← All terms
Burr
The cutting elements inside a grinder — flat or conical, steel or ceramic — that shear coffee beans into a controlled particle size.
Category: Grinders — Burrs & Build
The cutting tooth of a coffee grinder. Two burrs work together — typically one stationary and one rotating — to cut beans between them. Made from hardened steel, ceramic, or specialised alloys.
Why it matters — Burrs are the single most important component in a grinder. Their geometry, material, and condition determine how cleanly beans are cut and how uniform the resulting grind distribution is.
Good to know
- Burrs come in two main shapes: flat (two parallel discs) and conical (a male cone inside a female cone).
- Burrs have a working life — flat burrs typically last 500–1000 kg of coffee; conical burrs often longer. Replace when grind quality drops noticeably.
Related: Grinder Burrs