Shopping for a espresso grinder could be intimidating. Not each individual must spend over $300 on a precision grinder, however many low-cost burr grinders aren’t up the duty. Discovering a steadiness between efficiency and worth is hard, and as a 16-year espresso business vet, I believe the OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder walks that line excellently. As senior culinary editor Daniel Gritzer mentioned in our coffee grinder review, “Priced on the low finish of what an individual can hope to pay for a good burr grinder, that is the one to get if you wish to up your espresso recreation by taking part in with grind settings however do not need to shell out for our different prime picks.” And I agree with him—the subsequent grinder I like to recommend is sort of 50% costlier.
Burr grinders are constructed round two metallic grinding disks that transfer nearer and additional aside to create finer and coarser espresso grounds, and the way in which these burrs are designed has a serious impression on the standard of the bottom espresso. Extremely low-cost burr grinders use crushing burrs—which means the metallic disks have blunt bumps on them that crush the espresso into irregular shapes. The OXO Brew grinder, nonetheless, is the most affordable grinder I like to recommend that has reducing burrs, the place the metallic disks have sharpened enamel that grind espresso exactly.
Except for our testing, our senior commerce editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm has used the OXO Brew grinder extensively at residence. “The OXO was the primary burr grinder I purchased and it holds up years later: it grinds espresso shortly and could not be simpler to make use of. With only one begin/cease button and a prime you twist to regulate the grind setting, it is simply actually nice. Plus, at $100, it’s extremely moderately priced for a burr grinder,” she says. In case you’ve been on the fence about making the transition from a spinning blade grinder to a burr grinder, the OXO grinder is a superb alternative (and simple on the pockets, in comparison with different high quality grinders).
To purchase: OXO Brew Conical Burr Espresso Grinder, $100 at amazon.com
Good to Know
- Dimensions: 7.5 by 5.25 by 12.5 inches
- Weight: 4.5 kilos
- Burr sort: Stainless-steel conical burrs
- Variety of grind settings: 15 (plus micro settings)
- Guarantee: 2-year
FAQs
Does an costly espresso grinder make a distinction?
Excessive-end espresso grinders require highly effective motors and extra exact grinding burrs—and each of these issues are expensive elements. True espresso nerds will doubtless discover the distinction in grind high quality as the price of the grinder goes up, however for most individuals, a reasonably priced grinder (just like the OXO Brew Coffee Grinder) will carry out simply superb.
How do you utilize an OXO Brew espresso grinder?
The OXO Brew interface is pretty easy—there’s an adjustment collar, which grinds espresso coarser or finer, and a built-in timer, which you’ll be able to set to cease grinding after a sure period of time. For drip, pourover, and French press brewing, we suggest beginning with a grind setting round eight and weighing your coffee out forward of time.
