Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders

Grinding your own coffee beans is a great way to enhance your morning coffee grinder compact. But, there are a lot of different grinders out there.

This OXO grinder utilizes conical burrs to produce a grinding system that is suitable for drip, French press and espresso. Coffee enthusiasts who are hardcore 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're planning to make your own coffee at home, you already know that it requires a good grinder to give you the most flavorful coffee. However, a high-quality burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which could be a bit expensive for someone who isn't certain if they'll use regularly or not. This is why the OXO Brew is a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.

The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy, however it looks sturdy and expensive. Its stainless coffee grinder steel body features an in-built water tank that is permanently located at the back and an thermal carafe on the front. The carafe and tanks are shaped in such that the body can be easily incorporated into smaller kitchens. The controls are recessed below the carafe in order to minimize the clutter, and there's an indicator light that indicates whether it's heating up or brewing.

Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. The water temperature was within a precise range--197.4 F to 205 F--for the entire test period which was measured by thermocouples in the grounds basket and the water tank. The brewing time was very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's recommended time for a good drip.

Another benefit of the OXO Brew is that it has a single-serve function that allows you to pour the coffee directly into the cup. This feature isn't available on other models with a higher price. It's a great benefit for those who wish to make individual portions of their coffee but don't want the hassle of brewing an entire carafe.

The only issue with the OXO Brew is that it does not include a clock or an automatic start time, which can be a hassle for those with a busy schedule. In addition, the water tank can be difficult to get rid of because it has a lid that must be slid off to access the reservoir. It is equipped with a mineral descaler to stop mineral deposits from accumulating in the machine.

Baratza Encore ESP

If you're a lover of coffee and are looking for the Best Conical Burr Grinder burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is the best choice. This version of the classic Encore was redesigned to incorporate upgrades that make it more compatible with a wider range of brewing techniques and offer greater versatility than ever before. It's designed for baristas in the home who are just beginning their journey and anyone looking to have a variety of brewing options in one smart grinder. It features stepped grind adjustment and simple controls for baristas who are just starting out as well as notched and labelled settings for consistency. The M2 burrs provide uniform grinding, and the hopper features a new quick release feature that makes cleaning easy.

The ESP makes use of an electric coffee bean grinder motor with high-torque and gear reduction, similar to the original Encore. However it operates at lower speeds to reduce heat and static charge. It's also more quiet than the classic Encore and comes with a new plates made of metal 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 allows it to attain a greater grind size distribution and uniform shots.

Each step of the ESP's grind adjustment is 9 microns. This gives high resolution when dialing in espresso and smaller grinding for pour over. The new dosing cups fit both 54 and 58mm portafilters. This improves the ergonomics for manual dosing. The grinder can be used in conjunction with the traditional grounds bin in the event that you prefer a hopper-based workflow.

One drawback of the ESP is its inconsistent performance during back-to-back consistency tests although it is still superior to other grinders in this price range. The settings for stepped grinds can also be inconsistant, making it difficult to determine the right setting for your brewing style. The ESP is a brewer that can be used in a variety of ways that can be used to make a variety of brewing methods.

The Encore ESP is also a bit more expensive than some of the other models on this list, but it's worth the extra cost due to its incredible flexibility. It can grind espresso or filter brews and utilize the shims included to improve its performance when 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 is large enough for a variety of sizes of grind. The DF64 has only a few moving parts, making it easy to maintain and operate. This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants an affordable, high-quality grinder.

The DF64 Gen 2 is a significant improvement over the initial version and will be difficult to be beat by any other grinder at the same price. The new model has a new style that is more appealing to the eye. It has a simple, flat-rounded base that can support up to 20 grams of beans at a time, and a single dose cradle. It also has a rubber hose that pushes air through the grinder to push out any extra 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 coffee 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.