The Right Grinder for Pour Over
A Blue Bottle Primer
If there’s one piece of equipment that will make your coffee universally better, it’s a high-quality burr grinder. The right grinder has metal or ceramic burrs and lets you adjust the size of the grind so you can brew the most delicious coffee possible. In this primer, we’ll explain the differences between various burr grinders and give you a list of the best grinders for making pour over coffee.
“The craft of making really good brewed coffee with simple tools is immensely satisfying.”
Why Your Grinder Matters
The issue at stake is an important one: Grind size affects the extraction process. In order to produce a beautifully focused, perfectly extracted cup, the grinds need to be more or less the same size. While every grind will have its fines (the finest pieces) and its boulders (the larger pieces), you want most of the coffee to be right around the same size.
In addition to consistency, there’s what we call “the sweet spot” for the grind size and that differs for each coffee. Because there’s no one right grind size that fits all coffee and all brewing methods, the process of finding the right grind is something we call “dialing it in.” In fact, every morning, before our cafes open, baristas make several pour overs using coffees ground to slightly different sizes. The difference might not be apparent to the eye, but if the grind size isn’t quite right, the coffee could taste too bitter, due to overextraction, or too sour, due to underextraction.
Blade Grinders vs. Burr Grinders
A blade grinder might work well enough for spices, but we do not recommend it for coffee.
“In training, I always tell people to take their blade grinder and give it to the person they like the least,” says Michael Phillips, Blue Bottle’s Director of Coffee Culture. “The blades act like two machetes that slice your beans over and over with no regard to size. You end up with a grind that’s very inconsistent.”
Only burr-style grinders have the mechanical capacity to grind coffee uniformly. Part of the reason for this is that they really do grind—they crush the beans between two grooved or rough surfaces until they are the desired size. Burr grinders are significantly more expensive than blade grinders, but if you drink coffee at home frequently, the investment is worth it.
When choosing a burr grinder, you’ll find you’ll have a few choices. You can get a hand-cranked grinder or an electric one. Ceramic burrs or metal. Flat burrs or conical. Plus, there’s the general quality of the grinder to consider.
How to Choose a Burr Grinder for Pour Over
A hand-cranked grinder is less expensive and great for travel or if you only make one cup a day and don’t mind the workout. You can dial in your grind with enough precision to make a pour over. Grinding by hand is labor-intensive, of course, so if you grind a lot of coffee every day or just want to grind coffee quickly without effort, an electric burr grinder is preferred.
There’s a lot of debate over metal vs. ceramic burrs, with some people arguing that stainless steel is sharper to start but ceramic stays sharper longer. Burrs are replaceable, so we worry less about the material and more about the quality of the machine itself and how precise you can get with your grind. (How do you tell the quality of a burr grinder? Quite simply, better and more durable machines tend to be heavier because they have fewer plastic parts.)
As for flat burr vs. conical burr grinders, the differences get quite geeky and technical. Most home machines use a center cone-shaped burr, which crushes the beans against an outer serrated burr. In general, conical burr machines are quieter, produce less heat, and give you a high level of control. Flat burr grinders are most appealing for people who want a wide range of possibility when grinding for espresso.
For electric models, Baratza is the go-to maker, not just because of their refined designs and durability, but also in light of their responsible manufacturing practices. (They do all that they can to divert landfill waste, including the “unwise” business practice of making parts available for repair, even for obsolete models, allowing customers to fix an old machine, rather than buy an entire new one.)
Our 4 Favorite Grinders for Pour Over
The best grinders for pour over also work for other manual methods, including French press, AeroPress, and Chemex.
For electric grinders, Baratza is one of our go-to makers, not just because of its refined designs and durability, but also in light of its responsible manufacturing practices. (The company does all that it can to divert landfill waste, including the “unwise” business practice of making parts available for repair, even for obsolete models, allowing customers to fix an old machine, rather than buy an entire new one.)
Baratza Encore, $169
This is a great entry-level grinder for the enthusiast who wants the accuracy and consistency of conical burrs. Forty micro-adjustments give the coffee brewer the control to find the right grind size for that particular coffee and brew method. Believe it or not, this is the model we use in our headquarters. Think about that: a home model that makes countless cups a day for a bunch of coffee-obsessed people.
Baratza Virtuoso+, $269
The Virtuoso+ is a step up from the Encore. It provides more uniformity in the micro- and macroadjustments, which makes it easier to find the ideal setting. Its powerful motor is extremely efficient—it spins at a lower speed so it’s quieter yet grinds the beans faster.
Porlex Mini, $84
We love this hand-cranked model for its rubber grip and convenient size. This Japanese company makes high-quality grinders using ceramic burrs, which are incredibly sharp and built to last. The recently updated model produces more ground coffee with less effort and cranks more smoothly than past models. Those who are fanatical about grind size will appreciate that you can finely calibrate it by 37 microns with each click.
Hario Skerton+, $50
You can’t go wrong with any hand-crank grinders from Hario, but we especially like this one for its elegant glass grinds compartment. The quality of the grind is unsurpassed by electric grinders that cost ten times as much.
Navigating the world of coffee gear can be dizzying. Our hope is that we’ve given you enough information for you to improve your home routine in exactly the way that you see fit.