beans at home. Grinding beans does take a bit more time but as any connoisseur
will tell you, it is well worth the effort. The reason for this is that coffee
beans like any other food product oxidize when they are exposed to the air. Once
the beans have been ground they have a much larger relative surface area than
the unground bean plus there is no outer layer of protection so they suffer this
effect even more. Consequently grinding beans at home produces the least
exposure to air and hence the freshest grounds. In making the perfect cup of
espresso what is important is that you grind only the amount you will use
immediately.There are three main types of Coffee Grinders which include the
burr, blade and crusher designs.Blade Grinders operate pretty much the same way
as the ancient mortar and pestle which crushes and mashes the beans. As you
would understand this method is not 100% effective because it produces grounds
of uneven size. If you have other choices steer away from these models and go
with the ones that have superior features.Contrary to their name Blade grinders
don't actually grind at all but rather chop. Being electric the whirling blades
slice the roasted beans into smaller and smaller sections until they are reduced
down to a small grain size. Unfortunately, you end up with grains that are
invariably too large and of inconsistent size.As a consequence the surface areas
of the granules vary, releasing varying amounts of flavour oils when brewed.
Another effect of slicing is often the production of excess heat because of the
high speed of the blades. Friction warms the grounds and partially dissipates
the aroma.If you want to make the best grounds Burr grinders are by far the top
model to buy for home use. This type of grinder has a pair of motor driven
plates with pyramid-shaped teeth that grind the beans to an even small granule.
With the better models they allow the operator to adjust both the size of the
grain and the speed of the grinding which is important if you want to get your
coffee grounds just right.The really serious coffee aficionados will always
prefer a burr grinder over any other even though they can be noisier to operate.
The reason for this is because this type of grinder allows for the most control
of bean grain size from coarse to fine through being able to adjust the speed.
The best of the conical burr grinders can rotate as slowly as 500rpm.When the
home barista is considering buying other attributes to look for are solid
construction, easy cleaning and low noise. A cleaning brush and removable upper
burrs is essential as different materials used can affect how much static
electricity is produced - this causes the grains to stick to the burrs and
container.If you are serious about producing the perfect brew and don't mind
spending a little extra time and effort to make a gourmet cup then a good
quality coffee grinder is definitely worth considering.Enjoy!