Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Grinding your own coffee beans is a great method to improve your morning cup. There are a variety of grinders on the market.
This OXO grinder uses conical burrs to create a grind that works well for drip, French press and espresso. Coffee enthusiasts who are hardcore may require more precision from this grinder, however it's a fantastic option for people who are new to the world of coffee.
OXO Brew
If you're planning to make your own coffee at home, you probably already know that it needs a quality grinder to get the most flavorful coffee. But a quality burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which may be a bit expensive for someone who's not certain if they'll be using it frequently or not. This is why the OXO Brew is an excellent alternative for anyone looking to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew may not be flashy but it looks solid. The stainless steel body has a permanent water reservoir at the rear and a thermal caafe on the front. The carafe and tanks have been shaped so that the body can be installed in smaller kitchens. The controls are hidden beneath the carafe, which reduces the amount of clutter. There is also a light that lets you know when the carafe is heating or making.
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 grounds basket. The brewing times were very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's suggested time for a high-quality drip.
Another plus for the OXO Brew is that it has the single-serve feature that lets you to brew the coffee directly into your mug. This isn't a feature found in other models with a higher price, and it can be a big benefit for people who want to make their own portions of coffee but don't want the hassle of brewing an entire carafe of coffee.
The only downside to the OXO Brew is that it doesn't come with a clock or an automated start time, which could be a pain if you have a busy schedule. The water tank is difficult to remove because it has a lid which must be lifted in order to access the reservoir. It does have an integrated descaler that helps to avoid mineral deposits from building up in the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore is the most popular burr mill for coffee enthusiasts. This version of the classic Encore is redesigned with improvements that make it compatible with a broader range of brewing techniques and provide greater flexibility than ever before. It's designed for beginner home baristas and anyone who wants to keep their options for brewing open by using just one grinder. It has a the ability to adjust the grind in a step and has simple controls for novice baristas as well as notched and labelled settings for consistency. The M2 burrs guarantee uniform grinds, and the hopper comes with a quick release feature that makes cleaning simple.
The ESP employs the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore but operates at lower speeds in order to minimize static charge and heat buildup during the operation. It is also quieter than the original Encore and has a metal plate that improves burr consistency and stability. It is equipped with 40 mm conical burrs, similar to those found in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This allows it to achieve a better grind size distribution and more consistent shots.
Each step of the ESP's grind adjustment is 9 microns, which gives excellent resolution when dialing in espresso, and more precise grinding for pour over. It comes with a dosing cup that is compatible with both 54 and 58 millimeter portafilters, which enhances the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be used with the traditional grounds bin in the event that you prefer a hopper based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistent performance during tests of consistency is a problem however, it is better in comparison to other grinders at this price point. The stepped settings are too inconsistent, making it difficult to determine the right setting for your specific brewing method. The ESP is a versatile brewer that can be used for different brewing methods.
The Encore ESP is also a bit more expensive than many of the other models on this list, but it's well worth the extra cost due to its incredible capabilities. It can grind espresso and filter brews, as well as utilize the shims included to improve its performance when pour over the brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 grinder is a good one that works well for espresso and pour-over brewing. The burrs can be upgraded to increase performance and the hopper is sufficient to accommodate a range of sizes of grind. The DF64 is also simple to operate and maintain with a minimal number of moving parts. This is a great option for anyone looking for a top-quality, budget-friendly grinder.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a massive improvement over the original version and should be able to stand up to being beaten by any other grinder that is priced in the same range. The new model features an updated design that is a lot more appealing to the eye. It has a simple rounded-flat base that can hold 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 to push 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. 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 coffe grinders 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.