Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
It is possible to make your morning coffee better by grinding your own beans. There are a variety of grinders.
This OXO grinder makes use of conical burrs to produce an excellent grind for drip, French press and espresso. For those who are serious about coffee, they may require more precision from this grinder, however it's a great option for beginners.
OXO Brew
If you're interested in making your own coffee at home, then you are aware that it requires a high-quality grinder to produce the most flavorful coffee. A high-quality burr mill could cost upwards of $200, which is expensive for those who aren't certain whether they'll actually make use of it. The OXO Brew is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enjoy freshly-ground coffee without spending hundreds of pounds.
The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy, however it appears sturdy and expensive. Its stainless steel body features a permanent water tank at the back and a thermal carafe at the front. The carafe and tanks are designed in such that the body can be easily incorporated in smaller kitchens. The controls are recessed beneath the carafe to reduce the clutter, and there's an indicator light that lets you know when it's heating or brewing.
Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. The temperature of the water was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) throughout the entire test as measured by thermocouples located in the basket for the grounds. The brewing time was very close to what the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for an excellent drip.
The OXO Brew also has a single-serve function that lets you to brew coffee directly into your cup. This isn't something you can find in other models of high-end and can be an important benefit for those who prefer to make their own individual portions of coffee but don't wish to hassle with brewing the entire carafe of espresso.
The only downside to the OXO is that it has no clock or automatic start time. This could be a problem if you are on a strict timeframe. The water tank is difficult to remove because it has a lid which must be lifted in order to access the reservoir. It also has an integrated descaler that assists in preventing mineral deposits from accumulating within the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
If you're a
coffee machine grinder lover looking for the
Best conical burr grinder burr mill grinder grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is the best choice. This version of the original Encore was revamped to include enhancements that make it adaptable to a wider range of brewing methods, and offer greater versatility than ever before. It's for baristas in the home who are just starting out and anyone who wants to have a variety of brewing options in one
coffeee grinder. It features stepped grind adjustments and simple controls for novices, along with notched and labeled settings to ensure consistency. The M2 Burrs guarantee uniform grinding, and the hopper is easy to clean with its quick release feature.
The ESP makes use of an
bistro electric coffee grinder motor with high-torque and gear reduction, just like the original Encore. However, it runs at lower speeds in order to minimize heat and static charge. It's also quieter than the classic Encore, and it has an upgraded metal plate which improves stability and consistency. It's fitted with 40mm M2 conical burrs that are similar to those in the more expensive Virtuoso Plus which allows it to attain a better distribution of the size of the grind and more reliable shots.
Each step of the ESP's grind adjustment is 9 microns, which gives excellent resolution when dialing in espresso and finer grinding for pour over. The new dosing cups fit both 54 and 58mm portafilters. This makes it easier to use for manual dosing. The grinder can also be used with traditional grounds bins for those who prefer an hopper-based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistent performance in tests of consistency is a problem, but it still performs better than other grinders in this price range. The stepped grind settings are also inconsistent, making it hard to determine the ideal setting for your style of brewing. However, the ESP is ideally suited to a wide range of brew methods and provides a remarkable value for its versatility.
The Encore ESP costs a little bit more than other models, but its versatility is well worth the price. It can grind for espresso and filter brews, as well as use the included shims to optimize its performance for pour over the 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 is able 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 wants a top-quality, budget-friendly grinder.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a significant improvement over the previous model and should be hard to beat by other grinders that are priced similarly. The new model has a new style that is more appealing to the eyes. It has a simple flat-rounded base that can stand up to The cradle can accommodate 20 grams at each time. It also has a rubber hose 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.