Are you searching for a better-tasting cup of coffee than you already have? Maybe it is time for you to invest in a new coffee grinder. But with all those options in the market, it can be difficult to choose the best grinder for you to have.
You must not be confused. I am here to break down some of the most important information you should know before you go and buy a coffee grinder. I will explain all that includes why coffee grinders matter to blade VS burr. Let us get started on a brewer’s guide to selecting an excellent coffee grinder.
When would you want to buy a better coffee grinder
When your pre-ground coffee is not good enough
The bag of pre-ground coffee was stale long before you went to buy it. When you are grinding the coffee, it begins to release aromas almost immediately. You will notice the difference this makes in a cup. A coffee brewed just fifteen minutes ago will lack the same flavors and smells as good as freshly ground beans. If you are buying a specialty coffee, you want to taste it the best.
When you want to switch the brewing method or recipes
Let’s just say you have several brewing methods. Why not buy one grinder and a bag of beans at home instead of buying separate coffee for your different brewing methods.
Having a good coffee grinder will enable you more precision over the grind of your coffee beans. Meaning you can have the same great coffee taste despite the weather, time of the day or if your beans are days older.
How to choose between Burr VS Blade
Blade Grinders:
The name itself explains the grinder. These grinders have blades that slice the coffee beans into smaller parts. However, always expect plenty of boulders and fines in your coffee as grinding is a violent operation and blades hit hard on your coffee beans.
With these types of grinders, you can control the ground size through the timing of the coffee grinder. The longer the grinder keeps running, the finer the size will become. Some models include timers that help you control this.
The Benefits:
These grinders are cheap making these accessible for beginner brewers
The Drawbacks:
They make an uneven grind which can be a serious issue sometimes. If you like Turkish or espresso coffee, then an uneven grind can cause serious problems.
Burr Grinders
These grinders have two burrs; one burr stays still while the other is attached to a motor and rotates. This type of grinder crushes the coffee beans instead of slicing them. You will get fewer fines and boulders as compared to blade grinders as the force of impact is not concentrated on one specific point and the grind tends to be more consistent.
The Benefits:
These grinders have a better consistency, precision, and better control. If you like to sift your coffee beans, you will have to discard less of them.
The Drawbacks:
These are expensive and heavier than blade grinders. They are also large and use more electricity.
Burr Types: Flat or Conical
Let’s just say you have decided to get a burr grinder. However, you now have to choose between burr types.
Flat Burrs
The flat burrs use centrifugal force to pull the beans towards the burr teeth. You can adjust the grind power by moving the disks closer for finer grounds or further apart for coarser grounds. Flat burrs are cheaper than conical burrs as they will need replacing after 250 – 600 KG of coffee.
Conical Burrs
Some coffee makes believe that conical burrs are more precise as compared to flat burrs as they can be adjusted by degrees. The conical burrs provide a cutting face of around 60 degrees in contrast to flat burrs that are parallel.
Burr Material: Steel or Ceramic
Burrs are made up of two main different materials; steel and ceramic. The choice can be debated but in the end it only comes down to thermal conductivity. Ceramic burrs have low thermal conductivity so it will take them longer to heat up but will stay warm for long as compared to steel which is a good thermal conductor that will heat burrs quicker but will also cool down quicker.
Ceramic burrs tend to have a longer life span when compared to steel burrs but are more expensive.
I think we have covered the basics when it comes to buying a grinder, however; there are still lots of things to consider before you invest in a grinder like the size, dosing options, speed of grinding, price, voltage and number of grind settings.
The perfect coffee grinder does not exist. However, there are many excellent machines on the market. If you want more doses of coffee, do visit Leascoffee.