Ceramic Vs Steel Burr Grinder

By barbara chacon monument co a chemex brewer and kyocera hand coffee grinder.

Ceramic vs steel burr grinder. Ceramic vs stainless steel burr grinders. Ceramic burrs are more brittle than steel so you could chip the ceramic burr if a very hard rock was hiding in the beans. I normally use a french press and just yesterday bought an aeropress. Steel burrs will blunt over time from heavy use but cannot really chip in household setting it is unlikely you will see a steel burr become blunt but this is not the case for use in an office or commercial environment.

The cup flavors are complex and usually have more body and mouth feel in comparison to the steel burrs depending on the coffee. In general the low speed high rpm motors are in less expensive 200 range grinders. Stainless steel burr grinders typically make it through 500 to 1 000 pounds of coffee. Ultimately as with the burr shape the ceramic vs steel issue is going to be about personal taste.

Although ceramic burr grinders have been preferred by a majority for some time now results of recent taste tests clearly show that steel burr sets also have some desirable properties. With regards to tasting espresso specifically we have noticed that the ceramic burrs produce a traditional espresso flavor profile. Ceramic burrs are harder than steel and last on average about twice as long as steel burrs. Specifically ceramic burr grinders usually last through 1 000 to 1 500 pounds of coffee.

Image courtesy of wikipedia. The difference between a burr grinder and a blade grinder is a burr grinder doesn t add any heat to the coffee whilst grinding which ensures the coffee flavour isn t affected. In general ceramic burrs tend to last longer than stainless steel burrs. They are great for blends and particularly coffees roasted for espresso.

Contrary to popular belief steel burrs are not just designed for brewing. The main thing that impacts the cost of a grinder is whether it is automatic or manual though not the blade material. They also have the capability of grinding for espresso. The lifespan of a burr grinder depends on its quality and the burr material.

The two types of grinders used in automatic coffee machines these days are either manufactured. On the other hand stainless steel burr grinders tend to cost less up front but their blades will warp and become blunt faster than ceramic ones. Ceramic vs steel burr coffee grinders. Ceramic burr are less thermally conductive than steel this means these burrs transfer less heat than steel burrs see below on heat.

If you re brewing mostly espresso you might steer more toward a ceramic burr grinder. In these cases using a grinder with a ceramic burr is recommended.