Coffee Grinder Basics

Understanding the basics of coffee grinders is essential for achieving the perfect cup of coffee. Learn about the different types of coffee grinders, their functions, and tips for selecting and using them effectively to enhance your coffee preparation.

    Pre-ground coffee is great for some people because it is much more convenient.  For anyone who is drinking coffee made from canned ingredients, the single biggest jump you can take in quality is to change to a whole bean and invest in a coffee grinder.  The reason for this is that you can get a much fresh coffee, and it allows greater control over the results.  Coffee grinders fall into two main categories, burr and blade grinders.  

    A blade grinder is on average going to be the cheaper of the two options and typically start at around twenty dollars.  They work just like a blender with a pair of blades circling around chopping up bits of beans.  The drawbacks to using these are that the grind size is not as consistent and that the friction from the blades causes the contents to heat up a little which affects the cup.  The burr grinder typically starts at around fifty dollars and has gears that in essence crush the beans between the teeth.  Burr grinders can adjust the grind size by moving the top gears closer to the bottom gears so that the space between them is smaller and only the fragments that are small enough to fit through fall into the collection area.  Blade grinders, in contrast, can only grind up smaller by grinding the contents for a longer period.  

    One factor to consider when purchasing a bur grinder is, whether will you need one that can work without electricity?  There is a wide selection of manual grinders.  The downside to this is it can be pretty labor-intensive.  Personally, I have one of these for use only when I want coffee, but do not have power.  

    The next factor to consider is the selection of grind sizes.  Some grinders have more settings than others, while you will want to make sure that the grinder you are interested in is going to work for your particular needs.  Typically, espresso is going to need a finer grind, while something like a cold brew will need a coarse grind.  

    The next consideration is cost.  A cheap bur grinder can be found for a little over fifty dollars and can go upwards of $500.  The more expensive ones are more likely to have all of the features you need and are made with better parts.  Sometimes the features really take a back seat to what your budget allows.  There is nothing wrong with getting an entry-level device to evaluate how you are going to use it before upgrading.

    The next thing to think about is the noise it will make.  Grinders that have sound dampening are usually going to cost more.  If you make coffee before other people are awake this may be something to think about.  I usually get up for work and make the coffee while everyone else is still asleep.  In my case upgrading to the quieter models was a really nice touch for everyone else.  

    You should also consider the hopper capacity.  I usually only pour in enough beans to grind for the morning and then dump the remainder back into the canister because I change up the coffee each time. You could dump in a whole bag of beans and just use it up each day until it is gone.  This can really be helpful if you know you are going to be making the same coffee repeatedly throughout the day.  Some of the higher-end coffee grinders are meant for you to pour in a pre-measured amount to use at once rather than go off of a grind time.  

    Of course, this leads me to my next topic, how easy is it to pour the beans back out?  I used to have a grinder that required me to pick up the entire unit and pour it back, while my current one has a knob that secures the beans in the hopper while I pick just that part up and pour it back.  Again, this is a feature that is only needed if you plan on using it.

    The next thing I look at when selecting a coffee grinder is the material it is made out of.  This is especially important in the collection basket.  One grinder that I used to have, featured a clear plastic basket that showed scratches. The grinds often stuck to the sides making it difficult to pour all of it out.  This is also going to dictate how long you will be able to use it before purchasing a new one.

If you have a favorite coffee grinder, please feel free to comment below which one it is and why you like it.

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