Oxo Conical Burr Grinder Review: Do the Reviews Match the Price Tag?

While most people underestimate the power of a quality grinder, it's actually an element that's most important to your home-brewing setup. Quality taste comes from quality machines that are able to recreate the same amazing taste, time after time.

A little unknown fact about coffee beans is that grounds lose their full flavor and freshness after just a week, sometimes even less. Heck, 70% of the flavor is lost within 15 minutes of grinding. That's right, that means that all of that coffee you see browsing through the grocery store isn't anywhere near its full potential. 

When you use a cheap grinder, or buy pre-ground coffee in the grocery store, coffee beans often lose their freshness as soon as you open up the bag. That's why more and more people are investing in quality grinders. So if you're looking for a new coffee grinder for better grind consistency, keep reading this Oxo Conical Burr Grinder review and see if it's the right grinder for you. 

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About Oxo 

Oxo is a home appliance company that went into business about thirty years ago. If you've wandered the halls of Bed Bath and Beyond, you've probably run into Oxo before as they have their hand in almost every kind of kitchen and home appliance you can think of. 

And they have a cute origin story, too. The founders are a married couple, and the husband Sam Farber designed his first appliance to help his wife, who had difficulty grasping peelers due to her arthritic hands. From there, Oxo grew and grew until they became the company we know today. 

Oxo boasts that their burr grinders help coffee lovers unlock the full potential of their beans. Since the quality of a coffee begins with the basics, they designed a powerful machine to help monitor quality from the moment you pour the beans into the grinder. 

And, they've done a pretty good job, too. This burr grinder often makes many top ten lists of favorite grinders, and it is also praised on Amazon and other consumer-based review websites.

Oxo Conical Burr Grinder Review

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the details of this Oxo Conical Burr Grinder review, let's first give you a quick overview of what works about this oxo burr coffee grinder and what doesn't. 

This coffee grinder has many great features that make this a standout selection among budget burr grinders. While there are many great reasons to purchase an Oxo Conical Burr Grinder, here are a few top reasons why this is such a great purchase. 

Pros: 

• BPA free 
• Fifteen Settings 
• Great hopper design 
• Easy interface 

Of course, every coffee grinder has its drawbacks. While, for the most part, this is a great machine, here are a few of the significant disadvantages we've found. 

Cons: 

• Gets clogged easily 
• No scale 
• No locked hopper can make a loud noise
• Burrs don't remove, so it can be hard to clean 

Here's our bottom line: This is an excellent machine for its price. It certainly does have its flaws, but for the most part, this is a reliable, durable machine that delivers a perfect cup of coffee. 

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Features

The best feature by far of the Oxo Conical Burr Grinder is that it allows you to choose the coarseness of your grounds. This versatility will enable you to use this grinder as a one-stop shop, so whether you're making coffee via french press, drip coffee, or a cup of espresso, you can always get the perfect type of grounds with a great coarse grind option.

That means that if you're a coffee drinker with lots of different coffee or espresso machines in your house, this product may be a good fit as it can match your versatility. Because it has a range of 15 settings, you're able to move the range of coarseness to whatever grind setting works for you. 

Here are some other great features that are built into your Oxo Conical Burr Coffee Grinder:

• Bean hopper lid
• Bean hopper
• Hopper knob
• Removable upper burr
• Grinder body
• Grounds chute
• Coffee scoop 

The grounds chute is especially a great feature as it all but guarantees easy transference between grinder and machine. It aids your endeavors to keep your countertops clean of that coffee ground dust and does an excellent job at cleanliness and maintenance. 

The bean hopper lid is also designed well as it seals in beans to guarantee freshness and keep beans for longer. 

Lastly, the coffee scoop is an excellent addition as it ensures you are always using the proper measurements to deliver the best cup of coffee and espresso.  

However, there is one significant feature that this grinder is missing, and that is its scale! The Oxo Conical Burr Coffee Grinder does not come with a scale, and as a result, can turn some customers off. 

Ease of Use

The Oxo Conical Burr Grinder excels at keeping its operation simple. It boasts a convenient interface with straightforward, easy-to-understand settings. All you need to do is simply turn and press the timer, and your machine will start grinding beans. Its streamlined process is ideal for a groggy person in the morning to get fine enough grounds.

Aiding this endeavor to create a simple interface, Oxo burr grinder only provides you with two functions (a knob for a timeframe and a timer). In this sense, this grinder is exceptionally easy to use. 

However, we won't mince words: cleaning this machine can be a bit of a pain. The conical burrs at the bottom of the grinder can't be removed, meaning you need to clean around the conical burrs  to clean this coffee appliance.  

If you're anticipating not having to clean it very often, unfortunately, you're mistaken. Too much buildup will clog the machine's inner workings and prevent you from properly using it or from being able to use it at all. 

So, if you're in the habit of using your grinder daily, you may want to get into the habit of cleaning it every week to prevent any issues and keep your grinder and your conical burrs happy and healthy. 

Oxo has anticipated that this might be a problem for some, though, and boasts that you can clean it without having to undo too many small screws, a frequent problem amongst other grinders and coffee makers. However, if they had just designed the grinder to allow the removal of the burrs, this would have gone a long way regarding ease of use. 

Besides the cleaning, this grinder is a relatively easy, intuitive appliance, making this a user-friendly option for coffee grinders who are beginning or just starting out in their home-brewing barista journeys to make the perfect cups of coffee.

Design

The grinder is constructed with a modern gold exterior, which is not only aesthetically appealing but will also act as a centerpiece for all of your other coffee appliances because it has such a unique, eye-grabbing design. 

It's also a small, sleek appliance, so it can comfortably fit on any kitchen countertop or kitchen nook. 

Another innovative design is that the hopper is layered with UV-blocking tints to ensure that beans have the maximum amount of freshness, which we think is a brilliant, exciting design feature. 

Another excellent design feature is that the bean hopper can be sealed, meaning that you can keep the beans fresh and, as a result, extend the life of the beans as well as get better coffee. Not only will they not spoil, but the grind consistency will stay the same since they get stored inside.

Since this is a grinder, the design of the burrs is paramount to the success of the entire appliance. Here, Oxo presents a grinder with blades designed with steel instead of ceramic. This is an intelligent design feature as when you wash steel, it limits the amount of rust that will accumulate over time.  Plus, the stainless steel conical will look great on any countertop. 

While it will not be as long-lasting as blades crafted of ceramic, their durable design ensures that you will get the most consistent distribution of grounds, which, of course, leads to a better cup of coffee. 

Lastly, the bean hopper is designed to be spill-free, so you can say goodbye to lines of coffee grounds and coffee dust covering your countertops, as with the case with many other coffee grinders. 

Build

One of the best features of this machine is its build: at only 4.5 pounds, this small but mighty machine packs a serious punch to grind the best coffee around.

Not only is it small, but its voltage is powerful as well. Its voltage is 120V/60Hz, and as a result, its performance is unparalleled. And at just 7.4 x 12 x 16 inches, it can sit comfortably on any countertop, table, or appliance.

Since this is built from stainless steel, the Oxo Conical Burr Grinder is made from quality materials so that you know just by feeling it, you have a fine grinder that's well crafted and professionally built. 

And because it's made from quality ingredients, you also have the peace of mind that this is built to last and won't wimp out on you like other grinders in the coffee grinder market. 

Additionally, the 40mm stainless steel conical burrs allow you to create uniform ground coffee that excels at flavor extraction and preservation. 

Performance

The most important part of the machine, the Oxo Conical Burr Grinder has unparalleled performance and rises above its competitors with its excellent results with French press, drip coffee, cold brew, espresso, or any type of coffee you would like.

The Good

For one, the beans effortlessly feed into the machine, and most customers don't have any issues with the beans getting stuck or jammed in the machine. Since that's an integral part of a working grinder, Oxo receives a thumbs up for that aspect. 

When you purchase an Oxo grinder, you are buying longevity. In fact, longevity is a fundamental principle behind the grinder's design. The setup of the conical burrs is built for longevity. One of the burrs remains still in its place, while the other burr rotates to deliver the crushing or grinding part of the process. 

Therefore, it is not the burrs themselves that produce the fine or coarse grounds but the sharper ridges found on the edges of the burrs. This ensures less wear and tear to keep your blades working as long as possible.  

The machine also boasts a slow RPM. This means that it produces far less noise than other grinders on the market. Not only that, but the slow RPM also delivers a better quality grind for a more robust flavor and consistent grind.

The grinder also comes with a static fighting compartment to ensure extra protection against static and provides easy cleanup.

The Bad

Yet, for all of its features and settings, there are some drawbacks. For one, customers complain that the hopper does not lock. This creates a problem because the vibration of the hopper against the machine can produce a loud, jarring noise. 

Additionally, Oxo tells us that this grinder won't work with any sort of oily bean, which means if you're in love with an oily bean (like Starbucks), then this may not be a great fit for you. 

Another drawback is that it won't perform well if used too many times in a short period. If it gets too hot from overuse, the grinder can stop working for a while.  In fact, Oxo is very open about this and says in the manual that you must allow the grinder to cool for at least two minutes after each use. 

If the grinder is used for more than five minutes within 10 minutes, it may become inoperable for 30 minutes. Once the grinder has cooled down, you may resume grinding your bean into ground coffee.

The Ugly

But perhaps the most problematic issue of them all is that some coarseness levels don't come out too great when using this brand. It seems to be limited to the extreme: many customers report having very fine grades and very coarse grades. 

Sometimes the extreme coarse and fine grind tends to be inconsistent, which is a problem since consistent grinds are the entire appeal of a burr grinder. 

As a result, if you are someone who only likes extreme levels of coarseness (say, if you exclusively use grounds for an espresso maker or for a french press), this may not be a great product for you. 

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What Is A Burr Grinder? 

If you're just getting into coffee grinders, you may be confused about the difference between burr grinders and blade grinders. While they are both very effective, a burr grinder is a grinder that slowly grinds the coffee beans into even pieces, whereas a blade grinder slices coffee beans into grounds. 

Because they take their time grinding beans and coffee grounds into even pieces, the coffee will have better uniformity and consistency, which equals a bolder, fuller taste and an overall better cup of coffee. Both are effective, but burr grinders are better. Think of them as a slight step above blades. 

However, be aware of fake burr grinders, which are becoming an increasing problem in the coffee grinder market. Many companies try to pass off their grinders as burr when, in all actuality, they're not.

The problem with fake burrs is that you get grounds without consistency or uniformity, which is the entire point of a burr grinder. You can tell the difference by if it has enormous teeth: if it does, that means it's fake. 

Is It Worth It?

In our opinion, the Burr Grinder by Oxo may be worth checking out simply because of its excellent performance and low price range. 

Especially if you're someone who grinds a lot of coffee into ground coffee for various appliances, this grinder would be an excellent coffee addition to your home. 

While some features could be improved, this is a high-performing piece of grinding machinery and has a relatively low cost. Not only that, but it is also highly rated and praised often on various coffee review websites.  

As a result, we recommend you check out the Oxo Conical Burr Grinder for excellent grind quality for your cup of coffee at home.

Final Verdict 

For the most part, the grinder holds up well and performs for long periods of time, and Oxo has done a great job at crafting a durable, quality grinding machine for a great price range.

However, there are a few drawbacks. The biggest drawback is, of course, its struggles to produce consistent grounds for both very fine or very coarse grounds of coffee. This is a pretty significant issue, and if you are someone who would use this grinder for espresso drinks, plain espresso, or french press, you may want to browse some other brands. 

If you stay in the middle in terms of coarseness, the Oxo Conical Burr Grinder has several hard-hitting grinding features that you may benefit significantly from. For one, its straightforward interface makes actually using this machine a breeze. For another, it's moderately priced and is built with quality materials, meaning that it should last a long time.

All in all, our Oxo Conical Burr Grinder review recommends checking out this wonderful burr coffee grinder for excellent consistency and to grind a great cup of coffee at home.

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