If you’re currently wondering how to select a coffee bean grinder to
suit you and your kitchen then you probably already know that there are
various options open to you. In simple terms most coffee grinders will
be spilt into two camps – blade grinders and burr grinders. So how do
you choose between the two?
First, it’s worth noting that you can buy both types of grinder as both
electric and manual options if you wish. It’s becoming more popular for
people to buy electric machines on the whole as there is a big added
convenience here so, for the purposes of this guide, we’ll be focusing
on electrical options rather than manual ones.
In simple terms the final decision you make when it comes to working
out how to select a coffee bean grinder will, in most cases, come down
to budget and to how seriously you think about coffee so this is worth
bearing in mind as you read through this article.
So, let’s take a look some of the pros and cons of the two types of
grinder. If you want, you can learn more about coffee gridners here:
http://www.coffee-n-beans.com/grinders.html
Blade Grinders
Blade grinders – as the name suggests – use a blade to chop up your
coffee beans until they are ground. Most of these machines work on a
simple principle – the longer the machine grinds, the finer the grind
will be.
Pros
- Generally cheaper than burr grinders.
- Do an effective job of grinding your coffee beans.
Cons
-Can’t give a completely consistent or even grind (this can have an
adverse effect on the taste and quality of the coffee you drink).
-The blades on some models may overheat – especially if they are left
on longer for a finer grind – which can again alter the actual taste of
your coffee.
Burr Grinders
A burr grinder – often also referred to in some circles as a mill –
works on a different principle to a blade grinder. Here the beans are
crushed between the machine’s moving wheel and its static surface. You
decide on the level of grind by using pre-specified settings on the
burr. Models vary between doser and doserless for coffee bean storage
in the actual grinder.
Pros
- A burr grinder will give you a consistently even grind with no problems.
- These grinders and their grinding pres-sets are easy to use.
Cons
- A burr grinder will generally cost you more than a blade grinder.
- Some models clog easily and can be harder to clean.
So, when you’re deciding how to select a coffee grinder – as you can
see – you need to consider how important the quality of your grind and
the resulting taste of your coffee is to you as an individual to a
certain extent. This is what will dictate whether you opt for a blade
grinder or a burr grinder at the end of the day.
Most blade grinders users will simply like a regular cup of coffee that
has been ground at home for optimum freshness. If you simply like
grinding your own beans for basic coffee drinking use then there’s no
real reason why you should waste money on a burr grinder when a blade
grinder will suit your needs just as well.
It’s very important to remember here that a blade grinder may give a
more uneven grind but it still does an effective job. But you may not
get the best grind – and therefore the best tasting cup of coffee –
from the beans you buy in this case. One good tip that many blade
grinder fans give is to give the grinding machine a little gentle shake
every now and then as this will help distribute the bits of cut beans
more evenly which may help your grind’s consistency.
If, however, your cup of coffee is real important to you and you want
consistent brewing results each and every time you grind your beans,
then you will probably be better off looking at buying some sort of
burr grinder to meet your needs. These grinders are adored by coffee
aficionados simply because they treat your coffee beans and the
grinding process consistently and will therefore bring out the best
taste for every cup by making sure that each grind is even across every
single coffee bean.
It’s real simple to source and buy each kind of grinder – both in
stores or over the Internet. Major coffee maker manufacturers such as
Braun, Capresso, Alpina, Mr. Coffee, DeLonghi, Russell Hobbs,
KitchenAid, Krups and Solis will all have a grinder line of some sort
to choose from.
You may find – if you shop around a little – that you may be able to
afford to buy a more expensive grinder for your budget as there are
often great bargains and discounts to be had all year round. For this
reason it’s certainly worth while not rushing out and buying the first
grinder you see but doing some price comparisons first to see what
savings can be made.
It’s equally important to read reviews to find out how specific models
have worked for other people in the past. The Internet is a great
source for these kinds of user reviews so once you’ve identified a few
models you can log on and see how these machines have worked for others
in their homes rather than just relying on manufacturer’s ‘blurb’. This
will give you a real useful idea of how well a model/models may
actually work in your own home rather than having to wait to find out
once you’ve purchased a grinder.
There are certain things to look out for in these kinds of user
reviews. For example, you should be looking to discover if other
grinder users have found that their grinder:
- Gets clogged or blocked easily.
- Gets beans stuck in its mechanism.
- Overheats and leaves a bitter taste on the coffee.
- Is easy to clean and maintain.
- Gives a really even grind consistently.
- Is excessively noisy.
- Has a problem with static electricity.
- Gives you an easy way to pour out your ground coffee.
- Is well made and won’t fall apart after a couple of uses.
If you can get the right kinds of answers to these questions then the
chances are you’ll find the kind of grinder – either burr or blade –
that’s right for you.
