For a cup of coffee, the size and consistency of your ground coffee is almost as important as the quality of the coffee itself, but not all coffee grinders are created equal. Learn why grinding your coffee fresh is best, the differences between burr and blade grinders, and why burr grinders offer more consistency (and therefore more quality in the cup) versus blade grinders.
Why You Should Grind Your Own Coffee
First and foremost, because it tastes better. Grinding your coffee right before brewing allows you precise control over your brew, maximizing taste and complexity. Once coffee is ground, the oxidation process accelerates, leaching away gases sealed in by roasting . These gases, once activated by water, contribute to the flavor and complexity in your cup.
Secondly, grinding your own coffee also allows you to adjust your grind settings to suit your brewing method and beans. Grind sizes have a wide range, and each brewing method requires a specific grind setting to optimize extraction. For example, espresso needs a fine grind, while French press requires a coarse grind setting. The beans themselves may also require different grind sizes to accommodate variations in roast level, process, and other specific characteristics.
However, the type of grinder you use matters. Whether it’s a burr or blade grinder, it will directly affect your coffee’s taste, body and texture. Coffee grounds must be consistently sized to extract flavors evenly — uneven grounds will lead to unevenly extracted coffee. A high-quality grinder improves precision and allows for a uniform grind and balanced flavors.
What Is a Blade Coffee Grinder?
Blade coffee grinders use spinning blades that chop beans into smaller particles. Rather than using an adjustable presetting, the grind size depends on how long you run the grinder, with longer grinding resulting in finer particles. Blade grinders are usually inexpensive and function as an entry-level option, but they’re less suited to quality coffee brewing for several reasons:
Inconsistent grind size: Blades often unevenly grind your coffee, resulting in a mix of fine powder and larger chunks of coffee. This is partially because blade grinders typically have a large chamber for the beans, with blades at the bottom (like a blender). This results in an uneven experience for the beans, as they bounce around the chamber and hit the blades at different angles during the grind.
Limited grind control: Grinding by duration can make achieving the right coarseness for different brewing methods difficult.
Heat generation: Fast-spinning blades create friction and, therefore, heat, which can be detrimental to the final flavor of the coffee.
What Is a Burr Coffee Grinder?
Burr grinders use two burrs, one fixed and one rotary, to crush beans into a uniform size. The sharp burrs essentially crush the coffee beans as they pass through, with the distance between burrs determining the resulting grind size. Users can adjust the burr distance (closer for finer, further for coarser) to precisely control and fine-tune grind sizes for various brewing methods.
With consistent grinding (mostly due to a uniform experience for the beans from entry to the grinder, to exit) and adjustable grind settings, burr grinders are ideal for precision coffee brewing, whether espresso, French press, pour-over, or other methods. Burr grinders also operate at a slower and more controlled speed compared to blade grinders, which prevents heat buildup and helps preserve the coffee’s flavors.
Flat vs. Conical Burr Grinders
Within the broader burr grinder category, there are two main burr types - flat and conical. Conical burr grinders feature a cone-shaped inner burr within a ring-shaped burr, with sharp angled teeth and channels that, aided by gravity, push the coffee into the grind chamber. Flat burrs have two parallel discs with serrated edges that crush the coffee at a higher speed to push the grounds out.
Specialty coffee drinkers appreciate flat and conical grinders for different reasons. Each type can have subtle effects on coffee’s final taste. Both produce consistent grind sizes, but flat burrs may offer a more uniform result that allows for more clarity in the cup. Conical burrs tend to produce more “fines” (or very fine particles different from the overall grind setting), which can be preferable for more resistance (e.g. for high-pressure brewing, such as with espresso!)
How Do Blade and Burr Grinders Differ?
Blade and burr grinders carry several differences that can dramatically affect your cup of coffee.
Price
Blade grinders are often more affordable, sometimes costing as little as $20. Burr grinders are typically more expensive, depending on the brand, quality, and features. While burr grinders require a bigger investment than blade grinders, they provide long-term value by significantly improving the quality of your coffee.
Grind Consistency
The pulverizing action of a blade grinder is suitable for milling spices or brewing coffee in a pinch, but it can’t deliver the same consistency and quality as a burr grinder. Even particle sizes and gentler grinding mean burr grinders outperform blade grinders.
Longevity and Durability
Blade grinders generally have basic motors and plastic parts with relatively short lifespans compared to burr grinders. With high-quality engineering, powerful motors, and durable materials, burr grinders have a longer expected lifespan. Burr grinders typically cost more upfront, but their longer lifespans equate to fewer replacements and lower overall costs.
Maintenance
Since coffee oils and fine powder residue can build up in small nooks and cavities, coffee grinders require more than a wipe-down with a paper towel. Burr grinders, despite their many parts, are usually easier to clean since their designs are meant for periodic disassembly. Blade grinders often don’t have easy access to remove the blades and perform a proper deep clean.
Which Is Better?
Blade grinders are budget- and beginner-friendly but ultimately produce inconsistent coffee grounds that negatively impact coffee quality. Burr grinders offer better consistency and extraction, creating a richer and more flavorful experience that highlights the flavors of different beans and brewing methods. In other words, if you're trying to determine if a burr or blade coffee grinder is better, consider that you’re more likely to get a quality cup of coffee by investing in a burr grinder.
Here at Fellow we offer two types of burr grinder:
Opus Conical Burr Grinder - This is an all-purpose grinder for everything from espresso to cold brew. It’s fantastic for brew-it-all homes and is an ideal upgrade from a blade grinder.
Ode Brew Grinder Gen 2 - This is a flat burr grinder that offers outstanding consistency from pour-over to cold brew. It’s perfect if you’re primarily a drip coffee drinker looking to elevate your coffee’s flavor.