What is the Best Burr Coffee Grinder?

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Do you like making your own coffee at home? If you do, then you know that a good burr coffee grinder is a must-have. But with all of the different options on the market, which one should you choose? Check out our guide to find out!

What is a Burr Grinder?

Burr Grinders are the preferred coffee bean grinder of coffee enthusiasts and professional baristas. It is used to achieve a freshly ground and specialist-quality brew. How does a burr grinder work? The burr grinder works by crushing the coffee beans between two rotating abrasive surfaces called burrs which are divided by an exacting distance. The greater the distance between the burrs, the coarser the grind; the closer they are, the finer the grind. What does a burr grinder look like? The burrs vary in shape depending on the model. The flat burr grinder features flat burrs and the conical burr grinder features cone-shaped burrs. Conical grinders tend to be more expensive. To find out more about Conical grinders check out our blog: (Hyperlink) You can also find both, old-school manual burr grinders and electric burr grinders.

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Blade Grinder vs Burr Grinder


Blade grinders are often inexpensive and easy to operate. These are the cheapest types of coffee grinders available on the market today, and for good reason. Blade grinders work similarly to blenders. The machine features blades that spin rapidly and smash your coffee beans to bits. It gets the job done, but it fails to produce a high-quality grind. What you are left with is inconsistently sized coffee grounds. This is a problem because the big pieces and tiny fines don’t get extracted the same way during brewing. Coffee connoisseurs and professional baristas tend to recommend using a burr grinder, as these produce a more uniform grind.

Is a burr grinder better? Most coffee enthusiasts and professionals would agree that the burr grinder produces a better quality grind. The burrs create uniformity and consistency in the coffee grounds, which improves flavor extraction and gets the very best out of your coffee beans. Its grinding accuracy allows you to achieve both a coarse grind or fine grind depending on the type of coffee you want to make while avoiding any clogging issues you might see with a blade grinder.

So what then is the difference between a burr and a blade grinder? It all comes down to cost and quality. If you are willing to pay more for a consistent grind and improved flavor quality, then the burr grinder is definitely your best bet. But be wary of snake oil salesmen that offer electric burr grinders for less than £100. You don’t want to waste your time and money on a knockoff that won’t actually get you the level of accuracy you’re looking for. Be wary of these false burrs that are no better than blade grinders incognito.

What are the best burr coffee grinders?

What to look for when buying a burr coffee grinder? The first thing you should look for is a low-speed model. Why? because high-speed grinders could prematurely heat the beans and cause static problems. This static charge can cause the grinds to stick around the edges of your grinder, making it harder to clean. Premature heating can diminish the flavor of your brew and give it a burnt taste.

Now, if you are not really familiar with Burr Grinders, you can always review the various brands online, and check out our blog on the Choosing the best coffee grinder.

The Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill is the perfect kitchen appliance for coffee lovers who want to grind their own beans. With its 18-position grind selector, you can choose from ultra-fine to extra-coarse grounds, ensuring your coffee is exactly the way you like it. The removable 8 oz. bean hopper and built-in grind chamber make it easy to use and clean, while the one-touch power bar and electric timer make grinding quick and simple. Plus, the cord storage and additional scoop/cleaning brush help declutter your countertop and make this appliance even more convenient.

There are a number of models that may better suit your brewing needs:

• Conical burr grinder
• Ceramic burr grinder
• Flat burr grinder
• Manual burr grinder
• Electric burr grinder etc.

If you are a bit more old-school, you may prefer a manual burr grinder. They are also the coolest-looking grinders, in our opinion. But if you are someone who is always on the go, an electric model might be the more practical choice. For those hardcore coffee enthusiasts, the more pricey conical burr grinder may be more your style for a premium quality grind. Check out our blog on Conical Burr Grinders to find out more.


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About the author

The more refined, sensible (and slight less hirsute) half of BushyBeard Coffee. Ben loves fine roasts, strong dark coffee and quiet time spent with a good book.

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