Are You Responsible For The Best Conical Burr Grinder Budget? 12 Top Ways To Spend Your Money

Best Conical Burr Coffee Grinders

It is possible to improve the quality of your morning coffee by grinding your own beans. However, there are many different grinders out there.

This OXO grinder features conical burrs which produce an ideal grind for French press espresso, drip and French press coffee. Hardcore coffee geeks may want more precision from this grinder, however it's a great option for those who are just beginning.

OXO Brew

You probably know if you make your own coffee that a good grinder is essential to achieve the best flavor. A good burr mill can cost upwards of $200, which is a huge amount for those who aren't sure whether they'll utilize it. The OXO Brew is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly ground coffee without spending hundreds of dollars.

The design of the OXO Brew may not be flashy but it looks solid. The stainless steel body has a permanent water reservoir in the rear and a thermo caafe on the front. The carafe and tank are designed so that the body is easily fit into smaller kitchens.  espresso machine with grinder  are hidden under the carafe, reducing the clutter. There is also a light that lets you know when it is heating or making.

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 run according to thermocouples in the basket for grounds and the water tank. Its brewing times were also very close to the Specialty Coffee Association's recommended time for a quality drip.

Another plus for the OXO Brew is that it has the single-serve feature that lets you to brew your coffee directly into the cup. This isn't something you can find in other models of high-end and is a big benefit for people who like to make their own servings of coffee, but do not need the hassle of making an entire carafe of coffee.

The only issue with the OXO Brew is that it doesn't come with a clock or an automatic start time, which can be a pain when you have a hectic schedule. Additionally, the water tank can be tricky to remove, as it has a lid that needs to be lifted off to access the reservoir. It comes with an integrated descaler that assists in preventing mineral deposits from building up in the machine.

Baratza Encore ESP

If you're a coffee enthusiast seeking the top burr grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is your best choice. This version of the original Encore has been re-engineered with improvements that make it more compatible with a variety of brewing techniques and offers greater flexibility than ever before. It's designed for beginner home baristas, as well as anyone looking to keep their options for brewing open with a single grinder. It comes with step-up grind adjustments and easy controls for beginners, along with notched and labeled settings to ensure consistency. Its M2 burrs ensure uniform grinds, and the hopper comes with a quick release feature that makes cleaning simple.

The ESP utilizes an electric motor with high-torque and gear reduction, similar to the original Encore. However it runs at lower speeds in order to minimize heat and static charge. It's also quieter than the classic Encore, and it has a new metal plate which improves stability and consistency. It's fitted with 40mm conical M2 burrs that are identical to those of the more expensive Virtuoso Plus which allows it to achieve better grind size distribution and more consistently shot.

The ESP grind adjustment is 9 microns between each step, ensuring excellent resolution for espresso and pour over. It features a new dosing cup that is compatible with both 54 and 58 millimeter portafilters, which enhances the ergonomics of manual dosing. The grinder can be combined with the traditional grounds bin if you prefer a hopper based workflow.

One drawback of the ESP is its inconsistent performance when it comes to back-to-back consistency tests though it still performs better than many other grinders in this price range. The stepped settings can be inconsistant making it difficult to determine the ideal setting for your particular brewing process. However, the ESP is ideal for a wide range of brew methods and offers a great value for the versatility it offers.

The Encore ESP is also a bit more expensive than many of the other models on this list, but it's well worth the extra expense for its incredible versatility. It can grind for espresso and filter brews and utilize the shims included to optimize its performance for pour-over brewing.

Baratza DF64

The Baratza DF64 grinder is a great one that works for pour-over and espresso brewing. The burrs can be upgraded to enhance performance and the hopper is large enough for a variety of grind sizes. The DF64 has a small number of moving parts, making it simple to maintain and use. This is a great option for anyone who is looking for a top-quality, budget-friendly grinder.

The DF64 Gen 2 is a massive improvement over the original version and should be difficult to be defeated by any other grinder in the same price range. The new model has a new appearance that is more appealing to the eye. It features a simple flat-rounded base that can stand up to 20 grams of beans at a time, and a single dose cradle. It also comes with a bellows made of rubber that pushes air through the grinder when you take your dose to force out excessive grinds and to reduce 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.