Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
It is possible to make your morning coffee more enjoyable by grinding your own beans. There are many different types of grinders.
This OXO grinder has conical burrs that create the perfect grind for French press espresso, drip coffee and French press. For those who are serious about coffee, they may require more precision from this grinder, but it's a great option for people who are new to the world of coffee.
OXO Brew
If you make your own coffee that a quality grinder is essential to achieve the best flavor. However, a good 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 regularly or not. That's why the OXO Brew is an excellent option for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew isn't extravagant, but it's solid. The stainless steel body has a permanent water reservoir in the rear and a thermal caafe in the front. The carafe and tanks are designed so that the body can be easily installed in smaller kitchens. The controls are hidden under the carafe, reducing the amount of clutter. There is also a light to let you know when it's heating or making.
Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. The temperature of the water remained within a tight range--197.4 F to 205 F--for the entire test run, as measured by thermocouples located in the grounds basket and the water tank. The brewing time was very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's recommended times for a good drip.
The OXO Brew also comes with a single-serve feature that allows you to pour coffee directly into your cup. This feature is not found in other models that are more expensive. It can be an advantage for those who prefer to make individual servings of their coffee, but aren't keen on the hassle of making an entire carafe.
The only real downside of the OXO Brew is that it does not include an alarm clock or a timer that can be set to automatically start time, which could be a problem when you have a hectic schedule. The water tank is difficult to remove since it has a lid which needs to be slid 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
If you're a coffee enthusiast looking for the best burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is your best choice. This version of the original Encore was redesigned to incorporate upgrades that make it more adaptable to a wider range of brewing techniques and offer greater versatility than ever before. It's designed for beginner home baristas as well as anyone who wants to keep their brewing options open by using just one grinder. It has step-up grind adjustments and easy controls for novices, along with labeled and notched settings to ensure consistency. Its M2 Burrs ensure uniform grinding, and its hopper comes with a quick and easy release feature.
The ESP utilizes the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore but operates at lower speeds to lessen static charge and heat buildup during the operation. It's also quieter than classic Encore and has an upgraded metal plate that improves stability and burr consistency. It's outfitted with 40 mm conical M2 burrs that are identical to those of the more expensive Virtuoso Plus that help it achieve better grind size distribution and more reliable shots.
The ESP grind adjustment is 9 microns between each step, offering excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. The new dosing cups are compatible with both 58mm and 54mm portafilters. This enhances the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be combined with the traditional grounds bin if you prefer a hopper based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistency in consistency tests is a downside however, it is better than other grinders in this price range. The stepped settings can be too inconsistent making it difficult to locate the right setting for your brewing method. The ESP is a brewer that can be used in a variety of ways that can be used to make various brewing techniques.
The Encore ESP costs a little higher than other models however its versatility is well worth the price. It can grind espresso or filter brews and also use the included shims to improve its performance for pour-over brewing.
Coffeee is a good grinder that is compatible with 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 easy to use and maintain with only a few moving parts. This is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality, affordable grinder.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a huge improvement over the original model and is expected to be difficult to beat by any other grinders in the same price range. The new model has a new style that is more appealing to the eyes. It has a simple flat-rounded base which can withstand 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 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.