← All terms

Burr chirp

The sound the burrs make when they touch each other with no coffee in between — used to find the zero point.

Category: Grinders — Burrs & Build

The sound the burrs make when they just touch each other with no coffee in between — used to find the grinder's zero point during calibration or burr installation.

Why it matters — The zero point is your reference for all grind adjustments. Without a known zero, you're guessing how far past contact each setting is.

Good to know

  • Find chirp slowly — turn the adjustment fine-fine, and stop the moment you hear a soft metallic whisper. Don't grind the burrs against each other; back off immediately.
  • Mark the zero point on the adjustment ring so you can recalibrate after burr changes.