Best Burr Coffee Grinders for True Coffee Aficionados in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 5, 2024
Even the best ground coffee is only fresh for a couple of days and for a true coffee aficionado, it is a no-no. To have the freshest coffee at home, you need a coffee grinder. While blade grinders still exist, the quality of their grinding is no match for burr models so we've decided to review the most popular of the latter. Read on and find the best burr coffee grinder for your needs. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
GRINDER TYPE
POWER & CAPACITY
DESIGN
OPTIONS AND EXTRAS
WARRANTY
 
PROS

This conical burr coffee grinder will allow you to make the most of each cup. Elaborately designed, the unit has 60 unique settings. An ergonomic LCD screen displays the grind setting, the number of shots or cups as well as the grind time.

CONS

Changing the filter could be easier. 

OUR VERDICT

Being a perfect choice for at-home baristas, this functional unit will provide precise control over every setting. The Sage SCG820BTR electric burr coffee grinder comes with a set of accessories that will take your barista skills to a whole new level.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

165 watts

Bean hopper: 450 g

DESIGN

Stainless steel body, See-through bean hopper, Grinding chamber

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

60 grind settings, Dosing iQ, Cup selector (2-12 cups), Lid sealing cap, Conical burr, Cleaning brush

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The unit will shut off automatically when the grinding cycle is complete. Alternatively, you can switch it off manually without any damage to the mechanism as soon as enough coffee of the desired fineness has been ground.

CONS

Some users have complaints about the start button quality.

OUR VERDICT

Featuring a fineness selector with as many as 17 positions, the KRUPS GVX231 allows you to experiment with grind fineness and adjust coffee strength to your taste. An ergonomic cup selector will allow you to grind enough coffee for up to 12 cups.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Flat disk burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

110 watts

Bean hopper: 225 g

DESIGN

Black plastic body with brushed stainless steel fascia, Stainless steel bowl, Dual stainless steel burr grinder, Transparent plastic removable container

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

17 grind settings, Cup selector (2-12 cups), Blue LED on/off, Auto shut-off

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

To be extra durable and safe in use, the electric burr coffee grinder is equipped with a Dual Safe System that will automatically shut it off if either a bean hopper or a ground coffee container is being removed. Rubber feet and self-contained cord storage add to its ergonomics.

CONS

The bean hopper could be a bit bigger.

OUR VERDICT

This model will make grinding coffee a simple and enjoyable task. Just use its selectors to preset the coffee fineness (coarse, medium, or fine) or the amount of beans (for brewing from 2 to 12 cups) to be ground. Whichever setting you choose, a perfect grinding result is guaranteed.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Flat disk burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

110 watts

Bean hopper: 120 g

DESIGN

Black plastic body, Transparent bean container and hopper

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

16 grind settings, Cup selector (2-12 cups), On/off switch, Dual Safe System

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

The grinder set includes a special scoop to precisely measure ground coffee for your drinks that also doubles as a brush to make the unit cleaning a breeze.

CONS

Even the finest grind is not the best fit for espresso. 

OUR VERDICT

If you look for a reasonably priced burr grinder to mill enough coffee to make drinks for a family without spending much time and effort in the morning, the Cuisinart Supreme is for you. Fitted with a flat disc burr, this machine will grind coffee for 4 cups in close to no time while an oversized grind container can hold enough powder to make up to 32 cups. 

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Flat disc burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

140 watts

Bean hopper: 250 g

DESIGN

Metal body, See-through bean hopper, Grinding chamber

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

18 grind settings, 4 to 18-cup slide dial, Scoop and cleaning brush included

WARRANTY

5 years

PROS

The Melitta Molino 1019-01 will allow you to grind beans for making literally any kind of coffee. Moreover, right on the housing, the unit has clear mark guides specifying which setting to select to brew espresso, filter, or french press coffee.

CONS

The grind adjustment knob is somewhat small. 

OUR VERDICT

This compact automatic burr grinder is a great choice for any kitchen. Equipped with an efficient grinding mechanism with a removable disk, this moderately-priced model has all the features you would expect from a more expensive burr coffee grinder.

detailed parameters
GRINDER TYPE

Flat disk burr grinder

POWER & CAPACITY

100 watts

Bean hopper: 200 g

DESIGN

Black plastic body, Transparent bean container and hopper lid

OPTIONS AND EXTRAS

17 grind settings, Cup selector (2-14 cups), On/off switch, Automatic switch-off, Low power consumption

WARRANTY

2 years

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Sage SCG820BTR

For Passionate Coffee Lovers

If you love all kinds of drinks made of coffee beans, you will surely appreciate this functional burr coffee grinder by Sage. With as many as 60 grinding settings, you will be able to brew delicious coffee regardless of which type you, your family or friends prefer. All your chosen settings can be clearly seen on a large LCD screen. In addition to adjusting the grinding fineness and number of shots, the machine will allow you to preprogram the grinding time with stunning precision (0.2-second increments).

Designed with the user in mind, the Smart Grinder Pro allows you to grind coffee directly into an airtight container, portafilter, paper filter or gold tone filter basket. Besides, you will get a whole set of accessories. Namely, it comes with a small portafilter cradle (50-54 mm), a large portafilter cradle (58 mm), a grind's container with a lid and a sealing cap to keep the ground coffee fresh and a brush for cleaning the coffee grinder.

To wrap it all up, the Smart Grinder Pro by Sage is a professional quality burr coffee grinder. Offering multiple grinding settings and programmable operating time, it will help you to get perfectly ground coffee beans for brewing your favourite morning drink.

Review of Sage SCG820BTR Smart Grinder Pro
Last updated price £194.48
Stock In stock
ASIN B07KLRPKYD

 

KRUPS GVX231

ADD CONVENIENCE AND STYLE

To enjoy full aroma and rich taste of coffee, you need the beans ground just before brewing. To relish your cup of coffee to the fullest, you need a machine that will provide uniform grinding, just like the KRUPS GVX231. This wonderful appliance has two burrs to grind your coffee preserving maximum flavour and aroma. An ergonomic fineness selector allows you to adjust the distance between the burrs to customise coffee strength.

You can experiment with a coarser or finer grid (there are 17 settings available) to find the one for brewing your perfect cup of coffee. In addition, you will be able to preset the desired number of cups (from 1 up to 12) to have as many beans ground as you need for making the drink.

The KRUPS GVX231 combines a stylish appearance and user-friendly design. This black-and-silver unit with a blue LED power indicator on its on/off button will add a touch of elegance to your kitchen. To ensure convenient use, the appliance is equipped with a removable ground coffee container that has a safety lid to prevent any accidental spills.

The unit is pretty easy to maintain. The lids and ground coffee holder are recommended to clean in warm soapy water; you can also place them in your dishwasher (upper basket). The upper mill can be removed for easy cleaning with a damp cloth.

It is important to keep coffee beans protected from any odours or excessive humidity. The appliance has a capacious airtight hopper allowing you to keep beans fresh and preserve their wonderful aroma. The hopper can hold up to 225g of beans depending on the coffee type, allowing you to grind enough of it for up to 12 cups. The KRUPS GVX231 is a wonderful choice if you are a family of coffee-lovers.

Review of KRUPS GVX231 Expert Burr Coffee Grinder

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £44.95
Stock In stock
ASIN B0002H2IOM

 

Delonghi Professional

Great Functionality at a Reasonable Price

The Delonghi Professional KG79 has two grinding wheels that efficiently grind the beans without producing excessive heat. The upper wheel can be removed for easy cleaning, which will help to preserve the coffee flavour and taste. A cup selector will help you to grind the exact amount of coffee you need for brewing and have the beans freshly ground to enjoy the utmost taste each time.

On the other hand, a fineness selector can help you get the appropriate particle size depending on your chosen brewing method. It will be easy to get customised results with as many as 16 fineness modes provided. So, thanks to this burr grinder, you will be able to grind beans for brewing coffee in a coffee machine, a French press, or a Moka pot.

With a user's safety and convenience in mind, the machine is equipped with a dual safety system. If either ground coffee container or bean hopper is removed, the unit will shut off automatically.

The item has a stylish and compact design; both the bean hopper and the ground coffee container have a neat rectangular shape and are equipped with ergonomic lids. The only downside is that the bean hopper is a little less capacious than most other models, so you will need to refill it more often. However, both containers are transparent so you will be able to clearly see how much beans/ground coffee is left inside.

Review of Delonghi Professional Burr Coffee Grinder

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £60.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B002OHDBQC

 

Cuisinart DBM-8

For a Family of Coffee Lovers

Any avid coffee enthusiast knows that for the freshest and most flavorful cup, it is important to grind your coffee right before brewing. Hence, once you have a brewer the next must-have appliance is a good coffee grinder. Whether you seek to replace your manual mill or buy your first automatic grinder without breaking the bank, the Cuisinart Supreme burr mill will definitely catch your fancy.

What you’ll get is a nice little machine with a brushed steel body, stainless steel trimming, and transparent plastic beans hopper and grind container. It has a very modern design that will fit most kitchens. It won’t stick out like a sore thumb but rather look like a unit you won’t want to put away. Moreover, featuring a slim profile and pretty compact footprint, it won’t take much place on your kitchen countertop and will make a perfect match for your coffee brewer.

The Cuisinart Supreme is fitted with a flat disc burr, which means it mills really fast. It will grind a 4-cup portion of beans in less than 20 seconds. When it comes to power, it's average here (140W), however, this amount will suffice to quickly get the desired grind size without overheating the beans.

To meet different grinding needs and fit different coffee drinker tastes, the model offers 18 grind settings and several quantity settings. Thus, you can customize your grind from coarse through medium to fine and grind as much coffee at a time as you need (from 4 to 18 cups). There is a slider on the machine that makes the unit operation intuitive and straightforward.

With the lowest amount setting of 4 cups, the Cuisinart is a great choice for a family of coffee lovers who can’t imagine their morning without a freshly brewed cup of joe. Besides, an oversized grind container capable of holding up to 16 oz of ground coffee (to make up to 32 cups of coffee drinks) makes this model a functional addition for small cafes, bistro, and coffee shops too.

All in all, the Cuisinart Supreme grinder stands out for its optimal price to quality ratio and will perfectly suit non-picky brewers and novices with little experience in grinding who want their morning cup of joe fresh, quick, and without a hassle.

Review of Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Last updated price £64.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B0007P3LE0

VIDEO
Cuisinart Supreme Grind™ Automatic Burr Mill (DBM-8) Demo Video
 

Melitta Molino 1019-01

Compact and Simple in Use

Grinding coffee beans is an essential part of coffee-brewing art. Not only do you need the particular fineness/coarseness for each brewing method, but you also need the beans freshly and uniformly ground. No wonder that most electric burr coffee grinders that ensure consistent results and preserve the natural flavour by minimising the heat impact are pretty expensive. Luckily, there is a budget-friendly alternative - the Melitta Molino 1019-01 professional disc grinder.

This unit allows you to set the desired coffee fineness by adjusting the distance between two discs (one of them can be removed for easy cleaning). To take the guesswork out of selecting the appropriate programme, the unit has instructions right on its housing. For example, depending on your preferences, you can choose the appropriate setting for making espresso (1-3), for brewing filter coffee (2-13), or for making French press coffee (12-17).

Moreover, like with any other professional burr coffee grinder, you can control the amount of coffee you need to grind by selecting the number of cups (from 2 to 14).

When the job is done, the unit will switch off automatically. The bean container has a see-through lid so you will be able to timely refill it. Besides, the unit is equipped with a transparent ground bean container.

In a word, whichever kind of coffee you prefer, the Melitta Molino 1019-01 will make grinding the beans a breeze. And for low costs.

Review of Melitta Molino 1019-01 Electric Coffee Grinder

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £45.43
Stock In stock
ASIN B00R7HKAWC

 

What Is a Burr Grinder?

Grinding coffee beans yourself instead of buying pre-ground packages means, of course, more efforts and at a certain point in time, more money spent. However, if you truly love coffee, you probably know how hard making a restaurant-worthy cup at home with pre-ground brands can be. This is because of oxidation: smaller particles of already ground beans have more of their surface "touching" the air and since the flavour is volatile, it disappears quite quickly. Beans keep it inside for longer, therefore, in order to have a fresh and full of flavour cup of coffee, you need to make it from freshly ground beans. That's why you need your own grinder. And if you want a luxurious experience with brewing coffee, go for a burr grinder, they are generally more expensive than blade ones but the results are on a completely different level, too.

Burr grinders are a type of coffee grinder that operates using two burrs, one rotating against the other (which is stationary) and grinding beans. Kind of like the mills work, making flour out of the grains. Compared to blade grinders, burr models produce more uniform results, are more adjustable and easier to control, allowing you to set the coarseness to make anything from French press to Espresso-ready powder. This flexibility is what has earned them the acclaim among baristas and general public coffee lovers alike. If you love coffee, get yourself one of the best burr coffee grinders reviewed on this page. And to enhance the taste of your coffee, we recommend you to get a milk frother. It won't take much space in your kitchen but allow you to enjoy creamy lattes and cappuccinos.

What Features to Compare

Burr grinders are more complex than one might think and here's what we recommend considering before you click that "Add to Cart" button.

Disc or Conical

These are two shapes a grinding element might have in a burr coffee grinder. Disc burrs are also called "flat burrs" by some specialists. The difference in shape brings out the difference in some specs. Flat/disc burrs rotate faster and, therefore, grind the beans faster. And when we say faster, we mean quite a lot so if you're often time-stripped yet wish to have a tasty cup of coffee, this is where you should proceed. At the same time, disc burrs are noisier and they produce more heat, both direct consequences of higher speeds. And while modern disc grinders have the means to battle the heat (which can result in burned coffee, like with blade grinders), the noise is still mostly to be simply tolerated.

On the other hand, there are conical burr grinders. They are slower and more expensive but quieter, less messy, emit far less heat, and offer better results when you need extra-fine grinding like with Espresso or Turkish coffee. They also fare better when your coffee beans are oily or flavoured: flat discs can get clogged quite fast with those.

Ceramic or Steel

If you pursue the most traditional coffee flavour, ceramic burrs were created with this sole purpose in mind so that will be your best shot. Ceramic also lives longer, generally. However, steel burrs distribute particles better as well as absorb excess heat and thus are generally safer if you often grind a lot of beans and there is a danger of burning them. Steel is also way cheaper, which might be a deciding factor for many users.

Capacity

Consider how many people you are going to use your burr grinder for. If it's an appliance for family use only, it is not just enough but actually better to get a smaller one—for no other reason than the oxidation we've mentioned before. It is not recommended to keep a lot of beans, raw of ground, just lying around in a grinder, especially a transparent one. If you're looking for a device to use at big parties or in the cafe, it is an entirely different matter, a bigger model will do better since no one will need to wait long for a cup of tasty coffee.

Number of Grind Settings

As with many other appliances, the more the better. More settings will allow you to accurately adjust the level of grinding to get the very best result. More often than not, it also means the ability of a grinder to make Espresso-level fine grind. We recommend starting with at least 8 settings and go up till you hit your top budget for the item.

Design & Other Extras

Transparent bean hopper and grinding chamber are good for monitoring the process and the amount of beans/ground coffee inside, though don't leave anything there for a long time (unless they have UV protection). Check if the material absorbs noise, especially for flat disc burrs. Durability is of concern as well, metal housing is sturdier than plastic, usually. Airtight hoppers are rare but they do exist. It is nice to have a timer and a doser for making Espresso. The removable upper burr will make cleaning easier.

That's about it, most other things are of little significance and are up to your personal preferences.

Did you know?

Burr Coffee Grinders Were Here First

While we are used today that the better appliance or tool is generally the newer one, the burr grinders were introduced before the blade ones. Well, they weren't really grinders as we know them today, in truth—the very first of them were pestle and mortar, which is definitely closer to a burr in construction than to a blade, of course. Stone pestle and mortar were used as abrasives to grind coffee beans as well as herbs and spices and it was thousands of years ago. They later evolved to mills, then went smaller in size, enough so that wealthy families were able to obtain a device to grind their own coffee. And when were blade grinders introduced? In the 20th century only!

There Were Wall-Mounted Burr Grinders

It is not exactly correct to say that there "were" wall-mounted coffee bean grinders as they still exist, but they are mostly vintage and antique ones, today a grinder is supposed to be set on a counter or a tabletop. The first patent on the wall-mounted coffee mill, as it was called, was coincidentally the first American coffee grinder patent ever; it was issued for Thomas Bruff Sr. in 1798. That device was also a burr mill grinder as it used a couple of toothed nuts to crush the beans.

Coffee Grinders Can Be Works of Art

Same as there are people passionate about old paintings or cars, there are people collecting antique coffee equipment. Since for centuries, coffee was something only respectable and wealthy people could afford, the devices it was prepared in were also intricate and beautiful to appease the eye of the owner and their guests as well as to show off the money and taste in things. From Turkey to Europe to the Americas, antique hand-made burr mills can be found and bought, sometimes at ridiculous prices.

If You're Passionate About Espresso—Burr Grinder It Is

It matters less for brewing coffee in a French press but if you, like many many people today, need a cup of strong Espresso in the morning to stay awake, with a burr coffee grinder you will fare way better. This, you probably do know but good Espresso powder needs to be extremely fine and uniform. What might or might not be news to some aficionados, though, is that blade grinders rarely do this kind of work very good, evenness is generally a major issue with them.

What Level of Grinding Is Good for What Coffee

The finest grind is always reserved for Espresso makers or for Turkish coffee while the coarsest levels are intended for the drink made in a French press. But what about the in-between? Well, the medium grind is good for drip coffee makers but those have two types of filters. The trick is this: if you divide the medium-scale on your burr mill into two, the part on the coarse side works better with flat-bottom filters while cone-shaped ones are most suited for the medium-to-fine grinding levels.

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Publish Date: 2019-07-25 10:31:18