Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Grinding your own coffee beans is a great way to enhance your morning cup. There are a myriad of different kinds of grinders.
This OXO grinder makes use of conical burrs that create a grind that works well for drip, French press and espresso. This grinder is a great choice for those who are just beginning, however those who are serious about coffee will require an even more precise grind.
OXO Brew
If you make your own coffee that a high-quality grinder is required to ensure the most flavor. However, a high-quality burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which can be prohibitive for someone who isn't sure if they'll use regularly 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 extravagant, but it looks solid and expensive. Its stainless steel body features an enduring water tank in the back and an thermal carafe on the front. The tanks and carafe are shaped in such that the body can be easily incorporated into smaller kitchens. coffeee grinder www.coffeee.uk are concealed beneath the carafe to reduce the amount of clutter. There is also a light that lets you know when it is heating or brewing.
Oxo consistently brewed well during our tests. The temperature of the water was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test, as measured by thermocouples located in the grounds basket. The brewing time was close to the time that the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for a good drip.
The OXO Brew also comes with a single-serve function that lets you to pour coffee directly into your cup. This isn't an option that's available in other high-end models and can be a big benefit for people who like to make their own individual servings of coffee but don't wish to hassle with brewing an entire carafe of coffee.
The only drawback to the OXO is that there is no clock or automatic start time. This could be a problem if are on a tight timeframe. The water tank can be difficult to remove since it has a lid that has to be slid in order to access the reservoir. It comes with a built-in mineral descaler that can help prevent mineral deposits from accumulating in the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore is the best burr mill for coffee enthusiasts. This version of the classic Encore was redesigned to incorporate enhancements that make it adaptable to a wider range of brewing techniques and offer more flexibility than ever before. It is designed for home baristas who are just starting out and anyone looking to have a range of brewing options with one grinder. It comes with step-up grind adjustments and easy controls for beginners, with notched and labeled settings for consistency. The M2 burrs provide uniform grinds, and the hopper features a new quick release feature that makes cleaning easy.
The ESP utilizes the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore but operates at lower speeds to reduce static charge and heat buildup during operation. It is also quieter than the classic Encore and features a steel plate that helps improve burr consistency and stability. It is equipped with 40 mm conical burrs similar to those used in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This helps it attain a greater grind size distribution and more consistent shots.
The ESP grind adjustment has 9 microns between each step, ensuring excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. The new dosing cups can be used with both 58mm and 54mm portafilters. This improves the ergonomics for manual dosing. The grinder can also be used with a traditional grounds bin for those who prefer an hopper-based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistent performance in consistency tests is a downside but it still performs better in comparison to 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 brewing style. The ESP is a brewer that can be used in a variety of ways that can be used for different brewing methods.
The Encore ESP costs a little bit more than other models however its versatility is worth it. It can grind for filter and espresso coffee brews. The shims that come with it will optimize its performance for Pour Over brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 grinder is a excellent one that is suitable for pour-over brewing and espresso. The burrs are upgradeable to increase efficiency and the hopper is able to accommodate a variety of different grind sizes. The DF64 is also simple to use and maintain with only a few moving parts. It is a great option for anyone looking for a high-quality grinder at a low cost.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a huge improvement over the original model and will be hard to beat by other grinders within the same price range. The new model is more attractive to the eye. It features a simple flat-rounded base that can withstand up to 20 grams of beans at a single time and a single dose cradle. It also has an hose made of rubber that pushes air through the grinder, thereby forcing out any excess 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. 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 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.