The Best Burr Coffee Grinders

If you don't love the smell of freshly ground coffee in the morning, I'm not sure we can be friends. There's absolutely nothing like making that first cup of coffee. And real coffee snobs know: when it comes to coffee grinders, burr grinders are the best. That's because, unlike with blade grinders, with burr grinders, you can actually control the grind size. This in turn allows for a fuller and more balanced flavor profile in your cup of joe. Getting the grind size exactly right is how you extract the most flavor while brewing; in fact, if your coffee is unevenly ground, this could result in a weak, watery cup. (Um, no, thanks.) So, if you want to enjoy the best coffee possible, it's high time that you invested in a good burr grinder. And, luckily for you, you don't have to do any research to find the best product, because we've already done the work for you. Here are a few of our favorite burr grinders, grouped by category. Happy mornings are ahead.

OXO Brew Burr Coffee Grinder

The Daily Grind

The OXO Brew Burr Grinder is superior in every way.
Best Overall

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Highly durable, intuitive, and functional in every way, the OXO Brew Burr Coffee Grinder is a coffee nerd’s dream-come-true product. No, it’s not cheap, but think of this grinder as an investment in your future – your future of perfect coffee, that is. It’s got all the goods: solid, 40mm stainless steel conical burrs (for truly optimal flavor extraction); 15 settings so you can adjust your grind; and a one-touch start timer that stores your last setting to memory. The design is sleek and fabulous with its gleaming chrome finish, and at just under five pounds, this grinder fits neatly onto your countertop. It’s simply the best.

Pros:

  • Made from highly durable stainless steel
  • You can choose from 15 settings, so you get to fully customize your grind
  • The one-touch timer memorizes your last setting
  • The grounds container has space for up to 110 grams of coffee
  • Sleek, lightweight size

Cons:

  • You can’t remove the bottom burr, so it’s a bit harder to clean than some other grinders

Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Grinder

If Cost is a Concern, Get This Grinder

There's no need to break the bank just to get a good cup of joe. The Mr. Coffee Burr Grinder is a great budget-friendly option.
Best on a Budget

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Shoppers on a budget should consider getting the Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Grinder, which comes at a very affordable price point without skimping on performance ability or any must-have features. This nifty little grinder is decked out with 18 settings, so you can choose from coarse to a very fine grind, the latter of which results in some mighty tasty espresso and pour-over coffee. Handily, the bean hopper is removable, which allows for easy cleanup, while the simple one-touch operation allows for easy (and safe) operation. Talk about a steal.

Pros:

  • Equipped with 18 custom-grind settings
  • Has a removable bean hopper and grinding chamber
  • Holds up to 1/2 pound of coffee beans
  • Has dual safety-locking switches
  • Excellent value considering the quality of this grinder

Cons:

  • It’s a relatively noisy machine

KRUPS Precision Burr Grinder

Wake Up and Start Your Morning Right

The KRUPS Burr Grinder makes the best espresso, hands down.
Best for Espresso

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Are you always in the mood for espresso? Check out the KRUPS Precision Coffee Grinder, which churns out professional-quality espresso (and other types of coffee) every time. Get the potent coffee you crave with this cool tool, which has 12 grind-size settings, a 2-12 cup quantity selection, and a spacious capacity. The grounds container can produce enough grinds for over 30 cups of coffee if need be. (And hey, no judgment if the need for 30 espressos arises; we’ve all been there.) This grinder is a cinch to clean, too. The top burr is removable, and there’s even an embedded cleaning brush. Espresso enthusiasts will go cuckoo for this grinder.

Pros:

  • Offers a premium burr grind, providing full control over the grind size and quality
  • Has 12 grind fineness settings, from perfectly fine to coarse
  • Makes anywhere from 2 to 12 cups (with auto-stop)
  • Very easy to clean
  • One-touch operation

Cons:

  • The receptacle for the grounds tends to collect static (so the grounds get stuck), so you may need to clean this grinder more often than others

Baratza Burr Coffee Grinder

Coffee of the Gods

Yes, the Baratza Burr Grinder is an investment, but it's one that's worth every penny.
Best Splurge

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Even considering the relatively high price tag of the Baratza Burr Coffee Grinder, we’d gladly pay double for this highly coveted product. Why? Because this grinder is so luxuriously designed that it puts other grinders to shame. It is handcrafted with enhanced, commercial-grade conical burrs that produce a totally uniform grind, so you get the best-testing cup of joe possible. It also has a sleek 40-second digital timer, a staggering 40 grind settings, and an LED back-lit bin for grounds that accurately measures out your coffee. And thanks to its ultra-modern, sculptural design, this grinder looks great in your kitchen.

Pros:

  • Has the most grind settings of almost any other grinder (40 in all)
  • Made with commercial-grade conical burrs that produce a perfectly even, consistent grind
  • Is outfitted with a 40-second digital timer (adjustable to a tenth of a second) and an LED back-lit grounds bin
  • The design is very stylish and sleek, with a sculptured metal top and base
  • Relatively quiet operation
  • Backed by a one-year warranty

Cons:

  • Definitely on the expensive end

Mueller Ultra-Grind Burr Grinder

A Grind-ful Life

For a grinder that'll last you a lifetime, the Mueller Burr Grinder is here.
Most Durable

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Built to last a lifetime, the Mueller Ultra-Grind Burr Grinder is of the utmost in construction quality and performance. This is one durable, dependable piece of machinery. The hardened alloy steel conical burrs give you perfectly precise control over the grind size, and they also last forever. This grinder also works at a noise level that’s less than 76 dB, which is much quieter than most other models. And, you can make pretty much any type of brew you like with the Mueller, from drip to French press to pour-over, and everything in between.

Pros:

  • Crafted with very durable, hardened alloy steel
  • Provides the widest range of precision grinding for any type of brewing method you could imagine
  • Large capacity: able to produce over 30 cups of coffee
  • The gear-reduction motor grinds slowly, so this grinder isn’t as noisy as some others
  • Comes with an embedded cleaning brush

Cons:

  • Occasionally, the coffee beans get stuck in the entrance of the bean container

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a burr coffee grinder differ from other coffee grinders?

As opposed to blade grinders, burr grinders give you more control over the grind size, and the results are always very consistent. (It’s tougher to get evenly-ground coffee with blade grinders, which function more like a blender.) That’s because a burr grinder doesn’t chop up the coffee; it uses two abrasive surfaces to either finely or coarsely grind your coffee. Most coffee experts prefer a burr grinder to a blade grinder, because of the superior flavor and consistency of the coffee.

How do I clean my burr grinder?

It’s definitely important to clean out your burr grinder every now and then. To do so, unplug the grinder and remove any rubber parts (plus the bin) that come into contact with your coffee; you can wash those parts by hand. Knock loose any coffee grounds stuck to the inner and outer burrs, and then use a microfiber cloth to wipe these parts clean. Et voila – you’ve got a sparkling-clean burr grinder on your hands.