Home » Burr grinder vs Blade grinder: Detailed Comparison of Pros and Cons

Burr grinder vs Blade grinder: Detailed Comparison of Pros and Cons


Blades Grinder or Burrs Grinder: What’s the Better

Milling your very own coffee beans is a pretty fantastic way to guarantee freshness of your coffee. We have a great list of Top Grinders to Have. The better the grinding machine you use, the superior coffee flavor you’ll get. Grinding coffee beans to fine powder (dust) is definitely the sole method for getting rich taste cup of coffee. Knowing the various kinds of coffee mills is essential in order to ensure you’re going to get the perfect coffee. At the moment, the two main types are : blade & burr. The main difference between them is fairly obvious but some buyers might get puzzled when they’re searching for a coffee grinder. Below, we will take both types and analysis them along with product examples and pictures.

The Burr Grinders

Burr Grinder

Burr grinding mechanism affects not only the grinding speed, but also the thickness and quality of the coffee.

Some electric and most hand coffee grinders grind through burr grinders. Burr grinders can be steel or ceramic, the advantage of both materials being the uniform grinding of coffee beans.

When using ceramic burr grinders, you don’t have to worry about overheating and thus degrading the quality of the coffee. Use ceramic burr grinder if you do not want to burn your ground coffee.

Grinders with flat burr grinders are cheaper, but with less power and faster wear even after 350 kg of coffee.

Conical burr grinders enchant with their performance and longer service life. They are therefore more suitable for those who need to grind more coffee beans in less time.

How Does Burr Type Grind Coffee?

Hand grinders and some electric grinders using so-called burr grinder, which crush coffee beans with each other. This method of burr grinding has two major advantages for coffee. First, it grinds the coffee grains into approximately the same particles, which is especially important for espresso machines whose filter is easily clogged with uneven coffee powder. Secondly, more essential oils are released, which give off an even stronger aroma after brewing coffee with hot water.

Burr grinders comes in two types either flat or conical. The Conical type have a wider space for grinding, longer life and less heating. They both work at lower speeds.

The disadvantage of hand grinders is their one-sided use. It is used mainly for grinding coffee. You can use them, but I do not recommend that as cleaning burr grinders are harder than blade grinders. The fineness or coarseness of the grinding is adjusted with a knob or a dial, different coffee grinders have different ways of adjusting grinding size. The setting needs to be “picked up” correctly, to have the right roughness for the type of coffee preparation you need.

Electric grinders tend to have removable burrs and are cleaned with a brush, which should be included.

The newest type and the best so far. It mashes the coffee beans with a moving milling wheel along with a static area .This will surly make beans uniform size . It guarantees that you will get the best flavored cup of coffee. This type allow you to choose how coarse your coffee bean will be. You can easily make an espresso, cappuccino, drip, and french press. Also, it provides consonant grinding at the same quality.

The Blade Grinder

On the market you will also find grinders that grind coffee beans using blades. Blade grinders are particularly interesting for their low price, universal use of nuts and fast performance. However, this represents a major obstacle in this case, as it is a frequent cause of overburning of coffee beans and their uneven grinding. It is therefore ideal for small households for occasional use.

As the name suggests, the coffee beans are crushed in these blade grinders, or more precisely chopped using very fast rotating knives. However, these have two disadvantages: the coffee is ground unevenly and at high speeds and longer grinding or setting too fine, the coffee burns and becomes bitter.

The advantage of these grinders is their long life, the blade grinders do not wear out so easily. Almost no coffee residues stick to the grinding space,

Blade grinders are easy to clean. The advantage of blade grinder is their universal use for chopping nuts, almonds and spices to varying degrees of roughness. They are also more affordable.

Confused between burr and blade grinders? Dive into our comprehensive guide to understand the key differences and make an informed choice. And for those seeking the crème de la crème of coffee grinders, our Guide to Best Coffee Grinder is a must-read!

In the age-old debate of burr vs. blade grinders, which side are you on? The intricacies of grinding can make or break your coffee’s flavor. Explore the top-rated hand-crank coffee mills and find out which grinder truly reigns supreme.

How Does Blade Type Grind Coffee?

Blade grinders, which are more affordable than burr grinders, have a sharp blade at the bottom of the grinding chamber, which cuts coffee beans into small pieces when turned quickly. Unfortunately, the result of this method of grinding is coffee ground into particles of various shapes and sizes, and it is largely difficult to adjust the fineness or roughness of grinding.

Its the oldest type of coffee mills, and I am sure every one bought it since its price is very cheap. Its a lot cheaper than the worst burr because it use a metal blade to chop up the beans. The blade moves very fast and seems just like a propeller, this is why some refer to it as propeller. The more you grind the beans, the finer beans shape you get. Even so, the result will not be that good because it will skip cutting some beans, resulting in a low brew quality. Additionally, due to how this type designed, it tends to be harder to be cleaned.

In pursuit of the perfect grind? Whether you’re team blade or team burr, the quality of your grinder matters. Elevate your coffee game with our Leading Best Commercial-Grade Grinders and savor the difference in every cup.

So, What type is the better Choice

Of course, both the blade grinder and the burr grinder will greatly improve the taste of your coffee. But each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. To make sure that you chose the right type, you must understand the essential differences between burr grinder and blade grinder. In addition to your budget, the type of coffee you want to grind and the usage for the grinding process, is it intense or low. In the table below, I have written the essential differences between the blade grinder and the blade grinder, I hope it helps you in choosing.

For a deeper dive into grinder materials, particularly the debate between ceramic and stainless steel grinders, check out our comprehensive guide.

Choosing between burr and blade grinders? As you weigh the pros and cons, don’t overlook the importance of grinder maintenance. Discover the Safe Grinder Cleaning Practices to ensure your chosen grinder delivers the best flavor cup after cup!

Burr Grinder

Burr Grinder Pros:

  • More coffee choices.
  • Consonant grinding.
  • Last for long time. (due to high materials it normally built with).
  • Quieter than blade.
  • Its shape and design is a lot better and cooler than blade types.
  • Easy to clean.

Burr Grinder Cons:

  • Price is usually expensive. (more than $100 for a good one).
  • Too many burr grinders on the market today may lead to some confusion.
  • The size is bigger than blade grinder.

Blade Grinder

Blade Grinder Pros:

  • Affordable price. You can get one for less than $20.
  • Very small. It will fit any place.
  • Found in any Coffee Store.

Blade Grinder Cons:

  • You cant get 100% fine powder. The best you may get is about 60%.
  • No coffee choices. You can make espresso or cappuccino using this type.
  • Can burn your beans if used for along time.
    4- Noisy.

Authors

  • Fikru Assefa

    Born in Sidamo, Ethiopia, Fikru combines a Harvard History degree with certifications in Coffee Culture. Adept in traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies and a lover of Drip Coffee, his expertise offers readers a deep dive into coffee’s rich tapestry. Join him on a caffeinated journey at Coffeescan.com.

  • Isabella Ferrara

    Born in Indianapolis (1995), Isabella blends her Cornell University hospitality education with a passion for coffee narratives. Awarded the Saveur Blog Award, she’s known for inclusivity, once learning sign language for a deaf barista. Based in sunny California, she’s a cold brew aficionado. Her expertise adds depth to Coffeescan’s editorial.

  • Ronald Naughton

    From San Diego, Ronald is the Senior Coffee Editor at Coffeescan.com. His journey began in a city café, leading to a Coffee Science degree from UC Davis and a professional brewing certification. Recognized by the Food Bloggers Awards, he claims to identify a bean’s altitude by taste. Affogato enthusiast and coffee connoisseur, Ronald ensures Coffeescan’s content is rich and precise.