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.

This OXO grinder makes use of conical burrs to produce an excellent grind for drip, French press and espresso. Coffee enthusiasts who are hardcore may require more precision from this grinder, but it's an excellent choice for people who are new to the world of coffee.

OXO Brew

If you're into making your own coffee at home, you already know that it requires a good grinder to produce the most flavorful coffee. A quality burr mill can cost as much as $200, which is a huge amount for those who aren't sure whether they'll make use of it. That's why the OXO Brew is a great alternative for those who want to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.

The design of the OXO Brew isn't extravagant, but it looks sturdy and expensive. Its stainless steel body is fitted with a permanent water tank at the back, and a thermal carafe at the front. The carafe and tank are designed to ensure that the body is easily fitted into smaller kitchens. The controls are located beneath the carafe to reduce the clutter, and there's an indicator light that lets you know when it's heating or brewing.

Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. Its water temperature remained within a tight range--197.4 F to 205 F--for the entire test run which was measured by thermocouples in the grounds basket and the water tank. The brewing time was very close to what the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for the Best Conical Burr Grinder drip.

Another advantage of the OXO Brew is it comes with a single-serve function that allows you to pour the coffee directly into the mug. This isn't an option that's available in other models of high-end and is an important benefit for those who prefer making their own servings of coffee but do not 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 automatic start time, which could be a problem for those with a busy 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 inbuilt descaler, which helps to avoid mineral deposits from building up within the machine.

Baratza Encore ESP

If you're a coffee lover looking for the best burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is the best choice. This version of the classic Encore was revamped to include improvements that make it adaptable to a wider range of brewing methods and provide more flexibility than ever before. It's designed for home baristas who are just starting out and anyone looking to have a variety of brewing options on one grinder. It has steps for grinding and simple controls for beginners, along with labeled and notched settings to ensure consistency. The M2 burrs guarantee uniform grinding, and the hopper has a new quick release feature that makes cleaning simple.

The ESP utilizes the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore, but it operates at lower speeds to reduce static charge and heat during the operation. It's also quieter than the classic Encore and comes with a a new metal plate that improves stability and burr consistency. It comes with conical burrs that measure 40 millimeters, similar to those found in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This helps it attain a greater grind size distribution and more consistent shots.

The ESP grind adjustment has 9 microns between each step, ensuring excellent resolution for espresso grinders and pour over. The new dosing cups fit both 58mm and 54mm portafilters. This makes it easier to use for manual dosing. The grinder can also be used with traditional grounds bins for those who prefer the hopper-based method of working.

The ESP's inconsistent performance during tests of consistency is a drawback however, it is better than other grinders at this price. The settings for stepped grinds can also be inconsistant, making it difficult to determine the right setting for your particular style of brewing. However, the ESP is ideal for various brewing methods and offers a great value for the versatility it offers.

The Encore ESP is also a bit more expensive than some of the other models on this list, but it's well worth the extra expense for its amazing capabilities. 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 pour-over brewing and espresso. The burrs can be upgraded to increase performance and the hopper can be big enough to accommodate a variety of sizes of grind. The DF64 is also easy to use and maintain, with few moving parts. It's a great choice for those looking for a high-quality grinder at an affordable price.

The DF64 Gen 2 is a major improvement over the initial model and is expected to be difficult to beat by other coffeee grinder within the same price range. The new model is more attractive to the eye. It is a flat-rounded base that can withstand up to The cradle can hold 20 grams at one time. It also comes with a rubber bellows that will push air through the grinder when you take your dose to push out excessive grinds and to 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.