so because they have a larger surface than the beans and lack the beans'
protective skin. Home coffee grinders allow you to stop the level of exposure
and produce the freshest grind. Most importantly, grinding can be done when you
need it.Everything has a price, though. Picking the best grinder can make the
messy and long process of grinding much more rewarding.There are three main
types – blade, crusher and burr. The crusher is the ancient way of using a
pestle and mortar to mash the beans. This process is difficult and gives an
uneven grind because it just crushes them – not highly recommended. Blade
grinders chop. The blade whirls, slicing the beans into small grounds – still
not the best because the grains are not the same size and not all the oils are
released, varying the flavour and dissipating a lot of the flavour. However,
burrs use motorised plates with teeth that are pyramid in shape, allowing for
the perfect grind. Better burrs allow for varied grain sizes because the speed
can be adjusted accordingly.The burr allows for the perfect brew. Speed control
keeps the heating of the beans low.Burrs have two categories. Professionals
prefer the conical. It is noisy however. Good ones can go up to 500 rpm. Top
quality ones go up to speeds of 10 thousand rpm, with their blades spinning at
about twenty to thirty thousand rpm. This allows for fine grinds for Turkish
coffee, for example. Some come with a dial for continuous speed adjustments.
Others have buttons for some varied 40 different speed adjustments.Beyond that
you should look for ones that are solid in construction, easy to clean and
preferably less noisy. They should also include a brush for cleaning and easy
to remove upper type burrs (blades). Beware of construction materials that
cause static electricity. This can let the grounds stick to the blades and the
container.Other useful features include a timer and an auto-switchoff. It also
helps to be able watch the beans as the grinding takes place. Without this you
cannot decide if the grind is ready. So, try to find one that doesn't use glass
or darkish plastic as this hinders your view. You should be able to judge the
grind by its colour, but if you cannot see them then this is a problem.Finally,
do your research and read all the reviews you can find about each grinder that
interests you before you buy it. When you find the right one, you will be
pleased with the fresh and flavoursome cup of coffee you produce.