TYPE
POWER & CAPACITY
DESIGN
OPTIONS AND EXTRAS
WARRANTY
 
PROS

With 40 separate settings, you can grind coffee for just about any coffee beverage, be it one made in a coffee machine or brewed manually in a cezve.

CONS

Takes quite some time to grind.

OUR VERDICT

It is stylish, durable, and quite economical at 110 Watts despite having medium-size containers for both beans and ground coffee. The motor keeps the rotation at safe levels and you get your powder anywhere between 250 and 1200 micron in size without burning it.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Conical burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

110 watts

Bean hopper: 8 oz

Grind chamber: 5 oz

DESIGN

Plastic body, Bean hopper, Grind chamber

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

40 settings, from fine to coarse (250 to 1200 microns)

DC motor keeps your beans cool

Pulse button

WARRANTY

6 Months

PROS

The special motor and gears make this burr mill operate at low speed (up to 450 RPM) to make the most precise grinding for the perfect beverage.

CONS

Settings labels might rub off with time.

OUR VERDICT

The quietest burr coffee grinder that does not vibrate or move along the tabletop as it works. The burrs carefully grind the beans, saving the flavor, making the model suitable even for the expensive coffee brands.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Conical burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

100 watts

Bean hopper: 8.8 oz

Grind chamber: up to 4 oz

DESIGN

ABS housing, See-through been container; Tight-fitting ground coffee container

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

16 settings in 4 categories: extra-fine, fine, regular and coarse

Settings for 0 to 10 cups

Timer 5–60 seconds

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

The grinder set includes a special scoop to precisely measure ground coffee for your drinks that also doubles as a brush to make the unit cleaning a breeze.

CONS

Even the finest grind is not the best fit for espresso. 

OUR VERDICT

If you look for a reasonably priced burr grinder to mill enough coffee to make drinks for a family without spending much time and effort in the morning, the Cuisinart Supreme is for you. Fitted with a flat disc burr, this machine will grind coffee for 4 cups in close to no time while an oversized grind container can hold enough powder to make up to 32 cups. 

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Flat disc burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

140 watts

Bean container: 8 oz

Grind chamber: 16 oz

DESIGN

Metal body, See-through bean hopper, Grinding chamber

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

18 grind settings

4 to 18-cup slide dial

Scoop and cleaning brush included

WARRANTY

1.5 years

PROS

Non-skid feet will ensure perfect machine stability on the countertop and work to reduce vibration. The timer will remember your favorite settings and save you the need to adjust it each time. 

CONS

The unit operation is rather loud. 

OUR VERDICT

The OXO Brew 8717000 conical burr grinder is a great entry-level machine with close-to-premium functionality. Stainless parts and components make it durable and modern-looking. Multiple grind settings will meet any taste while larger coffee and grounds containers make a nice choice for a family. 

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Conical bur grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

150 watts

Bean container: 12 oz

Coffee: 12 cups (~3.9 oz)

DESIGN

Stainless steel housing with plastic elements, See-through bean container, Tight-fitting ground coffee container

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

15 grind settings (plus Micro settings)

Pre-set timer

Scoop included

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The lid over the bean hopper will keep the beans fresh for longer and prevent scattering when the appliance is on.

CONS

The Start/Stop button sometimes sticks.

OUR VERDICT

Conical burr grinder with 14 settings and a timer will turn your beans into powder accurately, without you having to do anything. The borosilicate glass container for ground coffee is static-free.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Conical burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

160 watts

Bean hopper: ~11 oz

Grind chamber: ~4 oz

DESIGN

Colorful, compact design equipped with a friction clutch to prevent slipping

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

12 settings from coarse to fine

Pre-set timer

Borosilicate glass container reduces the static cling of coffee grounds

WARRANTY

1 year

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Baratza Encore

It's Cool Beans

The best thing about this Baratza burr coffee grinder is most likely its DC motor geared specifically at keeping the beans cool as they grind. This is a major issue with automatic electric grinders in general, even with the conical ones like this one—owing to their high speed of rotation, if you misstep with settings, chances are you will burn your coffee and lose some beans when you grind for a long-ish time (and you get a really bad cup of coffee). The motor controls the speed and keeps the beans cool throughout the process so it's one less thing to worry about.

The model offers as many as 40 settings, making it suitable for just about any coffee, including Espresso. Controlling the settings is the easiest task ever—you just rotate the coffee bean hopper, it has a notch at the bottom that you set at your preferred setting (they are arranged around the joint point where the main body and the hopper meet). Picky Espresso lovers might want something more fine-grinding but, in fact, the machine has a setting between its 0 and 1 points which is more or less suitable for this particular drink.

Review of Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

Easy Morning

This burr mill coffee grinder is designed to be as simple as possible, just what you need in the morning when you're not even awake before you get to your cup of a steamy freshly brewed beverage. Basically, there is only one button there, conveniently big and placed right at the front of the appliance so that you could just push it as you pass on your way to the fridge. Then, you can start with your coffee maker and brew your coffee as you get on with breakfast. The simplicity is a big bonus when we're talking about morning coffee.

The bean hopper of this burr coffee grinder is 8 oz and the bin for ground coffee is 5 oz. Ultimately, it is enough for about 14 standard 6 oz cups of the drink, though, of course, the number can change depending on how strong you like your cup of joe and how big the cups you use. Basically, for a home use, it is more than enough. You can probably use this model in a small cafe, too, if you don't get huge crowds in the mornings.

Actually, between the number of settings, a DC motor with conical burrs, and a decent capacity, this might be the best burr coffee grinder for a cafe.

Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $139.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B007F183LK

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Grinds beans pretty fast. Coffee has been tasting fantastic since buying this.

Features

Very quick motor can take down 40g of coffee in less than 20 seconds.
 

Capresso 560.04 Infinity

Set Up a Coffee Booth

The Capresso Infinity is a conical burr grinder, meaning it is exemplary precise in its work. It offers 16 grinding settings for just about any type of coffee. For better understanding, the manufacturer has placed the settings in groups by coarseness you get—4 extra fine settings, 4 fine ones, 4 medium, and 4 coarse ones. This way, even if you are a complete novice in the business of grinding the beans for your coffee yourself, you can easily set the necessary option and have the finest Turkish coffee or French press, whatever you prefer.

The company advertises this model as a commercial-grade burr mill. Well, if yours is not a huge coffee place with lines rounding the corners but a simple booth, this machine is a good option, it has everything you might need to brew fast and without fail. For starters, both the bean hopper and the ground coffee container are transparent, hence, you will immediately see when it is time to refill the hopper and make more coffee. While transparency is bad for prolonged storage, if you grind and brew right away, it is of little concern.

Review of Capresso 560.04 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

Capable, Reliable, Affordable

The capacity of the hopper is 8.8 oz and the ground coffee container holds approximately 4 oz of the powder. Once again, it is quite enough for a small cafe or a booth and definitely enough for a home appliance, of course.

Among other conveniences, the model includes a timer for 5 to 60 seconds. Thanks to this addition, you can start the grinding process and go do something else without having to constantly monitor the burr mill. It is yet another commercially appropriate feature.

The conical burr is made of steel for better heat absorption, further enhanced by a motor that controls the gears, making the appliance operate at quite a low speed for an electric model: the general speed of this burr grinder is around 450 RPM. This helps with noise reduction, as well, the Capresso Infinity is one of the quietest options you can get for home and small business without spending too much. Besides, it is also fairly economical as it only needs 100 Watts of power, saving you some on the electricity bills (usually, even small grinders require anything from 150 to 200 Watts).

Capresso 560.04 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder in the use

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $96.41
Stock In stock
ASIN B001QTVXCS

 

Cuisinart DBM-8

Bang for the Buck

Any avid coffee enthusiast knows that for the freshest and most flavorful cup, it is important to grind your coffee right before brewing. Hence, once you have a brewer the next must-have appliance is a good coffee grinder. Whether you seek to replace your manual mill or buy your first automatic grinder without breaking the bank, the Cuisinart Supreme burr mill will definitely catch your fancy. At a fairly reasonable price (far below $50), it offers everything you expect from a decent quality appliance of this kind and even more.

What you’ll get is a nice little machine with a brushed steel body, stainless steel trimming, and transparent plastic beans hopper and grind container. It has a very modern design that will fit most kitchens. It won’t stick out like a sore thumb, but rather looks like a unit you won’t want to put away. Moreover, featuring a slim profile and pretty compact footprint, it won’t take much place on your kitchen countertop and will make a perfect match for your coffee brewer.

The Cuisinart Supreme is fitted with a flat disc burr, which means it mills really fast. It will grind a 4-cup portion of beans in less than 20 seconds. With 140 watts under the hood, it is not the most powerful grinder, yet, this power is still enough to quickly achieve the desired grind size without overheating the beans. To meet different grinding needs and fit different coffee drinker tastes, the model provides 18 grind settings and several quantity settings. Thus, you can customize your grind from coarse through medium to fine to get a milder or stronger coffee taste and you are free to grind just the right amount of coffee at a time to brew from 4 to 18 cups. With the lowest amount setting of 4 cups, the Cuisinart is a great choice for a family of coffee lovers who can’t imagine their morning without a freshly brewed cup of joe. Besides, an oversized grind container capable of holding up to 16 oz of ground coffee (to make up to 32 cups of coffee drinks) makes this model also a functional addition for small cafes, bistro, and coffee shops.

The only thing on the negative, though, is that the finest grind the Cuisinart can deliver is far from what you need for a perfect espresso. However, it will work just fine if you grind for a drip coffee brewer, single serve coffee maker, French press or coffee pot.

Review of Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

Easy to Use and Easy to Clean

Functional and efficient, the Cuisinart Supreme burr grinder is a very simple appliance without the abundance of add-ons you can find in more sophisticated models. A slider to choose the number of cups you are milling for and a twisting hopper to select the grind size make the unit operation intuitive and straightforward.

To prolong the machine service life and keep it safe, the grinder has an automatic turn-off feature and the unit won’t start unless the hopper and grind chamber are in place. To clean the grinder is no hassle at all as well. The whole construction easily comes apart and you can use the measuring scoop that doubles as a cleaning brush to remove grounds from the grinder parts.

All in all, the Cuisinart Supreme grinder stands out for an optimal price to quality ratio and will perfectly suit non-picky brewers and novices with little experience in grinding who want their morning cup of joe fresh, quick, and without much problem.

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill in the use
Last updated price $59.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B00018RRRK

VIDEO
Cuisinart Supreme Grind™ Automatic Burr Mill (DBM-8) Demo Video

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

Has settings for grinding everything from French press coffee to espresso, grinds evenly every time, and comes apart for easy cleaning.

Size & Weight

It also has some nice weight to it, so it seems very sturdy and well built

Features

You can put everything in the dishwasher

Power

This is an awesome powerful automatic grinder.
 

OXO BREW 8717000

Entry-level Machine With Premium Functions

Burr coffee grinders are hands down the best option for home use. They provide multiple functions and are very easy to use. And the OXO Brew 8717000 is one such example. Featuring a smart combo of ease of use and versatile functionality, this model favorably stacks up to its rivals and pro-grade models.

To start off, the 8717000 boasts as many as 15 grind settings, plus, it has micro settings that allow you to adjust the grind size to meet any coffee lover taste and preference. Thus, whether you are a skilled user of an espresso machine, have a drip coffee maker, use a French press, or brew your cup of Joe in a coffee pot, this conical burr coffee grinder will suit you, accurately milling the beans to match the brewing technique you love the most. Then, there's a built-in timer. It can remember the last grind setting you used so that when you turn the machine on next time it will produce the same grind with no need for any adjustments. This way, you can benefit from one-touch operation while having a rich choice of grinds you can choose from.

Two other advantages that give the OXO Brew 8717000 an edge over many other grinders include its speedy operation and high-capacity containers. To be more specific, it takes the unit no more than a few seconds to churn out enough grounds for three cups. As for containers, a ground coffee container can accommodate up to 110g to brew up to 12 cups of coffee while a bean hopper can hold up to 12 oz of coffee beans. This is 50% more and faster than most other grinders.

Review of OXO BREW 8717000 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

When Style Meets Durability

A coffee grinder is the type of appliance many of us prefer to keep on the countertop rather than stow away after use, which is especially true if you tend to brew coffee more than once a day. Therefore, for many users, the grinder's design is not less important than its dimensions. Is it a priority for you too? Then the OXO Brew grinder will not disappoint you. With its slimmer profile and smaller footprint, this model is pretty compact and won’t eat up much space on your worktop. And thanks to the brushed steel exterior coupled with soft rounded shapes and fine lines, it will easily blend with any kitchen style and interior.

Aesthetics aside, the OXO Brew grinder features a set of solid and robust steel burrs. They add to the durability of the unit and ensure its flawless grinding performance for a long time. As far as the hopper goes, it is made of tinted plastic that can effectively filter out UV rays. This means the coffee beans will stay fresh for longer and the coffee taste profile will remain intact. And a tightly closed ground container leaves coffee flavors and aromas no chance to sneak out.

Some users claimed a bit loud unit's operation, yet given a faster grinding speed and shorter grinding time, it won’t be much of a hassle and is certainly not a deal-breaker.

To cut a long story short, the OXO Brew is an entry-level coffee grinder distinguished by a compact stylish design and premium functionality that makes it a great choice for home use.

OXO BREW 8717000 Conical Burr Coffee Grinder in the use

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $99.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B07CSKGLMM

 

BODUM Bistro Electric

Great for a Bistro

As the name suggests, this electric burr coffee grinder from BODUM has a capacity enough for a small restaurant, like a bistro. It offers an 11-oz coffee bean hopper, which is more than it is usual in its price range, so you can pour the beans in, close the lid, and ground them when you need them. For a semi-commercial use, it is a time-saver.

The ground coffee bin is 4 oz, good enough for about 10 cups of joe. Since the burr here is conical and is made of stainless steel, you can be sure that the beans will be crushed thoroughly and evenly. There are 12 settings to choose from depending on what kind of coffee you need at the moment—coarse for a French press, medium for a drip coffee maker or even extra-fine for some Espresso.

There is no knob to choose the number of cups you need coffee for, but there is a timer with the automatic shut-off and a "cheat sheet" of sorts on the inside of the hopper lid where you can find instructions regarding the timer settings for specific beverages and amounts of coffee you need.

Review of BODUM Bistro Electric Electronic Coffee Grinder with Continuously Adjustable Grind

The Combo of Looks and Convenience

At the first glance, this burr grinder does not look too refined, which we are used to when it comes to appliances like this. Instead, it looks cool and modern. It is offered in several color schemes, three of them matte and another three metal-looking. Matte models are black with contrast red Start button, the opposite red with a black button, and white with the red button; the other three are chrome, copper, and shiny copper, all with the black button. With a selection like this, you can find the one to perfectly fit your kitchen (or small coffee shop) interior.

As for the conveniences, there are some to notice, too. For example, this electric burr mill is equipped with a friction clutch inside that prevents any damage to your grinding gear and thus makes the appliance's life so much longer. Another one would be the borosilicate glass, the material which the grounds bin is made of; this type of glass gets a lot less static on it so that even the fine coffee particles won't be clinging to it that much. Finally, when you take the grounds container from the grinder you won't drop it since it has a silicon band in the middle to prevent slipping.

Basically, everything in this model is made for fast and effortless coffee making.

BODUM Bistro Electric Electronic Coffee Grinder with Continuously Adjustable Grind in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $96.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B0043095WW

VIDEO
Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder: What's Brewing #25

What customers say about this product

Features

I love that I can grind only as much as I need by setting the timer, so every morning I have freshly ground beans.

Key Specs

I liked the grind settings.
 

What Is a Burr Grinder?

Grinding coffee beans yourself instead of buying pre-ground packages means, of course, more efforts and at a certain point in time, more money spent. However, if you truly love coffee, you probably know how hard it is to make a restaurant-worthy cup at home with pre-ground brands. The reason for that is oxidation: smaller particles of already ground beans have more of their surface "touching" the air and since the flavor is volatile, it disappears quite fast. Beans keep it inside for longer, therefore, to have a fresh and full of flavor cup of coffee, you need to make it from freshly ground beans. That's why you need your own grinder. And if you want a luxurious experience with brewing coffee, go for a burr grinder, they are generally more expensive than blade ones but the results are on a completely different level.

Burr grinders are a type of coffee grinders that operate using two burrs, one rotating against the other (which is stationary) and grinding the beans. Kind of like the mills work, making flour out of the grains. Compared to blade grinders, burr models produce more uniform results and are more adjustable, easier to control, allowing you to set the coarseness to make anything from French press to Espresso-ready powder. This flexibility is what has earned them the acclaim among baristas and general public coffee lovers alike. If you love coffee, get yourself a burr grinder.

What Features to Compare

Burr grinders are more complex than one might think and here's what we recommend considering before you click that "Add to Cart" button.

Disc or Conical

These are two shapes a grinding element might have in a burr coffee grinder. Disc burrs are also called "flat burrs" by some specialists. The difference in shape brings out the difference in some specs. Flat/disc burrs rotate faster and, therefore, grind the beans faster. And when we say faster, we mean quite a lot so if you're often time-stripped yet wish to have a tasty cup of coffee, this is where you should proceed. At the same time, disc burrs are noisier and they produce more heat, both direct consequences of higher speeds. And while modern disc grinders have the means to battle the heat (which can result in burned coffee, like with blade grinders), the noise is still mostly to be simply tolerated.

On the other hand, there are conical burr grinders. They are slower and more expensive but quieter, less messy, emit far less heat, and offer better results when you need extra-fine grinding like with Espresso or Turkish coffee. They also fare better when your coffee beans are oily or flavored: flat discs can get clogged quite fast with those.

Ceramic or Steel

If you pursue the most traditional coffee flavor, ceramic burrs were created with this sole purpose in mind so that will be your best shot. Ceramic also lives longer, generally. However, steel burrs distribute particles better as well as absorb excess heat and thus are generally safer if you often grind a lot of beans and there is a danger of burning them. Steel is also way cheaper, which might be a deciding factor for many users.

Capacity

Consider how many people you are going to use your burr grinder for. If it's an appliance for family use only, it is not just enough but actually better to get a smaller one—for no other reason than the oxidation we've mentioned before. It is not recommended to keep a lot of beans, raw of ground, just lying around in a grinder, especially a transparent one. If you're looking for a device to use at big parties or in the cafe, it is an entirely different matter, a bigger model will do better since no one will need to wait long for a cup of tasty coffee.

Number of Grind Settings

As with many other appliances, the more the better. More settings will allow you to accurately adjust the level of grinding to get the very best result. More often than not, it also means the ability of a grinder to make Espresso-level fine grind. We recommend starting with at least 8 settings and go up till you hit your top budget for the item.

Design & Other Extras

Transparent bean hopper and grinding chamber are good for monitoring the process and the amount of beans/ground coffee inside, though don't leave anything there for a long time (unless they have UV protection). Check if the material absorbs noise, especially for flat disc burrs. Durability is of concern as well, metal housing is sturdier than plastic, usually. Airtight hoppers are rare but they do exist. It is nice to have a timer and a doser for making Espresso. The removable upper burr will make cleaning easier.

That's about it, most other things are of little significance and are up to your personal preferences.

Did you know?

Burr Coffee Grinders Were Here First

While we are used today that the better appliance or tool is generally the newer one, the burr grinders were introduced before the blade ones. Well, they weren't really grinders as we know them today, in truth—the very first of them were pestle and mortar, which is definitely closer to a burr in construction than to a blade, of course. Stone pestle and mortar were used as abrasives to grind coffee beans as well as herbs and spices and it was thousands of years ago. They later evolved to mills, then went smaller in size, enough so that wealthy families were able to obtain a device to grind their own coffee. And when were blade grinders introduced? In the 20th century only!

There Were Wall-Mounted Burr Grinders

It is not exactly correct to say that there "were" wall-mounted coffee bean grinders as they still exist but they are mostly vintage and antique ones, today a grinder is supposed to be set on a counter or a tabletop. The first patent on the wall-mounted coffee mill, as it was called, was coincidentally the first American coffee grinder patent ever; it was issued for Thomas Bruff Sr. in 1798. That device was also a burr mill grinder as it used a couple of toothed nuts to crush the beans.

Coffee Grinders Can Be Works of Art

Same as there are people passionate about old paintings or cars, there are people collecting antique coffee equipment. Since for centuries, coffee was something only respectable and wealthy people could afford, the devices it was prepared in were also intricate and beautiful to appease the eye of the owner and their guests as well as to show off the money and taste in things. From Turkey to Europe to the Americas, antique hand-made burr mills can be found and bought, sometimes at ridiculous prices.

If You're Passionate About Espresso—Burr Grinder It Is

It matters less for brewing coffee in a French press but if you, like many many people today, need a cup of strong Espresso in the morning to stay awake, with a burr coffee grinder you will fare way better. This, you probably do know but good Espresso powder needs to be extremely fine and uniform. What might or might not be news to some aficionados, though, is that blade grinders rarely do this kind of work very good, evenness is generally a major issue with them.

What Level of Grinding Is Good For What Coffee

The finest grind is always reserved for Espresso makers or for Turkish coffee while the most coarse levels are intended for the drink made in a French press. But what about the in-between? Well, the medium grind is good for drip coffee makers but those have two types of filters. The trick is this: if you divide the medium scale on your burr mill into two, the part on the coarse side works better with flat-bottom filters while cone-shaped ones are most suited for the medium-to-fine grinding levels.

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Publish Date: 2018-10-01 12:30:09