Equipment Review: The Best Coffee Grinder and Our Testing Winners (Burr vs. Blade Coffee Grinders)

[@PadmaDorjee]

I never in my ten years of watching KZbin, I have never witnessed a more thorough and satisfying review, literally! You answered every single question I had, and then gave me answers to questions I didn't but definitely would have later. I'm overwhelmed at how good that was. Thank you.

[@KZ-1155]

@foodeater42 For a short 7 minute video, it was indeed VERY thorough, and too the Point. Read the title. (Burr vs Blade) Not how to Make Coffee... If you want to learn how to brew a cup of coffee, you should look that up. I'm sure there are plenty of videos explaining just that. I'm always amazed on no matter how much time and effort is put into these types of video reviews, (long or short) there is always somebody taking the time to complain about how they made them. I don't ever see the complainers making their own video review?

[@bluto212]

ATK over thinks everything - in a good way; they're like the NASA of cooking.

[@deevnn]

@@KZ-1155 sorry...but you are wrong and foodeater42 is right. Wake up.

[@KZ-1155]

@@deevnn WHATEVER DAVE! Hmm, almost 7,000 likes! and little over 300 dislikes? There's one in every crowd. @ the time i was buying my first coffee grinder and didn't know anything about all the different types of grinders. I watched tons of videos and read many articles. This Video helped allot in my decision on which type to get. As the Title of the Video States...... Burr vs Blade? They are only trying to show some of the differences between the two types of grinders... So why don't you and Foot-Oder or what ever your new found friends name is go shack up & make your own Videos if this one has so much misinformation? 7,000 of us disagree with the two of you!

[@buzzingchina5927]

@foodeater42 that is why they took a broad pool of testers ranging from newbies to professionals. And a second round of professionals only if I heard it correctly. Still the preferences were split between blade and burr. So it's not really just taking their word for it. Of course, they didn't disclose the numbers and the people, that would have been even more thorough.

[@anneferrera1345]

Excellent info for someone who knew nothing about coffee grinders. Thanks!

[@kennybunker2081]

Great detailed review. Thanks so very much!

[@rickf4401]

Outstanding review!! Thank you.

[@Xblade45]

Big no for Blade grinders is that they heat the coffee while grinding, therefore altering the state of the resilting coffee ground. Worth mentioning. Blind test is hard with coffee because there are SO MANY factors to brewing a good cup, and everybody is different on taste. I still appreciate how well this review was made. Keep up the great work.

[@shantytownshipwright7334]

My problem with burr grinders is that the ones I’ve used have clogged up when I try to get a fine grind on a medium dark roast. I have the cuisinart and it cannot do a fine grind on a French roast without clogging up. The beans you used for testing did not look very dark and oily like the ones that I use.

[@AsianBM55]

Shantytown Shipwright your problem is you’re using a cuisinart

[@martincomesana6824]

Incredible job!! thank you

[@chrismd00]

I much prefer glass over plastic. Ground stick to plastic, and that darn plastic is everywhere around our food. Just be more careful not to drop glass!

[@AllThingsFascinate]

I love ATK, but there is some real misinformation here. Grind evenness absolutely DOES matter.

[@letsgo4834]

I'm so pleased this person is still presenting these reviews. She's professional, knowledgable and to-the-point. Excellent delivery of the info you need and want. ATK is fabulous and a trusted resource for me.

[@north.by.northeast]

I was impressed with the large number and range of grinders they tested, and that they looked at usability as well as grind quality, but the huge issue is that they didn't carry that methodolgy into the taste testing or results. They don't say how the coffee was brewed (I guess Chemex or batch brewer from the look of it) for the taste testing so despite all that time and effort spent on comparing machines and grinds they then don't test the others popular home brew methods (e.g. pour over, espresso, aero & French press) - that makes the results next to useless for a lot of us. Of course all the different grind results from the machines are going to taste 'good' (and of course all different) if it's all just batch brewed. This was a thorough test of grinders' usability and grind quality, but only for drip/batch/Chemex. And to say (twice) that grind consistancy ('eveness') of grind 'doesn't matter' is just wrong.

[@samsun01]

you wouldn't know trust and quality if your life depended on it. fucking suckers. i hope i don't get complimented and thanked by you. it's a worthless fucking approval by an idiot.

[@robsemail]

heeheemanofHK maybe you should take a xanax and lie down, dear. You obviously have issues that go well beyond finding the right coffee grinder. Perhaps the Psychiatry Today youtube channel might be a more productive resource for you.

[@megamaser]

@@north.by.northeast These KZbin videos are just trailers for the actual paid content on the website. Maybe they go into these details over there. They do give detailed test results for each product. I'm not willing to pay for that though.

[@megamaser]

@@north.by.northeast They provided evidence that the grind consistency does not matter. They did blind taste tests. Do you have any scientific evidence of blind taste tests showing that grind consistency does matter? Until you can provide higher quality test results, ATK has the most reliable info I've seen. I'm inclined to believe that coffee purists are like audiophiles, and they imagine differences in quality due to the placebo effect.

[@mattwhitney10]

Curious to James Hoffman's thought on these results from the blind taste test.

[@farmaanpannu2373]

Me too, he would say there should be more grinders and higher quality ones

[@megamaser]

He is pretentious and would say all of these are garbage.

[@00bikeboy]

Dear America's Test Kitchen: your dedication and thoroughness is a service to us all. Well done, and thank you.

[@samsun01]

you excel at Marketing and Bullshit. you reviewed mostly shit garbage grinders and then the best shit garbage is still jesus christ Fuck Me garbage.

[@deViant14]

They literally provided no individual reviews or comparisons

[@robsemail]

deV14nt indeed. If they’d done all that, I would not have watched, and I bet most other people wouldn’t have either. This was an ideal way to quickly review several competing devices at once. That’s the way ATK always does their reviews, and it’s why I watch them.

[@deViant14]

@@robsemail But their conclusions don't match anyone else's, I don't believe them, and they did nothing to prove otherwise. Enjoy your blade grinder. Meanwhile the best cup of coffee I had ever had at home was from doing nothing more than being given a burr grinder.

[@steves3760]

@@samsun01 Sorry you can't afford even the cheapest model. Who would cuss at a woman's review? Ahh, a broke liberal.

[@davem1212]

Please let Lisa do every video test from now on. I love this woman. She should have her own show

[@Kruveinc]

Happy to see our Sifter being used at 3:40 :) Glad to provide a way to calibrate and compare grinders to the fine folks at America's Test Kitchen! Interested to see how you will use our new specialty coffee KRUVE EQ glassware. Cheers!

[@wassssupprod]

link! link! link!

[@TJDawgs72]

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is it that your sifter does? Thank you for your reply

[@zachpw]

Thomas Charter Grinders don’t put out completely uniform grounds. Some pieces are big and some are really fine. To get consistent extraction (all your cups taste the same) and proper extraction (the brew pulls out all the good parts of the bean and none of the bad), you need to be able to control how consistent the grounds are. For the best results, you could either buy a very nice grinder (several hundred to several thousand dollars), or use the Kruve sifters which have a number of different hole sizes. It works like a coin sorter and you throw away the grounds that are too big or too fine.

[@MrCrackle]

I was so pumped to see they used a Kruve! My next question would be which sieves they used! #coffeenerd

[@noaht5654]

@@wassssupprod I believe this is it or very similar. I could not find this exact product on Amazon. www.krahics.com/interchangeable-silver-sieves--measure--home-twelve-sifter-cafes--calibrate--brewers--kruve-great-refine-or-12-accurately-baristas--for-grinds--coffee-helps

[@Zaniahiononzenbei]

Lisa McManus is a national treasure.

[@JL-dt7wd]

No doubt

[@albusdumbledore5875]

Also I'd argue consistency in ground coffee intended for esspreso would have a noticeable difference as you would be able to taste the coffee pucks that channeled badly.

[@justalonelypoteto]

absolutely, but for espresso you'd probably go to more specific channels (think James Hoffmann and the like) and also spend quite a bit more (the breville grinder seems to be decent, but you'd probably want a very different range of products to test), most people are likely here for french press / filter coffee so I don't think such testing would've been practical / relevant to them and telling people that they'll have to splurge out several hundred buckaroos on a niche zero or a weber for their $30 mr coffee would be more than pretentious

[@fluffycritter]

Don’t let James Hoffmann see this EDIT: IT WAS A JOKE JESUS CHRIST PEOPLE

[@matthewhuang3174]

@Google User paper filters filter out the oils which result in a cleaner cup compared to a metal filter

[@tonickmoss]

loool

[@AMD1]

He made a video about getting decent results with a blade grinder.

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

I think that James Hoffmann would actually approuve of this video. Further, everyone agrees with the top pick.

[@DanMars27]

James would get a little kick out of the amateurism of this, and then would mostly be bothered by this reviewer's total lack of awareness of how to make good specialty coffee at home. Yes, buy the Baratza, although get the new Virtuoso+.

[@tasmedic]

It's amazing how you take days or weeks of research and distill it all into a few minutes with a no-nonsense approach. I love how you stay impartial, and when there's little difference in the performance, of the products as in this review, you just say so, even though you're human and obviously have your own preferences. I rate your review methods best on youtube. Please keep your standards up, it's appreciated.

[@Bubbles99718]

And for 3 days after ATK's staff went on an insane cleaning binge

[@patriciawickholm3617]

LOL! Cleaning up coffee grounds isn't simple!!!

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

@@patriciawickholm3617 It's a caffeine joke.

[@Kyarrix]

Baratza Encore all the way for a first grinder. I love this person and her reviews, she does an excellent job and is professional and knowledgeable. Please keep the reviews coming, they are a tremendously valuable resource.

[@CleanSlateFarm]

The Baratza machines are incredible. My Encore had a plastic ring break (about 6 years of almost daily grinding). I called them and they sent a new one for a nominal cost. Yes, you can fix ti yourself. Two years later a gear stripped inside. Called again and they said I could fix it rather than send it to them. About $20 in parts and a few days later I was back grinding. Incredibly they encourage you to fix your machine and have a YT channel to show how. That is customer service and standing behind your product. Worth the money anytime.

[@not_the_vampire]

I'm watching this 4 years after its release and I'm super stoked because the best buy is the same KRUPS grinder I used for 5-6 years! They also came to the same conclusion I did which was that you have to shake the thing throughout the grinding!

[@mencken8]

Do what they say: get a Baratza Encore. Simple, efficient, makes great coffee.

[@elchappo1320]

I wonder what james hoffman thinks of this

[@hand__banana]

I'd also like to see this done with espresso even though home espresso is obviously out of the realm of most consumers

[@sightfire]

Worth mentioning as well that the makers of the Encore have a pretty legendary customer service reputation, and that the grinder itself can be easily disassembled and user-serviced if a part breaks.

[@sitiesito715]

I've upgraded the internals of my old Encore myself, and I can attest to Baratza's excellent service. The Encore has been my pour over and Aeropress grinding workhorse for around the last 5 years.

[@yoschmoyo]

Unfortunately, my Baratza Virtuoso broke enough times that I gave up and bought the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.

[@cnnw3929]

@@yoschmoyo I used to have a Virtuoso as well, and it wore out after 10 years of hard use. Since I only make drip coffee, I got the KitchenAid and learned to be careful with its glass container. I would prefer the Breville for espresso, for obvious reasons. The main problem with the Breville is that parts can be scarce.

[@ChristianMercadoAcevedo]

I want to confirm this. Their replacement parts are dirt cheap and their customer service is perhaps the best I've experienced.

[@cnnw3929]

@@ChristianMercadoAcevedo: I have just recently went into chat with Breville, and they have updated their site a few days ago. Everything is in stock, and they are well supplied with parts. So my information may be a bit dated. This would make both the Breville Souse Chef food processor and their Smart Grinder Pro among the best for the price, as well as the most affordable countertop home appliances to keep and maintain.

[@upscalebohemian5372]

This is okay for drip coffee, French press, etc., but did this even address why you DO want a high quality burr grinder for espresso?

[@bansheebackwards]

What is the practical difference between 40 grind settings and 16? If tasters can't come to a consensus between dramatically uneven grinds from a blade grinder, how could a 1/40 size difference matter?

[@kenroman777]

I have had the capresso infinity for more than 7 years and I am well pleased with it although I have the stainless steel model.

[@motim92]

Grind size changes how well coffee is extracted. The bigger particles dissolve slower than small particles. When you have a wide variety of particle sizes you will get small particles that are overextracted and add a bitter taste and bigger particles that are underextracted and add a sour taste to your coffee. So if you want a coffee that is sour and bitter, go for a blade grinder.

[@blahblah8372]

Because pretentious

[@MrRichBenn]

It's for espresso. Too fine you clog a non-pressurized basket; Too coarse and the water drips through too fast. Pressurized baskets make bitter espresso, in comparison, and it's what the cheap machines all now use. The good stuff, an art, is sweet and creamy with no sugar added. Most Americans have not achieved this, so they think they hate espresso and disguise the bitter shots with lots of milk and sugar and call it cappuccino, lattes, etc., which are also not as good, but disguise the bitter well. For American coffee, this review is right on. No real difference.

[@stellpy]

I wish someone would finally come up with an expensive model that has the ideal 739 paint ticks near the infinite dial so that I can ... ummm ... still just twist the dial to any position I want...

[@croatililliouspartridge5822]

Wow, I accidentally bought the best blade grinder.

[@dalelc43]

You actually bought the best beginner grinder, no good grinders in this review.

[@southwoodside]

@@dalelc43 Your opinion, only your opinion.

[@southwoodside]

Me too !

[@ML-xh6rd]

Krups is a top brand in coffee makers and grinders and is sold at most better retailers. They make quality products at a competitive price which make them popular. The thoughtful design and ease of use also make them very appealing. Before upgrading to a small burr grinder I had a Krups that served me well for many years. And as she said in the review, they all allow for a good cup of coffee which in the end is the point. Enjoy!

[@TheGizmoGarage]

I don't think any of those tested burr grinders can grind espresso sized for brewing using non pressurized baskets. For those that can do, probably won't last as long as better made Italian grinders that are build to last and produce consistent espresso grinds.

[@paulegan2252]

Good review, but I think you left one important thing out. You said consistent size that you dont get for the spin grinders really didn't matter for taste, etc, but how was this coffee brewed? It really does matter for French press and especially for Chemex which I both use. In the French press, the fine ground particles that you get a lot of from the spin grinder slips through most French press screens and tastes off I think, and clogs up the Chemex filter making the process painfully slow at best. Thanks, very helpful.

[@wendymuir7818]

I'm buying your top pick, based pretty much on this review. I'll let you know how it goes... Edit: Two weeks later. I'm happy with my purchase.

[@qualin1974]

For those watching this video, please do not waste your time or money on a blade grinder, unless you also plan on using it to grind spices. Putting spices through a burr grinder will ruin it for coffee use. If anything, buy a blade grinder for your spices and buy a burr grinder for your coffee. Also, please don't skimp on the cost of a coffee grinder. As shown in the video, cheaply made and cheaply designed grinders will cause you headaches and mess. The Breville Smart Grinder Pro is a good example of what one should consider buying, especially if you want to eventually graduate from making drip & french press coffee to espresso in the future.

[@krazmokramer]

Great review! I already knew which burr grinder won. I've had my Baratza Virtuoso since the day it was released. I bought it directly from Baratza LLC. The Baratza owners/inventers (Kyra & Kyle) provided free improvement upgrades for the first few years. After around 15+ years of daily use, I have had ZERO problems! This is an excellent machine. I highly recommend it.

[@truckpilot01]

@krazmokramer I have the Baratza Sette 270 for espresso and it's amazing. I also bought it directly from Baratza and I plan on getting the Encore for the occasional pour over.

[@bahhaziz]

This is what I call product review 👍 liked, subscribed and bought the product (krups) from link provided in description. Keep up the good work 👍

[@Tradebear]

I have the Baratza and it only lasted two years and YES I've tried cleaning it/taking it apart/using the brush etc; I'm pissed. I paid a LOT of money for it and now i'ts useless. I'm buying the Krups. I've had NO luck with Burr grinders. I'm going back to the blade.

[@tosht2515]

My KRUPS grinder (came in white back in the day) works like a charm. Late '90s and still going strong. 👍

[@lisathaviu1154]

We have had one that my husband has used for many years.

[@shorttimer874]

I have a Krups, was thinking I need to upgrade to a burr, but now not so much. Mostly use an Aeropress now with a paper filter, if I'm feeling particularly finicky on the rare occasions I use my french press I have a hand powered burr grinder that cost less than a third of the electric ones, gives me something to do while I wait for the electric kettle.

[@Your_Degenerate]

I still have a krups like the one shown and it works unlike a $45 burr grinder that only lasted a few months before it just died. If you're satisfied with the results that's good to hear. Even though my burr died and it wasn't super consistent it was less hassle to get fairly even grinds from and if I invest in the future I'll be looking into another burr grinder. I have found some people can taste a difference while others can't. I admit to a point I can't tell a huge difference either but I love consistent easy results. Have a good cup and a great day.

[@George-dt4qi]

My only complaint about blade grinders is that they make a lot of powder, not good for french press

[@tVideoUTube]

I also have a krups blade grinder at least 25 years old and works just fine. A little rotate and shake while grinding gives really good results without big chunks.

[@lornehampel1330]

Lisa, that was another GREAT presentation.

[@scottmcginn2169]

The coffee industry also like Burr Grinders as a fair chunk of their business is in Espresso based drinks, which require an even fine grind. You can't achieve this in a blade grinder, or in the cheaper burr grinders. I use the Breville Pro (Sage in UK) at home, and it hits a good espresso grind most fo the time. Prior to that I had one similar to the Berazza, and it didn't come close. For pour over, or the paper filter machines that a lot fo homes have, the grind is important, but not as important. As long as it is relatively close to even, you will get a good coffee.

[@JustinKingma]

This is one of the best comparison reviews I've ever seen on KZbin... And I've watched a lot of KZbin reviews. Thank you so much, you have a new subscriber.

[@deevnn]

This video was not make by coffee aficionados...She didn't mention who these experts were...the grind is always important and a blade grinder is incapable of making the best cup of coffee. Most people who drink coffee, just like alcohol are looking for the effect not the quality of taste.

[@natlap1966]

I've had my manual Krups coffee grinder for many years now. Still working like new and coffee is great! Thank you for your good reviews👌

[@atavax311]

when you brewed the coffee to see how important grind evenness was what brewing methods did you use? You would think some brewing methods might have brewing consistency more important than others. For example, if large chunks while making espresso of very fine pieces in french press will probably be much more noticeable than in a drip brew.

[@pyxylation]

That's exactly what I am wondering too. I imagine for a pour over,grind consistency is a little more important. And with espresso grind size is night and day!

[@atavax311]

@@pyxylation a french press doesn't use as fine a filter as most methods, so a lot of small bits get through. I imagine a more consistent grind means less of those small bits...

[@rimun5235]

I had a technivorm mochamaster, a french press, a chemex and hario, and honestly, the two things that coffee lovers harp on that for me never mattered were grind size and a specialized kettle. You absolutely cannot taste the difference in coffee with this. It's just more convenient to have a coarser grind for a French press, but a few fine sized grinds didn't change much. People act like coarser grinds wouldn't work with the chemex. They did and I was always surprised to find that there really wasn't much of a difference. The one difference I do taste is grinding before a brew. Buying coffee that you get ground up at a coffee shop does kind of lose some notes as the days go by.

[@PsyDei]

I wanted to see what was the rating of the other grinders, since I just have access to a handful of those.

[@JohnKruse]

The real reason that pros use burr grinders is that they tend towards espresso-based coffee drinks. Using a blade grinder for espresso is an exercise in frustration and futility. I was happy to see that the Baratza did well. I have one and really like it. It breaks every year or so, but they sell replacement parts at great prices and have tutorial videos on replacing broken components. That said, for consistent espresso, one has to spend a lot more than they did for this test, or buy used. I got an old Mazzer Super Jolly from a bar that shut down and stuck some new burrs in it. It's a tank and is an amazing grinder.

[@ravenblue3434]

I have the cruisinart burr grinder. I paid $50 and I love it. It has gotten louder after a year and a half.

[@proveau7]

Yes I have the Cuisinart as well, the one they tested according to the video. I have used mine almost daily for over five years and it is still going although the start switch is getting a bit finicky now. It was also about $50, not sure why it was not the best buy in this ATK video?

[@kenroman777]

I started with the better Cuisinart model but gave up as the static was too troublesome and I love my capresso..

[@sherrard5492]

I love my Cuisinart but I bought it knowing that while it would improve my drip coffee, it wouldn’t give me the fine grind I needed if I was making espresso. It suits my budget and my needs. I have a lot of respect for my old workhorse Krupps, but cold brew with the Cuisinart is now a breeze.

[@tony_25or6to4]

I got mine for $30 thanks to Kohl's sale and extra coupons. I clean it with uncooked rice every once in a while to prevent the oils gumming it up or getting rancid.

[@karinafauchere8315]

Reviews on the top burr grinders, people complain about static charge making the grinds go everywhere. I thought maybe if it was sold in a non plastic stainless steel. They do sell in stainless steel but the static electricity complaints still came up. I think the solution might be a glass container for the grounds to go to. I saw a review for another machine that had the same problem and a person fixed the static problem with a glass container inside the plastic holder. Anyone know what machine they were using that had the glass container? I want to look up it’s reviews?

[@jlegresley]

I just purchased my most expensive ($150 Breville) after trying quite a few of these other units. What you failed to mention is the most important reason why we are paying more for higher end units, and that is that anyone with an espresso machine knows, you need quite a fine consistency to ensure back pressure during an espresso pours. While many of these lower priced units claim they can, they tend to fail. None I have tried under $100 can actually do it. How did you guys NOT make this point available to your subscribers, sorry, but BIG FAIL IMHO.

[@CortezEspartaco2]

I have a $35 Mr. Coffee burr grinder that, on its lowest setting, is TOO FINE for espresso. Very close to Turkish grind. Maybe I just got lucky, but I personally wouldn't dismiss cheaper grinders.

[@jlegresley]

@@CortezEspartaco2 Not sure what planet you're from, but here on earth we verify those types of absurd claims. Checked reviews on this model, and over 3000 agree the Mr. Coffee burr grinder is a piece of crap. (I knew you were from planet fibia. Here is a sample: Question: is this grinder good for expresso Answer: Not at all. Per Susan's comment, the finest isn't nearly fine enough for espresso, or Turkish -- maybe adequate for drip or French press ... that's about it. The purpose of a burr grinder is to produce similar-sized coffee particles ... for flavor/aroma; otherwise, a blade grinder will do the job (and cost less). This unit is a glorified blade grinder (look inside and you'll see that their idea of a "burr" is a joke -- just blades are used!). So, back it goes ... trying other brands (perhaps Cuisinart); otherwise, will stay with a blade grinder, which is better than a mortar and pestle. Live and learn suckers

[@CortezEspartaco2]

@@jlegresley I just looked inside mine and it's clearly a burr grinder. The hopper feeds the beans into a pair of concentric rings that crush them as they turn, allowing them to pass into the catch tray. Not sure what the reviewers you're citing are doing, or if it's even the same product, but on the finest setting my grounds are the consistency of flour. (Not like semolina flour. Finer.) It doesn't leave any big pieces in it, either, though it obviously has some minor size variation. It's a $35 machine, what do I expect? But yes, the finest setting makes a powder that would produce a very bitter, over-extracted espresso.

[@jlegresley]

@@CortezEspartaco2 Can you direct me to the exact model number. Thank you.

[@north.by.northeast]

@@CortezEspartaco2 Well countered!

[@davidihaim]

I returned this Beratza. It got clogged first day and was almost impossible to clear. See their video of how to unclog. Even a pro is struggling.

[@KBDProductionsTV]

FANTASTIC INFORMATION!!! Thank you

[@matthewjackson9615]

I can rely on this woman to give me the straight and critical information that I need. Plus, they thoroughly test everything on site.

[@dh2392]

Glass containers don't suffer the annoying static cling that the plastic bins do. I wish a replacement container had been acquired, and the KitchenAid tested as I view the glass container as a positive. I've had many coffee makers over the years with glass carafes, and breakage hasn't been an issue.

[@heronsbend1318]

One factor you left out: static. How easy is it to empty the hopper in dry winter conditions? This is where the simple design of the Kitchen Aid glass hopper excels. Plastic hoppers (especially the squarish ones with tight corners) are devilishly hard to empty without wiping with your finger or getting coffee everywhere. If you have the discipline to keep it on the counter, a glass hopper is superior in this regard. Otherwise excellent review. I own the Kitchen Aid Burr for home and also the Krups blade for travel...but my favorite travel grinder is a Hario Skerton hand cranked ceramic burr grinder. Works in the woods!

[@AspectRatioPolice]

Why the industry obsession with Burr grinders? because they make espresso and blade grinders cannot grind fine. You make a very thorough selection and test then fail, by assuming everybody wants a filter coffee. back to the drawing board.

[@ryanshelton4545]

Good information. I would have appreciated knowing the brew method for the blind taste test. It should probably be mentioned that the only burr grinder in the lineup that is truely capable of producing grinds fine enough for espresso is the Breville.

[@PhDSlacker]

Why do you say Breville only? Do you have experience with all the others?

[@kellytaylor3915]

The other point not made was the heat that is generated when grinding the beans is less in a Burr Grinder. However the trick with the Blade type is to pulse and shake and wait and not let the heat build up. The heat pulls the oils out of the beans and gives a more bitter brew. Burr Grinders do the low heat build up just touch better. The main thing is to remember is take your time when you grind! Build your cup of coffee slow and pay very close attention to brew water temperature. Each type of coffee beans need different temps to extract the best taste from them. Take your time and experiment and take notes on what you like best. Accurate water temps for brewing can not be over stated. With my pour over brew method I stir the grinds slowly while pouring over. The same with French Press I stir while adding the water. So have fun build the best cup of coffee you can. You will enjoy your efforts and be rewarded with a GREAT CUP OF COFFEE.

[@alexandermoyse6246]

I mean I think this works well for coffee, but for espresso the size & consistency really does matter

[@dontblameme6328]

Exactly! Who would buy a $200 burr grinder for making coffee in a $50 dripper?

[@remote638]

@@dontblameme6328 Its a fundament before you get the esspresso machine

[@Phlegethon]

Finally someone said it, and then those unemployed coffee snobs are all gonna find some fault with actual professional testing

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

I've had the Breville burr for 7 years, still going strong, my favorite.

[@DrewBoggess]

No problem with the bean impeller wearing out? I've heard that happens with those since it's a plastic part.

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

@@DrewBoggess none so far.. I keep it clean.

[@DrewBoggess]

@@CocoaBeachLiving Sweet. Btw, if it ever does wear out and the beans aren't feeding correctly, there's a 3d printed part you can order for like 20 bucks. I've honestly thought about ordering one or 2 just in case they stop selling them. lol

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

@@DrewBoggess good to know, do you have a link to the part? Thanks, It's a definitely one of the easiest, low maintenance burr grinders I've owned 👍

[@CocoaBeachLiving]

@@DrewBoggess much appreciated 👌👍

[@bobsimmons4168]

I love my Kitchen Aid grinder, have had it for 17 years and have never broken the container.

[@esgrady1]

I love America's Test Kitchen.

[@babylonfive]

You missed an important aspect to testing for consistent grind. Many people use french presses or other brew methods which have a metal sieve filter, and excessive fines create coffee sludge which makes the final brew gritty. It is important when making cold brew as well, where similar filters are in use.

[@gtaatmiami]

i really love my Bodum Bistro grinder. Big fan

[@DamonBowe]

These grinders are not very good, why didn't you test higher quality ones?

[@TechGorilla1987]

Find me a coffee grinder that DOESN'T make coffee dance on a caution of static electricity and hop all over my counter. I've had 3 Cuisenart models (the Burr on the far left) over the years. Rock solid.

[@gothiclight7]

kinugrinders.com/index.php?page=m_home_page.public.home_page&Block=HOME&Language=none# kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYDdlIaondyHba8

[@onlinebangla648]

Best coffee grinder reviews: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXTQimyllM2an8U

[@atxrich]

I own the Encore and love it for the reasons given. Thumbs up!

[@tuffstuff9809]

Waste research. Cheap machines. St this level just buy your coffee outside

[@hand__banana]

watch the rat brain panic and rage at the possibility that in a blind test expensive garbage's advantages are negligible but yeah go spend hundreds on coffee "outside" because some elitist numpty on a comment section says so

[@bluemystic7501]

This test was awesome BUT I don't think it translates to the real world. For any coffee lover that owns a burr grinder, they'll recognize the fact that +/- a grind setting or two on their grinder translates to slightly different flavors in their cup in the morning (some good, some bad). If you want that perfectly dialed-in cup, you have to use a burr grinder for consistency. There is just no way to get there with a blade grinder. Additionally, if you enjoy making coffee in a few different ways, say french press, drip, and moka, a blade grinder is basically worthless because again it's just impossible to be consistent with the different grind sizes needed across the board. Millions of people every day probably get nice cups of coffee from a blade grinder, and I think that's what this test proved, but none of them are getting a perfectly dialed-in cup, day after day.

[@tedmcardle3315]

What's interesting is that even with many professional tasters, a "perfect " cup couldn't be agreed upon. It seems like a burr grinder's main benefit is consistency/ease of use but not quality per se...not to say the distinction is completely marginal, but just much less that the marketing/pricing would have you believe

[@bluemystic7501]

@@tedmcardle3315 A burr grinder's main benefit is consistent quality across any and all brew methods. For $20, it would be unreasonable to expect a grinder of any kind to be able to do the same.

[@bluemystic7501]

@@tedmcardle3315 So I've gone down the rabbit hole of coffee this past year and I seriously question the 'coffee experts' that said they couldn't tell a difference between a blade and a burr grinder. Blade grinders produce thin cups of coffee that lack flavor and have pronounced bitterness. Heck, I can taste a difference between my own hand grinder and my electric burr grinder and I'm just a dude. The ticket to exceptional coffee at home starts with a quality burr grinder and their recommendations are great (the Baratza or Capresso). You'll just never get there with a blade grinder.

[@tedmcardle3315]

@@bluemystic7501 A great year to explore rabbit holes! Completely forgot I made this comment, and I suppose it comes off a bit contrarian. My daily driver is also a hand burr grinder, so I'll let that speak for itself. I think what I was trying to articulate was that, as in many things, marketing can stretch our notions of perceived differences between things beyond what the actual user experiences merit. I have had many bad cups off a blade grinder, and much less on a burr. However, if one can manage to use the blade grinder well (I like hoffman's shake/pulse method) and brew well, I think the differences between the two are much less than may be suggested by some of the burr grinder purists and/or marketing. The ease of consistency/repeatability is why I use burrs over blades. So in the end minor point

[@bluemystic7501]

@@tedmcardle3315 I just recently bought a hand grinder. Which one do you use?

[@danielclitheroe1869]

Just bought a burr grinder. Wow, so much better than my blade grinder I can hardly believe it.

[@bethsanchezyoga55]

really? can you describe how so? specifically, does it change the flavor?

[@RamblinRick_]

I first had a blade grinder and thought I was getting an excellent espresso grind. Then I bought a burr grinder (Starbucks). Turns out, my blade-ground "espresso" was crap.

[@ericfricke4512]

Yeah, I can't see a blade grinder getting a fine enough grind for that.

[@Canman99]

The Encore is a solid choice for pour-over and filter coffee. None of the grinders tested are sufficient for espresso, however. And the lack of any Eureka models is a shame.

[@jamesb.ofdesertdistrict567]

Burr. The best way is with a burr grinder. Use a dammed burr grinder.

[@jojosmith1097]

I have Krups that I've used for years now. I like the fact that I can have multiple uses for it and not just coffee

[@ML-xh6rd]

Good point Jojo

[@WilliamHunterII]

I've never had a good cup of coffee from a blade grinder. Blade grinders burn the bean, and I can taste that. I really like the Baratza.

[@jokinboken]

I bought my Krups so long ago I can't recall where or when I got it (I've lived where I am now for 26yrs). I'm not saying it's 20+ yrs old, but easily 15. Still going strong grinding that coffee.

[@mahhubbard]

Just bought the Krups blade grinder $15.44 free shipping thru amazon prime. We have one already, but I couldn’t pass up the price, would also make a great gift for any coffee lover. ATK rocks.

[@VgManiac]

I use the Krups, amazing grinder. 5/5 stars! :)

[@2000xlt]

It really would have been nice to actually hear the Grinders running since some are quieter than others, in my opinion that is an influencer on purchasing

[@donh1572]

I’ve tried many that are in this video. The Capresso infinity is very quiet. Relatively speaking.

[@drrice1123]

Put coffee beans in a pepper mill and spend 3 hours grinding for a single cup of coffee

[@barkspawn]

Ha, i actually did the opposite with my girlfriend the other week - we bought some peppercorns and didn't realise the mill we had before was one of those non-reusable ones, so we used her hand-cranked burr grinder, and as it turns out it's actually awesome for pepper! Just one crank gives you tons of perfectly sized pepper grounds.

[@SSchithFoo]

Yes! the true artisanal way or its not real coffee

[@michaelnomad4241]

... or, get your cordless drill and connect it to the mill shaft. It's a bit awkward, it's also much much quicker.

[@grumpynerd]

Actually, the legendary Hario hand grinder is renowned by coffee snobs for its consistent grind, particularly with finer grinds like espresso which are more demanding. But it does take *forever* to grind enough for just one cup.

[@north.by.northeast]

ROK manual grinder: Quick, easy, stepless for ultimate control of grind size, almost zero retention (grinds left in the machine), almost silent, doesn't need electricity, easy to clean, solid construction and replaceable parts. Downsides: No hopper (not a downside for me as I only grind what I need and keep beans stored in an airtight box), although easy and quick it is not as quick or easy as an electric of course (but still you will be finished long before your kettle boils).

[@michelleadams5609]

This couldn't have come at a better time. Been looking all over for your review and was hoping to upgrade my basic Cuisinart Burr grinder this holiday season. :-)

[@paulsmith9341]

I've had a Krups for almost 2 decades. Still going strong!

[@jianhoang]

Which model

[@paulsmith9341]

@@jianhoang type 208, made in Hong Kong.

[@dylan-nguyen]

Paul Smith I got a Krupa almost 10 years ago. drink coffee basically every day sometimes twice a day. still works perfectly even with a small chip in the lid!

[@RandomDudeOne]

Me too.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

All Krups users...see my comment just added 5 minutes ago. I also have a Krups blade grinder I bought in 1985...still works fine. The Krups burr grinder in this review is a winner in my book.

[@Siriusly_Sirius]

I’ve used the Krups burr grinder for months and it’s never changed it’s setting. It’s actually takes a little oomph to change this setting. Not sure what they were doing here. Can’t complain for under $30 for a decent, price friendly burr grinder.

[@JacobFrey]

Excellent work, ATK!

[@TJDawgs72]

Cool…I have a manual burr grinder that I use to make 1 or 2 cups of coffee. I was thinking of getting the Krups blade grinder and after seeing this, along with several other recommendations for it, I think I’ll just go with it. Thank you for the reviews!

[@dinnae]

That was super thorough. Thank you very much for this wonderful review!

[@richardwagner3147]

The Hamilton beach blade grinder which is basically a reworked Melita grinder does very well. Ultra uniform and customizable timed grinds.

[@Straightfromshibuya]

As a professional barista in a 3rd wave cafe this is not only accurate information but well dictated! Really good video on home grinders , my personal favorite is the breville grind pro. It’s legible with a digital screen and steel conicals that I’ve used for a year without needing to switch them out.

[@largol33t1]

With blade grinders, I always held it at a 45 degree angle and did 1-2 second pushes of the button before shaking. Fixes the issue of leftover whole beans every time.

[@TheWakaMinecraft]

One small change I would've made is this: you should have pulled shots of espresso with the burr grinders. Ensuring that you get really really fine and consistent coffee is crucial for espresso, trying to pull espresso shots with cheap or ineffective grinders results in uneven extraction and sometimes even spraying coffee and brew water everywhere at worst. While this doesn't make as much of a difference to a homebrewer who isn't making espresso, it is nonetheless an important factor.

[@piayugamer7105]

I have the bodum for coffee beans, and I now use the krups for spices. I used the krups for years for coffee and truth be told, I much prefer it. My husband bought the bodum and he prefers that. Good point about potential glass break in the container.

[@tcwolf42]

For espresso, you will want a better grinder such as my Rocky but these will do fine for drip, pour over, French Press, percolator(yuk), etc. Fewer machines can grind fine enough for Turkish coffee.

[@Iridescence93]

The Encore and Breville Smart Grinder will work for espresso on their finest setting but I much prefer the Virtuoso (step up from the Encore) or of course you can go even more pricy like the Rocky if you want. Whatever you do don't use a blade grinder for coffee. Even a cheap burr grinder will make coffee taste a lot better.

[@RainCity3rd]

Breville Smart pro works great for espresso. Certainly not a coffee shop but home use. Plus more easy to switch to a grouse setting for grinding french press then right back to setting dialed in for whatever beans I have in for espresso. Great kit for half the price.

[@JCYanksDevs24]

I now own both of the recommended grinders here and love them both. These thorough reviews are so incredibly helpful and make the buying process so much easier. I really can’t say thank you enough!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

I've had the KitchenAid grinder with glass container for over a decade. Never once had a close call dropping or breaking it. Easy front grind adjustment and super simple on/off switch, with a large hopper and container. Heavy, built like a tank too. No complaints.

[@dh2392]

And the Kitchenaid is quiet, without the static cling that absolutely drove me nuts with the Baratza Encore.

[@mon6745]

I've had a Baratza for 12 years... excellent grinder!

[@MrEquusQuagga]

Mo n I love hearing about good, solid appliances you buy once and never have to replace. Do your research on what you buy and they pay for themselves down the line

[@gigi9467]

Really? Damn am a super coffee geek and my baratza vario which is a 500 dollar while it produced good tasting coffee was crap in reliability departmnet i had to chenge the belt on it to many times, i bought a ceado e6 and it has been a tank! I wouldlnt buy a baratza again personally

[@gigi9467]

Dr. Zebra get a ceado they are tanks!

[@mon6745]

@@gigi9467 surprised to hear... I use it for espresso, french press and will even grind coffee for friends (drip) on it, and no issues at all... I paid around $250 CAD for mine and not a single issue... but good to know about another brand

[@gigi9467]

Mo n am tougher on them its all about the espresso maybe thats the difference but my baratza didnt last, mu ceado e6p on the other is a tank

[@fairalbion]

The Capresso, the best buy in this, is a false economy in my experience. My first burr grinder was a Capresso. After about 18 months of once/day use, the burrs wore out. I discovered that they were non-replaceable, therefore the whole thing had to be tossed out. So I bought a Baratza as its replacement. They have good customer service & its parts are pretty well all user-replaceable: so there's no need to throw it in the garbage when bits wear or break.

[@Nobody4rpresident]

I have the Capresso burr grinder. I’ve been using it a few years with no problems. I use two grinds; one for espresso and one for a french press, so having 16 or 30 different grind settings is superfluous. Still, I have watched more of Lisa McManus’s reviews than I care to admit. They are the best I’ve seen and Lisa is an excellent and interesting speaker. Her review on 8” chefs knives was incredible, delving into metallurgy if you can believe it.

[@KevinLauscher]

i've had it for years, it's messy as hell

[@NateKnows]

You lost me at " one was made out of glass and when we dropped it off the counter it broke!"

[@yancheng846]

there's tempered glass, i guess

[@heronsbend1318]

Yep...guess this was a summer test too. Glass doesn’t build up the static charge of plastic hoppers so if you can keep it on the counter it’s a lot easier to empty.

[@angellover02171]

The best thing about America Test Kitchen is they think of things regular people do when testing product. If your making coffee and half a sleep what's the chance that glass container is going in the floor? They always put products they test though their pases.

[@UloPe]

angellover02171 by that logic your entire kitchen equipment has to be made from plastic.

[@staleplastic265]

I think it’s a pretty valid point to make. A lot of the time these things don’t have replacement hoppers, and nobody wants to buy an entirely new unit.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

I'm starting to suspect that somehow everybody either forgot what a good cup of coffee tastes like, or there never was any agreement on what makes coffee good. And these tasters were all split on which was best. Then they brought in experts... who were also split. I think that the coffee industry has been infiltrated by idiots who have no ____ idea what good coffee is. I haven't had a good cup of coffee in over a year, since my sister gave me some coffee she brought back from Hawaii. Every single time I hear that some place has good coffee, or some brand is the best... it's terrible!

[@SuperJupiter33]

hawaiicoffeecompany.com allegrocoffee.com

[@corksauve4949]

Would have been nice to see hand grinders in this as well.

[@jdean1951]

I have the Kitchenaid and yes the container is glass, but on purpose so static electricity does not build up and spew grounds everywhere like those with a plastic hopper. It is an excellent grinder, and works well and produces a great cup of coffee.

[@donh1572]

Unless you want espresso. The kitchen aid is not very capable. Especially on good machines

[@Goat67]

I have a Krups grinder and it grinds course, medium and espresso. I love it.