20 Myths About Coffee Grinders: Dispelled

The Benefits of Using a Coffee Grinder

Experts agree that purchasing and using electric coffee grinder grinders is one of the best enhancements you can add to your daily routine. The higher-end models have burr grinders--a pair of grooved surfaces that can be adjusted to produce an even and consistent grind.

These grinders are superior to blade grinders since they prevent oxidation, and ensure that your ground is even in size.

Conical Burrs

Burr grinders have greater power and use opposing angled cutting surfaces to crush whole beans into tiny pieces. They produce fewer fines (also called dust) than blade coffee grinders. You can alter the size of the particles by altering the distance between the burrs.

There are two burr types that are conical and flat. The differences between these two kinds of burrs is subtle, but they are significant and each one has its own strengths.

While blade grinders have sharp blade-shaped teeth, which grind the coffee with each pass Burr grinders employ a pair of disc shaped burrs to grind the beans. The two burrs can be moved further or closer to achieve the size of the grind you want. If they are set correctly, they produce a very uniform grinding, with less fragments and without heating.

A top quality burr ceramic grinder will include a lubricated mechanism that will reduce friction and prolong the life of the blades. They should also be cleaned easily to minimize the accumulation of coffee residue. While there are hand-powered burr grinders, commercial flat burr grinders are almost always powered by electricity as they require more power than can be supplied by the human hand alone.

There may be variations within every category of burr shapes between different brands and models. These variations are not due to the shape of the burrs themselves but rather to the pattern of their geometry and how that affects the distribution of particle sizes. For instance, certain conical burr grinders such as the Niche Zero have very low retention, while other flat burr grinders such as the Iberital MC2 have a high retention.

Some coffee lovers claim that certain burr types can bring out certain flavor profiles in the bean or roast. But this is an area that is largely anecdotal and not well established scientifically.

Flat Burrs

Flat burrs consist of circular plates that have sharp ridges facing each one. They crush the coffee between them. They're among the most popular burrs found in grinders for home and commercial use and are typically the primary type used in manual grinders.

Flat burrs may have a difficult time maintaining the same distribution of sizes of the grind than conical ones because their cutting edges are angled and can leave behind some grit or fines. This can result in bitter tastes and poor extraction. But, this shouldn't be a deal breaker for some, especially since new innovations in burr geometry allow for the same clarity associated with flat burrs, but with more uniform the distribution of grind size.

When it comes to deciding between a flat or conical burr grinder, your choice is largely dependent on your specific grinding needs and unique tastes. For instance, a barista who grinds large quantities for multiple cups throughout the day could be more likely to opt for a conical burr grinder since it produces less fines and can reduce the time of oxidation and make it easier to store and reuse.

Another factor to consider is the amount of heat that a grinder produces during its operation. This is important as it can impact the taste and quality of your cup of coffee grinders makers. The more friction a grinder creates the more it will heat up, which can alter the flavor of your beans and cause excessive extraction. Fortunately, flat burr grinders generate less heat than their conical counterparts, so they will provide you with the best taste overall.

If you're looking for a coffee grinder with flat burrs, there's plenty of options from reputable brands such as Baratza and Eureka. The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is well-known because it is easy to calibrate and offers a high level of precision. It also has a low noise level and is ideal for espresso grinding. It doesn't produce the same amount of fines as Baratza and other top models, and it can be difficult to achieve a medium-coarse grind when grinding espresso.

Variable Grind Settings

Whatever type of grinder grinding equipment you employ the process, it produces different sizes of particles and shapes. The measurement of this in a meaningful manner is a challenge, unless you use very expensive equipment such as laser particle Diffraction Analysis.

Rather than providing an exact measurement of the size of the particle the majority of coffee grinders have a set of adjustment dials which allow users to choose between a range of sizes. The dials are usually marked with a series of dots or numbers that represent larger and smaller sizes. The numbers are often with arrows that indicate the direction in which the dial should move to make the grind coarser or more fine.

In addition to the numbering system, a lot of grinders also have other visual representations to help in deciding on the best setting, for instance dots in a series or a stepped adjustment mechanism. These indications are helpful but they are only general guidelines and you'll need to test different settings.

For example, a dot or a number that appears close together mean that the burrs are set very fine, while the dot or number that appears to be further apart indicates that they are extremely coarse. When selecting a setting for your grinder it is important to be aware that even minor adjustments can make a huge difference.

Dialing in a grinder involves finding the ideal grind setting for the coffee and the brewing method. The ideal grind setting permits the brew to be able to produce the fullest and most balanced flavor while staying within a reasonable range for extraction limitations. This is a constant pursuit since even minor deviations from the sweet spot could result in under- or over-extracted coffee.

For espresso, a very fine grind is optimal because it maximizes the amount of water that will come into contact with the ground during the short time to extract. Pour-over, French Press, Aeropress and Turkish Coffee all benefit from a setting that is similar to powdered white sugar.

Easy Cleaning

As coffee grinds pass through your grinder, old grounds and oils are accumulated in the nooks. The oils that accumulate eventually go rancid and start to alter the taste of your stainless steel coffee grinder electric. Regular cleaning helps prevent the build-up of stale coffee oils and keeps your grinder running optimally.

To clean your grinder, begin by disconnecting the plug and then removing the hopper and grounds bin. Next, take out the burrs. Be careful not to scratch the sharp burrs, which are able to scratch or scratch the interior of your grinder. Use a grinder cleaning brush to get rid of any coffee that has accumulated on the burrs. If you don't own a grinder cleaner brush you can use a toothpick or soft brush to gently remove ground coffee from the burrs. Once you've removed the burrs as well as any other coffee particles, wipe the entire machine down with a dry cloth.

Whether you're using a burr grinder or a blade grinder cleaning your grinder regularly is essential. The aroma and taste of coffee beans are lost as soon as the beans are ground. The best espresso is made from freshly ground coffee. Grinds that are too fine can cause bitterness and excessive extraction as well as those that are too coarse could result in under-extraction, and a weak or sluggish flavor.

Cleaning your grinder regularly will ensure that it is in top condition and produces high-quality grounds for your morning cup of coffee. Coffee residues and oily grounds can cause the blades to get clogged and produce poor-quality coffee. The flavor of coffee can be affected by allowing stale coffee to build up on the burrs.

There are a variety of ways to clean a grinder but one of the easiest is to use a coffee grinder cleaning tablet (such as Urnex Grindz). These tablets are made from edible grains that bind with and eliminate coffee oil. They're an excellent alternative to washing your burrs with water, which can damage or dull them. You can also clean your burrs with a brush or blowing them off with compressed air or a keyboard air blower.