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.