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Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Grinding your own coffee beans is a great way to enhance your morning cup. But, there are many different grinders on the market.
This OXO grinder is equipped with conical burrs that create the perfect grind for French press espresso, drip and French press coffee. Coffee enthusiasts who are hardcore may require more precision from this grinder, but it's an excellent choice for people who are new to the world of coffee.
OXO Brew
If you're interested in making your own coffee at home, then you know that it requires a high-quality grinder to give you the best flavor. A high-quality burr mill could cost as much as $200, which is a huge amount for those who don't know whether they'll actually use it. The OXO Brew is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of pounds.
The design of the OXO Brew isn't flashy, but it's stylish. Its stainless steel body features an in-built water tank that is permanently located in the back and an thermal carafe on the front. The carafe and tank are shaped in such that the body can be easily incorporated into smaller kitchens. The controls are concealed beneath the carafe to reduce clutter. There is also a light to let you know when it is heating or making.
In our tests, the Oxo produced consistently. The temperature of the water was within a narrow range (197.4 F to 205.0 F) for the entire test according to thermocouples in the basket for the grounds. The brewing time was very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's suggested time for a high-quality drip.
Another benefit of the OXO Brew is that it has the single-serve feature that lets you to pour the coffee directly into the mug. This isn't a feature found in other high-end models, and it can be an important benefit for those who want making their own servings of coffee but don't want the hassle of brewing an entire carafe of coffee.
The only drawback to the OXO is that it has no clock or an automatic start time. This could be a problem if you are on a strict timeframe. Furthermore the water tank can be difficult to get rid of, as it has a lid that must be slid off to access the reservoir. It is equipped with a mineral descaler that can help stop mineral deposits from accumulating within the machine.
Baratza Encore ESP
The Baratza Encore is a top burr mill for coffee enthusiasts. This version of the original Encore has been revamped with upgrades that make it more compatible with a variety of brewing techniques and provide more flexibility than ever before. It's designed for baristas at home who are just beginning out and anyone looking to have a range of brewing options with one grinder. It has stepped grind adjustments and simple controls for beginners, with labeled and notched settings to ensure consistency. Its M2 burrs ensure uniform grinding, and the hopper has a new quick release feature that makes cleaning a breeze.
The ESP uses the same high-torque gear reduction DC motor as the original Encore but operates at lower speeds to lessen static charge and heat during the operation. It's also quieter than the classic Encore and has an upgraded metal plate that increases stability and burr consistency. It's equipped with 40 mm conical burrs similar to those used in the more expensive Virtuoso plus. This helps it get a better size of grind distribution and consistent shots.
Each step of the ESP's grind adjustment is 9 microns. This gives excellent resolution when dialing in espresso, and smaller grinding for pour over. The new dosing cups fit portafilters of 54 and 58mm. espresso coffee grinder Coffeee improves the ergonomics for manual dosing. The grinder can be combined with the traditional grounds bin in the event that you prefer a hopper based workflow.
The ESP's inconsistency in consistency tests is a downside, but it still performs better in comparison to other grinders in this price range. The stepped settings can be inconsistant making it difficult to locate the best setting for your specific brewing method. The ESP is a versatile brewer that can be used to make various brewing techniques.
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 for its impressive versatility. It can grind for filter or espresso drinks. The included shims will optimize its performance for Pour Over brewing.
Baratza DF64
The Baratza DF64 is a good grinder that works well with espresso and pour-over brewing. The burrs are upgradeable to improve performance and the hopper can be used to accommodate different grind sizes. The DF64 is also simple to use and maintain with a minimal number of moving parts. This is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a top-quality, budget-friendly grinder.
The DF64 Gen 2 is a huge improvement over the previous version and should be able to stand up to being beat by any other grinder in the same price range. The new model is more appealing to the eye. It has a simple, rounded-flat base that can hold up to 20 grams of beans at a time and a single dose cradle. It also comes with a bellows made of rubber that will push air through the grinder as you do your dose to push out 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.
