5 Laws Everyone Working In Best Conical Burr Grinder Should Be Aware Of
Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
It is possible to make your morning coffee more enjoyable by grinding your own beans. There are a myriad of different kinds of grinders.
This OXO grinder features conical burrs that produce an ideal grind for French press, espresso and drip coffee. For those who are serious about coffee, they may require more precision from this grinder, but it's an excellent choice for beginners.
OXO Brew
If you're interested in making your own coffee at home, then you already know that it requires a high-quality grinder to produce the most flavorful coffee. But a quality burr grinder can cost upwards of $200, which could be a bit expensive for those who aren't certain if they'll use regularly or not. This is 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 flashy, but it looks sturdy and expensive. The stainless steel body has a permanent water reservoir in the rear, and a thermal caafe in the front. The carafe and tank are shaped in such a way that the body can be easily incorporated in smaller kitchens. The controls are located below the carafe to minimize the clutter, and there's an indicator light that indicates when it's heating or making.
Oxo consistently brewed well during our tests. The temperature of the water was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test, as measured by thermocouples that were located in the grounds basket. The brewing time was very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's recommended time for a good 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 feature isn't present on other high-end models. It's an excellent benefit for those who want to make individual servings of their coffee but don't want the hassle of making the entire carafe.
The only real downside of the OXO Brew is that it does not include an alarm clock or a timer that can be set to automatically start time, which could be a pain when you have a hectic schedule. The water tank is difficult to get out of because it has a lid that has to be slid in order to get to the reservoir. It also has an inbuilt descaler, which helps prevent mineral deposits from building up inside the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
If you're a coffee lover looking for the best burr grinder the Baratza Encore ESP is your best choice. This version of the original Encore was re-engineered to include upgrades that make it more compatible with a greater variety of brewing methods, and offer greater versatility than ever before. It's designed for beginner home baristas and anyone who wants to keep their brewing options open with a single grinder. It comes with steps for grinding and simple controls for beginners, along with notched and labeled settings for consistency. The M2 burrs provide uniform grinds. The hopper has a new quick release feature that makes cleaning simple.
The ESP employs the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore however, it operates at lower speeds to lessen static charge and heat during the operation. It's also quieter than the classic Encore and features a steel plate that helps improve burr stability and consistency. It's equipped with 40 mm conical burrs similar to those used in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This allows it to achieve a better grind size distribution 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. The new dosing cups fit both 58mm and 54mm portafilters. This improves the ergonomics for manual dosing. The grinder can also be used in conjunction with an old-fashioned grounds bin for those who prefer a hopper-based workflow.
One disadvantage of the ESP is its inconsistent performance when it comes to back-to-back consistency tests although it is still superior to many other grinders in this price range. The settings for stepped grinds are also inconsistant, making it difficult to find the perfect setting for your brewing style. The ESP is a versatile brewer that can be used for a variety of brewing methods.
The Encore ESP costs a little higher than other models but its versatility is worth the cost. It can grind espresso and filter brews as well as 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 espresso and pour-over brewing. The burrs are upgradeable to increase performance, and the hopper is able to accommodate a variety of different grind sizes. The DF64 has only a few moving parts, making it easy to maintain and operate. It is a great option for anyone seeking a top-quality grinder for a reasonable price.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a major improvement over the initial model and will be hard to beat by any other grinders in the same price range. The new model comes with an entirely new appearance that is more appealing to the eye. It has a simple flat-rounded base that can stand up to The cradle can accommodate 20 grams at one time. It also comes with 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 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.
Coffeee 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.