Are you a true coffee lover? The kind who’s already got themselves a coffee machine, brewing multiple cups a day and experimenting with different blends? Then we can relate. Why don’t you step up your brewing game with your own personal coffee grinder?
Get the most out of your roast by grinding your coffee beans at home and unlocking richer, stronger flavors. Coffee must be ground before it can be brewed. You can always buy coffee that is pre-ground, but once coffee beans are ground and they are exposed to oxygen, they begin to lose their aroma and essential oils, which can diminish the flavor of your brew.
To ensure you are getting the freshest most flavourful coffee possible it’s a great idea to grind your own coffee beans at home. Grinding your own coffee is also a great way to begin experimenting with flavors and blending them. For this, you will need a grinder.
What you need to know about grinders
You can buy coffee grinders in most appliance and department stores but not all of them provide excellent performance. Below is a list of factors to consider when choosing a good coffee grinder:
Coffee beans can be ground in two ways. One is through the use of a blade coffee grinder. This method is somewhat similar to using a food processor that actually smashes, cuts, and bashes the beans into bits using fast-spinning blades. Although blade grinders are cheaper, they have a habit of creating inconsistently sized grounds, which can clog machines. It’s not a great way to get the best from your beans.
Alternatively, you can use a burr coffee grinder that grinds beans between two abrasive plates and filters the grounds to provide a consistent, uniform blend. This helps avoid clogging problems and allows for more grinding flexibility, which is why this grinder is commonly used by professional baristas. Although this model is more expensive, there’s no question, that most coffee connoisseurs will tell you that burr grinders are superior.
These grinders come in two types, automatic, and manual, the latter must be ground by hand.
Choosing your coffee grinder.
- Consistency in Grinding. Choose a grinder that provides uniform consistency of your coffee grinds to get the most out of your coffee beans and prevent any clogging of your machine. You don’t want your grounds to vary in size.
- Versatile. If you have the budget, you spring for a grinder that can deliver a variety of coffee styles e.g. grinds for Turkish and espresso brews, and coarser grinds for drip and French press. Unlike a blade grinder with only a few and basic options a burr grinder allows you to adjust your grind settings to deliver a wider range of coffee mixing and blending options.
- Easy To Clean. Choose a grinder that can be cleaned easily using a damp cloth. Be careful using chemicals to clean your coffee grinder as you want to avoid any unpleasant after-tastes.
- Quiet Operation. Some grinders can be extremely loud and irritating, especially if you are starting your day with an early morning coffee. As long as you don’t mind the noise, this shouldn’t matter too much but if you’re not a morning person you might want to choose a grinder that keeps the noise to a minimum.
- Durable. Grinders made of stainless steel with an all-metal drive train are more durable than other materials.
Here are some models that we recommend
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | BLACK+DECKER Coffee Grinder One Touch Push-Button Control, 2/3 Cup Bean Capacity, Stainless Steel | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Cuisinart DCG-20BKN Grinder Coffee Grinder1, Blade, BLACK | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Electric Coffee Grinder Stainless Steel Blade Grinder for Coffee Espresso Latte Mochas, Noiseless Operation.GECGI140-U-1 | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
But before you go order yourself a new coffee grinder, it’s important that you consider what your needs are and what kind of grinders can best provide what you are looking to achieve. Here’s our advice:
- If you are a regular coffee drinker, who is looking to expand on your barista skills at home without much hassle, then go for a Blade Grinder. These are a cheaper option. But if you’re not just your average coffee lover, who’s obsessed with blending flavors and getting the most out of every roast then we would recommend investing in a burr grinder if you have the budget for one.
- If you own a coffee shop or a restaurant where you serve coffee to paying customers, then we recommend using a Burr Grinder. These can handle larger quantities of beans and keep the heat to a minimum to prevent premature heating and deterioration of flavor and quality. Any coffee connoisseur worth their salt will tell you that the burr grinder is the superior model.
- Consider the cost. A cheaper grinder with good performance could be the best option for you. Do your research and select the best model for your budget.
For more information check out our blog on What is a conical grinder and Best Burr Coffee Grinder
