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Replacing the burrs on your grinder: when and how

Oct 04, 2026

Burrs wear slowly. The cutting edges become rounded and the grinder produces more fines, a less even grind and takes longer for the same dose. Replacement is easy on most grinders if you work calmly and keep track of the screws.

When should the burrs be replaced?

Typical signs:

  • You have to grind ever finer for the same flow and eventually end up close to the zero point.
  • The grind time for a dose increases noticeably.
  • The taste becomes flat and the espresso channels despite good distribution.
  • Visible nicks or rounded edges on the burrs.

Manufacturers' guideline figures (check and replace if necessary):

  • Eureka Mignon Specialità and Helios 80: 250 kg of coffee.
  • Eureka Mignon Libra and Zero: 300 kg.
  • Eureka Atom W 65/75: 500 kg.
  • Profitec Twist SD54: 400-500 kg.
  • Ascaso H64: 400-600 kg.
  • Baratza Vario+ (ceramic): about 10 years of normal home use.
  • Mahlkönig X54: the display shows E010 when the burrs are worn.

A household grinding 20 g a day uses about 7 kg a year, so at home it is usually a matter of many years.

Tools

Flat burrs

  1. Unplug the grinder, grind it empty and remove the bean hopper.
  2. Unscrew the upper burr carrier as described in the manual. Note how the parts are fitted, ideally with a photo.
  3. Unscrew the upper burr. Clean the seat carefully, as a coffee crumb under the burr causes misalignment.
  4. Fit the new burr and tighten the screws evenly in a cross pattern.
  5. Do the same with the lower burr on the rotor.
  6. Clean the threads and screw the upper carrier back in.

Profitec recommends that replacement on the Twist SD54 is carried out by an authorised service centre. Macap and Eureka state that maintenance on commercial grinders should be carried out by trained personnel.

Conical burrs

  1. Unplug the grinder and grind it empty.
  2. The ring burr: on the Baratza Encore, turn the adjustment fully anticlockwise and lift the ring burr straight up by its tabs.
  3. The cone burr sits on the shaft, usually in a holder with a screw. On the Baratza Sette, release the cone burr from its holder. Follow the manual for your model.
  4. Clean the shaft and seats, fit the new burrs and refit the ring in the correct position.

Calibrating after replacement

New burrs have a different thickness from old ones, so the scale is no longer correct. Find the zero point (where the burrs just touch) and set the scale accordingly. Example: on the Twist SD54, screw in the upper carrier until the lower burr just starts to rotate, set the scale marker to 0 and then to grind setting 4 before starting. See zero point and calibration.

Running in

New burrs have sharp edges that first need to be worn down. The grind changes during the run-in, so expect to adjust often. Macap specifies about 1 kg of coffee for the conical burrs in the M7D. Use cheaper beans if you like and taste the espresso regularly until the grind setting is stable.

Can't find the fault? Contact us with the model, serial number and a short description, ideally with a video. We will help you find the right spare part or a service technician.

Barista & Espresso