This Week's Most Popular Stories Concerning Best Conical Burr Grinder
Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Grinding your own beans for your coffee is a great method to enhance your morning cup. There are a myriad of different kinds of grinders.
This OXO grinder has conical burrs that create a grind suitable for French press, espresso and drip coffee. This grinder is a great choice for novices, however, hardcore coffee geeks will want an exact grind.
OXO Brew
You're probably aware if you make your own coffee that a quality grinder is essential to get the most flavor. However, a high-quality burr grinder can cost upward of $200, which can be prohibitive for someone who's not certain if they'll use it frequently or not. This is why the OXO Brew is an excellent alternative for those who want to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.
The design of the OXO Brew may not be extravagant, but it's solid. Its stainless steel body features a permanent water tank in the back and an insulated thermal carafe in the front. The carafe and tanks are shaped in such that the body is able to fit into smaller kitchens. The controls are recessed beneath the carafe, which reduces clutter. There is also a light that lets you know when it's heating or making.
In our tests in our tests, the Oxo brewed consistently well. Its water temperature remained within a precise range--197.4 F to 205 F--for the entire test according to thermocouples located in the grounds basket and the water tank. The brewing time was close to the time that the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for the best drip.
The OXO Brew also has a single-serve feature that allows you to pour coffee directly into your cup. This isn't an option that's available in other high-end models, and it can be an enormous benefit for those who like to make their own individual portions of coffee but do not want the hassle of brewing the entire carafe of espresso.
The only downside to the OXO Brew is that it does not include a clock or an automated start time, which could be a pain when you have a hectic schedule. The water tank can be difficult to get out of because it has a lid that has to be slid in order to get to the reservoir. It is equipped with a mineral descaler that helps to prevent mineral deposits from accumulating inside the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
If you're a coffee enthusiast looking for the best burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is your top pick. This version of the classic Encore was redesigned to incorporate enhancements that make it compatible with a wider range of brewing techniques and offer more versatility than ever before. It's designed for baristas at home who are just beginning out and anyone looking to have a range of brewing options on one grinder. It features an adjustable stepped grind and simple controls for baristas who are just starting out and also labeled and notched settings for consistency. The M2 burrs provide uniform grinds, and the hopper comes with a quick release feature that makes cleaning a breeze.
The ESP uses the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor that was used in the original Encore but operates at lower speeds in order to minimize heat buildup and static charge during the operation. electric coffee bean grinder 's also quieter than classic Encore and comes with a a new metal plate that increases stability and burr consistency. It's equipped with 40mm conical M2 burrs that are similar to those found in the more expensive Virtuoso Plus that help it get a better distribution of grind size and more consistently shot.
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 can be used with both 54 and 58mm portafilters. This improves the ergonomics for manual dosing. The grinder can also be used in conjunction with an old-fashioned grounds bin for those who prefer the hopper-based method of working.
The ESP's inconsistent performance during tests of consistency is a drawback, 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 brewing style. However the ESP is ideal for many brewing methods and offers a great value for the versatility it offers.
The Encore ESP costs a little higher than other models, but its versatility is worth the cost. It can grind for filter or espresso brews. The included shims will optimize its performance for Pour Over Brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 is a good grinder that is compatible with espresso and pour over brewing. The burrs can be upgraded to improve performance and the hopper can be used to accommodate a variety of different grind sizes. The DF64 has a small number of moving parts, making it simple to maintain and use. It is a great option for those looking for a high-quality grinder for a reasonable price.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a massive improvement over the original version and will be difficult to be defeated by any other grinder that is priced in the same range. The new model is more appealing to the eye. It features a simple flat-rounded base that can withstand up to 20 grams of beans at a time, and a single dose cradle. It also has an elastic bellows that will push air through the grinder when you take your dose to force out excess grinds and reduce retention.
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.
