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The Best Burr Coffee Grinders

Coffee aficionados rave about burr grinders. Are they worth the investment? We went through 110 pounds of coffee to find out.

What You Need to Know

While many factors contribute to the flavor of brewed coffee, a good burr coffee grinder is essential to ensuring consistent quality from drip to espresso and everything in between. Our favorite, the Baratza Encore ESP, is an easy-to-use, reliably consistent grinder that offers an ample number of precise grind sizes. If you’re a serious espresso drinker, consider upgrading to the Baratza Sette 270 for the massive amount of additional settings on the finer end of the spectrum, which give you more runway to finesse your shots.

our winning burr coffee grinder by baratza

Burr coffee grinders are the gold standard in the coffee industry. Their pepper mill–like, grooved burrs spin against each other to transform whole beans into smaller particles. Unlike blade coffee grinders (for more information about blade grinders, see the FAQ below), burr grinders can repeatedly produce evenly ground coffee beans, ensuring consistency in your brewed coffee. Another advantage is that they are customizable. With a number of grind size settings from fine to coarse, burr grinders allow home coffee hobbyists to easily switch from grinding beans for cold-brew coffee on a hot summer day to a velvety espresso after dinner and everything in between.

Article

How to Clean Your Burr Coffee Grinder

So you took the leap and splurged on a burr coffee grinder. Here’s how to ensure that you’re cleaning it properly.

To find the best burr grinder, we ground 110 pounds of light, medium, and dark roast coffee beans to various finenesses. Generally, coffee grounds can be categorized into three sizes: medium pieces, larger “boulders,” and smaller “fines.” Fines can release unappealing bitter flavors, while boulders take longer to release flavors, resulting in weak coffee. In theory, the larger the percentage of medium pieces in your ground coffee, the more evenly extracted and flavorful your brewed coffee will be. 

To see whether this was the case and to judge how evenly the grinders ground coffee, we sifted final ground products from each model through a set of Kruve sifters, a tool used by baristas to determine grind size and verify burr grinders’ quality. 

We sifted hundreds of batches of coffee grounds using Kruve sifters, a tool used by baristas and coffee professionals for quality control. We found that some grinders did a better job of producing medium-sized even pieces than others. Those medium-sized pieces are ideal for coffee brewing; coarse grounds make weak coffee and fine grounds produce bitter cups.

We then held tastings with our colleagues as well as coffee professionals from Counter Culture Coffee and George Howell Coffee, comparing coffees brewed with grounds produced by each grinder. We used refractometers to record the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of each batch of coffee we brewed, an industry standard practice used to gauge the number of flavor compounds in coffee. Because a high TDS reading doesn’t always equate to a good-tasting cup (the Specialty Coffee Association’s guideline is from 1.15 percent to 1.35 percent), we used the readings to evaluate the consistency and repeatability of each model. We also compared the burr grinders to our winning blade grinder.

How Burr Grinders Work

A burr grinder has three sections: a hopper where you load the beans, a grinding chamber, and a bin that catches the ground coffee. Inside the grinding chamber, you’ll find two steel rings called burrs (they can be made of ceramic). The rings are either stacked on top of each other (known as flat burrs) or one inside the other (known as conical burrs). The burrs of all the machines in our lineup were steel. The distance between the rings, which is adjustable, controls how finely the beans are ground. To operate, you load the beans into the hopper and grind them right before brewing the coffee. Some grinders are equipped with timers, which allow you to grind for a set amount of time (this grinding time corresponds to a desired specific amount of grounds). Most of the grinders in our lineup have timers. However, we recommend weighing the coffee on a precision coffee scale before you grind, which offers more accuracy, because different types of beans are different sizes and shapes; relying on a timer may not offer the most precise result. We followed these instructions in our testing.

The Best Burr Coffee Grinders

Some grinders were customizable, tidy, and luxurious, while others were a pain and left our counters dusted with coffee grounds. Here’s what mattered.

What to Look For

  • Number of Settings: For a basic burr grinder, look for at least 10 grind settings; this number allows you to produce grounds for a variety of brewing methods and to customize within each method. For a grinder that excels at espresso, we found that machines with at least 40 settings and lots of finer options offered the range and tiny increments of adjustment desired by espresso fans. 

We preferred models with at least 10 settings to brew different types of coffee. For people who switch between brewing methods often, we recommend at least 40 settings to fully take advantage of tinkering the grind size to brew a good-tasting coffee.

  • Fewer Stray Grounds: The contact between metal burrs and coffee beans causes electricity discharge, which causes grounds to cling to surfaces. We liked models that produced minimal stray grounds and static cling, both of which wasted coffee and made a mess. 
  • A Heavy Base: The grinding motor can cause the machine to rattle. A heavy base that weighed 5 pounds or more helped secure the grinder in place.
  • Clear Markings and Labels: We liked models with markings that helped us easily adjust the grind size. 
No one wants to fuss over complicated markings when they make coffee in the morning. We liked burr grinders with clear markings without ambiguous icons that we had to decipher.
  • Detachable and Replaceable Parts: We preferred machines that were easy to take apart and clean. One finicky model required us to watch videos online in order to disassemble the machine. Others had burrs permanently affixed to their bases, so we couldn’t take them apart to clean or unclog them. We also preferred models from manufacturers that sell replacement parts, which are less expensive and less wasteful than buying a new model, and small fixes here and there can keep these machines running for years.
  • User-Friendly Grounds Container Design: We liked the containers that had sharp edges that helped us more easily angle and dispense grounds into a coffee maker.

What to Avoid

  • Fewer Than 10 Settings: To make the investment worthwhile, we recommend choosing a burr grinder that has a high number of settings—from coarse to fine—designed for different brewing methods. Fewer settings meant we couldn’t easily make different styles of coffee. If you want to brew espresso, be sure to choose models with 40 or more settings. 
  • Lightweight Grinders: Lightweight models seemed fine when grinding smaller amounts of beans, but we noticed they became unstable when grinding large amounts of coffee and threatened to tip over. 
  • Confusing Labeling: We struggled with deciphering the symbols and markings on some models. We preferred the models that had clear, intuitive markings to guide us through the different grind settings with their corresponding brewing methods.

One thing to consider when shopping for burr grinders is the type of burrs the machine uses. In our taste test, we didn’t find discernible differences between coffee made with grounds from a conical burr grinder and that from a flat burr grinder.

Other Considerations

  • Flat Burrs versus Conical Burrs: Machines with flat burrs are generally more expensive than those with conical burrs. In our testing, we didn’t find discernible differences between the coffee grounds produced by the two types of burrs. Conical burrs are more economical than flat burrs, and all our top models had them.

The Tests:

  • Grind batches of light, medium, and dark coffee on coarse, medium, and fine settings; evaluate ease of use
  • Sift coarse, medium, and fine grounds through Kruve sifter and calculate the percentages of fines and boulders
  • Hold a taste test with professionals from George Howell Coffee and Counter Culture Coffee and average coffee drinkers, asking them to sample coffee brewed with grounds produced by each grinder using the same coffee beans and brewing method 
  • For the grinders suitable for espresso, use each grinder to produce grounds for espresso, according to SCA guidelines
  • Record the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) value of coffee made in each model using a refractometer two times and comparing the two numbers
  • Clean up each grinder using Grindz tablets, per expert advice


How We Rated 

  • Performance: We made coffee with beans ground by each machine and then evaluated coffees brewed from these grounds by tasting each and assessing the TDS readings of each batch. 
  • Ease of Use: We rated how easy it was to use and adjust each grinder for different brewing tasks. 
  • Cleanup: We rated each grinder on how easy it was to clean. We also rated how easy it was to reassemble the parts after removing them for deep cleaning. 
  • Versatility: We assessed the number of grind sizes each model offered and determined how versatile they were at producing grounds suitable for different brewing methods.

FAQs

Blade grinders, the vastly less expensive option for grinding your coffee beans, generally have a single two-armed blade fixed in the center of a grinding chamber. To operate, you load the beans into the chamber, top it with the plastic lid, and press down on the cover to start the motor that spins the blade. As it spins, the blade bounces the beans around, creating a vortex and randomly slicing and chopping whatever comes in contact with it. The longer you hold down the button, the longer the blade spins and the more finely ground the beans become. 

In our taste tests over the years, we’ve continually been surprised that most of our coffee experts couldn’t distinguish between coffee made with beans ground by burr grinders and those ground by blade grinders. Burr grinders can grind coffee beans to different sizes in order to brew all different styles of coffee. Conversely, blade grinders, which are dependent on human judgment to determine doneness, can never achieve the same level of precision and consistency that burr grinders do. After filtering grounds through a Kruve sifter, we've found that blade grinders produce more fines than the average burr grinder.

A blade grinder will do for some, but if you want a mostly hands-off option with repeatable consistency and the flexibility to brew different styles of coffee, a burr grinder is your best bet.


Yes, because coffee beans contain oils that can build up and leave a residue in the coffee grinder. As Peter Giuliano, chief research officer of the Specialty Coffee Association, explained, “This residue can oxidize and develop rancid aromas, not unlike other kinds of oil buildup in the kitchen. An occasional cleaning keeps everything smelling fresh and operating well.”

We have a detailed guide about how to clean a burr grinder.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on how often you use your grinder. Look for “brown, oily buildup on the inside of the coffee hoppers or other surfaces of the grinder" that looks like an "oily chocolate residue,” recommended Peter Giuliano, chief research officer of the Specialty Coffee Association.

Sometimes your nose does a better job of telling you when it’s time. Giuliano suggests sniffing your grinder: “Over time, coffee residue develops an unmistakable, unpleasant aroma that is the result of oxidized coffee oils. An empty grinder should smell like fresh, good coffee. If it smells unpleasant or rancid, it needs a good deep cleaning. Your nose knows!” 

The type of roast you use may also determine how frequently you need to clean the grinder. “Dark-roasted coffee is oilier than light-roasted coffee, and therefore dark-roast lovers will need to clean more often than light-roast coffee lovers,” Giuliano explained. 

If you grind coffees of different varieties and origins, it’s a good idea to clean your grinder between each type to keep the flavors from mixing.

Burr grinders can break down for a number of reasons. Oil buildup can cause the machine to clog, and over time, even the best steel burr grinders can wear down and stop working. “High-quality steel burrs will last for more than 1,000 pounds of coffee, which is probably more than a decade’s worth of use for even the most coffee-loving households,” said Peter Giuliano, chief research officer of the Specialty Coffee Association.

Giuliano explained that professional baristas keep track of how much coffee they’ve put through their grinders, replacing burrs every thousand pounds or so. That said, this is overkill for most home coffee drinkers. “If a grinder seems to be working properly and is less than a decade old, I would consider it very unlikely that the burrs need replacing,” Giuliano said.

If the burr does lose its edge, you’ll know because it will produce relatively coarse grounds on a fine setting. You can get a replacement from most reputable manufacturers, including the top-rated models we liked. And because these machines aren’t complicated, it’s easy to replace this part by yourself.

We recommend using a precision coffee scale for weighing the whole beans before grinding them. Coffee brewing relies on the coffee-to-water ratio. Different brewing methods require different ratios, but for drip coffee in general, we follow the 1:17 (1 part coffee to 17 parts water) ratio recommended by Counter Culture Coffee, a renowned coffee producer that has a special focus on coffee training and education.

We noticed that some burr grinders have tinted plastic hoppers and receptacles. According to our senior science and research editor, Paul Adams, the “tint” is to reduce static. “Some plastics have conductive particles added to them, which allow the plastic to conduct electricity and thus prevent the buildup of charges,” Adams explained. In this case, the “charges” are stray coffee grounds. Those particles (typically carbon) added to the plastic give it a brownish-gray tint, which is why the hoppers and receptacles have a dark tint on them. 

Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.
Fair 2 Stars out of 3.
Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Highly Recommended

  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

WinnerBaratza Encore ESP

This model is an update of the original Encore, which its manufacturer is hoping to phase out in the coming years (look for the ESP if you want the espresso range; the original Encore will still work, and the parts are for sale on Baratza’s website). The new model has 40 settings, 20 of which are specifically designed for finer grind sizes with higher precision, catering to those interested in espresso. It was one of the most consistent grinders we tested, producing a high percentage of medium-size grounds and brewing flavorful coffee that was “full-bodied,” with “decent sweetness with minimal acidity.” The flavor notes correlated with the high TDS reading of 1.33, among the highest amounts of dissolved flavor compounds in our testing. It did well with static cling at first and left minimal stray grounds on the counter; we noticed that grounds started to build up on the inside of the plastic grounds container over time, but it was easy to clean.
Model Number: ZCG495Style: Conical steel burrDimensions: 5⅕ x 6 x 13⅖ inWeight: 7⅖ lbNumber Of Settings: 40Tds: 1.33%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 64%Price at Time of Testing: $199.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This model is an update of the original Encore, which its manufacturer is hoping to phase out in the coming years (look for the ESP if you want the espresso range; the original Encore will still work, and the parts are for sale on Baratza’s website). The new model has 40 settings, 20 of which are specifically designed for finer grind sizes with higher precision, catering to those interested in espresso. It was one of the most consistent grinders we tested, producing a high percentage of medium-size grounds and brewing flavorful coffee that was “full-bodied,” with “decent sweetness with minimal acidity.” The flavor notes correlated with the high TDS reading of 1.33, among the highest amounts of dissolved flavor compounds in our testing. It did well with static cling at first and left minimal stray grounds on the counter; we noticed that grounds started to build up on the inside of the plastic grounds container over time, but it was easy to clean.
Model Number: ZCG495Style: Conical steel burrDimensions: 5⅕ x 6 x 13⅖ inWeight: 7⅖ lbNumber Of Settings: 40Tds: 1.33%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 64%Price at Time of Testing: $199.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Best UpgradeBaratza Sette 270

This sleek burr grinder has all the bells and whistles any espresso drinker ever needs. Its massive menu selection gives you 270 settings to choose from, which could seem overwhelming but isn’t because they are divided in different zones with clear markings for suggested brew methods. It made a “full-bodied” coffee with “nutty” and “chocolate-y” flavors, and it yielded among the highest percentage of medium-size pieces, meaning it’s consistent and reliable. Beneath the hopper is a tinted bin that has a spout, which lets you dispense grounds into brew vessels without spilling. Two flexible arms hold the grounds bin in place; they also fit an espresso machine's portafilter, allowing users to grind coffee directly into the attachment. This sturdy grinder weighed about 7 pounds and sat securely on our counter. We were able to take the burrs out easily for cleaning. The manufacturer also sells replacement parts on its website for repairs.
Model Number: ZCG1270Style: Conical steel burrDimensions: 5 x 9⅘ x 16 inWeight: 7 lbNumber Of Settings: 270Tds: 1.38%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 79%Price at Time of Testing: $399.95
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This sleek burr grinder has all the bells and whistles any espresso drinker ever needs. Its massive menu selection gives you 270 settings to choose from, which could seem overwhelming but isn’t because they are divided in different zones with clear markings for suggested brew methods. It made a “full-bodied” coffee with “nutty” and “chocolate-y” flavors, and it yielded among the highest percentage of medium-size pieces, meaning it’s consistent and reliable. Beneath the hopper is a tinted bin that has a spout, which lets you dispense grounds into brew vessels without spilling. Two flexible arms hold the grounds bin in place; they also fit an espresso machine's portafilter, allowing users to grind coffee directly into the attachment. This sturdy grinder weighed about 7 pounds and sat securely on our counter. We were able to take the burrs out easily for cleaning. The manufacturer also sells replacement parts on its website for repairs.
Model Number: ZCG1270Style: Conical steel burrDimensions: 5 x 9⅘ x 16 inWeight: 7 lbNumber Of Settings: 270Tds: 1.38%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 79%Price at Time of Testing: $399.95

Recommended

  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder

This sleek burr grinder felt heavy and sturdy, but its footprint was relatively small. We liked the “fruit”-forward, “milk chocolate” notes of the coffee it made, which was flavorful and "roasty." It was among the more consistent grinders. It had a magnetic base, which pulled the grounds bin snugly in place; the grounds came out of the chute right into the container without spreading a mess all over the counter, thanks to the addition of anti-static technology. We didn’t like the round edge of the grounds bin, which made it more difficult to precisely pour the grounds into a vessel with a smaller opening, such as the portafilter from an espresso machine.
Model Number: 1221MB-USStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 10⅗ x 8⅖ x 5 inWeight: 5 lbNumber Of Settings: 41Tds: 1.15%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 64%Price at Time of Testing: $195.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This sleek burr grinder felt heavy and sturdy, but its footprint was relatively small. We liked the “fruit”-forward, “milk chocolate” notes of the coffee it made, which was flavorful and "roasty." It was among the more consistent grinders. It had a magnetic base, which pulled the grounds bin snugly in place; the grounds came out of the chute right into the container without spreading a mess all over the counter, thanks to the addition of anti-static technology. We didn’t like the round edge of the grounds bin, which made it more difficult to precisely pour the grounds into a vessel with a smaller opening, such as the portafilter from an espresso machine.
Model Number: 1221MB-USStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 10⅗ x 8⅖ x 5 inWeight: 5 lbNumber Of Settings: 41Tds: 1.15%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 64%Price at Time of Testing: $195.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Breville Smart Grinder Pro

This grinder was one of the easiest to operate, even for the coffee novice, because the screen can guide you through the grind sizes and servings. It brewed “full-bodied,” “smooth” coffee with “chocolaty” and “roasty” notes. It was able to produce cups within the same range of TDS recommended by coffee experts. We liked its accessories, which include a portafilter cradle, an attachment that allows the grinder to dispense grounds directly into an espresso portafilter. It was easy to take out the burr for deep cleaning, in addition to running cleaning tablets through the grinder. However, the machine didn't contain stray grounds as well as some others; we noticed some mess on the counter over extended use.
Model Number: BCG820BSSXLStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 8½ x 6 x 15½ inWeight: 6.4 lbNumber Of Settings: 60Tds: 1.27%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 59%Price at Time of Testing: $199.95
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This grinder was one of the easiest to operate, even for the coffee novice, because the screen can guide you through the grind sizes and servings. It brewed “full-bodied,” “smooth” coffee with “chocolaty” and “roasty” notes. It was able to produce cups within the same range of TDS recommended by coffee experts. We liked its accessories, which include a portafilter cradle, an attachment that allows the grinder to dispense grounds directly into an espresso portafilter. It was easy to take out the burr for deep cleaning, in addition to running cleaning tablets through the grinder. However, the machine didn't contain stray grounds as well as some others; we noticed some mess on the counter over extended use.
Model Number: BCG820BSSXLStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 8½ x 6 x 15½ inWeight: 6.4 lbNumber Of Settings: 60Tds: 1.27%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 59%Price at Time of Testing: $199.95
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Grinder

This heavy burr grinder had a hopper made of see-through plastic. It yielded a relatively high percentage of medium-size pieces, at 64%, and produced “robust” coffee that had “floral sweetness.” The grounds bin hugged the mouth of the chute snugly, creating a tight seal with the silicone lid to keep stray grounds at bay. When we weighed and ground enough beans to make a single batch of drip coffee, we noticed some beans were left in the hopper. Upon further inspection, we noticed the bottom of the hopper was too flat to let the beans slide down easily. If you weigh your beans each time you make coffee, you’ll have to shake the grinder a bit to make sure all the beans go through. Transferring the grounds from the grounds bin was challenging because of the static cling, which caused large amounts of grounds to stick to the walls of the container. We had to use a pastry brush to clean out the grounds.
Model Number: 49522Style: Flat steel burrDimensions: 12¾ x 5 x 8½ inWeight: 10 lbNumber Of Settings: 9Tds: 1.26%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 64%Price at Time of Testing: $339.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This heavy burr grinder had a hopper made of see-through plastic. It yielded a relatively high percentage of medium-size pieces, at 64%, and produced “robust” coffee that had “floral sweetness.” The grounds bin hugged the mouth of the chute snugly, creating a tight seal with the silicone lid to keep stray grounds at bay. When we weighed and ground enough beans to make a single batch of drip coffee, we noticed some beans were left in the hopper. Upon further inspection, we noticed the bottom of the hopper was too flat to let the beans slide down easily. If you weigh your beans each time you make coffee, you’ll have to shake the grinder a bit to make sure all the beans go through. Transferring the grounds from the grounds bin was challenging because of the static cling, which caused large amounts of grounds to stick to the walls of the container. We had to use a pastry brush to clean out the grounds.
Model Number: 49522Style: Flat steel burrDimensions: 12¾ x 5 x 8½ inWeight: 10 lbNumber Of Settings: 9Tds: 1.26%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 64%Price at Time of Testing: $339.00

Recommended with reservations

  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Eureka Mignon Crono Burr Grinder

This heavy burr grinder consistently produced a high percentage of evenly ground coffee that our panelists enjoyed, noting “creamy caramel” and “bittersweet chocolate” flavors. It was a “stepless” grinder, meaning you tweak the grind size as minutely as you’d like by turning the knob slightly, but there’s no reference number for the grind size. This feature is useful for those who strive for the perfect sip, but it also poses a challenge for novices who need guidance. The burrs on this model got stuck quickly. To troubleshoot, we had to watch a video, take the machine apart using a screwdriver, clean out the boulders that caused the problem, and then put all the small pieces back together.
Model Number: CronoStyle: Flat steel burrDimensions: 15⅗ x 11½ x 8 inWeight: 15.65 lbNumber Of Settings: Stepless, infiniteTds: 1.32%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 82%Price at Time of Testing: $249.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This heavy burr grinder consistently produced a high percentage of evenly ground coffee that our panelists enjoyed, noting “creamy caramel” and “bittersweet chocolate” flavors. It was a “stepless” grinder, meaning you tweak the grind size as minutely as you’d like by turning the knob slightly, but there’s no reference number for the grind size. This feature is useful for those who strive for the perfect sip, but it also poses a challenge for novices who need guidance. The burrs on this model got stuck quickly. To troubleshoot, we had to watch a video, take the machine apart using a screwdriver, clean out the boulders that caused the problem, and then put all the small pieces back together.
Model Number: CronoStyle: Flat steel burrDimensions: 15⅗ x 11½ x 8 inWeight: 15.65 lbNumber Of Settings: Stepless, infiniteTds: 1.32%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 82%Price at Time of Testing: $249.00
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

De'Longhi Dedica Coffee Grinder

This slim and compact grinder produced a “smooth,” “balanced,” and “robust” cup with a “medium body.” It was relatively consistent, with about 60% of the grounds falling into the medium size range. The machine kept stray grounds to a minimum, which created very little mess for us to clean up. It’s slightly less versatile than some others, with 18 settings to choose from. We didn’t like its digital interface, as we could see the settings clearly only if we looked at it from directly above; it also had too many hard-to-decipher symbols. We also had reservations about the design of the cup that holds the grounds; the cup was cylindrical, which meant that it was more difficult to angle to accurately dispense grounds into a narrow coffee device.
Model Number: KG521MStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 9½ x 6 x 15 inWeight: 6.16 lbNumber Of Settings: 18Tds: 1.22%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 61%Price at Time of Testing: $158.99
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This slim and compact grinder produced a “smooth,” “balanced,” and “robust” cup with a “medium body.” It was relatively consistent, with about 60% of the grounds falling into the medium size range. The machine kept stray grounds to a minimum, which created very little mess for us to clean up. It’s slightly less versatile than some others, with 18 settings to choose from. We didn’t like its digital interface, as we could see the settings clearly only if we looked at it from directly above; it also had too many hard-to-decipher symbols. We also had reservations about the design of the cup that holds the grounds; the cup was cylindrical, which meant that it was more difficult to angle to accurately dispense grounds into a narrow coffee device.
Model Number: KG521MStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 9½ x 6 x 15 inWeight: 6.16 lbNumber Of Settings: 18Tds: 1.22%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 61%Price at Time of Testing: $158.99
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder

This compact grinder fit under the cabinet with no problem. It brewed “nutty” and “roasty” coffee that had a “light body”; its TDS readings were consistently lower than the 1.15% minimum for brewed coffee recommended by the SCA. There were 16 settings, which gave us a general range of different brewing methods when it came to grind size; however, if we wanted to fine-tune a brew to customize how the coffee tasted, we’d be out of luck. The machine also has a dial timer, but if you weigh the exact amount of beans you need each time you grind coffee, then the timer doesn't add much value. Stray grounds flew all over the counter, creating cleanup for us.
Model Number: 560.04Style: Conical steel burrDimensions: 5 x 7¾ x 10½ inWeight: 3 lbNumber Of Settings: 16Tds: 0.88%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 54%Price at Time of Testing: $99.99
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This compact grinder fit under the cabinet with no problem. It brewed “nutty” and “roasty” coffee that had a “light body”; its TDS readings were consistently lower than the 1.15% minimum for brewed coffee recommended by the SCA. There were 16 settings, which gave us a general range of different brewing methods when it came to grind size; however, if we wanted to fine-tune a brew to customize how the coffee tasted, we’d be out of luck. The machine also has a dial timer, but if you weigh the exact amount of beans you need each time you grind coffee, then the timer doesn't add much value. Stray grounds flew all over the counter, creating cleanup for us.
Model Number: 560.04Style: Conical steel burrDimensions: 5 x 7¾ x 10½ inWeight: 3 lbNumber Of Settings: 16Tds: 0.88%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 54%Price at Time of Testing: $99.99

Not Recommended

  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Mr. Coffee Burr Coffee Grinder

This lightweight burr grinder was compact. It had a clear plastic hopper, which couldn’t protect the beans from excess light if they were stored there. Some tasters thought its drip coffee was “weak and watery”—which tracked with a disappointing 0.79 TDS reading, the lowest among all grinders we tested. It had two dials, one to set the amount of coffee to grind (by cups) and one to set the grind size, from coarse to fine. The dials were a bit tight and hard to turn. We also didn’t like using the number of cups to gauge the amount of grounds, as it was imprecise; we usually calculate and weigh the beans before we grind. We didn’t like the grinding chamber, which had too many nooks and crannies for the stray grounds to hide and made cleaning it more difficult. This model created a ton of static, and stray grounds spread all over the counter. To clean the machine, you can detach the hopper and brush the burrs; you can remove the top burrs but not the bottom.
Model Number: BVMC-BMG25Style: Flat steel burrDimensions: 8⅕ x 5⅕ x 11½ inWeight: 3.69 lbsNumber Of Settings: 18Tds: 0.79%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 57%Price at Time of Testing: $49.99
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This lightweight burr grinder was compact. It had a clear plastic hopper, which couldn’t protect the beans from excess light if they were stored there. Some tasters thought its drip coffee was “weak and watery”—which tracked with a disappointing 0.79 TDS reading, the lowest among all grinders we tested. It had two dials, one to set the amount of coffee to grind (by cups) and one to set the grind size, from coarse to fine. The dials were a bit tight and hard to turn. We also didn’t like using the number of cups to gauge the amount of grounds, as it was imprecise; we usually calculate and weigh the beans before we grind. We didn’t like the grinding chamber, which had too many nooks and crannies for the stray grounds to hide and made cleaning it more difficult. This model created a ton of static, and stray grounds spread all over the counter. To clean the machine, you can detach the hopper and brush the burrs; you can remove the top burrs but not the bottom.
Model Number: BVMC-BMG25Style: Flat steel burrDimensions: 8⅕ x 5⅕ x 11½ inWeight: 3.69 lbsNumber Of Settings: 18Tds: 0.79%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 57%Price at Time of Testing: $49.99
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility

Chefman Conical Burr Coffee Grinder

This compact burr grinder gave us grounds that produced “thin” brewed coffee with “harsh astringency.” One taster said it was “watery and bitter,” which tracked with its low average TDS reading. Only 48% of the grounds it produced were ideal for brewing coffee, which was lower than other models we tested. It weighed less than 5 pounds, and the powerful grinding motor threatened to rock it; it was also a bit loud while grinding. It operated in 5-second intervals, and we had to hit the “Add 5 Sec” button several times to grind more beans. The dials were tight to turn. It made a mess, as the grounds flew out of the chamber. The lower part of the burr isn't detachable, but you can pop off the upper part for cleaning.
Model Number: RJ44-SS-TCBStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 7⅕ x 4¾ x 12⅖ inWeight: 4.9 lbNumber Of Settings: 31Tds: 0.81%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 48%Price at Time of Testing: $39.99
  • Performance
  • Ease Of Use
  • Cleanup
  • Versatility
This compact burr grinder gave us grounds that produced “thin” brewed coffee with “harsh astringency.” One taster said it was “watery and bitter,” which tracked with its low average TDS reading. Only 48% of the grounds it produced were ideal for brewing coffee, which was lower than other models we tested. It weighed less than 5 pounds, and the powerful grinding motor threatened to rock it; it was also a bit loud while grinding. It operated in 5-second intervals, and we had to hit the “Add 5 Sec” button several times to grind more beans. The dials were tight to turn. It made a mess, as the grounds flew out of the chamber. The lower part of the burr isn't detachable, but you can pop off the upper part for cleaning.
Model Number: RJ44-SS-TCBStyle: Conical steel burrDimensions: 7⅕ x 4¾ x 12⅖ inWeight: 4.9 lbNumber Of Settings: 31Tds: 0.81%Highest Percentage Of Medium Pieces: 48%Price at Time of Testing: $39.99

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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The Expert

Author: Valerie Sizhe Li

byValerie Sizhe Li

Associate Editor, ATK Reviews

Valerie is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. In addition to cooking, she loves skiing, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Valerie Li Stack is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. She’s interested in finding out how things are made—be it a kitchen gadget or artisanal food. Having grown up in a family that traveled extensively, she’s visited more than 50 countries—with more to come. Thanks to these travel experiences and the ability to converse in multiple languages, she’s become fascinated by the cuisines of different countries and regions and believes that food is a universal language that can connect people regardless of cultural background. As an avid skier, she dreams of hitting the slopes of all skiable mountains around the world. Prior to joining America's Test Kitchen, Valerie worked for Reviewed, USA Today, and other publications.

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