Best Burr Grinder For The Perfect Caffeine Fix
When it comes to a perfect cuppa, switching from pre-ground to freshly ground coffee is one of the most astonishing changes you can make to enjoy a better brew.
Why? Because coffee stales exceptionally fast once ground, and there’s only so much you can do to preserve its freshness for a long time – which is why pre-ground coffee can be underwhelming.
Good coffee should be bursting with flavorful oils and vibrant aromatic compounds. And the only way you can enjoy this peak freshness with every cup is if you invest in a burr grinder.
Sure there are many blade grinders in the market too, but true connoisseurs of coffee usually choose burr grinders. They grind the coffee beans into a uniform size, giving them more control over how fine or coarse the result is.
The best burr grinders are made of abrasive surfaces, i.e., burrs – the coffee is ground between them. That’s why a burr grinder is an excellent idea for anyone who’s into French press and pour-overs.
That said, grinders can be an expensive investment, and it can be challenging to find the perfect one. So, where do you start?
In this guide, we’ll introduce you to some of our tried-and-tested burr grinders – check out these product recommendations and learn what to look for in a burr grinder.
So, let’s dive in to know what may be the best burr grinder for the perfect everyday coffee fix.
The Best Burr Grinders
Our Top Pick – Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder
If you need a high-quality burr grinder that is equipped with the latest technology, then the Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder is your best option as the most functional burr coffee grinder on the market.
Not only can you adjust the coarseness with a single rotation of a knob, but you can also make 30-32 cups of coffee in a single go. To add to that, it comes with a hopper and detachable ground container as well as a removable burr with its own cleaning brush.
The Mueller Burr Grinder creates little to no sound as it grinds your coffee, so you can enjoy the perfect brew even on the most serene of mornings – without waking up your loved ones. Moreover, it also provides precision grinding and has a durable gear reduction motor that extracts the flavor and aroma of your coffee beans.
The Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder is slim and doesn’t hog up on counter space – which makes it a functional fit for modern kitchens. Additionally, the grinder has an interlocking mechanism, providing additional safety and preventing accidental use when the right components aren’t attached.
For the price, the Mueller Ultra-Grind Conical Burr Grinder packs a punch, offering a premium suite of features without breaking the bank.
Unlike standard burr grinders, Mueller is made from hardened alloy steel, making it long-lasting and durable.
Pros
- Noise-efficient
- Easy to clean
- One-touch operation
- Durable
Cons
- Difficult to reassemble after cleaning
- Fewer grind settings than most burr grinders
Best For Home Professionals – Capresso 565.05 Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder
If you need a reliable grinder that produces barista-quality coffee grinds at home, the Capresso 565.05 Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder is your new best friend. As one of the most reviewed grinders on the market, it has quite the reputation for quality
It uses commercial-grade conical burrs to ensure consistent grinds and comes with an 8.5oz bean hopper, 16 different grind settings, and a classic stainless steel twist timer.
The Capresso 565.05 Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder is a practical buy for home use. You will appreciate the Infinity’s simple controls as they make operating the grinder quite user-friendly.
To add to that, the Infinity is also easy to take apart, making cleaning and maintenance a breeze. You can do this by removing the hopper to the far right, and soak it in water. Now, the burrs are exposed, and you can clean them with a brush.
Also, the plastic hopper has a big mouth, which twists to allow you to select your grind size. With the stainless steel construction, the Infinity not only looks more attractive that standard burr grinders, but it is also more durable and long-lasting than those with plastic components.
The price is justifiable for the value it offers – especially considering its excellent craftsmanship. The Capresso 565.05 Infinity Stainless Steel Conical Burr Grinder is engineered to high standards in Switzerland.
This, combined with low speed and high torque, makes it a runner up to the OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. The Infinity works best with light roasted and less oily beans.
The Capresso Infinity is a well-made grinder that offers reliable features for its price point.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly
- Quality burrs with low RPM
- Extremely easy to clean and reliable
- Easy to dial grind settings
Cons
- It can be loud
- Grounds may get stuck on the plastic container due to static
- The grinding is time-based and holds static
Best Burr Grinder For Beginners – De’Longhi KG89 Burr Coffee Grinder with Grind Selector and Quantity Control
If you need a beginner-friendly burr grinder that requires very little counter space, the DeLonghi KG89 Stainless Steel Burr Coffee Grinder is the machine for you.
Aimed at new home-brewers and inexperienced baristas, it has an unconventional design that uses steel burrs to ensure consistent and uniform grinding. Not only does it have a very stylish appearance, but the stainless steel casing also makes it a very durable product.
The large rotary dial and clean lines on the front make the DeLonghi KG89 grinder a sophisticated choice compared to burr grinders around the same price point.
To add to that, this burr grinder comes with a 4.2 oz. bean hopper with an airtight lid. So, if you like to fill the hopper to the brim and grind a bit at a time, you can keep your coffee beans from going stale for days.
The DeLonghi KG89 has another knob on its side that allows you to adjust your grind size: set it according to your preference, and you are good to go! It also comes with self-contained cord storage, so if you’re worried about messy cords cluttering your counter space, look no further for a solution.
Unlike most burr grinders, the DeLonghi Burr Grinder is surprisingly quiet, which is a delight if you’re looking for a cup of joe early morning; you’ll barely notice it grinding away.
Ultimately, the DeLonghi KG89 Stainless Steel Burr Coffee Grinder is an excellent choice for newbies that want to step up their coffee game with a value-for-money machine.
Pros
- Stylish & modern design
- Durable stainless steel housing
- Easy grind and cup controls
- Ideal for drip-coffee and pour-over coffee machines
Cons
- Lots of static
- Possible receptacle leaks
- Machine jams on the fine setting
Best Coffee Grinder For Espresso Lovers – ChefWave Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
If you’re a coffee lover who wants to preserve the maximum aroma and flavor of their grind, look no further than the ChefWave Conical Burr Coffee Grinder.
Made for espresso drinkers, it is much more compact than most burr grinders out there. To add to that, the portafilter holder is exceptionally convenient and is a quick fix if you want something fast and easy. All you need to do is hold the portafilter in the holder and press the button on the back for 10 seconds – and you have two rich shots of espresso!
You can also process between two to ten cups within a single cycle.
The ChefWave Burr Grinder comes with a wide range of grind settings – from a coarse French Press to an ultrafine grind for Turkish coffee. It also has a stainless steel scoop should you need to grind your coffee beans in bulk.
The coffee collector is large enough to hold coffee for two days. Moreover, the machinery doesn’t clog up from oily beans, which makes for effortless maintenance. It also has a magnetic “click,” where everything falls into place as soon as it is pressed.
Additionally, the see-through bean container can hold 14 oz. of beans, whereas its ground coffee container can hold 5 oz. of coffee.
The grinder is ETL certified and comes with 16 different grind adjustment, so you can ensure maximum flavor and preserve the aroma of your beans in each of the settings.
The chic design of the ChefWave Conical Burr Coffee Grinder is a functional addition to your kitchen. There’s also a wind-up power cord helps to declutter your counter space.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Value for money
- Stylish design
Cons
- Too many unusable settings
- No coarse setting
Advantages of Investing In The Best Burr Grinder
Here are some of the many benefits of owning a burr grinder:
Freshly Ground Coffee – At Home
Typically, ground coffee oxidizes within 30 minutes, especially if the bag isn’t hydrogen flushed and resealed.
Grinding on-demand with a burr grinder is a better option so that you can ensure the perfect brew every time you need it. They also produce fewer fines and boulders, which translates to a rich cup of coffee.
Better Than Blade Grinders
Blade grinders use a metal blade that spins at high speed and pulverize your coffee beans into an unusual mixture of uneven chunks and powder.
Burr grinders, on the other hand, are conical or flat shaped disks with cutting teeth milled into them that shave the beans into consistent grinds.
Things To Consider
There are lots of factors to consider before investing in a burr grinder.
RPMs And Burr Size
Burr grinders require a motor to operate– which often results in the equipment heating up. Consequently, this heat affects the flavor of your coffee, likely ruining it. Higher RPMs (revolutions per minute) means you get a more consistent grind, but it also more heat.
An ideal move would be to invest in a powerful motor as well as larger, flatter burrs. This way, the motor is likely to run more efficiently and create less heat.
Also, larger burrs grind your coffee in a shorter time, and flatter burrs result in less friction – which relieves some of the pressure on your motor.
Portafilter Or Bucket?
Grinders either grind coffee into a bucket or a portafilter for espresso machines. Therefore, if you have an espresso machine, you should invest in a burr grinder without a bucket.
This way, not only can you accurately tune your grinder, but you can also reduce wastage by optimizing your grind-to-portafilter ratio.
Some burr grinders have a neat bracket that you can rest a portafilter on and save yourself from the trouble of holding it as you grind.
Number Of Grind Settings
Coffee lovers love the barista coffee experience so they can recreate signature flavors at home. And since different coffee brewing methods require different grind sizes, it’d be wise to invest in a grinder with several grind settings.
Auto-Grind And Pulse Burr Features
Many budget burr grinders work great as pulse grinders too.
If you are too busy to stand by your grinder, opt for a technical burr grinder that automatically grinds according to your dial setting. In the meanwhile, you can prepare your milk steamer.
Also, some professional grinders have a timed setting, so if you’re working from home, as many people right now, you can easily brew multiple cups of coffee per day.
Durability
By no means are burr grinders cheap. Therefore, if your spending hard-earned dollars on one – it needs to be worth your while. So, ensure your selected product can provide you years’ worth of coffee before needing replacements and breaking down.
Is it sturdy and made of metal? Also, check how many times you may need to purchase replacement parts, and if these are readily available.
Refer to online reviews before making any decisions. These are reliable sources of how well the product works compared to company branding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Burr Grinders Wear Out?
Burr grinders can go through at least 500 pounds of coffee over a lifetime, which means they need to be replaced in 45 years. That said, replacement parts are hard to find – and grinders need to be cleaned regularly to ensure their longevity.
Why Should I Avoid High-Speed Burr Grinders?
High-speed burr grinders tend to heat coffee beans and also cause static problems. When this happens, it can be challenging to get a quality grind as coffee beans tend to cling to the insides of the equipment, which leaves you with a mess to clean up.
Are Burr Grinders Better Than Regular Coffee Grinders?
Burr grinders grind beans into fine particles that make for the best cup of coffee. Not only does this avoid clogging problems that regularly occur with standard coffee grinders, but it also gives you the flexibility to grind beans to the texture that best suits your taste.
Photo credit: AlexLMX/Shutterstock