With 16 settings, this burr grinder offered a solid performance. We've just finished a new round of testing, and most of our picks remain the same, but we have a new hand grinder we like: the Timemore Chestnut C2. The Encore only has an on/off switch, so it doesn’t allow for a timed grind (which the Baratza Virtuoso does). Sure, it may take a little experimenting to find the perfect settings for you, but it’s a crowd-pleaser every time: Drip for Dad, espresso for Mom, cold brew for the teenagers. Counter Culture pros Matt Banbury and Ryan Ludwig helped us grind, brew, and taste one of their staple coffees, the Fast Forward blend, and measured how well the coffee extracted from the grounds using professional tools. “The problem with fines is that all of their coffee solids are on the outer surface and 100 percent exposed to the water,” says Rao, “You will get over-extraction in seconds from a fine…because there’s no water going into the grounds, dissolving stuff, and getting out, it’s all just washing stuff off the surface instantly—you’ll taste a lot of tannins, astringency, and bitterness.” Boulders, on the other hand, are less of a problem, but they slow down overall extraction—meaning weaker coffee. While Rancilio Rocky Espresso Grinder grinds fast and with high consistency (fine or coarse) it costs almost 10 times the JavaPresse manual burr grinder. But if you’re a newbie who just wants to play around with a few variables in search of a better cup, the Bistro is definitely for you. For the overall best coffee grinder for aficionados and regular old java drinkers alike, choose the easy-to-use OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. This manual coffee grinder is one of the best coffee grinders for many reasons. Whether you want to grind coffee for an espresso machine or a coffee maker, the burr coffee grinder will always be the better choice. Since then, I haven’t had an issue, so I’m treating it as a good reminder that all coffee grinders need to be cleaned every so often. If you’re really into espresso or looking to delve into the art of coffee-making, you may want to look at higher-end models. The 15 Best Burr Coffee Grinders; II. “Presently, there is no tool on the consumer market capable of substituting for a developed palate when it comes to coffee extraction. The Virtuoso now runs perfectly again. While it doesn’t grind quite as evenly of finely as the Baratzas, it does come with a wider and more nuanced range of settings than the Capresso. French Press? Photo: Michael Hession, At grind speeds that feel glacial (particularly if you’re grinding the first cup of the day), we can’t recommend a hand grinder as an everyday tool to be used instead of an electric grinder. This compact grinder is easy to use and has a wider range than most budget grinders, though it’s a bit less consistent than pricier machines. With a smaller profile, the Porlex is easier to hold. During the grinding process, we timed how fast each grinder performed at different settings as well as how easy each was to use and clean. When these stars all line up, the return on investment (whether it’s more cups at home instead of bought out of the house, fewer crappy grinders needing to be replaced over the years, or simply a higher quality of coffee) should be well worth it for most passionate coffee drinkers. Photo: Michael Hession, The Encore’s amusing on/off/on/off switch. However, there are cheap coffee grinders that may seem like a great deal, but you’ll soon discover that they’ll produce uneven grounds … (If you need a scale, we recommend the American Weigh Scales LB-3000 for precise coffee measurements.) Baratza Sette 30 Espresso Grinder. This model … Available in both black and white, it comes with 40 grind settings and features an on/off switch and steel burrs. It might be a tad eccentric these days, but I prefer to hand grind my coffee. Everyone leaves happy — and caffeinated. It has a heavier base than the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder and a pretty small countertop profile, which may appeal to some. We found the sound of its motor annoying, but not as annoying as how inconsistent the grinds it produced were. While most coffee grinders will have a range of size selection from finest (theoretically, but not necessarily, espresso grind) to coarsest (for French press or steeping cold brew), not all grinders offer visual clues about where on the spectrum other brew methods might fall. It’s a reliable, straightforward tool—there’s almost no learning curve—that takes up only a modest square of counter space. So if you want freshly ground coffee on your next camping trip, throw this in your backpack. The OXO Brew’s canister sits snugly below the exit chute, neatly catching all the grounds. He told us that it’s reliably delivered consistent grounds, but recently he found it seizing up whenever he adjusted to a certain level of fineness. Static builds up, and when you remove the drawer of grounds from the Encore, some dust and chaff will spray onto the counter. If you are looking for an inexpensive burr coffee grinder to introduce you to home-made barista-style coffee beverages, your choice lies between the Oxo Brew 8717000 and the budget-friendly Capresso 560.01 conical burr grinder. Its grinding action is smooth and easy on the hand and wrist, and the grinder itself is durable and compact—it even stows away in the cylinder of an AeroPress if you are traveling. After tasting each coffee for a balanced, delicious brew that fell in line with what the Counter Culture team expected of Fast Forward, we used a refractometer to measure the extraction percentage (essentially, how much coffee you get from the coffee grounds). It was also quieter than most models tested. If you pause in the middle of grinding (which you can easily do by hitting the dial button), you can’t use the dial to adjust the time—it stays stuck wherever you paused it. But also like the Encore, it’s very cheap and easy to replace the burrs. We’ll keep an eye on this feature in long-term testing, especially as we grind lighter-roast coffees which will be harder work on a machine. But once we got the hang of things, it couldn’t have been easier: Just pour your beans into the hopper, choose your grind size by twisting the hopper, set the timer anywhere from one to 20 seconds, flip the power switch and turn it on. He told us, “Instead of buying a whole new grinder, I was able to order the exact parts I needed—a new chassis and gear box—and repair the unit myself. Every coffee lover knows that the best cup of coffee can be made with freshly ground coffee and, by the way, fresh coffee beans work as an antioxidant for your body. But worry not as we included here some of the best budget coffee grinders for you to choose from so you can enjoy your fresh cup of coffee … For the purposes of our testing, it provided a useful guidepost for evaluating the grind quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Peugeot 31152 Antique Coffee – Best Looking Hand Grinder While a little extravagant in price, the Peugeot is a really cool and charmingly designed machine. A close runner-up, this model gets high marks for featuring a whopping 60 grind settings, an electronic timer, a large 18-ounce bean hopper and easy-to-read LCD display. So long as you mainly drink drip or French press coffee, the OXO’s relatively even grind, wide range of settings, and ease of use make it a good alternative if you can’t afford the Baratza Encore, which still offers a more consistent, versatile grind. Best Sellers in Coffee Grinders. When you make a purchase, we receive revenue. Other experts we enlisted for advice included Scott Rao, whose many books on brewing and coffee roasting reflect his deep investment in figuring out exactly the best way to do anything whatsoever involving coffee, and Kyle Ramage, the 2017 United States Barista Champion, who previously worked for many years at leading international commercial coffee-grinder manufacturer Mahlkönig. Its grind size tended coarse, and we found measurements to be inconsistent. A stainless steel burr grinder won't chip or crack as easily but will get dull faster. The device’s 18 grind settings yield extremely consistent results for both. After making and tasting over 40 cups of coffee in six French presses, we think the Bodum Chambord is the best press for most people. In a scaled-down version of our 2017 test, we ran the new OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder up against our top pick, the Baratza Encore, and our previous budget pick, the Capresso Infinity. I love that Baratza embraces repairs and provides as much assistance as possible in extending the life of your appliance.”. However, it is also one of the most expensive coffee grinders on the list, … For those in the market for a truly portable hand grinder for travel—or a nice forearm workout—we recommend the Porlex Mini. We measured the consistency of each grinder's particle output using a Kruve sifter, visually compared the grind size, and brewed and tasted loads of coffee. The OXO grinder comes with a two-year warranty, during which time OXO will repair or replace your machine. Coffee connoisseurs know that the perfect grind is key to the perfect cup of coffee or espresso. We were big fans of this well-priced model, which features 15 grind settings and a 30-second programmable timer. The Infinity did well in our tests, though it’s better at grinding coffee into very fine particles than into coarse ones, and we found the usability a bit arbitrary, with the numbers on its timer switch indicating some duration of time that isn’t seconds. The Porlex is also made of stainless steel, meaning it won’t crack when dropped like the Hario. Best Budget Coffee Grinder - Baratza Sette 30. It’s this consistency that allows you to instead focus on other variables such as dose weight, brewing time, and whether or not you really enjoy Indonesian coffees in order to perfect your home routine. Photo: Michael Hession, To adjust the grind on the Porlex Mini, you twist this knob. For their Fast Forward coffee, the team found it tasted best when results measured between 19.5 and 20.5 percent. And if that all wasn’t enough to vouch for it, traveling and camping brewers will love how it fits perfectly inside the chamber of an AeroPress brewer for compact packing. It took about an hour, and the entire cost was $35 including shipping. Burr grinders, on the other hand, boast two blades — one of which is motorized and rotates — that crush the beans and help ensure a consistency in that grind size, which leads to better flavor, aroma and body. However, there are cheap coffee grinders that may seem like a great deal, but … KRUPS. $209.99. Whether you’re on the road frequently and have more refined taste than the standard in-room coffee station can satisfy, or you’re an outdoorsy type who loves camping almost as much as quality joe, this hand-held grinder can keep you on your coffee game no matter where you are. “There are going to be dusty little particles we call fines, and there’s going to be some larger particles we call boulders, and a whole bunch of particles in the middle that are going to be the size you want.”, The fewer fines and boulders in your coffee grounds, the more even—and therefore better—the brew will taste. So, in a caffeine-fueled quest to suss out which coffee grinders contributed to the best brews, we tested 10, ahem, buzz-worthy models. A conical burr shape grinds coffee evenly enough for the home user and—experts say—collects less coffee between the burrs than a flat one, making it easier to clean. But the abundance of settings—timed dosing down to 0.2-second increments and up to 60 different grind sizes—and complicated digital interface made it difficult to use. A quality grinder will necessarily cost you at least $100, which is one reason so many coffee lovers linger in the purgatory of affordable, substandard blade-grinder-land. Although it’s designed for use at home, the Encore is a magnificent machine that produces high-quality grinds that … Get the best deals on Antique Original Collectible Coffee Grinders & Mills when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. A French press might be familiar to you, and perchance you already own one (or three—seems like it’s an easy gift!). Though it isn’t cheap, the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder is the best grinder we’ve found in its price range. When we sifted 10 grams of grounds from first the OXO, then Baratza Encore in the Kruve sifter, the OXO yielded about 4.9 grams of coffee ground to the target optimal size, while the Baratza yielded 5.1 grams; the Capresso yielded only 3.8 grams of coffee ground to the target size. With an investment in the Rancilio Rocky, you won’t find yourself needing to replace your coffee grinder … But it’s not necessarily a be-all-end-all decider when evaluating coffee, says Banbury. 2. Compact and sturdy — it weighs in at 9 pounds — the machine takes up less room than most coffee machines, and it has nice counter appeal thanks to its minimalist stainless steel and black design. It was consistent enough to rival our top picks, while the Krups produced a grind so uneven, the difference was visible to the naked eye before even sifting with a Kruve. We found the leap in great taste from a bad grinder to a good grinder to be noticeable to even the casual coffee drinker who participated in our testing, and we’ve heard the same thing from other Wirecutter staffers who made the switch to a burr grinder. Espresso aficionados will also appreciate the option of choosing between cups and shots. The fewer fines and boulders in your coffee grounds, the more even—and therefore better—the brew will taste. It’s the most important feature if you want to get the most even, balanced extraction with every brew. Our previous budget pick, the Capresso Infinity, is a fine choice for its price, just under $100. Around the 15th century C.E., the Turkish people invented the spice grinder, which people also used to grind up coffee beans. Looking inside the conical burrs of the Encore. Say you want espresso, but your companion wants French press. Beginner baristas and coffee connoisseurs alike will be pleased with the Baratza Virtuoso+, a conical burr grinder with 40 settings for grind size, from super fine (espresso) to super coarse (French press). Baratza's Virtuoso coffee grinder is routinely picked by pros as the home grinder to beat and for good reason: Its well-made conical burrs produce a wide range of grind sizes, the results are consistent, the machine is solidly built from both metal and plastic, and it's all backed up by good customer service. First: the grind settings. Hario Skerton Pro. Ease of cleanup around the machine is important, too, especially if a grinder is particularly naughty about spraying chaff everywhere. Designed and engineered in Seattle, this is a fantastic coffee grinder recommended by the experts. A commercial-grade Mahlkönig EK43 grinder. But that compact size doesn’t mean you sacrifice flexibility. Sure, preground coffee is super convenient, but beans start to go stale once they’re ground up, which is why no true coffee expert is without an at-home grinder. “At home, I think a lot of people just look to brands they know, and the problem with that is those people don’t make coffee equipment, that’s not their thing,” says Ramage. A good grinder will turn an alright coffee routine into a great coffee routine. So, since you’re paying more for the features rather than the performance, we think this model is worth the investment only for more serious coffee lovers. I’m also the associate editor for the coffee news website Sprudge and have published coffee grinder guides and articles about coffee equipment there and elsewhere. If you’re willing to pay more, the Baratza Virtuoso+ is a nearly identical grinder to the Encore, but it has a slightly speedier burr set, a digital timer on the front, and a heavier base that helps the grinder stay in calibration. 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