Detailed Review - BODUM Bistro Burr GRINDER could be the best!
Grinding your own coffee is a satisfying process. The fresher your coffee, the better it tastes and smells, and the more health properties are extracted from the beans.
But you know that already, which is why you’re reading this article...
Are you finding it hard to achieve consistent results from your current grinder? Or is this going to be your first grinder?
Either way, I got your back!
In this ultimate guide, I will tell you why you need a grinder and what type of grinder is best. I will also provide a detailed review of the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder, which is one of the top-ranking grinders on the market.
If you’re new to grinding or want to up your grinding game, then read on to find out all you need to know.
Different Types of Grinders
The three main types of grinder are blade grinders, manual grinders and burr grinders.
Blade Grinders
Are usually the cheapest. They use blades to slice the coffee beans. They are not particularly precise and can lead to different sized coffee grounds which can affect the taste.
Which we’ll get to further down, so keep reading...
Manual Grinders
Are containers with handles where you manually grind the coffee beans yourself. You might like these grinders if you want to build up those arm muscles! Be sure though to alternate arms otherwise you might look a bit lop-sided.
Burr Grinders
Crush coffee beans against a surface with a grinder wheel. This makes a more precise grind size, and there are two types of burr grinders: flat and conical:
- Flat burr grinders are usually less expensive, and they can be loud.
- Conical burr grinders are more expensive because they are quieter and oil doesn’t clog up the machine which can be a real mess cleaning up. The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder has this type of burr grinder.
Why is a grinder so important?
Getting the right grind for your coffee is important because it can affect the flavor.
Finer coffee grounds have a longer extraction time because water takes longer to pass through them. While coarser grounds, the water goes through faster giving them a shorter extraction time.
This means you need to get your grind right for the particular coffee you are making otherwise your coffee could be over or under-extracted which will affect the taste.
If you buy pre-ground coffee, the package usually has the date the beans were ground on it.
This means they are not as fresh which also affects the taste. When you buy whole coffee beans, then you would need a coffee grinder.
And a damn good one to ensure optimal coffee flavor extraction!
You can grind a batch a few days ahead or you can grind the beans fresh each time you make a cup of coffee.
Either way is better than buying pre-ground stale coffee…
Which finally brings us to the best grinder on the market today, the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder review.
Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder Features
- Reduces static, so grinds don’t stick to it
- 7.8oz capacity for plastic hopper
- Grinding limit is 20 seconds
- 11oz container bin for ground coffee
- Comes in different colors
- 12 grind settings
- Sleek design
- Easy to use
Bodum Burr Grinder Review
Bodum is a reputable company for their coffee products including French presses, and their Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder is a recent addition.
How does the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder work?
It is a grinder that uses stainless steel conical burrs to crush the coffee beans, instead of slicing them.
This means it keeps the flavor of the beans and the aroma intact to make a better cup of coffee every single time.
The 4-step process
- Place the coffee beans into the top hopper
- Select the grind size based on your brewing method
- Set timer based on how many cups of coffee you’re making
- Start the grinder
Of course, a review is not a review without discussing the pros and cons...
Pros
- The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder is a fine-looking grinder! The design is sleek and modern. It comes in a range of colors including red, black, white, and silver, so you can match it with other appliances in your kitchen.
- It is compact so it is small enough to sit on your countertop.
- The shape is different from other grinders, so it’s unique if you want something that stands out.
- The Bodum Bistro Coffee Grinder is easy to use. All you have to do is fill it with coffee beans, set the grind options and time, then press a button, and you’re ready to brew.
- It has 12 grind settings so you can choose from fine to coarse to suit whatever brewing method you are using. Anything from espresso and Aeropress, to pour over and French Press, just to name a few.
Related Post: The Best Automatic Pour Over Coffee Maker + 7 Contenders
- There’s also less waste with the pre-set timer, so you only grind what you need, and there is a built-in measuring guide on the lid.
- It includes a friction clutch which means if anything, like small stones, gets caught in the burrs, the grinder will make a rattling noise letting you know. So you would stop the machine and pull whatever is stuck out.
- The outside of the grinder is made of robust plastic, so it looks high-quality. It is also scratch-resistant. If you are leaving it on your countertop then it’s not going to look worn out.
- It has a borosilicate glass catcher which reduces static cling. It can be a real pain to grind your beans only for half of them to stick inside the container afterwards. The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder reduces the static to avoid waste.
- The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder is easy to clean. It can be taken apart easily to clean by hand plus parts of it are dishwasher safe. It will still need to be maintained by brushing out the coffee dust every now and then.
Pro Tip: Maintaining your appliance is important otherwise residue from old coffee will make its way into your steaming, fresh cup of coffee and the taste won’t be ideal...
Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder
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Cons
- While it’s quieter than manual or wheel burr grinders, the motor isn’t the quietest.
It was never quiet enough to successfully surprise my better half with a cup of coffee in the morning, haha! - The outside of the body is robust, but the machine parts don’t last forever. After having mine for about a year and using it religiously every day, the grinder kind of stopped working. So I contacted Bodum directly and they were great at sending me a replacement within my warranty period.
- You have to give it a few minutes break between grinding, so it doesn’t overheat.
- The grinding time limit also only goes up to 20 seconds to prevent overheating.
Once I had family over for Christmas and was grinding coffee for a 12-cup coffee pot and I had to press the grinding button again because the 20 seconds wasn’t enough. I don’t brew this size coffee pot that often, so it’s not an issue for me.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder is a smart choice for everyone from beginners to experts, and you could even end up keeping it for a good while after that.
Owning one myself, it has suited me for a good while and has certainly made my mornings that much better with a fresh cup of coffee. I’ve been able to experiment with all kinds of coffee beans and brewing methods to broaden my coffee knowledge.
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FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose a grinder?
Decide on which type of grinder you want first. If you’re just starting with manual coffee making, maybe the cheapest option would be best until you know if you’re going to keep it up.
The cheapest one would be a manual grinder. If you try that and are happy with it, then the next would be an electric grinder like the Bodum Bistro electric Burr coffee grinder, so it does it automatically for you. But you’ll have to find another way to build up those arm muscles!
Can you use any type of coffee beans in the grinder?
Yes, you can use any coffee beans for different types of coffee drinks. Light, medium, or dark roasts will grind differently. Lighter roasts generally grind finer. The type of bean you use will depend on what type of coffee you want.
For French press or cold brew, you want coarse. For pour over coffee you want medium to coarse. For drip coffee, like a 4 cup coffee maker, or siphon it's better with a medium grind. Espresso needs an extra fine grind. The Bodum Burr coffee grinder has all of these settings.
What are some techniques for grinding?
You would think just pouring in the coffee beans and pressing a button was all there was to grinding, but it’s not. Here’s some tips on grinding to get the most out of your coffee beans.
- Use good quality coffee beans. If the beans are already inferior in quality, then grinding them will only make this worse and your coffee won’t taste as good.
- Only use what you need of your coffee beans for what you’re going to make to maximize freshness.
- Use the correct coffee to water ratio
Final Thoughts about the Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder
The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder is a great step up to your grinding game. It is a good balance between quality and price.
Whether you want to make the perfect latte or whatever coffee beverage you love. This grinder is sure to help you refine your favorite drink!
Plus it’s satisfying to grind your own coffee beans like a pro, and the strong aroma that releases from the beans when you grind them is enough to make your mouth water and it can be a nice morning routine to wake you up.
Happy Grinding!
