If you are a fan of rich aromatic coffee, then you understand the importance and necessity of a coffee grinder. You should not thoughtlessly buy the first model you like. What types of coffee grinders are there, how they differ and what to pay attention to when buying – we will tell you about all the intricacies of choosing a coffee grinder.
In This Article
Type of Coffee Grinder
Manual (mechanical). The simplest, quietest and usually inexpensive coffee grinders, although the price depends heavily on the design and materials used. The grinding mechanism is manually operated by a small handle. This allows for fine control of the process and avoids excessive overheating of the beans. In addition, such coffee grinders are completely independent of electricity. The caveat is that you have to do everything yourself. This requires effort and time, which you may not have at all in the morning.
Manual models are available in both retro and modern designs. This can be a small box or cylinder using wood, aluminum or other materials. It will not be difficult to select a model for the kitchen interior.
Electric. The largest category of coffee grinders. Grinding is done by an electric motor, which is why such models are more expensive and bulkier. They allow you to quickly and effortlessly get one or more servings of coffee. However, during such grinding, the beans can overheat, which will affect the taste of the drink. And this is not to mention the noise – up to 80 dB. In addition, electric devices have more potential nodes for failure, and reliability directly depends on the quality of the materials used.
When choosing electric coffee grinders, you need to consider the power, as well as pay attention to additional functions.
Grinding system
The main parameter for a coffee grinder, on which the degree of grinding, the cost of the device and some other aspects depend.
Coffee grinders with a knife grinding system are relatively inexpensive models that resemble a blender. A knife with two or more blades is installed at the bottom of the container, and the degree of grinding is regulated by the duration of the coffee grinder’s operation. The longer – the finer.
Rotary coffee grinders have certain nuances in use. The grind is always uneven, and it is completely impossible to achieve a coarse grind in them. The whole point is that under the action of centrifugal force, large particles quickly fly to the edges, where the knives usually do not reach them. You have to monitor the degree of grinding through a small lid-window in the design, which is not always convenient.
Millstones are two hard surfaces between which the beans are ground. The key advantage is maximum grinding homogeneity and the ability to select the fraction size. However, such coffee grinders are usually larger and more expensive. By type, millstones are divided into conical and flat.
Conical millstones are crushed. Because of this, the grinding is less uniform. In return, such models have high productivity and heat the grains less.
Flat millstones mainly cut. Moreover, they can have up to three stages. The first one crushes, the second grinds, and the third one “cuts” the coffee particles to the required fraction. With their help, the most uniform granules are obtained. However, flat millstones require a lot of effort to operate, and the beans can also heat up.
Based on the material, millstones are divided into two groups:
- Steel. Durable, but they become dull over time and conduct heat, which can affect the taste. To extend the service life, millstones are coated with titanium or tungsten carbide, which increases the overall cost of such models.
- Ceramic. They heat up more slowly and also stay sharp longer. Plus, they have a lower price tag. However, ceramics are fragile, so if foreign objects get into the millstones, they can cause damage.
The larger the diameter of the millstones, the higher the grinding speed and, accordingly, the lower the probability of overheating. For example, 64 mm millstones prepare a portion of 18 grams in 5.8-6 seconds.
Make your choice depending on the method of making coffee. Each requires its own grind:
- thin – for a Turk, espresso, horn coffee maker;
- medium – for geyser coffee makers and Aeropress;
- coarse – for French presses, coffee pots.
Coffee grinders with burrs are the most versatile, while rotary grinders are suitable primarily for fine grinding.
Performance characteristics
Maximum power. The higher the value, the faster you get the finished grind. For most models, this parameter ranges from 90 to 350 W. Focus on a value of 130–200 W. It is worth chasing more power only for models with a large container, when grinding for a large number of servings is assumed.
For rotary models, the maximum speed of rotation of the blades is important. The higher it is, the more uniform the grinding will be. A typical value is 1350 rpm.
Number of grinding degrees. A rotary handle or other mechanism that allows you to select one of several grinding degrees. Most coffee grinders with a blade system do not have a grinding degree selection. The rest have a more nominal feature. For example, it may only be a light indicator that tells you when to turn off the grinder. Some models have a built-in timer that determines the blade operating time and, accordingly, the grinding degree.
Burr grinders almost always have a choice of grinding degrees, but the method of adjustment depends on the model:
- Stepless adjustment. It happens smoothly by turning a special ring. Suitable for real gourmets who want to get a strictly defined grind.
- Step adjustment. The design allows you to choose one of several fixed values of the distance between the millstones. Depending on the price, coffee grinders can have from 2 to 40 degrees of adjustment.
The maximum grind dose determines how many servings of coffee you can make at one time. It varies from 40 to 1200 grams. The choice should be made depending on how many cups you plan to drink at one time. Usually, the more family members there are, the higher the grind dose is needed.
Coffee beans are poured into the hopper. In rotary coffee grinders, the bowl with the knife is the hopper. It is not always removable, and some of the ground coffee may remain on the walls or knives. That is why it is better to look for models with a removable bowl – it is more convenient to pour out and clean.
In devices with millstones, a rectangular or cylindrical hopper for loading grains is usually located in the upper part.
Pay attention to where the finished grind will end up. Most often, this is a container for ground coffee. Keep in mind that ground coffee, when opened, loses about 60% of its aromas in 15-30 minutes, so there is usually no point in chasing a large container.
Direct grinding models are loaded directly into the holder (horn). Here, the coffee is ground for each individual portion. However, such coffee grinders are usually more expensive and are used in coffee shops.
Functions
Timer. Allows you to set the grinder’s operating time. In models with rotary knives, the timer controls the degree of grinding. In burr grinders, by setting the timer, you can get the required amount of ground coffee.
Portion counter. The equipment automatically counts the number of prepared portions. The functionality is more convenient for coffee shop owners and their employees, and is usually found in professional coffee grinders.
Please note that some manufacturers use this term to mean the ability to select the number of cups. Usually, this is a rotary mechanism that the user uses to set how many servings he needs to get. In fact, this is a timer function that determines the duration of the coffee grinder’s operation.
Pulse mode. The engine operates with short pauses, which reduces the risk of overheating. The mode is designed for processing particularly hard, heavily roasted beans.
Auto-off. As a rule, manufacturers understand this function as automatic stop of the coffee grinder if a foreign object gets into the millstones. Some brands mean turning off the equipment in case of overheating. It is recommended to read about this function for each model separately.
Levels of protection. To make the operation of the coffee grinder safe, manufacturers can build in various protections:
- from overheating;
- from overload;
- from switching on with the lid open (for rotary);
- from switching on without a bean container;
- from electric shock.
Spice grinding. Typically an optional feature for rotary grinders with blades. Ensures that you can grind spices in it.
Choice options
There are two types of manual coffee grinders. The first are inexpensive and the simplest models, which are more suitable as a souvenir or interior element. They are designed for unpretentious users who drink coffee occasionally and want to get fresh grinds with minimal investment.
The second group is expensive manual coffee grinders, created by connoisseurs for connoisseurs. They are like vinyl records in the era of digital music. They can have steel millstones with a diamond-like coating, up to 150 degrees of adjustment, a body made of premium materials.
Electric coffee grinders are the largest group. Due to the price variety, you can choose a model for both individual use and for the whole family.
Inexpensive coffee grinders – with rotary blades. Due to the uneven grinding, these models are best used with Turks or for espresso. Keep in mind that for fine grinding, you will have to grind the beans for quite a long time. In rotary models, this can lead to overheating of the beans and a change in the taste of the drink. The pulse mode will be especially useful here.
Another important convenience is the removable bean container. It is much easier and more convenient to clean such a coffee grinder. Pay attention to the controls. In some models, the blades will only rotate when you hold down the key. In rotary coffee grinders, it is also important to lock the motor when the lid is open.
Fans and active coffee lovers should take a closer look at coffee grinders with burrs. They are more expensive, but in return they allow you to get the most uniform grind. The more grinding degrees, the more universal the coffee grinder. In general, you can focus on 10-20 degrees. This is enough for the entire range: Turk, geyser coffee maker, Aeropress, Chemex and French press. A larger number of degrees will provide fine tuning, but in home conditions it is excessive.
Choose the maximum grinding volume and bean container depending on the number of servings you need to make at a time. A grinder with a grinding volume of 50–130 grams is enough for 2–4 servings. If you have a large family, look for one with a larger volume. Models with a capacity of 300 grams or more are usually for commercial use in cafes and coffee shops.
Pay attention to overheating protection and automatic shutdown. Additional safety measures are never superfluous.
