If you have been searching for a coffee grinder, you may have seen that there are two main types of grinders. The burr grinder and a blade grinder, with the blade grinder usually being a lot cheaper alternative. But what is a burr coffee grinder? Why is it more expensive and would paying a little bit more be worth it?

A burr grinder, also known as a burr mill, is an appliance that consists of two burrs that move against each other while coffee beans filter through them. The burrs evenly grind the beans until a powder is formed, ready for you to add it to your favorite coffee maker.

Burr grinders may come at a higher cost than other grinders, however, this price tag is justified by the quality of ground coffee you end up with after using this grinder. I have outlined the pros and cons of burr coffee grinders in this article.

There are several reasons why I recommend this type of grinder for your coffee, and spoiler alert; it gives a consistent grind which is important for the taste of your coffee. Keep reading to find out more of why this nifty grinder is worth the money.

What Is a Burr Coffee Grinder?

Some people may think that emphasizing the brewing process is the most crucial part of making great-tasting coffee, however, they are wrong. Well, in the case of adding ground coffee to your machine, the grinding process is the most important.

Real home coffee connoisseurs will know that adding freshly ground coffee into your maker is the best way to enjoy a proper cup of coffee. They will also know that the method of grinding this freshly ground coffee is the first step to getting that perfect brew.

Firstly, you should prioritize freshly ground coffee because as soon as the coffee is ground, it starts an oxidization process and while this is happening the coffee is losing its freshness. So firstly, you should be investing in your own grinder, so that you can grind your beans right before brewing.

If you have fresh grounds you are closer to enjoy the perfect cuppa, however, you still need to ensure that the coffee grinds are consistent. If you place uneven grinds into your machine you will likely end up with bad tasting coffee.

A Consistent Grind

The best cups of coffee are made using quality beans, freshly ground, with consistent grinds. This is not an impossible task that should be left for the professionals, you can do it too. All you need is the right tools, like a good quality burr coffee grinder.

The burr mechanism in this type of coffee grinder forces each of the beans to move through the burrs ensuring that each bean is consistently ground before it falls into the grinds chamber.

Blade coffee grinders tend to miss a few beans with the sharp blade that spins in the chamber. Some beans may get pushed to the edges where they don’t get cut up as small as the rest of the beans. This leaves an inconsistent grind.

The size of the ground coffee may seem insignificant, but once you take care with your coffee grinds, you will notice the world of difference it makes, to the taste of your cup of Joe.

Pros

  • Creates a consistent grind
  • Variety of grind settings
  • Comes in electric and manual options
  • Reduced heat and friction

Cons

  • The cost can be fairly high
  • Cleaning the burrs is sometimes difficult

The burr grinders may not be your choice because of the price, however, they will serve you better in the long run. If you choose a grinder that doesn’t produce consistent grinds. You may end up buying newer models searching for that better-tasting coffee.

You may try buying expensive coffee beans to improve the taste, however, this won’t work until you invest in a good-quality burr grinder.

Cleaning these grinders can be difficult when you do a full clean, due to the tricky burrs. However, the effort to clean it is worth it when you taste the coffee it produces.

You can also select models that are easy to clean. Some models come with brushes or have a built-in brush that cleans the burrs for you.

burr grinder

Burr Coffee Bean Grinder FAQs

Where can you buy a burr coffee grinder?

Good-quality burr grinders can be found at your local coffee appliance shops, but you can also find the grinders mentioned here as well as others on Amazon.

If you purchase through Amazon, you can return your unopened item for a full refund within 30 days from delivery. If you are unhappy with an aspect of your delivery you can sort it out through Amazon’s returns.

Another plus of purchasing a burr grinder this way is that if you decide you don’t like your product you can trade it in through the website for a gift card.

Is a burr coffee bean grinder worth it?

While a burr coffee bean grinder is quite pricey it is worth it if you are looking for flavorful coffee. The consistent grind that is produced by these grinders ensures that you have a great-tasting cup of coffee if you brew it correctly.

You will save more by purchasing a good-quality grinder that will last and you won’t need to replace a low-quality grinder if you are displeased with the taste it gives your coffee.

Why is a burr coffee grinder better for coffee?

The burrs found in these coffee grinders ensure that every bean passes through them and this ensures that all the beans are evenly cut up when they enter the grounds chamber. This produces grinds that create a great-tasting cup of Joe compared to blade grinders.

The blades in a blade grinder may miss a few of the beans that end up on the side of the chamber resulting in an inconsistent grind.

Can I use a spice grinder for coffee beans?

Technically you can use a spice grinder for your coffee beans if it is big enough. There are spice grinders that contain burrs that are good for consistently grinding coffee beans. However, if you use one grinder for coffee and spice, the flavors may mix and cause an unpleasant taste in your freshly brewed coffee.

Let’s Get Grinding!

Hopefully, you have your answer to what a burr grinder for coffee is and you are ready to make your choice. These grinding machines are great for producing the best grinds for a tasty cup of Joe for you at any time of the day.

Most burr grinders have multiple grind settings, letting you choose between a range of sizes from fine to coarse. With a high-quality burr grinder, you will be able to grind your coffee beans freshly for years to come.

If you like the sound of a burr grinder to add to your coffee accessories you can find more top electric or manual burr grinders on our site as well as some of the finest coffee beans you can buy.