Best Burr Coffee Grinder

Finding the Best Burr Grinder: Tips & Tricks

Let’s talk the best burr grinder for your coffee.

The best coffee grinders have steel burrs (yes, a burr is the rough edge of steel that crushes beans). Sure, there are grinders with blades, but these can dull quickly and don’t grind uniformly. Ditto for grinders with ceramic blades.

Here’s a quick 411 on burr grinders:

• There are four basic types of burr coffee grinders: conical, flat burr, espresso, and manual. 

• Conical grinders use a conical shaped center bur with an outer burr—the shape is basically a grinding surface at the top of the cone and another grinding surface at the bottom of the cone. This article focuses on conical grinders, as they are the most popular.

• Flat grinders have flat burrs with two rings, but they are not arranged conically. Instead, they sit horizontally with one edge facing up, one facing down. The flat burrs typically hold more coffee grounds than conical, so you may use more beans with a flat burr. These grinders tend to be more expensive than conical grinders. We will recommend a flat grinder in this article.

• Most grinders have a range of settings, which correspond to different types of coffee (for example, a extremely find grind setting is best for espresso). Here’s a look at which settings are best for which coffee type:

Chart credit: Mueller

After trying out several brands and getting insights from coffee enthusiasts among our readers, here are the best burr coffee grinders we recommend:

Best Variety of Grinds: Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

This flat grinder is an excellent choice for those who prefer a variety of different coffee types—we were able to get a really fine grind with this maker, which is great for espresso. And the price is right: this grinder is easier on the wallet than others on the market.

What We Liked

• Works quickly.

• Great for espresso—good results with extra fine setting.

• 8 ounce been hopper is good size.

• Settings are easy to use.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Messy.

• Can clog easily.

• Static electricity build-up means coffee can end up all over counter.

• Large footprint. 

• Short cord.

• Loud.

Best For French Press: KRUPS Precision Grinder Flat Burr Coffee

A coarse grind is best for French press coffee—and our readers who love this type of coffee had one consistent recommendation for a burr grinder: the KRUPS Precision Grinder. And after trying it, we’d agree: it is an excellent grinder. 

What We Liked

• Includes cleaning brush that is embedded in unit.

• Great for French press.

• Easy to use.

• Dependable tried and true brand.

• No tapping or nudging to get all the beans into the grinder.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Dial could be easier to move.

• Messy.

• Loud.

• Could be easier to clean.

• Sometimes grinds more coffee than your dial the setting for.

Best Counter-Space Saver: Mueller SuperGrind Burr Coffee Grinder Electric 

We know counter space can be a premium if you have a compact kitchen—and this grinder has the smallest footprint among those recommended by our readers (4.7″ x 7″ x 9.8″). This conical grinder impressed us with its quality and design—note the removable burr for cleaning.

What We Liked

• Best for finer grinds (not so good for French press)

• Multiple settings are helpful.

• Compact size.

• Easy to use.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• No auto shut-off feature.

• Messy.

• Loud.

Best Conical Grinder: OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

This is grinder won over our testers with its design (conical shape) and features—the anti-static container addresses a common complaint with burr grinders. That is, static electricity can build up during grinding, which causes the ground coffee to disperse when released (creating quite a mess).

What We Liked

• Anti-static container helps hold down the mess.

• Timer is helpful.

• Uniform grinding of beans.

• Easy to use.

• Consistant.

• Quieter than others we tried.

What Needs Work

• Sometimes clogs.

• Could be easier to clean.

• Somewhat more pricey than other similar conical grinders.

Best For Pour Overs or Espresso: Bodum Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder

This grinder is our pick for espresso or pour over coffee—both require a more finely ground coffee bean. This conical grinder did the best in our tests—fast, easy to use and not too much static.

What We Liked

• Hopper cover is nicely design.

• Great for espresso or finely ground coffee recipes.

• Efficient and easy to use.

• Settings (12) are intuitive.

What Needs Work

• A bit pricey.

• Could be easier to clean.

• Loud.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

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