best conical burr grinder Conical Burr Coffee Grinders

It is possible to make your morning coffee better by grinding your own beans. There are a variety of grinders.

This OXO grinder is equipped with conical burrs which produce the perfect grind for French press espresso, drip and French press coffee. This grinder is a great option for beginners, but the most dedicated coffee enthusiasts will require an exact grind.

OXO Brew

If you make your own coffee that a quality grinder is essential to get the best home espresso grinder flavor. A high-quality burr mill could cost up to $200, which is expensive for those who don't know whether they'll use it. The OXO Brew is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly ground coffee without having to spend hundreds of pounds.

The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy, but it looks sturdy and expensive. The stainless steel body comes with an in-built water reservoir that is permanently located at the rear, and a thermal caafe on the front. The carafe and tanks are designed in such that the structure is able to fit into smaller kitchens. The controls are recessed below the carafe to minimize the clutter, and there's an indicator light that indicates when it's heating or making.

In our tests, the Oxo was consistently brewed. The temperature of the water was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test according to thermocouples located in the grounds basket. Its brewing time was also very close to what the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for an excellent drip.

Another plus for the OXO Brew is that it has a single-serve function that allows you to pour the coffee directly into your mug. This feature isn't present in other models that are more expensive. It can be a great benefit for those who wish to make individual servings of their coffee but aren't keen on the hassle of brewing the entire carafe.

The only drawback to the OXO is that it has no clock or automated start time. This could be a problem if you are on a strict timeframe. Additionally, the water tank can be tricky to remove due to its lid that needs to be removed to access the reservoir. It does have a built-in descaler, which assists in preventing mineral deposits from accumulating in the machine.

Baratza Encore ESP

The Baratza Encore is a top burr mill available for coffee grinders types lovers. This version of the original Encore was revamped to include improvements that make it adaptable to a wider range of brewing techniques and offer more flexibility than ever before. It is designed for baristas in the home who are just beginning their journey and anyone looking to have a variety of brewing options with one grinder. It has steps for grinding and simple controls for novices, along with labeled and notched settings for consistency. Its M2 Burrs ensure uniform grinding, and its hopper comes with a quick and easy release feature.

The ESP employs the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor that was used in the original Encore however, it operates at lower speeds to lessen static charge and heat during the operation. It's also quieter than classic Encore and has a new metal plate that increases stability and burr consistency. It's equipped with 40mm M2 conical burrs similar to those found in the more expensive Virtuoso Plus that help it get a better distribution of grind size and more consistent shots.

Each step of the ESP's grind adjustment is 9 microns, which gives excellent resolution when dialing in espresso, and more precise grinding for pour over. It comes with a dosing cup that is compatible with both 54 and 58 millimeter portafilters, which improves the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be used in conjunction with the traditional grounds bin for those who prefer a hopper based workflow.

The ESP's inconsistent performance in consistency tests is a downside however, it is better in comparison to other grinders at this price. The settings for stepped grinds are also inconsistant, making it difficult to find the perfect setting for your style of brewing. However the ESP is ideal for various brewing methods and offers an amazing 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 worth the extra cost due to its incredible versatility. It can grind espresso and filter brews and also use the included shims to maximize its performance for pour-over making.

Baratza DF64

The Baratza DF64 grinder is a good one that works well for pour-over and espresso brewing. The burrs can be upgraded to improve performance and the hopper can be sufficient to accommodate a range of sizes of grind. The DF64 has few moving parts, making it simple to maintain and use. This is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking for a high-quality, affordable grinder.

The DF64 Gen 2 is a significant improvement over the previous model and is expected to be difficult to beat by any other grinder within the same price range. The new model is more appealing to the eye. It is a flat-rounded base which can withstand up to 20 grams of beans at a single time and a single dose cradle. It also has an hose made of rubber that pushes air through the grinder to push out any excess 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 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.