Ceramic Vs Steel Burrs

Grinding coffee generates heat.

Ceramic vs steel burrs.

And this heat is the problem according to most coffee. Ceramic vs steel burrs the basics. Coffee beans and heat. The ceramic burrs are just as durable.

Since ceramic and steel burrs have different heat conducting abilities. Is one type of burr better than another. Don t try and swap between espresso and drip either you ll pull your hair out and never get consistent results. Ceramic burrs are harder than steel and last on average about twice as long as steel burrs.

Or so the argument goes. Ceramic burr are less thermally conductive than steel this means these burrs transfer less heat than steel burrs see below on heat. 1 grinder 1 purpose. Just think about how many ceramic artifacts we have from ancient history baratza suggests that they are great for blends and espresso providing a traditional espresso flavor profile ultimately as with the burr shape the ceramic vs steel issue is going to be about personal taste.

First off ceramic burrs run a bit cooler compared to steel burrs or in other words they don t heat up as fast or retain heat as much as their metal counterparts. That means your first steel grinder probably isn t going to be your last one. They are great for blends and particularly coffees roasted for espresso. I haven t noticed this myself and i m not sure the argument would even apply to hand grinding.

Both of these burrs handle your roasts pretty much equally. 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. With regards to tasting espresso specifically we have noticed that the ceramic burrs produce a traditional espresso flavor profile. Ceramic burrs run a little cooler than steel burrs and there are some coffee experts who think the extra heat burns off some of the oils and impacts the flavor of the coffee.

Ceramic burrs are more brittle than steel so you could chip the ceramic burr if a very hard rock was hiding in the beans. If you re not doing espresso then you don t have worry about the ceramic burrs since the steel are designed for a courser grind. Which is better ceramic or steel burrs. V60 1 point 4 years ago.

The key advantage that ceramic burrs have over their steel alternatives is that they are much harder. Find out as whole latte love. Coffee grinders can use flat or conical burrs made of steel or ceramic materials. The main thing that impacts the cost of a grinder is whether it is automatic or manual though not the blade material.

The cup flavors are complex and usually have more body and mouth feel in comparison to the steel burrs depending on the coffee.