BODUM COFFEE GRINDER REVIEW: BEST MODEL FOR NEWBIES?

I’m here to make a case for the stylish Bodum coffee grinder.

You’ve made up your mind to finally ditch that blade grinder in favor of a proper burr coffee grinder. Congratulations – I’m so happy for you. Your coffee is about to get a lot better!

What’s the best entry-level model for a burr grinding novice? The one that’s cheap, easy to use, and has a nifty little trick up its sleeve that even some of the more expensive grinders can’t match. 

Keep reading this Bodum Bistro review to learn more.

The Full Bodum Bistro Grinder Review

The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder is a great option for the beginner on a budget looking for an introduction to the world of manual coffee. Its design, features, and affordable price all target the entry-level barista.

For reasons I will never understand, Bodum confusingly uses “Bistro” to designate an entire line of grinders with a similar aesthetic, many of which are blade grinders. If you want a spice grinder, the Bodum Bistro electric blade grinder is fine. But if you’re looking for a grinder for coffee beans, you’ll want to read this Bodum Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder review.

How We Rated It

• Design
• Durability
• Ease Of Use
• Grinding Capability
• Value For Money

3.8

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Are Bodum Coffee Grinders Any Good?

Bodum is well known for attractive and user-friendly coffee and tea-making gear. Although Bodum grinders aren’t the most premium burr grinders on the market, they generally outperform their price, making them excellent options for coffee beginners. After all, we all know that freshly ground coffee makes the best brew.

Grind Quality And Consistency

The Bodum Bistro offers just 12 grind settings. The range is excellent, spanning from espresso fine to French Press coarse, but I’d love a little more precision. Most budget grinders offer between 15 and 20 settings.

The 35-mm conical steel burrs are impressive, delivering relatively uniform grinds throughout the range. In particular, this grinder shines in medium to coarse grinds, perfect for drip and immersion brewing. 

I wouldn’t recommend this grinder for espresso. It doesn’t have nearly enough grind settings to dial in a shot, and its grind quality lags at the finest setting. However, you can get away with it if you’re using a pressurized portafilter, and the second-finest setting works perfectly for my Moka pot.

Motor And Grind Speed

The burrs are driven by a 160-watt motor, which is actually more powerful than competitors like the Capresso Infinity or Brentwood coffee grinder. I never encountered any issues with stalling while grinding dense light roasts, something that is often a problem with cheaper grinders.

The grind speed is 720 rpm, which is a bit faster than I’d expect for a conical burr coffee grinder. While that results in a relatively fast grind output (around 1.5 to 2 g/s), it does make this grinder a little louder and whinier than others I’ve tested.

Is A Blade Or Burr Coffee Grinder Better?

Even an entry-level burr grinder like the Bodum Bistro is miles ahead of an inexpensive blade grinder. There is no comparison (1). 

A burr grinder crushes beans between stainless steel conical burrs, creating evenly sized particles with the grind size set by the space between the burrs. A blade grinder chops the beans into pieces, with an average grind size determined by the grind time. It’s extremely inconsistent and virtually guarantees your brew won’t be evenly extracted. 

How To Use The Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder

I found using this grinder simple and intuitive, which is always one of the perks of cheaper grinders. Fewer features mean no learning curve.

Here’s my process:

1. Add beans to the hopper.
2. Twist the hopper to adjust the grind size if necessary.
3. Turn on the grinder with the switch on the side.
4. Use the timer dial to set the coffee dose.
5. Press the on/off button next to the timer to start grinding.

The timer can be set between 5 and 20 seconds, and it’s great for ensuring a relatively consistent dose and avoiding stale grounds or coffee waste. I’d love it even more if it held its place to guarantee the same grind time every day. That’s a minor quibble, however, as it’s easy to get reasonably close by resetting it manually.

You can only grind for a maximum of 20 seconds at a time, which, in my experience, equates to about 32 to 40 grams of coffee. That’s enough for brewing two to four cups. I suspect this was designed to correspond with what you need for standard Bodum coffee makers, like their famous French press. 

Bodum recommends giving the machine a highly inconvenient 5-minute break to prevent the motor from overheating if you want to grind more beans after the initial 20 seconds (2). For this reason, I wouldn’t be inclined to use the Bistro to grind for a typical 12-cup automatic drip machine. It would take upwards of 10 minutes to grind the amount of coffee needed.

Cleaning And Maintenance

The Bodum Bistro is unique as it is virtually static-free, especially compared to other grinders in its price range. A set of plastic spokes keeps your coffee grounds flowing smoothly through the burrs and into the static-proof glass grounds bin. That means much less day-to-day mess. 

You should still give it a thorough cleaning every 3 to 6 months to extend its lifetime (3). This is relatively simple as the bean hopper and grind adjustment ring can easily be removed to access the burrs, and the glass grounds bin and hopper lid are dishwasher-safe.

Removing the top burr to get into the grinding chamber is less straightforward, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, use an air blower to blow out stray coffee grinds and invest in grinding pellets to clean the burrs.

This grinder also has a friction clutch to avoid potentially catastrophic damage. If any stones get into the burrs, it will make a rattling noise indicating the stone’s presence. That’s your cue to switch off the machine. It’s a nice touch that I don’t often come across in a budget grinder.

Design And Aesthetics

All of Bodum’s products are funky and chic but not overdone. They are modern with a playfully minimalist flair. The Bistro burr grinder follows the same philosophy, making it a great match if you already own a Bodum coffee maker. 

Available in black, white, or red with contrasting switches, it looks like a snazzy appliance that one might find in a hipster cafe rather than in a home kitchen.

The Bistro grinder is small and light, measuring 7.6 x 7.1 x 12.5 inches. It’s one of few grinders short enough that I can refill the hopper without having to slide it out from under my cabinets. Though given that it weighs less than 5 pounds, it’s not difficult to move around when necessary.

Hopper & Grounds Bin

The transparent plastic hopper has a 7.8-oz capacity. A relatively new addition to the grinder is a handy grind size guide etched into the hopper lid. It provides grind size and timing suggestions for various brew methods – another indication that this grinder was designed to be friendly for new coffee lovers.

There’s no need to worry about spilling fine coffee dust all over your kitchen when pulling out the grounds bin after grinding. This is a place where many brands resort to plastic to save money at the expense of user experience, even far more expensive grinders like the Solis Scala grinder.

Should You Buy the Bodum Bistro?

Who is this grinder for? The Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Grinder is one of the most popular entry-level grinders hovering around the $100 price point. Compared to its main competition, in my opinion, it has a more attractive and compact design and a nicer overall user experience, especially with the glass grounds bin. 

On the other hand, it has a smaller burr set and fewer grind settings than many others. So this is a grinder for someone who rates aesthetics high on their list of priorities.

It’s worth noting that Bodum has put the same burrs and motor into a much cheaper grinder which does away with the timer and replaces the glass grounds bin with plastic. If you’re looking for a coffee grinder with a similar aesthetic but a lower price, it’s an option worth considering.

How Long Does The Bodum Bistro Grinder Last?

The stainless steel burrs are built to last, but the machine parts are of the quality you would expect at this price – middling. 

The body of the grinder is made from a special plastic that is both scratch-resistant and smooth to the touch without being glossy. It actually feels quite durable to me, much less likely to crack than others. However, the switches and buttons don’t feel very durable. I’d wager you’ll get up to about three years with this grinder, provided you are reasonably diligent with cleaning.

The glass grounds bin may be static-free and dishwasher-safe, but make sure you handle it with care. A few users have reported the base cracking when they put it down on the countertop with a little bit of force. While Bodum backs this grinder with a one-year warranty, it doesn’t extend to glass. That said, if you break the glass grounds bin, you can easily order a replacement off the Bodum website. There is no need to buy a whole new grinder.

Don’t Buy The Bodum Bistro Burr Coffee Grinder If…

• You want more grind settings: Most entry-level electric coffee grinders offer a few more settings than the Bodum Bistro at a similar price point. For example, the Capresso Infinity has 16 settings, while the OXO Brew has 15. Both are equipped with a slightly larger 40 mm burr set as well, making it easier to grind more coffee quickly.

• You’re willing to spend a bit more for higher quality: For roughly an extra $50, you can get the Baratza Encore, a longtime favorite from an incredibly reliable brand. The Encore conical burr grinder is a big quality step up from the Bistro, with 40-mm stainless steel burrs, a powerful 240-watt motor, and 40 grind settings.

• You want to grind for espresso: Grinding for espresso requires more precision, which necessarily increases costs. The best coffee grinders for espresso have stepless grind adjustments. But assuming you don’t want to quadruple your budget, I recommend the Baratza Encore ESP as the cheapest option that can produce a tasty espresso shot. If you have a bit more to spend, consider the Breville Smart Grinder Pro or upgrade to the Baratza Sette 270.

The Verdict

The Bodum Bistro electric coffee burr grinder is an entry-level gadget with a limited range of grind settings. But the grind consistency is a huge improvement from a blade grinder – or even some of the cheaper burr grinders – and it stands out with a chic aesthetic and static-free design.

This burr grinder is targeted at the newbie homebrewer who has taken an interest in manual brewing and is looking to upgrade from a blade grinder. While you should temper your expectations when buying any inexpensive grinder as they’re all limited in their versatility, the Bodum Bistro will definitely elevate the quality of your drip coffee by a couple of notches.

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