Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

Best Burr Coffee Grinders (for a bargain)

Turn beans into the perfect cup of coffee... with a burr grinder.
Turn beans into the perfect cup of coffee… with a burr grinder.

It is well known that the best way to get barista-style freshness in your coffee is by grinding the coffee beans just before you brew.

What is less known is that simply grinding coffee is not enough, they have to be ground the right way to preserve the flavor and the aroma of the coffee.

In a hurry? I have the Krups burr grinder and love it. Check it out at Amazon. I’ve had it for about 5 years — Still going strong.

In fact, grinding coffee beans properly is just as important to making a great batch of coffee as properly mincing your herbs is to creating a delicious aromatic dish. If you use a dull knife to chop your herbs, they bruise, causing them to become discolored and tasteless.

Similarly, using blades on your coffee does nothing but give you inconsistent cuts and causes the coffee bean to become bitter. For this reason, the only grinder you should get is a burr grinder. STAY AWAY FROM BLADE GRINDERS AT ALL COSTS.

Kona Burr

KONA Manual Coffee Grinder, Conical Burr Mill with Adjustable Setting, Best Ceramic Burr Coffee Grinder for Aeropress, Drip Coffee, Espresso, French Press, Turkish Brew

This is a very economic model for a burr grinder. See at Amazon.

Grinder number one is going to be the least expensive on the list but is still capable of getting the job done.

The Kona Burr Coffee Grinder lets you choose from coarse grinds to extra fine and the removable hopper can hold up to 50 grams of ground coffee. It is a decently well-built piece and is somewhat attractive to look at, but you shouldn’t expect it to “wow” anyone while sitting on your counter.

There have been some complaints that it does not consistently grind the beans uniformly. However, I think for the asking price, it does what you want.

See the Kona Burr Coffee Grinder at Amazon.

The perfect cup of Joe.
The perfect cup of Joe.

Should you purchase this burr grinder?

The Kona Burr Grinder is capable of grinding your coffee. However, the reports of it not giving a uniform grind to the coffee gives me some pause about recommending this product. But if you are on a tight budget but still want freshly ground coffee, this is one that could work for you.

Sometimes you just want one cup of coffee. This is the best one-cup maker.

Black + Decker CBM310BD

Next up is the Black + Decker CBM310BD Burr Mill Coffee Grinder.

BLACK+DECKER CBM310BD Burr Mill Coffee Grinder, Black

It has a removable grinding wheel for easy cleaning (cleaning, by the way, is an essential component to keeping your grinder healthy). There is a setting that lets you adjust the type of grind you get to your liking, holds one cup of coffee beans, and comes with a two-year limited time warranty.

On the downside, this has a tendency to jam, and you may find yourself shaking the beans back down more often than you grind the coffee.

See the Black+Decker CBM310BD at Amazon.

Is this the grinder you should purchase?

The grinder itself is sufficient for what it is meant to do (grind coffee). However, you will find that it doesn’t always give you the best-tasting coffee. Nor does it give you a consistent/uniform blend.

Once again, if you only want premium-quality ground coffee, I don’t think this machine will meet your needs. But if you aren’t a picky coffee drinker, or you’re just getting into coffee grinding, this should do the trick.

Good coffee is hot coffee. This cup keeps coffee hot the best.

Krups Professional Burr Coffee Grinder

KRUPS 8000035978 GX5000 Professional Electric Coffee Burr Grinder with Grind Size and Cup Selection, 7-Ounce, Black

Our third product is a premium brand and is a more reliable burr mill. Krups Professional Burr Coffee Grinder preserves the flavor and aroma of your coffee by utilizing a technology that reduces friction. This keeps the heat down, so the beans don’t burn.

The grinder has an auto-stop safety mechanism that prevents it from grinding if there are no coffee beans in the reservoirs. It also has nine grind levels from espresso to French press. You also get a consistently uniform grind.

With the Krups, you get an 8-ounce bean container and a quantity selector of 2 to 12 cups to let you be able to choose the brew size right for you.

See more features of the Krups Professional Burr Coffee Grinder at Amazon.

Should you purchase this burr grinder?

For an automatic grinder at a price point less than the price of a dinner for four, this is the best and most consistent item you can buy. Of course, it has its flaws. At the very least it will give you the fresh aromatic coffee that you expect from freshly ground coffee.

If you’re going to grind your own beans, try roasting them yourself with this popcorn popper.

Alternative Method

I have another grinder that I would like to share with you. This is a manual grinder, so you will need to put some work into grind your coffee. But it will ALWAYS give you a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.

Looking for a coffee maker with a thermal carafe?

Hario Ceramic Coffee Mini

The Hario Ceramic Coffee Mini Mill Grinder is an excellent alternative if you are more interested in getting a perfect brew than you are in having a convenient way to get fresh coffee.

Hario Ceramic Coffee Mill - "Skerton Plus"

Again, you will have to put some work into your coffee, but the experience of hand-ground coffee is definitely worth the effort. It is a great value for the quality, meeting the requirement while exceeding expectations when it comes to quality brews.

Check out the Hario Ceramic Coffee Mini at Amazon

Now that you’ve got perfectly ground beans, let’s get you the best espresso machine. Here are the top choices.

Additional Resources

Image credits via Flickr Creative Commons: Marco V. and zmtomako

Leave a Comment