Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
It is possible to make your morning coffee better by grinding your own beans. There are many different types of grinders.
This OXO grinder is equipped with conical burrs that produce a grind suitable for French press espresso, drip coffee and French press. This grinder is a great option for beginners, but hardcore coffee geeks will want an even more precise grind.
OXO Brew
You're probably aware if you make your own coffee that a high-quality grinder is required to ensure the best flavor. However, a high-quality burr grinder can cost upward of $200, which may be a bit expensive for someone who isn't certain if they'll be using it frequently or not. The OXO Brew is a great option for anyone looking to enjoy freshly-ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy but it looks solid. The stainless steel body comes with a permanent water reservoir at the rear and a thermal caafe in the front. The tanks and carafe are designed in a way that the body is able to fit into smaller kitchens. The controls are concealed beneath the carafe, which reduces the clutter. There is also a light to let you know when it's heating or making.
Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. The water temperature was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test, as measured by thermocouples that were located in the basket for the grounds. Its brewing times were also very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's suggested time for a quality drip.
The OXO Brew also has the single-serve option that lets you brew coffee directly into your cup. This feature isn't available on other models with a higher price. It's an advantage for those who want to make individual servings of their coffee but aren't keen on the hassle of making the entire carafe.
The only real downside of the OXO Brew is that it does not include a clock or an automatic start time, which can be a problem if you have a busy schedule. In addition, the water tank can be difficult to get rid of because it has a lid that must be removed to access the reservoir. It also has a built-in descaler, which helps to avoid mineral deposits from building up inside the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore is the best burr mill for coffee enthusiasts. This version of the original Encore is redesigned with modernizations that make it compatible with a broader range of brewing techniques and provide greater flexibility than ever before. It is designed for home-brewed beginner baristas as well as anyone who wants to keep their brewing options open by using just one grinder. It has a an adjustable stepped grind and simple controls for baristas who are just starting out, as well as labeled and notched settings for consistency. The M2 burrs provide uniform grinds. The hopper comes with a quick release feature that makes cleaning simple.
The ESP uses a DC motor that has high torque and gear reduction, much like the original Encore. However, it runs at lower speeds in order to lower static charge and heat. It's also quieter than the original Encore and comes with a metal plate that helps improve burr stability and consistency. It's fitted with 40mm conical M2 burrs that are similar to those found in the more expensive Virtuoso Plus, which helps it achieve better grind size distribution and more consistent shots.
The ESP grind adjustment is 9 microns between each step, ensuring excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. The new dosing cups are compatible with both 54 and 58mm portafilters. This makes it easier to use for manual dosing. The grinder can be combined with the traditional grounds bin if you prefer a hopper-based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistent performance during tests of consistency is a drawback but it still performs better in comparison to other grinders at this price. The stepped settings can be too inconsistent, making it difficult to determine the best setting for your brewing method. The ESP is a brewer that can be used in a variety of ways that can be used for a variety of brewing methods.
The Encore ESP is also a bit more expensive than many of the other models on this list, but it's worth the extra cost for its impressive flexibility. It can grind for filter and espresso brews. The shims included will maximize its performance for Pour Over Brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 is a good grinder that is compatible with pour-over brewing and espresso. The burrs are upgradeable to increase efficiency and the hopper can be used to accommodate a variety of different grind sizes. The DF64 has few moving parts, making it easy to maintain and operate. This is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a top-quality, budget-friendly grinder.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a major improvement over the initial model and will be hard to beat by other grinders within the same price range. The new model has an updated style that is more appealing to the eyes. It has a simple, flat, rounded base that can hold up to 20 grams of beans at a time, and a single dose cradle. It also comes with an hose made of rubber that pushes air through the grinder to force out any extra grinds.
One of the major problems with the original DF64 was popcorning, which is when coffee beans bounce upward out of the burrs instead of grinding down. This is a common problem with hopper-based grinders that can affect the consistency of your grind. The new DF64 has a much-improved anti-popcorning system that eliminates this problem.
Other issues with the DF64 included a poor quality build, a loose design that caused gaps around the edges of the hopper, a heavyweight, a mandatory use of bellows, regular alignment challenges, a plastic adjust collar that mis-threaded easily, vinyl wrap instead of powder coating, and the all-but-mandatory need for two aftermarket upgrades (anti-popcorning, declumper). The DF64 Gen 2 addresses these issues and many more.
The DF64 has a powerful 250W motor that spins the burrs at about 1,400 RPM. This is a little faster than the Encore ESP, but it’s still slower than other popular burr grinders like the Mahlkönig EK43. The DF64 is also less noisy than the Encore ESP, making it easier to work with in a busy cafe environment.
The DF64 has an easy-to-read, step-by-step adjustment system that allows you to fine-tune your grind size for different brewing methods. It also comes with a wide selection of burrs, which makes it possible to experiment and find the perfect grind for your particular coffee bean. The DF64 also has a convenient dosing system, which allows you to direct the ground coffee directly into your portafilter or mug.
Fellow Ode
A popular maker of home coffee equipment, Fellow makes some seriously aesthetically appealing gear. Their kettles, French presses, and other home coffee brewing machines have an elegant and modern matte finish that suits any kitchen aesthetic. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that their grinders look equally as good. The Ode is a sleek and compact grinder with a number of easy-to-use features designed for precise, single-dose brewing.
The Ode is unique among coffee grinders because it uses flat burrs, rather than conical ones. Usually, you only see flat burrs on professional or commercial grinders due to their ability to reduce grind time and heat generation and improve grind particle consistency. burr mill grinder in the Ode also give it a much smoother grind than you would find in a typical home appliance grinder. And they are designed with single-dosing in mind, meaning that the grinder shuts off as soon as the hopper is empty. This helps to prevent over-grinding, which can rob your brews of flavor and aroma.
The hopper itself holds 100 grams, which is enough for one large pour-over or two small cups of espresso. The Ode has a variety of other neat features, including a built-in scale and a cool grind size chart that is mapped out on the underside of the lid. This shows the brewing methods that each setting is most suitable for, with pour-over and cold brews on the fine end of the range, and French press on the coarse end.
Another great feature of the Ode is that it has a quiet, almost purr-like sound during operation and is very fast. The grinder has a high-force spring that knocks excess ground beans and chaff into the catch, which helps to reduce grind retention and make clean-up a breeze. It’s also very easy to disassemble and is compatible with coffee tablet cleaners.
Despite some minor hiccups in the initial launch, the Ode is still a top contender for those looking for an excellent and aesthetically pleasing conical burr grinder. Fortunately, the company is committed to improving the product and recently released the Gen 2 version, which addresses some of the issues with the original. However, for those who want a better-suited grinder for espresso, the Baratza DF64 is an excellent alternative that is both visually and functionally superior to the Fellow Ode.