best burr grinder Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Grinding your own coffee beans is a great method to enhance your morning electric coffee Bean Grinder. There are many different grinders on the market.
This OXO grinder utilizes conical burrs to create an excellent grind for drip, French press and espresso. Hardcore coffee geeks may want more precision from this grinder, but it’s a fantastic option for beginners.
OXO Brew
If you make your own coffee that a good grinder is essential to get the most flavor. However, a good burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which could be a bit expensive for someone who’s not certain if they’ll be using regularly or not. This is why the OXO Brew is a great alternative for anyone looking to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew isn’t flashy, but it appears sturdy and expensive. The stainless steel manual coffee grinder steel body has an enduring water tank at the back, and a thermal carafe at the front. The tanks and carafe are designed in such that the structure can fit comfortably into smaller kitchens. The controls are located below the carafe to minimize the clutter, and there’s an indicator light that lets you know when it’s heating or making.
In our tests in our tests, the Oxo was consistently brewed. The water temperature was within a small range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test according to thermocouples located in the basket for the grounds. Its brewing time was also very close to what the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for an excellent drip.
Another plus for the OXO Brew is that it has a single-serve function that allows you to brew your coffee directly into the mug. This feature isn’t present in other models that are more expensive. It’s an advantage for those who want to make individual portions of their coffee but aren’t keen on the hassle of making an entire carafe.
The only drawback to the OXO is that it has no clock or an automatic start time. This can be a problem if you are on a strict schedule. In addition the water tank can be difficult to remove due to its lid that must be slid off to access the reservoir. It has a built-in mineral descaler that can help keep mineral deposits from building up in the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore is the most popular burr mill available for coffee lovers. This version of the classic Encore was revamped to include enhancements that make it compatible with a wider range of brewing methods and provide greater versatility 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 a single grinder. It has a the ability to adjust the grind in a step and has simple controls for beginner baristas and also marked and notched settings to ensure consistency. Its M2 Burrs ensure uniform grinding, and the hopper comes with a quick and easy release feature.
The ESP utilizes the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore however, it operates at lower speeds in order to minimize static charge and heat buildup during operation. It’s also more quiet than the classic Encore and has a new metal plate that improves stability and burr consistency. It comes with 40 mm conical burrs similar to those used in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This allows it to get a better size of grind distribution and consistent shots.
Each step of the ESP’s grind adjustment is 9 microns, which provides excellent resolution when dialing in espresso and finer grinding for pour over. The new dosing cups are compatible with portafilters of 54 and 58mm. This enhances the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be combined with the traditional grounds bin in the event that you prefer a hopper-based workflow.
One downside of the ESP is its inconsistent performance when it comes to back-to-back consistency tests although it still performs better than many other grinders in this price range. The settings for stepped grinding can also be inconsistent, making it difficult to find the perfect setting for your particular style of brewing. The ESP is a versatile brewer that can be used for a variety of brewing methods.
The Encore ESP is also a little more expensive than some of the other models on this list, but it’s worth the extra cost for its incredible versatility. It can grind for filter or espresso drinks. The included shims will maximize its performance for Pour Over Brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 is a good grinder that is compatible with espresso and pour-over brewing. The burrs are upgradeable to increase efficiency and the hopper can accommodate various grind sizes. The DF64 has few moving parts, making it easy to maintain and use. It’s a great choice for those looking for a high-quality grinder at an affordable price.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a massive improvement over the original version and will be difficult to be beaten by any other grinder in the same price range. The new model features an updated style that is more appealing to the eyes. It is a flat-rounded base which can withstand up to The cradle can accommodate 20 grams at each time. It also comes with a rubber hose 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 maker with grinder 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. The 64mm flat burrs 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 best budget espresso grinder. 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.