12 Best Burr Coffee Grinders of 2022

best burr coffee grinder
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The best burr coffee grinder will always be the one that is suitable for the brewing method that you choose. Whether you’re making espresso or French press, you need a burr grinder that can produce a consistent grind, with the flexibility to make small adjustments as needed.

The best coffee grinders for 2022 are the Baratza Virtuoso Plus, Bodum Bistro, Baratza Encore, Baratza Vario, Rancilio Rocky, Capresso Infinity, Breville Smart Grinder Pro, Fellow Ode, Baratza Sette 270, Eureka Mignon Silenzio, KitchenAid Conical Burr Grinder, and Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder.

At A Glance – The Top 4 Burr Coffee Grinders on Amazon

  1. TOP PICK:Baratza Virtuoso Plus
  2. BUDGET PICK:Bodum Bistro Electric
  3. BEST FOR ESPRESSO LOVERS:Rancilio Rocky
  4. BEST FOR FRENCH PRESS AND AEROPRESS:OXO Brew

Burr Coffee Grinder Reviews: The 12 Best Coffee Grinders Of 2022

基于多年的咖啡体验,Homegrounds”team selected the 12 best burr grinders in 2022. Grinders have been reviewed on their main features, benefits for great coffee grinding, ease of use, and price. Read on to discover which grinder is the best for you.

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Best OverallBest Overall
Baratza Virtuoso Plus - Conical Burr Coffee Grinder priced at $249
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Baratza Virtuoso Plus
  • 8 ounces capacity
  • 40 Grind settings
  • 1.5 – 2.4 g/s Grind speed
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Best Budget Burr GrinderBest Budget Burr Grinder
Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
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Bodum Bistro Electric
  • 7.8 ounces capacity
  • 12 grind setting
  • n/a grind speed
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Best Value For MoneyBest Value For Money
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder in black
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Baratza Encore Conical
  • 8 ounces capacity
  • 40 grind setting
  • 0.8 – 1 g/s grind speed
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For All Brew StylesFor All Brew Styles
Baratza Vario Flat Burr Coffee Grinder
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Baratza Vario Flat Burr
  • 8 ounces capacity
  • 230 grind settings
  • 1.6 – 2.2 g/s grind speed
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Best Coffee Grinder For EspressoBest Coffee Grinder For Espresso
Rancilio Rocky Espresso Coffee Grinder
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Rancilio Rocky
  • 80 g capacity
  • 55 grind settings
  • 0.7 – 1 g/s grind speed
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Best For Super-Fine GroundsBest For Super-Fine Grounds
Capresso Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder  priced at $144.95
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Capresso 565.05 Infinity
  • 8.8 ounces capacity
  • 16 grind settings
  • 1.5 – 3g/s grind speed
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Most VersatileMost Versatile
Breville BCG820BSSXL Smart Grinder Pro Coffee Bean Grinder priced at $179.47
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Breville BCG820BSSXL Smart Grinder
  • 18 ounces capacity
  • 60 grind settings
  • n/a grind speed
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Best For Filter And Drip CoffeeBest For Filter And Drip Coffee
3d view of the Fellow Ode Coffee Grinder
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The Fellow Ode
  • 2.8 ounces capacity
  • 31 grind settings
  • 3.5 g/s grind speed
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Fastest Grind SpeedFastest Grind Speed
Baratza Sette 270
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Baratza Sette 270
  • 9.7 ounces capacity
  • 270 grind settings
  • 3.5-5.5 g/s grind speed
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Quietest GrinderQuietest Grinder
EUREKA GRINDER
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Eureka Mignon Silenzio
  • 10.6 ounces capacity
  • Stepless grind settings
  • 1.3 – 2.3 g/s grind speed
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Coolest StyleCoolest Style
KitchenAid KCG8433DG
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KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder
  • 10 ounces capacity
  • 70 grind settings
  • n/a grind speed
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Best For French Press And Aeropress CoffeeBest For French Press And Aeropress Coffee
Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder
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Oxo Brew
  • 12 ounces capacity
  • 38 grind settings
  • n/a grind speed
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1.Baratza Virtuoso Plus– Best Overall

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 8 ounces

  • Grind settings: 40
  • Grind speed: 1.5 – 2.4 g/s
  • Burrs: 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Timer: Pulse and timed grinding

Baratza Virtuoso Plus is an automatic burr grinder. It’s the updated version of the Baratza Virtuoso, which has been one of the industry’s favorite coffee grinders for the past 2 decades. Baratza Virtuoso Plus features 40mm stainless steel burrs, powered by a 550 RPM motor. It also has a digital display and timer to make grinding even easier than before. It has 40 grind settings that range from 200 to 1200 microns, making it suitable for every brewing style apart from Turkish coffee and cold brew. The Virtuoso is great if you want to brew espresso and manual at home. This is a great choice if you brew with coffee makers like Hario brewers or the Aeropress.

The key benefits of Baratza Virtuoso are the exceptional motor and the burr design. The commercial-quality burrs and DC motor work together to reduce friction, heat, and grind beans consistently. They say that if you ask a barista what grinder they have at home, chances are it will be a Virtuoso – that’s a strong vote!

Baratza Virtuoso Plus is very easy to use. Turn the dial on the front to select the grind time to use the grinder. You can program the grind time to 1/10th of a second. Press the dial to start the grinder, automatically stopping after the programmed time. The grind settings are adjusted by twisting the bean hopper and aligning the indicator with the desired number on the grind scale.

American brand Baratza produces the Virtuoso Plus. Baratza has a good reputation for making some of the bestprosumer coffee grindersand good quality entry-level grinders. You can buy the Virtuoso Plus on Amazon. The retail price is around $250.

For more details, read ourBaratza Virtuoso review.

2.Bodum Bistro Electric– Best Budget Burr Grinder

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 7.8 ounces

  • Grind settings: 12
  • Grind speed: n/a
  • Burrs: 35 mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Timer: Timed grinding only (5 – 20 seconds)

Bodum Bistro is an automatic burr coffee grinder with a budget price tag. Homegrounds will be the first to admit that this is not a top-tier grinder. Still, the ease of use and the fact that it’s a big step up in quality compared to a blade grinder, make it the best cheap coffee grinder on our list.

Bodum Bistro features 35mm stainless-steel conical burr grinders and a 720 RPM motor. It only has 12 grind settings, so it is a decent grinder for drip or pour-over brewing but not suitable for espresso or Turkish coffee. It features a borosilicate glass grounds container that helps to eliminate static for easier cleanup (1). A standout feature of the Bodum Bistro is the friction clutch, which alerts the user of any stones caught in the grinder to avoid damage to the burrs.

The main benefits of Bodum Bistro are the affordable price, ease of use, and ease of cleaning and maintenance. People also like the colorful modern design. To operate the Bodum Bistro, choose your grind size by twisting the beans hopper. Select the grind time from 0-20 seconds by using the dial, then press the start button. The timer will stay on the same setting next time you grind.

Bodum, a Swiss-Danish company, is best known for its Chambord French press coffee maker. Bodum made this grinder. Bodum company has a good reputation for its manual coffeemakers and glassware but has a limited range of electrical appliances. You can buy the Bodum Bistro on Amazon. The retail price is about $143.

For more details, read our fullBodum Bistro review.

3.Baratza Encore Conical– Best Value for Money

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 8 ounces

  • Grind settings: 40
  • Grind speed: 0.8 – 1 g/s
  • Burrs: 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Timer: Pulse and timed grinding

Baratza Encore is an automatic conical burr coffee grinder. Coffee professionals often considered it one of the best entry-level coffee grinders on the market. Baratza Encore grinder features 40mm stainless steel conical burrs and a 550 RPM motor. It is not as fast as some other grinders, but the slower speed ensures low heat and good grind consistency. It has 40 grind settings that range from 250 to 1200 microns, making it an excellent grinder for manual brewing methods and thebest grinder for French press brewingon our list. It can also grind for espresso but won’t doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility at this range.

The key benefits of the Baratza Encore are the excellent grind consistency, durability, and value for money. Using the Baraza Encore is simple, but it lacks a timer function, so it does not provide hands-free grinding. To grind your coffee beans, you switch the dial on the side to the “on” position, then switch it back to “off” when you want to stop. You can also grind by pressing down the pulse button on the front of the grinder. You either need your timer or weigh your beans before placing them in the hopper to get the right amount off coffee grounds.

Baratza produces the Baratza Encore grinder. The brand makes long-lasting and durable products and encourages users to repair their machines rather than replace them. Tutorials are available online, and replacement parts are readily available. You can buy the Baratza Encore on Amazon. The retail price is around $170.

For more details, read ourBaratza Encore burr coffee grinder review.

4.Baratza Vario Flat Burr– For All Brew Styles

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 8 ounces

  • Grind settings: 230
  • Grind speed: 1.6 – 2.2 g/s
  • Burrs: 54 mm ceramic flat burrs
  • Timer: Pulse, smart, and timed grinding

Baratza Vario is an automatic flat burr grinder that falls into the prosumer category. Baratza Vario grinder provides professional quality for homebrewers, but you could also use it in a small commercial setting. It features 54 mm professional ceramic flat burrs powered by a 1350 RPM motor. The large burr size ensures a more consistent grind and is more efficient, with an output speed of up to 2.2 g/s. The Vario features 230 grind settings, suitable for almost all brewing methods, and offers excellent adjustments. It has a built-in portafilter holder that can accommodate any size portafilter, which can be removed and replaced with the grounds bin for doser grinding.

The key benefits of Barazta Vario are its professional performance and the large range of grind settings. This grinder is slightly more complicated than some other grinders due to many grind settings. You adjust the grind using the sliding switches on either side of the front panel. Additionally, you need to select both a macro setting from 1-10 and a micro setting from A-W. To start the machine, set the grind time, then press the start button. You can also start the grinder by pressing and holding the “manual” button. Finally, you can program up to three pre-set grind times as favorites.

Baratza produces the Vario automatic grinder. Baratza company makes both prosumer and commercial machines. This grinder was created in partnership with Mahlkonig, so you will also see the Vario listed withMahlkonig coffee grinders. You can buy Baratza Vario on Amazon, and the retail price is around $728 at the moment.

For more details, read the fullBaratza Vario review.

5.Rancilio Rocky– Best Coffee Grinder For Espresso

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 80 g

  • Grind settings: 55
  • Grind speed: 0.7 – 1 g/s
  • Burrs: 50 mm tempered steel flat burrs
  • Timer: Push-button auto grind

Rancilio岩石是一种自动扁钢磨咖啡fee grinder designed for espresso grinding. It’s available in doser (standard) or doserless (SD) models. Rancilio Rocky is for home use but contains commercial-quality parts such as the burrs and the motor. This automatic grinder features 50mm flat steel burrs combined with a 1725 RPM, meaning it can grind large amounts of coffee beans. It also features 55 grind settings calibrated towards the finer end of the scale to make it our pick for the best espresso coffee grinder. The standard Rocky model features a plastic beans hopper, while the Rocky SD features a portafilter holder. Both models have a UV-tinted bean hopper to protect your coffee beans from sunlight.

The benefits of using the Rancilio Rocky grinder are its powerful performance, excellent grind consistency, and compact size. Rancilio Rocky is simple to use, but it cannot offer hands-free grinding without a timer function. To use the standard Rocky model, flick the main switch to “on” to start grinding. Once the correct amount of coffee has been ground, switch the machine off, insert the portafilter, and use the dosage lever to dispense the coffee. To use the Rocky SD model, insert the portafilter and hold down the manual grind button until you have the correct amount of coffee. You can adjust the grind size on both models by twisting the bean hopper.

Italian brand Rancilio produces the Rocky grinder. Rancilio has a long history of making commercial coffee grinders and espresso machines, but since 1997 it has also made high-quality grinders and coffee machines for home use. You can buy the Rancilio Rocky on Amazon. The retail price is around $499.

For more information, read our full review of theRancilio Rocky.

6.Capresso 565.05 Infinity– Best for Super-Fine Grounds

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 8.8 ounces

  • Grind settings: 16
  • Grind speed:1.5 – 3g/s
  • Burrs: 40 mm hardened steel conical burrs
  • Timer: Timed (5 – 60 seconds)

Capresso Infinity is an automatic conical burr grinder, and it’s an entry-level machine designed to be easy for people new to home grinding. Capresso 565.05 Infinity grinder features 40mm hardened steel conical burrs, powered by a 450 RPM motor. The low RPM motor means that this grinder is quieter than many others, staying cool during grinding. Despite the low speed, the Capresso Infinity is a very efficient grinder, with an output of up to 3g/s. The Infinity coffee grinder has 16 grind settings, divided into Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, and Coarse. It can create very fine grinds, but it is not suitable for espresso brewing due to the small range of grind settings.

Capresso无穷磨床的好处its affordable price, quiet grinding, and fast grind speed. The Capresso Infinity automatic grinder is very simple to use. Twist the beans hopper to align the indicator with your desired setting to select the grind fineness. Turn the timer dial to the desired grind time, between 5 and 60 seconds to start grinding. The machine will automatically stop grinding when the timer winds down.

American brand Capresso produces the Infinity automatic grinder. Capresso is known for making affordable burr grinders, coffee makers, and espresso machines, but the company is also credited with many innovations in coffee-making technology (2). Capresso is now owned by Swiss brand Jura, making high-end superautomatic espresso machines. You can buy the Capresso Infinity coffee grinder on Amazon. The retail price is about $120.

Read our full review of theCapresso Infinity coffee grinderfor more information.

7.Breville BCG820BSSXL Smart Grinder– Most Versatile

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 18 ounces

  • Grind settings: 60
  • Grind speed: n/4
  • Burrs: 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Timer: Manual button and digital timer

Breville智能磨床Pro是一个自动锥形burr grinder designed with a wide range of brewing methods. Breville Smart Grinder Pro features 40mm stainless steel conical burrs powered by a 450RPM motor, which won’t build up heat during grinding. The standout feature of the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is the LCD control panel, which allows you to adjust the grind time, the number of shots or cups, and show the grind setting. It features 60 grind settings that allow you to make small adjustments across grinds for espresso, manual brewing, and drip coffee makers. Although it has coarse grind settings, the grind consistency at this level is not considered as good. So, our team would not recommend it as a goodcoffee grinder for cold brew. The Smart Grinder Pro also includes portafilter holders that you can use instead of the grounds bin.

The key benefits of the Breville Smart Grinder Pro are the large range of grind settings, user-friendly controls, and consistent grind. The digital controls make this grinder easy to use and versatile, but they can take some getting used to. To select the grind amount, you can adjust the digital timer in 0.2-second increments. Alternatively, you can select the number of shots or cups. Grind fineness is adjusted by turning the dial on the side of the machine, but the selected setting will show on the screen on the front.

Australian brand Breville produces the Smart Grinder Pro. Breville has a long history of making user-friendly kitchen appliances that incorporate technological innovations (3). You can buy the Breville Smart Grinder Pro on Amazon. The retail price is around $200.

For all the details, read ourBreville Smart Grinder Pro review.

8.The Fellow Ode– Best for Filter and Drip Coffee

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 2.8 ounces

  • Grind settings: 31
  • Grind speed: 3.5 g/s
  • Burrs: 64 mm stainless steel flat burrs
  • Timer: Auto stop

Fellow Ode is a single-dose automatic flat burr grinder. It is designed to grind precisely for pour-over and drip coffee and does not grind for espresso. Fellow Ode features 64mm stainless steel flat burrs powered by a PID-controlled motor. The large burrs provide a consistent grind and fast grind speed, with an output of 3.5g/s. The Fellow Ode has 31 grind settings calibrated for medium to coarse grinds. This makes it the best coffee grinder for filter and drip coffee on our list but unsuitable for espresso. The Ode features a grinds knocker, which helps clear any grinds retained in the chute. It also has a magnetic catch to help hold the ground bin during grinding and eliminate any mess.

The benefits of Fellow Ode grinder are its compact size, grind speed, aesthetic appeal, and focus on manual brewing methods. Fellow Ode grinder is easy to operate, but the single dose feature does require you to measure your beans before grinding. Once you switch on the grinder, it will grind all the beans in the hopper, then automatically switch off once the hopper is empty. The grind size is selected using the large dial at the front.

American brand Fellow manufactures the Ode automatic grinder. Fellow is known for producing manual brewers, coffee scales, and other coffee equipment, focusing on minimalist design. You can buy the Fellow Ode grinder on Amazon. The retail price is about $295.

For more details, read ourFellow Ode coffee grinder review.

9.Baratza Sette 270– Fastest Grind Speed

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 9.7 ounces

  • Grind settings: 270
  • Grind speed: 3.5-5.5 g/s
  • Burrs: 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Timer: Programmable dose settings

Baratza Sette 270 is an automatic conical burr grinder designed to provide highly accurate adjustments when grinding for espresso. Baratza Sette 270 features 40mm stainless steel conical S1 burrs, powered by a 550 RPM motor. This results in a breakneck grind speed, with an output of 3.5-5.5g/s depending on the grind setting. The Sette 270 features 30 stepped macro settings, with 9 stepless micro settings for a total of 270 grind settings. The fineness ranges from 230-950 microns. This makes it an excellent grinder for espresso but unsuitable for French press or cold brew. It has a convertible device holder which can accommodate portafilters sized 49mm to 58mm, the supplied grounds bin, or popular brewers, including the Hario V60 and Clever dripper.

The benefits of Baratza Sette 270 are the range of grind settings, the fast grind speed, and the build quality. Baratza Sette 270 is easy to use daily once you get used to the grind settings. You can select the grind time from the front panel, which is adjustable to 1/100th of a second. you can program up to three grind times for one-touch grinding. You’ll need to select both the macro and micro settings for your desired grind size, controlled by two rings just above the grounds chute.

The American brand Baratza produced the Sette 270, and this grinder is part of the brand’s prosumer range. Like all Baratza grinders, the Sette 270 is built to last, and you can repair it if required. You can buy the Baratza Sette 270 grinder on Amazon. The retail price is around $400.

10.Eureka Mignon Silenzio– Quietest Grinder

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 10.6 ounces

  • Grind settings: Stepless
  • Grind speed: 1.3 – 2.3 g/s
  • Burrs: 50 mm stainless steel flat burrs
  • Timer: Timed grinding (2.5 – 20 seconds)

Eureka Mignon Silenzio is an automatic flat burr grinder. It’s part of the Mignon range of grinders and is designed to be quieter than other electric grinders. Mignon Silenzio features 50mm stainless steel flat burrs powered by a 1350 RPM motor. The standout feature of this coffee grinder is the sound-insulated casing, filled with rubber mounts, gaskets, and covers. This reduces vibration and makes the grinder approximately 20dB quieter than other grinders. Eureka Mignon features a stepless grinder, which means you can make infinite adjustments to your grind settings. It’s best used for espresso, as it does lose some consistency when grinding at coarser settings.

The main benefits of Eureka Mignon Silenzio are the compact size, quiet grinding, fast grind speed, and infinite grind settings. Eureka Mignon Silenzio is slightly more difficult to use than other grinders, as the grind settings are stepless and the timer is not marked. You can use the grinder in timer or manual mode. When in manual mode, the grinder will start once the portafilter is pushed into the holder and it will stop when it has been removed. In timer mode, the grinder will start when the portafilter is pushed into the holder and stop once the timer has finished. There are no markings on the timer, but the range is between 2.5 and 20 seconds.

Italian brand Eureka produces the Mignon Silenzio. Eureka specializes in some of the best high-end coffee grinders for home use and coffee grinders for retail settings. You can get more information in our guide toEureka coffee grinders. You can buy the Eureka Mignon Silenzio at Cafe Last. The retail price is around $570.

11.KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder– Coolest Style

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 10 ounces

  • Grind settings: 70
  • Grind speed: n/a
  • Burrs: Conical
  • Timer: Automatic smart dosing

KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder is an automatic conical burr grinder. It is designed to be paired with the KitchenAid semi-automatic espresso machine but is also suitable for drip brewing. KitchenAid KCG8433DG grinder has conical burr grinders, but the manufacturer does not specify the size or material. This grinder features 70 grind settings making it suitable for most brewing methods. The standout feature of the KitchenAid Burr Grinder is the Smart Dosing Technology, which automatically sets the grind amount based on the number of shots selected. It has an attachable portafilter holder that can fit 54mm or 58mm portafilters. It also features anti-static technology to prevent ground coffee from sticking to the chute and a grounds bin.

The main benefits of the KitchenAid Burr Grinder are the extensive range of grind settings, ease of cleaning, and aesthetic appeal. KitchenAid Burr Grinder can be somewhat complicated to use at first due to the different placement of the dials for adjustment. Grind settings are adjusted by twisting the beans hopper. The indicator under the bean hopper only shows the general brewing method, but the exact grind size is displayed on the front panel. To set the grind amount, the number of cups or shots can be selected using the dial on the side of the machine. This will automatically set the suggested grind time, and you can press the start button to grind your coffee. To program a different time for the number of cups or shots, you can adjust the dial beneath the control panel.

KitchenAid, an American brand with a long history of making small kitchen appliances, produced KitchenAid Burr Grinder. You can buy it on Amazon. The retail price is around $200.

12.Oxo Brew– Best for French Press and Aeropress Coffee

Specifications

  • Hopper capacity: 12 ounces

  • Grind settings: 38
  • Grind speed: n/a
  • Burrs: 40 mm stainless steel conical burrs
  • Timer: One-touch timer

Oxo Brew is an automatic conical burr grinder and is a popular choice for an entry-level grinder. Oxo Brew grinder features 40mm stainless steel conical burrs, powered by a 400 RPM. This produces a very consistent grind but with a slower grind speed than some competitors. The Oxo Brew grinder has 15 marked settings, each with intermediary steps, adding up to a total of 38 grind settings. It’s very flexible for manual brewing making it the best home coffee grinder for French press and Aeropress but has not been calibrated with espresso machines. It features a UV-tinted bean hopper to protect coffee beans from being damaged by sunlight.

The key benefits of Oxo Brew are its ease of use, consistent grind, and value for money. Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder is very easy to use and offers one-touch grinding. The timer dial can be set between 0 and 30 seconds and retains your setting for the next time you grind. To start the grind cycle, simply press the large button in the middle of the timer. Grind settings are adjusted by twisting the beans hopper.

美国品牌含氧的生产磨床。含氧的是known for producing functional and attractive appliances and kitchenware, emphasizing Universal Design (4). You can buy the Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder on Amazon. The retail price is about $105.

For more details, read ourOxo Brew conical coffee grinder review.

Choosing The Best Electric Burr Coffee Grinder

Choosing the best coffee bean grinder comes down to the following:

  • Always choose the burr grinder over the blade grinder.
  • Think about the types of coffee you like to make. This will decide the grinding consistency you need. Check thecoffee grind chartfor the right size.
  • Consider the amount of coffee you drink daily. This will give you an idea of the grinder size you need.
  • Decide if you want to be creative with your grinder, to know what special features in a grinder you need.
Choosing the best burr coffee grinder
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Think About Consistency

Whether pulling a shot of espresso or brewing a filter coffee, the aim is to end up with grinds that are very consistent in size. This means you will extract each ground to the same degree, and your coffee will taste better.

听听斯科特•拉奥最好的之一business, has to say (5):

To make the best-possible filter coffee … minimize fines (and boulders, for what it’s worth). Given that fines are guaranteed to over-extract and contribute bitterness and astringency, if you can remove fines or avoid creating them in the first place, you’ll make a cleaner, sweeter cup with smoother mouthfeel.

Grind size is essential to get right. This is the most significant advantage a burr grinder has over a blade grinder, and even if you are new to specialty coffee, I promise you’ll be able to taste the difference in the cup.

the best burr coffee grinder
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Manual Vs Electric Coffee Grinders

The first decision you have to make is whether you want a manual or electric burr grinder. In this article, we’re looking at exclusively electric grinders, and they have the advantage of being faster and easier to use. If you brew a lot of coffee, you’ll appreciate the ease of an electric grinder. However, manual grinders are great options if brewing in smaller quantities, and they’re less expensive, quiet, compact, and portable.

Most serious coffee lovers have both. So if you’re looking for a hand grinder (aka a manual grinder), read this article on the bestcoffee mills.

Grind Settings: Pulse, Auto-Grind, And Timed Grinding

The best coffee grinders don’t necessarily have to have all the bells and whistles; a great burr set is the most important thing. But if you’re grinding daily, multiple times per day, certain extra features go a long way when it comes to simplifying your life.

Most options available have a ‘pulse.’ Push the button, and your coffee grinds. Let go of the button, and your coffee does not grind. Simple. Some grinders have an ‘auto-grind’ function that allows you to grind without pushing the button. Turn the dial, the coffee grinds, and you can check your Facebook news feed while you wait. And then some grinders have a ‘timed grinding’ function. Set the time, and let her grind. Some even have programmable dosing. You can teach your grinder exactly how much you want to brew.

Do you really need all these extra features? And are you willing to pay more for them?

If you grind for more than one cup at a time, yes, they will make your life easier. It gets annoying pushing and holding a button when you need to do it for minutes at a time, multiple times per day. But if you just brew a cup or two a few times a day, a push to grind button will do the trick. Don’t overcomplicate things, and save yourself some cash.

Number Of Grinding Settings – How Many Is Too Many?

Grinders with hundreds of settings could be a case of over-engineering. Yes, having more grind steps will allow you to do more. But do you need 500 settings? It depends on you and how you plan to brew coffee. As humans, we tend to fall victim to ‘more is better’ when buying new things, but in the case of grinders, you want just enough to balance functionality with the price.

So instead of choosing a grinder based on the number of settings, here’s my advice:

  • You’ll need 40+ settings if you want to use ALL brew styles (including espresso and cold brew) and you love to experiment like a true coffee scientist.
  • 20 to 40 settings will do if you want to brew most typical brew styles, and experiment a little here and there.
  • Less than 30 settings is fine if you use standard brew styles, like French press and pour over, and are happy with leaving it at that.

You’ll need super-fine grounds for Turkish coffee (yes, finer than espresso). Such a small grind size is usually out of your typical electric burr grinder range. You’ll need aTurkish coffee grinderor one of the most expensive electric models. Likewise, you’ll need something that can grind extra coarse for cold brew. Check out our bestcoffee grinder for cold brewpick.

Are you feeling confused? Download our handy coffee grind chart for all you’ll ever need to know about coffee grind sizes.

Does It Grind Into A Portafilter Or Bucket?

Grinders that are designed for pairing with espresso machines usually have a handy little bracket that holds your portafilter in place. They grind your coffee beans and spit the grounds directly into the portafilter. If you’ve ever tried to transfer coffee grounds from a container into a portafilter without spilling, you’ll appreciate this feature.

Grinders designed with drip brewing in mind will instead spit the grinds directly into a container. And grinders designed for all brewing styles often allow you to switch between the two set-ups.

When buying your electric burr grinder, be sure to consider what you plan to brew and look for these features accordingly. Having a portafilter holder is very handy if you want to brew espresso. If you want to brew espresso AND other styles, make sure you remove this bracket. If you are not grinding for espresso, you don’t need a Portafilter holder, and it will just get in the way and make things hard to clean.

Cleaning your grinderis critical for it to keep performing, but it’s not exactly a thrilling activity. Choosing something easy to clean is a great decision in the long run, and some grinders are better for this than others. For example, Eureka grinders allow you to open up the grinder and clean the burrs without losing your grind setting.

Getting Technical: Burr Size, Type, RPMs

While this section may seem a little nerdy or technical, your grinder might well be your most expensive coffee purchase. So the more you know, the better. We have high-speed grinders and low-speed grinders. Grinder speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPMs), which affects your final brew in several ways.

A little problem: The higher the RPM, the more consistent the grind. But with speed comes heat, and heat is bad when grinding. Heating your coffee beans changes their flavor, not for the better, and it can add an unwanted burnt or bitter taste.

As per the Coffee Technician Guild’s website (6):

…by managing temperature shift in the grinder you can affect a big improvement in quality consistency throughout the day…

High-speed grinders get around the heat problem if they have large, flat burrs and a powerful motor. Larger burrs grind faster, which means the grinding is over and done with before heat has a chance to build up. These burrs result in super consistent grinding, and the grinders that fall in this category are best for espresso grinding.

Low-speed grinders generally have conical burrs and grind slower to avoid heat and static buildup. You’ll find these burrs in most home market grinders, including most on this list.

Grinder technicalities in short:

If you are pulling espresso shots, you’ll prefer higher RPM grinders. On the other hand, lower RPM grinders are best for manual brewing techniques. When it comes to burr shape, experts disagree on whether flat or conical is better. It’s a matter of personal taste (7). Most professional coffee tasters feel that flat burrs give a more consistent grind, which results in a cleaner cup. Conical burrs, on the other hand, yield more fines and produce a cup with more body.

Read more aboutflat vs conical burr grindershere if you want to nerd out on this topic.

Finally, let’s talk briefly about burr material. There are two standard options, steel or ceramic. Ceramic burrs are harder than steel, so they last longer before they need to be replaced (8). But ceramics are also brittle, which means that ceramic burrs can break if your grinder is dropped or something harder than a coffee bean makes it into the hopper. We’re seeing steel more than ceramic these days, especially in higher-end grinders.

The Verdict

This list is not exhaustive (i.e., there are hundreds of other grinders out there); however, these are the ‘top dawgs’ in the burr grinding space. Each is a good option in the end. But, the overwhelming industry favorite isBaratza Virtuoso Plus.

It combines absolute precision with slow grinding/crushing power and is one of the quietest grinders on the market. This translates to an EXQUISITE cup of coffee. Let’s not forget that this grinder also received raving reviews from hundreds of coffee connoisseurs such as yourself – the people don’t lie.

We hope you enjoyed our grinder reviews above and are one step closer to finding the best burr coffee grinder to be your coffee maker’s sidekick.

Baratza virtuoso plus
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FAQs

A coffee grinder is a device that we use to crush roasted whole beans to a size suitable for brewing coffee. It can be manual or automatic. A coffee grinder usually consists of a bean hopper for holding the whole coffee beans, a blade or burr grinding mechanism, and a grounds chamber for collecting the ground coffee. Manual grinders will have a handle for operating the grinding mechanism. Automatic grinders are operated by a timer function or a start/stop button.

The types of coffee grinders can be categorized in a number of different ways, including the type of grinding mechanism, the shape of burr, the speed of the grinder, and whether it includes a doser.

The main types of grinders are:

Burr Grinders
Blade Grinders
Conical Burr Grinders
Flat Burr Grinders
High-Speed Grinders
Low-Speed Grinders
Dosing Grinders
Non-Dosing Grinders

The benefits of using coffee grinders compared to buying preground coffee are:

1. Fresher taste – the freshness and intensity of flavor in coffee begins to decline 30 minutes after grinding.
2.Correct grind size – preground coffee usually comes as a medium grind, but by using a coffee grinder you can select the grind size that’s right for your brewing method.
3. More choice – by grinding your own coffee, you can enjoy coffees that are only sold as whole beans.
4. Longer shelf life – whole beans can be stored longer than pre-ground coffee.

  1. Mercer, A. (n.d.). How to Deal With Static in Coffee Grinders: 3 Tricks You Can Try at Home. Retrieved from https://www.javapresse.com/blogs/grinding-coffee/how-to-deal-with-static-in-coffee-grinders-3-tricks-you-can-try-at-home
  2. Friedrick, J. (2020, August 5). Capresso marks 25th years of coffee and beverage innovation. Home Furnishings News. https://www.hfndigital.com/housewares/capresso-marks-25th-years-of-coffee-and-beverage-innovation/
  3. The Breville Story: A timeline of innovations. (2016, June 4). Breville. https://www.breville.com.ph/blog/242-the-breville-story-a-timeline-of-innovations
  4. The Universal Design of Oxo. (n.d.). Container Store. https://www.containerstore.com/blog/posts/the-universal-design-of-oxo
  5. Scott Rao. (2018, October 30). Using Extraction Levels To Rate Grinders. Retrieved from https://www.scottrao.com/blog/2018/10/4/using-extraction-levels-to-rate-grinders
  6. Miller, D. (2017, July 31). Effects of Grind Precision on Beverage Quality. Retrieved from https://coffeetechniciansguild.org/blog/2017/7/31/effects-of-grind-precision-on-beverage-quality
  7. Petrich, I. L. (2021, February 23). Conical vs Flat Burr Coffee Grinders: Whats The Difference? Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/05/conical-vs-flat-burr-coffee-grinders-difference/
  8. Changing Grinder Burrs. (2021, February 16). Retrieved from https://www.baristahustle.com/blog/changing-grinder-burrs/
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