Bodum BISTRO 10903 Burr Coffee Grinder Review

Bodum BISTRO 10903 is relatively inexpensive burr grinder that features 12 grind settings from coarse to medium to fine. It’s equipped with stainless steel conical burrs and friction clutch. So how does it compare to other similarly priced models?

Grinding

First impressions of Bodum BISTRO 10903 are pretty good. What is surprises you is the wide range of grind fineness it can output – from very coarse to pretty fine. The range of available grinds is significantly wider than you typically see for burr grinders at this price point.

Then there’s grind quality which is of no less significance. When it comes to Bodum BISTRO grind quality is decent but not perfect. Consistency is not as good as you see with best at this price point like popular Baratza Encore which does generally retail for slightly higher price and doesn’t offer the same variety of grind fineness as Bodum Bistro does.

As with most the coarser the grind the more inconsistent it gets. The very coarsest setting however is not terribly inconsistent but there are some fines in there. It still works great for French Press.

Medium grinds are bit a more consistent but there’s still small room for improvement.

Cheap burr grinders usually aren’t great for fine grinds like espresso. Well Bodum BISTRO 10903 can grind finer than most but it’s still not quite as fine as you would like but it’s not far from it. For pressurized portafilter it will do just fine.

Controls

Grind fineness is adjusted by rotating bean hopper whereas grinding time with dial in front of it. Once you have selected desired setting press the button located on the right of time dial to start grinding. Don’t forget there’s also “On/Off” switch on the left side of Bodum BISTRO 10903 burr grinder.

There’s a total of 12 different grind settings and grind time can be adjusted from 5 to 20 seconds.

Features

Grounds bin is dishwasher safe and made of Borosilicate glass which does reduce static cling but doesn’t get completely rid of it as there’s still a bit of it.

Conclusions

Bodum BISTRO 10903 offers widest range of grind fineness at this price point however there are similarly priced burr grinders that do output a bit more consistent grind (like Baratza Encore) so whether this is the best burr grinder for the money or not depends on your needs/wants. To find out which are the best affordable burr grinders read our Best Cheap Burr Grinders article.

Bodum BISTRO 10903 Burr Coffee Grinder Specifications:

• Rated voltage (US spec): 120V/60Hz
• Power: 160W
• Grinding system: Conical burr
• Grind settings: 12
• Grind time: 5 to 20 seconds
• Cable length: ~31.5 inches / ~80 cm
• Capacity Max.: 7.75 Ounces / 220 grams (of coffee beans)
• Certifications:
  • ETL
  • CETL
  • GS
  • CE