Whenever people come to us for advice about buying a new coffee grinder, one of the first things they often ask is, “Which is the best budget coffee grinder?”
It’s true: not everyone is looking for a barista-quality grinder in the $300+ price range, so starting with something under $100 makes sense for budget-conscious buyers.
But there are far too many cheap grinders out there that almost do more harm than good.
When you buy quality beans, then put them in a grinder that pulverizes them into all different sizes, you’ll never achieve the quality cup of coffee that’s possible.
So we did what felt like the impossible: we set out to find a high-quality grinder for close to $100. And, happy to report, the mission was successful.
So here it is… the Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder Review
- Capresso 565 Infinity: The Details
- Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder Specs:
- Best Features of the Infinity Grinder
- What type of coffee is best suited for the 565 Infinity?
- How to make the most out of this Burr Grinder
- The downside of the Capresso Burr Grinder
- Cleaning the Capresso Infinity
- Baratza Encore VS Capresso Infinity
- Final verdict on the Capresso Infinity Grinder
- Questions and Answers
Capresso 565 Infinity: The Details
Attractive and stable in its design, the Capresso Infinity burr grinder is a solid pick in its price range.
Built with durable materials that are easily removed for cleaning, the Infinity is a user-friendly pick ideal for beginners looking for a grinder with simplistic design yet impressive power.
‘What sets the Capresso Infinity apart from others in its class is its uniquely slow grind speed, at 250 RPM, which keeps the beans cooler than its competitors.’
Other grinders that rotate at higher speeds tend to build up more heat, increasing bitterness in the grounds – so you can count on optimal flavor with the Capresso Infinity.
At the same time, the Infinity has a quicker grind time than some of its competitors, making it ideal if you need to make multiple cups of coffee.
And with 16 individual grind settings, it’s easy and straightforward to set up the exact size of grounds you need for your particular type of coffee (finer for espresso, coarser for drip and French press.)
Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder Specs:
- 16 individual grind settings, labeled in 4 categories (Extra Fine, Regular, Coarse)
- Automatic grinding in 5 to 60 seconds with built-in timer
- 100W motor and 250 RPM motor speed
- Conical burr grinder design
- Added safety measure: bean container must be locked to operate
- Can grind 8.5 oz of beans at once
- Bean container and burrs easily removable for cleaning
- Weight: 8.75 pounds
Best Features of the Infinity Grinder
For coffee connoisseurs on a budget, this Capresso coffee burr grinder has a ton of features to put it at the top of the list.
It ticks all the boxes needed for a solid grinder for everyday use, whether you need a reliable grinder for your daily drip coffee or something to bring out for rounds of espresso for friends on the weekend.
Here are some of our favorite features of the Capresso Infinity burr grinder:
- Slow grinding speed preserves flavor
Unlike many other grinders which build up heat in the beans, destroying their flavor, the Infinity burrs rotate at an impressively slow 250 RPM.
This means that no extra heat is added into the beans, so you won’t detect any extra bitterness that might come from a similar grinder.
- Auto shut-off
Another feature we love about the Infinity is its auto shut-off feature, which means that the grinder will only grind the exact amount of beans needed to reach the ideal weight of grounds – eliminating waste (which is great when you’ve spent money on quality beans!)
You set the shut-off according to time, so you will need to learn the proper amount of time to achieve the amount of grounds you need.
- Safety feature
We appreciate how the Capresso Infinity is built with a safety feature that only allows the machine to operate when the bean container is fully locked.
This prevents wandering hands from accidentally turning on the machine, in case you have kids at home who might injure themselves.
- 16 individual grind settings
While it doesn’t offer quite the variety of grind settings as other grinders like the Baratza Encore, we generally found everything we needed in the 16 settings offered.
Marked Extra Fine, Fine, Regular and Coarse, it’s almost simpler to stick with these 16 settings than to grapple with 40 settings as a beginner.
What type of coffee is best suited for the 565 Infinity?
We like the simple options offered by the Capresso Infinity, and despite its minimal grind settings compared to some other grinders, we found it to achieve quite good results on all of its available settings.
However, it didn’t make the best espresso grounds compared to similar grinders in its class.
Overall, we’d recommend this Capresso grinder for drip, French Press, or pour-over, as these types of coffee require coarser grounds.[1]
How to make the most out of this Burr Grinder
To maximize the potential of the Capresso Infinity, we recommend starting with this grinder for everyday use at home as you get used to its various settings and grind times.
Personally, we love the built-in timer that makes just the amount of grounds you need, without having to babysit the machine.
Spend time getting used to the various grind types and the amount of time needed to create the ideal amount, and you’ll find yourself with an incredible convenience in the auto shut-off timer.
The downside of the Capresso Burr Grinder
While the Capresso Infinity is a great buy for its price, it definitely has its downsides. This grinder simply doesn’t offer as many options as some other grinders in its class, nor is it the most powerful.
As you may find in other Capresso reviews, the minimal variety of settings is usually the main complaint, especially when compared with other grinders like the Baratza Encore.
But if you can deal without 40 settings, and are looking for something simple and easy to use, there’s no reason not to start with the Infinity as your entry-level grinder.
Cleaning the Capresso Infinity
One thing to really love about the Capresso Infinity is its incredible ease when it comes to cleaning.
The bean container and upper burr lift right off so you can give them a brush to remove all extra grounds and residue – it’s really foolproof.
The Infinity even comes with a cleaning brush to make this whole process that much easier!
Baratza Encore VS Capresso Infinity
It’s time to pit the Capresso Infinity against its main competitor in price and performance: The Baratza Encore. Similar in build and overall performance, both of these grinders are very reliable and give consistent grounds.
But now, let’s look at some of the differences in some of the most important areas we found:
- Grind settings and functionality
It can’t be denied: the Baratza Encore takes this category hands down. With 40 individual grind settings, there are simply more options with this burr grinder, and it tends to give better quality fine grounds for espresso.
That being said, we generally found that we didn’t need 40 different options, and that the 16 options available on the Infinity were more than enough to produce great quality grounds for Turkish coffee, espresso, drip, French press, and pour-over.
It’s really up to you how much freedom and variety you want when it comes to your grounds. The Infinity wins when it comes to grind speed, however, producing grinds about twice as fast as the Encore.
- Safety and timing features
The Baratza Encore is a solid grinder that delivers great results, but it doesn’t have the safety features and auto shut-off timer that the Infinity does.
Because the Infinity will only operate when the bean hopper is fully locked, it prevents accidental operation that might lead to injury.
And the auto shut-off is convenient when you can set it and forget it for the exact amount of time needed to produce your quantity of grounds. The winner here: Infinity.
- Design and build
Both the Encore and Infinity are made of durable materials, and are impressively resistant to wear and tear despite their relatively low price.
They are also both compact and sturdy, with an aerodynamic design that looks visually appealing on any countertop. But the Infinity offers three color options, while the Encore comes only in black – a bonus point for style-conscious buyers.
Overall Verdict:
Capresso Infinity
- 40 mm conical burrs and 16 individual grind settings
- Grind speed of 1.5 – 3g/second
- Hopper capacity: 8.8 ounces
- Weighs: 8.75 pounds
- Auto shut-off timer functionality
Baratza Encore
- 40 mm conical burrs and 40 individual grind settings
- Grind speed of 0.8 – 1.1g/second
- Hopper capacity: 8 ounces
- Weighs: 7 pounds
- Easy on/off front mounted pulse button
Final verdict on the Capresso Infinity Grinder
While it’s not the most versatile or highly-powered grinder by any means, we remain impressed by the Capresso Infinity and all it offers for just over $100.
You simply can’t find this same consistency of quality and preservation of flavor in any other burr grinders in this range.
So for those coffee lovers who come to us looking for the best coffee grinder on a budget, we’re highly likely to recommend the Capresso Infinity – try it for yourself, and see if you’d do the same.
Questions and Answers
Can the Capresso Infinity grind for espresso?
Yes, the Capresso Infinity Burr Coffee Grinder can grind for espresso. It has 16 different grind settings, ranging from extra fine for espresso to coarse for French press, and everything in between.
Can the Capresso Infinity grind oily beans?
Yes, the Capresso Infinity Burr Coffee Grinder can grind oily beans. However, it is recommended to clean the grinding chamber and burrs more frequently when grinding oily beans to prevent clogging and maintain the grinder’s performance.
Does the Capresso Infinity make a lot of noise?
No, the Capresso Infinity Burr Coffee Grinder is relatively quiet compared to other grinders in its class. It produces a low-pitched humming sound, which is much quieter than the high-pitched whine of blade grinders.
Is the Capresso Infinity a good value for the price?
Yes, the Capresso Infinity Burr Coffee Grinder is a great value for the price. It is a high-quality burr grinder
How long does Capresso burr grinder last?
The lifespan of a Capresso burr grinder depends on various factors such as usage and maintenance. However, according to the manufacturer, the Capresso Infinity Burr Coffee Grinder is built to last for many years with proper care and maintenance. It comes with a one-year limited warranty, and customers have reported using it for several years without any major issues.
Where is the Capresso Infinity made?
The Capresso Infinity Burr Coffee Grinder is manufactured in China.
Who owns Capresso?
Capresso is owned by Jura Elektroapparate AG, a Swiss company that specializes in manufacturing high-end coffee machines and equipment.