What Is A Burr Coffee Grinder?
... and how can it help you get the best quality and flavor from your coffee ...?
A burr coffee grinder is a type of grinder which uses a burr plate to reduce the coffee beans to a consistently sized ground. This evenly sized grind is important for extracting optimum results from your brew. Some cheaper forms of grinder use a blade which reduces the beans to a finer ground the longer the machine is operated.
What Are The Advantages Of A Burr Grinder?
Most coffee aficionados recognize that a burr grinder produces a more desirable result for the best quality brew. In part this is because you have greater control over the coarseness of the grind - but also because when you use a blade grinder you are literally chopping the beans at high speed, and tend to end up with grounds of an uneven size, ranging from small chunks to a fine powder.
Another advantage of the burr style of coffee mill is that you can often control how fast the coffee is ground. This matters because when the beans are processed at high speed, the grounds get hot and also pick up a static charge. The highest quality grinders are usually capable of operating at slow speeds to avoid these problems. They also tend to be quieter and less likely to clog for the same reason.
Types of Burr Grinders
There are two main types of burr used in coffee machines: the flat plate burr and the conical burr. The flat plate burr tends to be found in grinders that operate at higher speeds, while the conical burr is often found in the more expensive models that operate more slowly.
Bottom line: connoisseurs of coffee appreciate the control and consistency produced by a burr grinder for the quality of the grounds it can produce, whether for espresso, Turkish coffee or simply for use in a French press or a drip coffee maker.
Makes of Burr Grinders
You'll find a wide variety of models on the market, with different levels of functionality and sophistication to suit almost every budget and taste. Popular models include the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Grinder, the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic and the KitchenAid Pro Line Burr Grinder KPCG100. Other popular manufacturers include DeLonghi, Krups, Lello, Saeco, Rancilio, Breville, La Pavoni, Bodum and Baratza. You can check out the features of some of these manufacturers and models by looking at their pages in the menu to the right.
Making The Right Choice
Depending on your needs and your budget, you may decide to go for a high speed model, a low speed direct drive grinder or a low speed gear reduction equivalent. One way or another, working with fresh coffee beans is one of the most important ways to maximize the taste and quality of your favorite brew.