Burr Coffee Grinders

A burr grinder is a type of coffee grinder that uses a burr to crush whole coffee beans between a stationary surface (disk) and a moving (rotating) grinding wheel (burr or shredding disk) with the effect of transforming whole bean coffee into fine particles. The burrs of burr grinders can be adjusted for optimal effect.

Burr coffee grinders are the style of grinder recommended for brewing espresso or brewing gourmet coffee.

Types of Burr Coffee Grinders – Wheel Burr and Conical Burr

Burr grinders come in two types – the wheel burr grinder and the conical burr grinder. The wheel burr grinder, which uses a high speed rotation, and the conical burr grinder, which uses a slower rotation and is more expensive.

In contrast with disk-type burr coffee grinders which operate at 10,000 rpm to 20,000 rpm creating a higher degree of warmth in the coffee, conical burr grinders operate at about 500 rpm.

The design of the steel burrs on a conical burr grinder permit a high gear reduction that slows down the grinding speed. As a result, less heat is imparted to the ground coffee and this provides the finest and most consistent grind that is optimal for preserving the coffee’s flavors and aromas.

In addition to using a slower rotation than the wheel burr grinder, the conical burr grinder is less noisy and messy and also better at handling oily or flavored coffees without clogging, though it is more expensive. Good conical burr grinders allow extra-fine grinding suitable for preparing Turkish coffee.

Achieving a Consistent Coffee Grind Size

Burr coffee grinders are able to achieve a more consistent grind size than blade coffee grinders because the grind size is controlled by the position of the burr.

Typically the upper burrs are removable so the grinding chamber may be cleaned. Burr coffee grinders often come with a cleaning brush.

Gourmet Coffee and Brewing Tips

To see detailed specialty coffee flavor profiles see Gourmet Coffees. We also provide step-by-step instructions on making espresso drinks – see Espresso Drink Recipes, Pulling A Perfect Espresso Shot and Barista Guide to Perfect Lattes and Cappuccinos.

For detailed definitions see the Espresso Coffee Guide’s Coffee and Espresso Glossary.