Capresso Infinity Plus Conical Burr Grinder
The Capresso Infinity Plus is a solid mid-range conical burr grinder that sits in a sweet spot between cheap blade grinders and the $300+ prosumer machines. I've used one for about two years now, and my honest take is that it punches well above its price point for drip coffee and pour-over, though it has some real limitations if you're chasing espresso-quality grinds.
In this piece, I'll walk you through what makes the Infinity Plus tick, where it shines, where it falls short, and who should actually buy one. I'll also compare it to some popular alternatives so you can figure out if it's the right fit for your morning routine.
Design and Build Quality
The first thing you notice about the Capresso Infinity Plus is how compact it is. It takes up about the same counter space as a standard drip coffee maker, which is a big deal if your kitchen is as cramped as mine. The housing is a mix of plastic and zinc die-cast, and it feels sturdy enough without being heavy.
The bean hopper holds about 8.8 ounces of whole beans, which works out to roughly 10-12 cups of coffee depending on your dose. There's a clear window on the front of the grounds container so you can see how much has accumulated. The container itself is removable, which makes transferring grounds to your brewer pretty painless.
The Upper Burr Lock
One design choice I appreciate is the upper burr lock mechanism. It lets you remove the upper burr for cleaning without losing your grind setting. This sounds like a small thing, but if you've ever cleaned a grinder and had to re-dial your setting from scratch, you know how annoying that process is.
The whole unit runs on a gear reduction motor that spins the burrs at a lower RPM than most grinders in this price range. Capresso claims this reduces heat buildup and static. In practice, I've found the static is still present (more on that later), but the lower speed does keep things reasonably cool even during longer grinding sessions.
Grind Quality Across Brew Methods
The Infinity Plus has 16 grind settings, broken into four main zones: extra fine, fine, regular, and coarse. Each zone has four micro-adjustments. That gives you decent range, though not as much granularity as something like the Baratza Encore with its 40 settings.
Where It Excels
For drip coffee, pour-over, and French press, this grinder does a genuinely good job. The particle size distribution is consistent enough that I get clean, balanced cups from my V60 and Chemex without much fussing. The coarse settings produce chunky, even grounds that work well for French press and cold brew.
If drip or pour-over is your primary brew method, the Infinity Plus delivers quality that's hard to beat at this price. I'd put it in the same conversation as the entry-level Baratza models, which cost a bit more.
Where It Struggles
Espresso is a different story. The "extra fine" settings can get close to espresso territory, but the steps between adjustments are too large for proper espresso dialing. If you're pulling shots on a semi-automatic machine and need to fine-tune by tiny increments, you'll hit a wall. The grinder just doesn't have enough resolution in the fine range.
I tried using it with my espresso setup for a few weeks and found myself stuck between "too fast, sour shot" and "choking the machine." For espresso, you really need a grinder with stepless or near-stepless adjustment. Check out our best burr coffee grinder roundup for options that handle espresso better.
Noise Level and Static
Capresso markets this grinder as quiet, and compared to many competitors, it is. The gear reduction motor keeps the noise to a low hum rather than the high-pitched whine you get from faster spinning grinders. My wife can sleep through me grinding in the kitchen at 5:30 AM, which was not the case with my old blade grinder.
That said, "quiet" is relative. It's not silent. You'll still hear it from the next room.
The Static Problem
Static is the Infinity Plus's biggest annoyance. The grounds cling to the walls of the container, to the chute, and to pretty much everything they touch. I've tried the "RDT method" (adding a single drop of water to the beans before grinding) and it helps significantly, but it's an extra step you shouldn't need to take on a $100+ grinder.
Some users report that static gets worse in dry winter months and improves in humid conditions. That matches my experience. If you live somewhere with low humidity, expect to deal with messy grounds and some retention in the chute.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintaining the Infinity Plus is relatively simple. The upper burr pops out with the lock mechanism I mentioned, and you can brush out retained grounds with the included cleaning brush. I do this every couple of weeks, or whenever I switch between bean types.
For deeper cleaning, you can run grinder cleaning tablets through the machine every month or two. This removes oils that build up on the burrs and affect flavor. The conical steel burrs themselves are durable and shouldn't need replacing for years under normal home use.
Retention
The Infinity Plus retains about 1-2 grams of ground coffee in the chute and burr chamber. For most home brewers making 20-30 gram doses, this isn't a huge deal. But if you're switching between different beans frequently, those retained grounds from the previous batch will mix into your next grind. Running a few grams of the new beans through as a "purge" solves this, though it does waste a bit of coffee.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The Capresso Infinity Plus competes directly with the Baratza Encore and the OXO Brew Conical Burr Grinder. Here's how they stack up:
- Baratza Encore: More grind settings (40 vs 16), better parts availability, and a stronger reputation in the coffee community. Costs about $20-40 more. If you can stretch your budget, the Encore is the safer choice.
- OXO Brew: Similar price point, integrated scale on some models, and a one-push start feature. The OXO is a bit louder but has slightly less static in my experience.
- Capresso Infinity (non-Plus): The older model lacks the zinc die-cast housing and the upper burr lock. The Plus version is worth the small premium for the build quality and easier cleaning.
If you're looking at this price range, our best burr grinder guide covers the top options in more detail.
Who Should Buy the Capresso Infinity Plus
This grinder makes the most sense for someone who drinks drip coffee, pour-over, or French press daily and wants a meaningful upgrade from a blade grinder or pre-ground coffee. It's quiet enough for early mornings, compact enough for small kitchens, and consistent enough to make noticeably better coffee than what you were drinking before.
It does not make sense if you're primarily an espresso drinker, if you need 50+ grind settings for precise dialing, or if you want a grinder you can repair and upgrade over time (Baratza wins on repairability by a wide margin).
FAQ
Is the Capresso Infinity Plus good for espresso?
Not really. It can grind fine enough for pressurized portafilters on entry-level espresso machines, but it lacks the micro-adjustment needed for proper espresso dialing on unpressurized baskets. You'll get frustrated trying to dial in shots.
How long do the burrs last?
Under normal home use (grinding once or twice a day), the conical steel burrs should last 3-5 years before showing signs of dullness. You'll notice increased grinding time and less consistent particle size when they start wearing out.
Does the Capresso Infinity Plus have a timer?
Yes. It has a timer dial on the side that lets you set grind duration from about 5 to 60 seconds. It's not the most precise timer, but it works well enough for repeatable doses once you find your sweet spot.
How do I reduce static on this grinder?
The most effective method is the RDT (Ross Droplet Technique). Add a single drop of water to your beans before grinding by wetting the tip of a spoon and stirring the beans. This dramatically reduces static cling without affecting flavor. Some people also spray a tiny mist from a spray bottle, which works just as well.
The Bottom Line
The Capresso Infinity Plus is a reliable, quiet, and affordable conical burr grinder that does its best work with drip, pour-over, and French press. If those are your brew methods, it's a smart buy that will immediately improve your coffee. Just don't expect it to handle espresso, and be prepared to deal with some static. For most home coffee drinkers, those trade-offs are completely worth it at this price point.