I. Overview of Core Comparison Dimensions
The 64mm 12-tooth and 20-tooth flat burrs are widely used mid-range configurations in coffee grinders. Their core difference stems from the number and density of teeth, which in turn affect grinding efficiency, particle distribution, flavor extraction, and durability. The distinction between the standard version and the titanium-plated version lies in the surface treatment process, whose core function is to enhance the wear resistance and service life of the burrs. A detailed comparison from multiple dimensions is presented below.
II. Detailed Comparison of Key Dimensions
1. Burr Structure and Grinding Principle
64mm 12-tooth Burrs: With fewer teeth, wider tooth spacing, larger tooth volume, and a gentler cutting angle. During grinding, after coffee beans enter the burr gap, they are crushed by the dual action of "shearing + extrusion" from the larger teeth. The amount of coffee beans cut at a single time is relatively large, and the grinding process is more inclined to "rough" crushing.
64mm 20-tooth Burrs: With more teeth, narrower tooth spacing, slimmer teeth, and denser cutting edges. During grinding, coffee beans are mainly subjected to high-frequency "precision shearing". The teeth divide the coffee beans more finely, and the grinding process is more inclined to "precision" cutting.
Both standard versions are made of high-carbon steel or stainless steel substrates with moderate hardness to ensure basic cutting performance; the titanium-plated versions are coated with a titanium layer (usually TiN titanium nitride) on the surface of the standard substrate, which does not change the core grinding structure but only improves surface hardness and smoothness.
2. Grinding Performance
Grinding Efficiency: The 12-tooth burrs have an advantage. Due to the wide tooth spacing and large single cutting volume, under the same motor power, the powder output per unit time is higher, making it suitable for scenarios requiring fast grinding (such as small-scale commercial use and high-frequency household use); the 20-tooth burrs have a longer cutting path for coffee beans in the burrs due to the dense teeth, so it takes slightly longer to grind the same weight of coffee powder, and the efficiency is relatively lower.
Particle Distribution: The particle distribution of the 12-tooth burrs is relatively uneven, accompanied by a small amount of coarse powder and fine powder impurities, showing a "wide distribution" characteristic; the particle distribution of the 20-tooth burrs is more concentrated, with less coarse and fine powder, showing a "narrow distribution" characteristic, which is due to the high-frequency shearing of dense teeth that can divide coffee beans more evenly.
Grinding Resistance and Noise: The 12-tooth burrs have smaller cutting resistance, lower motor load, and relatively soft noise during grinding without obvious sharp noise; the 20-tooth burrs have a larger contact area with coffee beans during cutting due to dense teeth, slightly higher resistance, and the motor operation noise is slightly higher than that of the 12-tooth burrs, and high-frequency cutting may be accompanied by slight sharp sounds.
3. Flavor Extraction Performance
64mm 12-tooth Burrs: The wide particle distribution brings a "richer layered" extraction effect. A small amount of fine powder can quickly extract flavor substances from coffee, bringing a rich taste, while a small amount of coarse powder can retain the aroma and freshness of coffee and reduce the bitterness caused by over-extraction. Suitable for light-roasted and medium-roasted coffee beans, especially for brewing methods with long extraction time such as pour-over and drip, which can highlight the fruity and floral notes of coffee.
64mm 20-tooth Burrs: The narrow particle distribution enables more uniform extraction, which can effectively avoid local over-extraction or under-extraction. During extraction, the coffee has a better balance of sweetness and acidity, a purer and smoother taste, and better control of bitterness. Suitable for medium-roasted and dark-roasted coffee beans, and for brewing methods that require high particle uniformity such as espresso and American drip, which can highlight the richness and caramel flavor of coffee.
4. Durability and Maintenance Cost (Standard vs. Titanium-Plated)
Standard Version Burrs (Both Tooth Types): The substrate is high-carbon steel or stainless steel with a hardness of about HRC55-60, which can meet the needs of daily grinding of ordinary coffee beans for household use (service life is about 1500-2000 jin of coffee beans). However, after long-term grinding, the surface of the burrs is prone to wear and passivation, especially when grinding dark-roasted coffee beans or beans with hard shells, the wear rate is faster, requiring regular grinding or replacement, and the maintenance frequency is relatively high.
Titanium-Plated Version Burrs (Both Tooth Types): The hardness of the titanium coating on the surface can reach above HRC70, the wear resistance is significantly improved, and the service life is 1.5-2 times that of the standard version (about 2500-4000 jin of coffee beans). The titanium coating also has good corrosion resistance, which can reduce the adhesion and erosion of coffee oil on the burrs, making cleaning more convenient. However, the price of titanium-plated burrs is higher than that of the standard version (about 30%-50% higher), and the initial investment cost is higher.
Supplement: The improvement in durability of the titanium-plated versions of the two tooth types is basically the same. The difference mainly comes from the basic tooth structure, not the titanium plating process.
5. Applicable Scenarios and Crowds
64mm 12-tooth Burrs (Standard Version): Suitable for daily household use and small coffee shops with fast order preparation, especially for users who like pour-over and drip coffee and pursue a layered flavor. Cost-effective, suitable for people with limited budget and medium grinding frequency.
64mm 12-tooth Burrs (Titanium-Plated Version): Suitable for high-frequency household use and small-scale commercial scenarios (such as daily grinding volume of 5-10 jin of coffee beans), users who like the flavor characteristics of 12-tooth burrs and hope to reduce the frequency of burr replacement.
64mm 20-tooth Burrs (Standard Version): Suitable for household users and specialty coffee shops with high requirements for the purity of coffee taste, especially for making espresso and American drip coffee, and for people who pursue a balanced sweet and sour taste. Priority for users with limited budget but focusing on extraction uniformity.
64mm 20-tooth Burrs (Titanium-Plated Version): Suitable for specialty coffee shops and professional coffee studios (daily grinding volume of 8-15 jin of coffee beans), long-term grinding of dark-roasted coffee beans or high-frequency use scenarios, and professional users who pursue high-uniformity extraction and hope for long-term stable use of burrs.
III. Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion
1. If you pursue grinding efficiency, flavor layering, adapt to slow extraction methods such as pour-over, and have a limited budget, choose the 64mm 12-tooth standard version; upgrade to the titanium-plated version for high-frequency use.
2. If you pursue extraction uniformity and taste purity, adapt to fast extraction methods such as espresso, and have a limited budget, choose the 64mm 20-tooth standard version; upgrade to the titanium-plated version for high-frequency use or grinding dark-roasted beans.
3. The core value of the titanium-plated version is to improve durability, not to change the flavor. If the grinding frequency is low (such as using 2-3 times a week at home), the standard version can already meet the needs, and there is no need to pay an additional titanium plating premium.
In conclusion, the choice between 64mm 12-tooth and 20-tooth flat burrs primarily hinges on matching your needs for grinding efficiency and flavor profile. The decision between the standard and titanium-plated versions, on the other hand, depends on considerations of usage frequency and maintenance costs. It is hoped that the comparative analysis in this article will provide practical references for coffee professionals and enthusiasts in selecting suitable burrs, helping to enhance the overall experience of coffee grinding and extraction.