Are you looking for the secret to the absolute best cup of coffee? If you’re that passionate about coffee, you’ve probably already explored your coffee machine options, but have you considered the actual coffee?
Any true coffee enthusiast will tell you, the secret to pouring a perfect cup of coffee is getting the ground just right, and the only way to do that at home is by investing in a quality coffee bean grinder.
But wait, can’t you get your coffee beans pre-ground to the required coarseness and skip the coffee bean grinder? Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t. Let’s explore why.
And for more on why a coffee bean grinder is so important, check out: Why You Should Buy An Espresso Coffee Bean Grinder
Why You Need a Coffee Bean Grinder
Coffee beans are most aromatic when freshly ground, but within 10 minutes those ground coffee beans will start to lose their flavour. Now imagine what happens if you are buying packaged pre-ground coffee that has been sitting on a shelf for weeks or even months!
Choosing the Best Coffee Bean Grinder
So, now that you understand the why, here are a few tips on buying the best coffee bean grinder.
There are two basic coffee bean grinders on the market – blade and burr.
Blade Coffee Bean Grinder
Blade grinders function very similarly to a blender; rotating blades chop up the beans into ready to use coffee grind. They are usually to most cost-friendly option available, but the affordability comes with a few compromises.
The first problem with a blade coffee bean grinder is evenness. It can be difficult to achieve a consistent grind. A blade grinder might do the trick if you use a French press or a pour-over coffee maker, but you may have issues with getting an ultra-fine espresso ground.
The other issue people sometimes experience with blade coffee bean grinders is the heat impact of the spinning blades on the coffee beans. Overheated coffee beans can taste bitter.
Burr Coffee Bean Grinder
Burr coffee beans grinders are the preferred choice of industry pros and coffee enthusiasts. They are more expensive than blade grinders, but you will not regret it if you can afford to invest in one. Burr grinders have two burred plates. One remains stationary, and the other spins around.
This method has several benefits over rotating blades, including better coffee grind consistency and the ability to choose the right coarseness or fineness for the type of coffee machine you are using. They also won’t overheat your coffee beans the way a blade grinder might.
There are two types of burr grinders, conical burr grinder and disc (or flat) burr grinders. Conical burrs, as the name may suggest, have two cone-shaped burrs with points facing each other at an angle. Flat burrs have two serrated circular-shaped burrs spinning in parallel.
For those who prefer to kick it a little old school, there are also manual burr options available. These machines deliver the same constancy that one would expect from a burr coffee bean grinder but run on elbow grease and are compact enough to take with you on the go.
What Type of Coffee Bean Grinder do you Need?
Before deciding what type of coffee bean grinder to invest in, think about how you will be using it. If you primarily drink espresso-based drinks, a burr grinder will be worth the investment. However, if you prefer your French press or pour-over coffee, an inexpensive blade coffee bean grinder might do the trick.
But whatever your personal preference, purchasing a great coffee bean grinder is the surest way to get a great cup of coffee. Every. Single. Time.
