Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders

Grinding your own coffee beans is a great method to improve your morning cup. However, there are many different grinders on the market.

This OXO grinder has conical burrs that create the perfect grind for French press espresso, drip industrial coffee grinder and French press. This grinder is a great option for beginners, but the most dedicated coffee enthusiasts will require a more precise grind.

OXO Brew

You probably know if you make your own coffee that a good grinder is necessary to ensure the best coffee bean grinders flavor. But a quality burr grinder can cost upward of $200, which can be prohibitive for those who aren't sure if they'll use it regularly 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 flashy, but it's stylish. Its stainless steel coffee grinder steel body is fitted with an in-built water tank that is permanently located at the back and a thermal carafe at the front. The carafe and tanks are designed in a way that the body is able to fit in smaller kitchens. The controls are recessed below the carafe in order to minimize the clutter, and there's an indicator light that lets you know whether it's heating up or brewing.

Oxo consistently brewed well in our tests. Its water temperature remained within a precise range--197.4 F to 205 F--for the entire test period, as measured by thermocouples in the basket for grounds and the water tank. Its brewing time was also close to the time that the Specialty Coffee Association recommends for an excellent drip.

Another benefit of the OXO Brew is that it has one-serve functionality that allows you to brew the coffee directly into the mug. This feature isn't available on other high-end models. It's an excellent benefit for those who wish to make individual portions of their coffee but don't like the hassle of brewing the entire carafe.

The only downside to the OXO is that there is no clock or an automatic start time. This could be a problem if you are on a strict schedule. Additionally the water tank can be difficult to get rid of, as it has a lid that must be removed to access the reservoir. It does have an inbuilt descaler, which helps to avoid mineral deposits from accumulating inside the machine.

Baratza Encore ESP

The Baratza Encore is the best grinder machine burr mill for coffee enthusiasts. This version of the original Encore has been re-engineered with upgrades that make it more compatible with a variety of brewing techniques and provide more flexibility than ever before. It's designed for beginner home baristas as well as anyone who wants to keep their brewing options open by using a single grinder. It has step-up grind adjustments and easy controls for novices, along with labeled and notched settings for consistency. Its M2 burrs ensure uniform grinding, and the hopper comes with a quick and easy release feature.

The ESP uses a DC motor that has high torque and gear reduction, much like the original Encore. However it runs at lower speeds in order to lower heat and static charge. It's also quieter than classic Encore and features a steel plate that helps improve burr consistency and stability. It's equipped with 40mm M2 conical burrs identical to those of the more expensive Virtuoso Plus which allows it to get a better distribution of grind size and more consistent shots.

The ESP grind adjustment features 9 microns between each step, ensuring excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. The new dosing cups fit both 58mm and 54mm portafilters. This enhances the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can also be used in conjunction with a traditional grounds bin for those who prefer the hopper-based method of working.

One drawback of the ESP is its inconsistency in back-to-back consistency tests, though it still performs better than other grinders in this price range. The settings for stepped grinds are also inconsistent, making it difficult to determine the ideal setting for your brewing style. The ESP is a versatile brewer that can be used to make different brewing methods.

The Encore ESP costs a little higher than other models but its versatility is well worth the price. It can grind for espresso and filter brews as well as use the included shims to optimize its performance when pour over the brewing.

Baratza DF64

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

The DF64 Gen 2 is a significant improvement over the initial version and should 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 has a simple rounded-flat base that can hold up to The cradle can accommodate 20 grams at each time. It also comes with an elastic bellows that pushes air through the grinder when you are taking the dose, to eliminate the excess grinds and decrease 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.