To make coffee strong, aromatic, and tasty, you need to know how to brew it correctly. There are many secrets that fans of the drink use. One of the important rules is that coffee beans are ground immediately before consumption. This raises the question: how to choose a good coffee grinder? Manufacturers household appliances offer wide range models, so it is difficult for an inexperienced user to make the right choice. We will look further into what you should pay attention to, which brands are leading, and which manufacturers you should not deal with.
Types of coffee grinders
Many people cannot imagine the morning without a cup of freshly brewed coffee, which fills you with energy, vigor, helps you wake up, and lifts your spirits. To brew good coffee, you need to purchase high-quality beans and grind them before the brewing process. Coffee connoisseurs do not choose a ground product, let alone an instant drink. To grind beans at home, you need a good coffee grinder. There are several types of household appliances on the market:
- Manual;
- Electrical.
Using a manual model, the beans take much longer to grind, but some choose this type for its authenticity. Coffee lovers say that hand-ground beans retain a piece of the invested soul of the person who ground them in a hand-held unit. You can choose a coffee grinder made from natural wood, with interesting design, which will fit into the eco-interior of the kitchen.
Electric models are easy to use. They help save time, and every good model has several programs for grinding grains.
Manual
The word “coffee grinder” evokes an association with a wooden mill, which our grandmothers used. Some chose this device solely for beauty, and not for grinding coffee beans. Those who value the grinding process itself still choose manual models.
Note! It is believed that hand-ground coffee is much more aromatic than that ground in an electric device.
The disadvantages of manual models include a labor-intensive, lengthy process and uneven grinding of grains.
A burr coffee grinder is a device in which the millstones start moving with the help of a crank. Good models are equipped with a container for grains and a container for ground powder.
Electric millstones
Most Popular electrical types: knife and burr coffee grinders.
Knife models are relatively inexpensive, but professionals consider such models not the best option, because when grinding beans with rotary knives, acid is released, which negatively affects the final taste of the drink. The beans heat up, causing some of the flavor to evaporate. Grinding in knife models is often uneven. But many people choose this type for its versatility: the device can be used to grind grains, as well as spices and some types of cereals.
Millstone models operate on the principle of manual units: coffee beans are ground between two millstones, which can be flat or conical. The resulting powder preserves the aromatic and taste qualities of the drink. The price of good burr coffee grinders is higher than that of knife grinders.
Electric rotary
A type of knife device is an electric rotary model. Rotating at high speed, special knives grind the grains into powder. The model works on the same system as a blender. It has a built-in motor at the bottom, and a grain container and knives on top. Coffee beans are poured into a container that is tightly closed with a lid, and during operation the knives grind the beans. The disadvantage of the rotational model is that the grinding is not very fine and uneven. The powder cannot be used in some models of coffee machines.
Why choose good electric rotary coffee grinders:
- Affordable price;
- Large selection of products;
- Easy care;
- Easy to use.
How to choose a coffee grinder for your home based on different criteria
When the desire to purchase a coffee grinder arises, many are lost in the choice of models. First of all, you need to decide for yourself what type of device is needed: manual or electric. If you're willing to spend time grinding beans by hand, choose a manual model. The ground powder is aromatic, with a rich coffee smell and taste. But it is worth noting that in manual devices the grind is too coarse, so it is not suitable for making espresso and some other types of drink.
When we choose a good coffee grinder, we want to purchase a high-quality and convenient device that will help save time and be multifunctional, effective and easy to use. Therefore, most people opt for electric models. Experts say that the best coffee grinders for home use are electric.
Coffee grinder by control type
The choice of coffee grinder largely depends on the control functions. Good models are equipped with the following features:
- If the top is not closed well, the control buttons are blocked;
- Pulse mode, thanks to which the grinding is uniform;
- Protection against increased heating of the device. As soon as the motor reaches maximum temperature, the grinder automatically turns off;
- Built-in dispenser that helps to grind grains efficiently and very finely;
- Availability of several programs for selecting different degrees of grinding;
- Grinding powdered sugar, spices, nuts, cereals.
Coffee grinder power
When choosing a household appliance, you should pay attention to the power of the purchased model. The power indicators of a good device should be in the range of 180-800 W. Millstone devices, as a rule, have a power of 200 W, knife devices – about 200 W. The lower the motor speed, the longer it will take to grind the grains.
Setting the grind level
The taste and aroma of the drink is also affected by the degree of grinding of the beans. Each type of coffee requires individual grinding, for example, espresso is brewed from finely ground coffee powder. That's why many people choose a coffee grinder with a custom grind function. When choosing a good coffee grinder, pay attention to the presence of such a function. In this case, it will be possible to choose the grind that is necessary to prepare a good drink.
Coffee grinder material
Millstones are made from different types material:
- Metal (usually steel or cast iron is used). Stainless steel millstones are lightweight, relatively inexpensive, and often coated with titanium for strength. Cast iron millstones are heavier and more durable, but due to their texture they absorb foreign aromas.
- Ceramics. Often used in models with a grind selection function. Quite durable, but can break if dropped.
- Stone. Millstones made of a special alloy of ceramics and stone help to obtain excellent grinding of grains. One of the disadvantages is excessive fragility, but many choose this option.
Which coffee grinder is the best is difficult to answer, since each material has its own pros and cons.
Bean container volume
To determine which volume of device is best to choose, you need to take into account the frequency and amount of coffee consumed. To brew one standard cup of the drink, you will need about 6 grams of beans. If a large volume of the drink is drunk at one time, approximately 12 grams of grains will be needed for preparation. Rotary coffee grinders are available with a bowl volume from 30 to 120 grams, and millstones - from 200 to 300 grams.
Note! Knife devices are not able to cope with large volumes of grains. The grinding will be of poor quality, which will affect the taste of the drink. You should take this into account when choosing a device for grinding coffee.
Availability of dispenser
A useful option that is often found in burr coffee grinders. No need to pre-measure required quantity grains The container is completely filled with grains, and the dispenser itself takes away the amount that needs to be crushed. The presence of a dispenser saves time, since you do not need to measure the required amount or add grain.
Reliability
A good quality coffee grinder is often made of brass, aluminum, or steel. Good models are durable and strong. Plastic devices are less durable and begin to break after a certain period of time.
In addition, rotary coffee grinders have moving blades that can injure a person if used carelessly. Manufacturers of good household appliances have tried to protect users by coming up with a special lock that prevents the knives from rotating while the lid is open. When choosing a good coffee grinder, you should carefully look at the quality of the lid: often breakdowns occur due to low-quality plastic.
Overheat protection
This option is important for models with increased power. The motor may become very hot during prolonged operation. To prevent such cases, they came up with a protective function that blocks the operation of the motor until the engine and the walls of the coffee grinder body cool down.
Launch
In some rotary models, starting occurs when you press the lid. This is not entirely convenient to use, since you will have to keep the lid on until the required portion of grains is crushed. It is much more convenient to use the power button, which most good models are equipped with. It is better to choose those models that are launched using a button.
Availability of timer and screen
Good burr models often have a built-in screen that allows you to select the desired program. Rotary models are sometimes equipped with a timer, but usually they do not have a timer or screen. Professionals advise choosing good models with a timer on which the required time is set for the desired grinding of the beans.
Noise level
Don't look for a completely silent model. Even the best models make noise due to the grinding or cutting of grains with knives. To reduce noise levels, some manufacturers of good household appliances provide coffee grinders with rubber stands that absorb some of the vibration.
Additional functions of coffee grinders
Many manufacturers produce multifunctional models that remain in demand in the household appliances market. Which additional features The coffee grinder may have:
- Double set of knives for better grain grinding;
- Necessary tilt of the container for thorough grinding;
- Device for quick cord winding;
- Turning off the device if a foreign object gets into the millstones: a small stone, a piece of a branch, etc.;
- Improved sound insulation, which reduces the noise of a running coffee grinder;
- By choosing a multifunctional model, you can also grind spices, nuts, and sugar into powdered sugar.
Well-known manufacturers and best models of different types of coffee grinders
- Cunnill Brasil. A device with millstones, which is often chosen for bars, restaurants, and cafes. Suitable for use in the kitchen of fans of good coffee.
Advantages:
- High power;
- Adjustment of grinding degree and weight of the desired portion;
- Along with the device, the kit includes a tamper that presses coffee for use in coffee machines;
- The grain container is made of unbreakable material.
- Bosh MKM 6000/6003, Caso Coffee Flavor. The best rotary coffee grinders, which are most often chosen by users.
Pros: 
- Durable steel body;
- Getting the finest grinding;
- Fast work;
- Capacious containers;
- The presence of an impulse switch.
- Bekker BK-2517. A good manual coffee grinder with a stylish multi-colored body made of porcelain. The device is equipped with ceramic millstones that do their job, but can crack if hit.
Why choose a model:
- Sharp millstones made of ceramics;
- A handle that rotates both clockwise and in the opposite direction;
- Adjustment of grinding degree;
- Interesting design;
- Inexpensive, good coffee grinder.
Which brand of coffee grinder is better:
- Vitek. One of the leading brands of household appliances, which occupies a leading position in Russia. Brand products are chosen for good quality, ease of use, reliability, affordable prices. Many consumers claim that the best budget coffee grinder is made by Vitek.
- DeLonghi. Italian manufacturer specializing in the production of coffee machines, coffee makers, coffee grinders and other kitchen appliances. Coffee connoisseurs have been choosing the brand's products for a long time.
- Bosch. German quality does not need advertising, which is why millions of consumers annually choose household appliances from the German concern.
- Vitesse. A French brand that produces high-quality elegant tableware and household items for the kitchen. True connoisseurs choose this brand.
Which coffee grinders not to buy, and how important is a negative rating?
If you are undecided before purchasing, check out the opinions of users on the forums. There are known negative ratings for household appliances, which will help you avoid a bad purchase and choose a useful item.
Which devices should you avoid purchasing:
- Choose a model made of stainless steel. The plastic case quickly becomes unusable.
- Often, rotary models come without an additional container for ground product. It is dangerous to pour powder out from under sharp knives, and washing and drying the model is not convenient.
- Choose models with rubber feet, which will make the device stable and reduce noise when the engine is running.
Can't imagine your morning without a cup of invigorating coffee? Are you sure that you have chosen the right coffee grinder? The coffee machine largely determines the taste and quality of coffee. Didn't you know? Then let's figure out which coffee grinder is best to buy for your home.
What do you know about coffee grinders?
Classification
The entire family of coffee grinders can be divided into rotary and burr grinders. A professional barista will never pick up a rotary coffee grinder. Why?
The thing is that such designs do not allow for proper grinding of espresso beans. Fragrant oils are released only if the coffee particles are of uniform size and have a complex lattice structure.
In rotary coffee grinders, the grain is crushed in any shape into unequal parts. However, this starting material is ideal if you are a fan of long-term brewing methods using a geyser or drip coffee maker.
Burr grinders provide the correct grind size for espresso, creating maximum particle surface area.
We often hear that coffee ground in a burr grinder is bitter when brewed. If you come across such a drink once, you will experience trouble. What if it's constant? The reason lies in the worn-out millstones. The result is poor grinding quality and coffee beans of different sizes. The water supplied through the portafilter washes away the bitterness from small particles in half a minute and only flows around the larger ones.
What types of burr coffee grinders are there? They are classified into parallel and conical. The latter have won the love of baristas for their increased cutting surface. Due to this, the load on the motor is reduced.
Specifications
How to choose an electric coffee grinder for your home – 2 rules:
| Photo | Recommendations |
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Rule 1. Power.
This figure can vary between 80–1300 W. The rotation speed depends on the power. On low speeds espresso beans are ground, but high speeds (more than 1000 rpm) heat the beans, which leads to a change in the taste of the drink. If you plan to use long-term extraction methods, purchase a high-power rotary grinder. |
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Rule 2. Bowl.
The structure of the coffee grinder is simple - it is a housing that hides the motor, millstones or rotary knives. Millstone models are equipped with two containers: for beans and ground coffee; rotary – only for grains. |
In the case of coffee grinder bowls, the “bigger is better” rule does not apply. I wouldn't recommend purchasing large capacity models unless you plan on making multiple servings of coffee.
The thing is that each serving of espresso is necessarily freshly ground. It is worth paying attention to the fact that coffee is a perishable product, so to avoid oxidation and acquiring an unpleasant rancid odor, do not leave ground coffee in the coffee grinder bowl.
Some models of coffee grinders are equipped with adjustable grinding volume and a dispenser. In such “smart” devices you can set the value “One cup” (7 grams), in addition, they are able to measure the number of cups for which already ground coffee is enough.
Grind adjustment function. Before choosing this or that coffee grinder model, think about what kind of coffee you most often make, and most importantly, in what.
| Grinding | Instructions and recommendations |
| Rude | The grind is suitable for a French bistro coffee maker and plunger. Allows you to obtain coffee particles of about 0.8 mm. |
| Large | A manual or electric coffee grinder, which allows you to obtain coarsely ground beans, is suitable for those who use filter coffee makers to prepare the drink or prefer the open cup method according to the Brazilian system. |
| Medium-large | Medium-coarse grinding is relevant if you drink coffee prepared in Clever or Chemex. The latter has very thick filter paper, which significantly slows down the process of coffee spilling. A burr or blade coffee grinder, which allows you to obtain a medium-coarse grind, is a must when preparing coffee in siphons and drippers with metal or fabric filters. |
| Average | A manual coffee grinder with adjustment to medium grinding is suitable for carob and geyser coffee makers. |
| Medium-fine | Most often, in a cozy home kitchen, do you make cappuccino, latte, longleaf and flatwhite with your own hands? All of these drinks are based on espresso, and it requires medium-fine ground coffee. |
| Small | Necessary for those who are used to brewing an invigorating drink in a Turk (Oriental style) or directly in a cup (Warsaw style). |
Why is adjusting the grinding degree important? It determines how tasty and “correct” the coffee will be:
- Grind too coarse, not suitable for your coffee maker, makes the drink watery, professionals call this “underextraction”.
- Fine grind- bitter coffee. A good coffee grinder for home with adjustable grinding degree allows you to influence the taste, remove sourness or bitterness, increase or decrease the richness.
Before we get into choosing the best coffee grinder, let's do a quick recap. If you use a Turk, a “droplet” or a “geyser” to make coffee, purchase a rotary coffee grinder. If you have a carob coffee maker lurking in the kitchen, you can’t do without a burr coffee grinder with ceramic or steel knives.
Top 5 coffee grinders
| Brand and photo | Description | Price (RUB) |
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Delonghi KG 79
Electric burr coffee grinder with a power of 110 W. This indicator is enough to grind 120 g of coffee, which is exactly how much the tray holds. |
This means the purity and balance of the drink. Choosing a good coffee grinder is not easy: you need to decide on the type of millstone, its material, diameter and purpose. We have compiled a guide that will help you travel this path faster.
The text will talk about automatic coffee grinders for home and professional use, for example, for coffee shops. We will not consider manual coffee grinders in this article, but much of what is written below is also true for them.
Why is a coffee grinder so important?
The main task of a coffee grinder is to grind the most homogeneous coffee, in which all the particles are as close in size to each other as possible.
If the grinding fractions differ greatly in size, then water will dissolve more substances from small particles, and less from large ones. The result is a cup that is both unbalanced and tasteless.
The ability to grind uniform fractions is the most important parameter by which you should choose a coffee grinder. However, do not forget about other characteristics: performance, purpose, ease of use.
So, let’s look at the main differences between coffee grinders.
Millstone type
It is the type of millstone that determines the uniformity of grinding, as well as the speed of the coffee grinder, the degree of heating and clumping of coffee.
Blade coffee grinders - the simplest type of coffee grinder. They consist of a chamber inside which the knives rotate at high speed.
The device is in many ways reminiscent of a blender and is not suitable for any of the cooking methods, because it produces extremely uneven grinding. We will not dwell on this type of millstone, but simply remind you that this is the worst choice for making delicious coffee.
Flat millstones cutting grain.
Flat burrs used in the Mahlkoenig EK43 coffee grinder
To do this, they have three types of cutting surfaces. The first stage crushes the grains entering the coffee grinder path. The second grinds large coffee particles after crushing. The third stage “cuts” the coffee particles to the required fraction, after which the coffee enters either the outlet channel or a special container.
Scheme of operation of flat millstones
Conical millstones They break the grains to a greater extent by squeezing rather than cutting.
Conical burrs used in the Mazzer Kony coffee grinder
When the lower millstone rotates, the grains are sent through screw cutouts onto a row of teeth. They, in turn, grind the grains to the required size.
Scheme of operation of conical millstones
A flat burr grinder grinds coffee more evenly than a conical burr grinder.
The green line is the Mazzer Super Jolly coffee grinder with flat burrs, the red and blue lines are the Mazzer Robur and Macap MXK with conical burrs. The sharper the graph, the more uniform the grind
What is the difference between flat and conical millstones?
On the left is a Mazzer Kony coffee grinder with conical burrs, and on the right is a Mahlkoenig K30 with flat burrs
Flat burrs grind coffee more evenly, resulting in better-tasting coffee. However, there is also a significant disadvantage: a coffee grinder with flat burrs has lower productivity. The millstones rotate faster, causing the grind to heat up. High heating of the grinding leads to several negative consequences: The aroma quickly dissipates, the taste deteriorates and cooking stability decreases.
Conical burrs produce a slightly less uniform grind. This grinder is more barista-friendly when setting up espresso, since due to a wider range of fractions, the influence of environment for grinding, which means you will have to adjust the grinding during the day less often. Coffee grinders of this type have higher productivity at a millstone rotation speed that is half as low. As a result, the grinding heats up less.
What materials are millstones made from?
The material of the millstones determines how long the coffee grinder will produce grinds of the same quality, as well as the amount of coffee dust in the grind.
Ceramic millstones They hardly become dull, which means they can last longer. However, this is a fragile material, so there is a risk that the millstones will break if hit by a hard foreign object. In addition, ceramic millstones produce significantly more fine fractions, which means it is more difficult to get delicious coffee with them.
Ceramic burrs used in the Baratza Vario coffee grinder
The main reason for the popularity of ceramic burrs among equipment manufacturers is their relatively low price.
Steel millstones come in different qualities. Over time, metal burrs become dull, causing poor grind quality, heating up the grind, and reducing grinder performance. To increase the wear resistance of millstones, they are sometimes coated with titanium or tungsten carbide.
Steel flat burrs inside the Mahlkoenig EK43 coffee grinder
Such millstones are more expensive, but they will have to be changed much less frequently: while steel millstones are recommended to be changed every 500-1000 kg, depending on the productivity of the coffee grinder, then coated millstones remain sharp about 3 times longer.
Should you choose a coffee grinder with steel or ceramic burrs?
Millstone diameter
Baratza Encore conical burrs on the left, Mazzer Kony on the right
The diameter of the millstones determines the speed, uniformity and temperature of grinding. If the burrs overheat, coffee particles become baked into the grinder, resulting in a burnt taste in the cup. Moreover, the barista often has to adjust the grinding, since due to the expansion of the metal, the size of the fractions also changes.
Remains of ground baked coffee inside the Mahlkoenig EK43 coffee grinder
The larger the diameter of the millstones, the higher the grinding speed, the lower the likelihood of overheating of the millstones and the more uniform the grinding.
The diameter of the millstones also determines the clumping of coffee, which negatively affects extraction. Clumping is more common with flat millstones, not large diameter and is less common on conical burrs or large diameter flat burrs.
What diameter of burrs should I choose a coffee grinder with?
Depends on what performance you need. For a home or establishment with a small flow of guests, the diameter of the millstones may be small, but when working on a flow, a large diameter is simply necessary.
Espresso coffee grinders
Espresso coffee grinders are “sharpened” for fine grinding and are often equipped with a special holder for the holder. These coffee grinders come in two types.
With hopper for ground coffee. Such a bunker is convenient if the productivity of the coffee grinder is not very high, and the flow of guests is high. In this case, you can grind the coffee into the hopper in advance and then pour it into the holder in a second.
When pouring coffee into the holder, the blades inside such a hopper additionally break up lumps in the ground coffee.
The obvious disadvantage is the oxidation of coffee and the instability of preparation, since the time from grinding to preparation will always vary.
Compak K3 coffee grinder with ground coffee hopper
With direct grinding into a holder. This type of coffee grinder has an obvious advantage: the coffee is ground into each serving and does not oxidize. Often these coffee grinders have a built-in timer that helps you dose the coffee.
However, there are also disadvantages: with a low productivity of the coffee grinder, a standard portion of 18 grams of coffee can be ground in up to 15 seconds, which is quite slow. Another disadvantage is the high probability that the grind will clump.
Direct grind coffee grinder grinds coffee directly into the holder
In most cases, a coffee grinder with direct grinding into a holder and a timer is preferable. If we are talking about a small-capacity coffee grinder that grinds coffee slowly, then a hopper for ground coffee can be convenient.
Coffee grinders for alternative brewing methods
In an alternative coffee grinder, it is easy to grind coarse beans without coffee dust. They do not have a holder for a coffee holder, but they do have a removable hopper for ground coffee or special mounts for a measuring cup or bag.
Mahlkoenig EK43 coffee grinder designed for alternative brewing methods
What else to pay attention to
Overheat protection. The temperature of the millstones determines the size of the grinding fractions, the taste in the cup and the stability of preparation, so many manufacturers strive to stabilize the temperature of the millstones.
The more the millstones heat up, the more the metal expands, which means the grinding fractions decrease. In addition, highly heated millstones “bake” the coffee during grinding and it loses some of its taste, becoming flatter and bitter.
Temperature stability is especially important when preparing espresso, as heating can increase the brewing time of the espresso by 3-5 seconds, which will greatly affect the taste.
Cooling cooler mesh for the Mazzer Kony model
A coffee grinder with motor or burr cooling coolers does not allow these parts to heat above a certain temperature.
In addition to cooling, there are coffee grinders with heated burrs, which make it easier to adjust the grind at the beginning of a shift or after long breaks in preparation.
Nuova Simonelli coffee grinders with millstone heating element
If you make espresso at home, in a establishment with a small number of guests, or use a coffee grinder to brew coffee using alternative methods, then you do not need to worry about the thermoregulation system. If you have a large flow of guests, it is better to purchase a coffee grinder with coolers for cooling the millstones. If the flow of guests is not stable, but the quality of preparation is of great importance to you, we recommend choosing coffee grinders with cooling and heating.
Remains of ground coffee inside. In many coffee grinders, a small amount of ground coffee remains in the channel between the burrs and the outlet of the grinder. This can greatly affect the taste of the drink.
This problem affects coffee grinders whose burrs are located horizontally. After the millstones stop, part of the grinding remains in the channel and does not fall out until the next portion begins to be ground. All this time, the remaining coffee oxidizes and inevitably affects the taste of the next cup.
According to our observations, in a Mazzer Kony coffee grinder with conical burrs, about 10 grams of coffee remains in this channel. If you make coffee from 18 grams, then more than half the serving is old coffee. We recommend grinding one extra cup of coffee if you brewed the coffee more than an hour ago. This will help freshen up the grind and create a really tasty cup.
Coffee grinders with inclined or vertical millstones are practically free of this problem.
Micrometric grind setting on a Mazzer Kony coffee grinder
Grinding adjustment type. They are divided into two main types: micrometric and stepwise. Micrometric type of adjustment means smooth. With this type, the grind can be changed by moving the millstones literally by a few microns. The step-by-step adjustment type means that the millstones move in specified steps. A micrometric grind setting is better for espresso, especially if it's a flat burr grinder.
Step-by-step grind settings on a Cunill Tranquilo Tron coffee grinder
For an alternative coffee grinder, the type of adjustment is not so important, since coarse grinding is used.
Automatic dosage. Often, coffee grinders can be programmed to produce a specific dosage of coffee. This is especially convenient on espresso coffee grinders, but it is also useful on filter coffee grinders.
Dosage setting panel for the Mazzer Kony coffee grinder
Usually the dosage works on a timer. It's inexpensive and quite effective solution, but it also has a significant disadvantage - due to the different grain densities different varieties Different weights will be ground at the same time. This means you will have to reconfigure the values every time you change the type of coffee or even for every new package.
Another, more accurate and more expensive solution is built-in scales.
The main thing about how to choose a coffee grinder
The coffee grinder affects the taste of the coffee even more than the coffee machine, so you should try to choose the best coffee grinder within your capabilities.
- For making espresso Look for coffee grinders with a micrometric grinding adjustment system, a holder holder, direct grinding into the holder and dosage options.
- To prepare an alternative you need to choose a coffee grinder depending on the expected workload and your capabilities.
It is better to choose coffee grinders with large diameter steel burrs and cooling, but these grinders may be too expensive.
Surprisingly, the price of a coffee grinder reflects its quality quite well. Therefore, we recommend choosing the most expensive coffee grinder available to you.
You can treat yourself to hot coffee in the morning right at home. And not with soluble chemicals, but with a real drink. True, you will have to fork out for specialized equipment and learn how to use it correctly. Let’s look in detail at how to choose a coffee grinder for your home, and what difficulties you may encounter in the selection process. And also what models of devices you should pay attention to.
In the process of searching for the best option, most coffee lovers wonder which coffee grinder is best to buy for their home. The decision should be made based on the volume of drink consumption: if all family members drink it often, then the device must be reliable. Otherwise, you can opt for a more economical device.
Coffee grinders are either electric or mechanical. The former, respectively, operate from the network, while the latter grind grains mechanically (the owner has to manually operate its mechanism).
To obtain the finished drink, you need to grind coffee beans
Millstone
For lovers of various coffee drinks, experts recommend buying an electric burr coffee grinder for home. It is this that will help you quickly and effortlessly grind the grains as required for preparing a specific type of drink.
Two millstones are placed in the container for raw materials, and the distance between them is adjustable. This is necessary in order to obtain the desired degree of grinding: coarse, medium or fine. The ground coffee is then ideally brewed in a coffee pot, in a coffee machine, or simply in a cup. Millstones can be flat or conical. The latter grind grains more slowly, but at the same time they operate more quietly and eliminate the risk of overheating of raw materials. But they also cost significantly more. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase a coffee grinder with conical burrs if you need to grind the grains efficiently.
The durability of the machine and the taste of the resulting coffee depends on the material from which the millstones are made:
- hardened stainless steel - durable, but subject to gradual abrasion and corrosion, after washing it is necessary to wipe thoroughly (dry);
- hardened stainless steel with titanium coating - non-corrosive, abrasion resistant, durable, but significantly increases the cost of the coffee grinder;
- ceramics are durable, strong, not subject to corrosion and the accumulation of foreign odors.
Ideally, the millstones should be made of an alloy of ceramics and corundum. This option is extremely rare; its properties are in no way inferior to steel ones. At the same time, they are easier to care for and cost less (though not much).
Rotary
A rotary or knife coffee grinder for Turkish coffee has one container for raw materials (whole beans or crushed products), at the bottom of which there is a knife. It comes in curved shape, straight single or straight double. As practice shows, single knives grind grains only partially. Some part is missed by them. To grind all the raw materials, you need to shake the container periodically. Double knives do the job much better.
Coffee ground in a rotary coffee grinder is heterogeneous: it contains both large and small particles. It is suitable for preparing a drink in a Turk, coffee pot or geyser coffee machine. But it’s no longer suitable for a horn apparatus.
The most suitable option for home is a rotary coffee grinder with a power of 170-180W. The indicator can vary from 110 to 270 W, but for home use you should stay at the average value. A low power will not allow you to get coffee of the desired consistency, and a high power can overheat the beans and as a result the drink will turn out bitter.
Rotary coffee grinder device
Manual
If you can’t decide which coffee grinder is better – a burr grinder or a knife grinder, you should take a closer look at manual machines. They do not depend on the electrical network and organically complement any interior in appearance. They work on the principle of grinding grains with millstones (similar to a burr coffee grinder), but they are driven by mechanical action (by hand). Accordingly, it takes more time to process raw materials, but the result is incomparable. At least that's what coffee connoisseurs say. Although, when grinding beans by hand, they can overheat, which ultimately introduces bitterness into the drink.
The body of the device can be made of plastic, wood, metal or ceramics. This does not in any way affect the quality of his work. But the handle should be located on the side, it’s more convenient (according to consumer reviews). Millstones can be made of stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. Experts recommend choosing cast iron - they will last a long time, are easy to clean and difficult to damage.
Operating principle
A rotary coffee grinder is a device with a solid body. It has a built-in container for raw materials and a mechanism for starting the device. The grains are poured into the container, after which the knives are launched. The result is ground coffee.
A burr coffee grinder is designed a little differently. It has a separate container for raw materials and a separate one for the ground product. When the machine starts up, the grains fall between the millstones, which grind them. The gap between the grinders can be adjusted to obtain the coffee powder of the desired consistency (fine, medium or coarse grind).
A manual coffee grinder works on a similar principle, but is started by manual action. It doesn't need to be connected to the network. You just need to pour the raw materials into the receiving container and turn the handle. The grains are ground by millstones, and finished product falls into a special container.
Advantages and disadvantages of coffee grinders
Using devices at home has its pros and cons. You can make your choice based on weighing them, but you will have to study a lot of information (and spend a lot of time on it).
The undeniable advantages of coffee grinders include:
- saving time - the devices allow you to get quality product at minimum costs time, and in some models the processing duration can be set independently;
- the naturalness of the resulting product - coffee lovers can enjoy a natural drink at home, and not a soluble mixture from bags;
- regulation of the degree of grinding - you can independently adjust the consistency of the resulting product;
- ease of cleaning – the devices are not complicated, all parts are easy to remove and wash;
- Availability – the device can be purchased at any hardware store at affordable price, unless, of course, you choose models that are more professional or elaborate in design.
Manual coffee grinder operates under human influence
At the same time, coffee grinders also have disadvantages:
- susceptibility to corrosion - metal parts must be thoroughly dried after cleaning, otherwise they may rust;
- inhomogeneity of grinding – cheaper models do not grind coffee into a homogeneous product, which can affect the taste of the drink later;
- overheating of the beans - any type of device can lead to overheating of the coffee beans, and this will lead to the appearance of bitterness in the drink;
- Difficulty in maintenance - the most difficult thing to clean is millstones; it takes time, which must be taken into account when choosing.
Most experts say that the best coffee grinder for home use is a burr grinder. True coffee connoisseurs claim that only hand grinding can be considered ideal. And yet, the final decision should be made based only on your own preferences.
Criteria for choosing coffee grinders
The more time passes from grinding the coffee beans to preparing the coffee, the worse the taste and aroma will be. Therefore, drink lovers are recommended to purchase a coffee grinder for their home.
During the selection process, you should pay attention to the following criteria:
- type of control;
- power;
- grinding degree;
- volume;
- presence of a timer;
- material of manufacture;
- manufacturer.
Taking into account all the listed nuances, you can choose the best option for home use.
By type of control
Everything is simple here: the devices are electrical and mechanical. The first ones work from electrical network, and the latter must be launched manually. The quality of the resulting product does not differ significantly in consistency. Electrical devices grind the grains faster. But manual ones minimize the risk of overheating, but you will also have to spend more time and effort on them. Rotary machines are in greatest demand: they are cheaper and the degree of grinding can be adjusted. True coffee lovers prefer manual coffee grinders to ensure that the finished product is cleaner and tastier.
By power
The higher the power of the device, the higher the rotation speed of the knives or millstones. At home, it is recommended to focus on the average indicator, since an overestimated one, as a rule, leads to charring of the coffee beans. For rotary coffee grinders, the ideal power is 170-180 W, for millstone grinders – up to 200 W. If the power is higher than these values, then the coffee ground in such a machine may taste bitter. For home use, you should select models with a rating of up to 200-210 W. The characteristics of some rotary coffee grinders also indicate the rotation speed of the blades. The speed of preparation of coffee powder depends on it. You need to focus on 8-9 thousand revolutions per minute.
By grinding degree
The degree of grinding is determined by the size of the coffee particles after grinding. Different types of coffee and different utensils used in the brewing process require different grinds. For a French press and drip coffee machine, you need a coarse grind, for geyser machines - medium, for Turks - fine or powdery (if you want to brew coffee in an oriental way), for espresso - ultra-fine. IN modern models Coffee makers can be selected from 3 to 18 different grinding levels. Of course, the more there are, the more expensive the device will be. For the home version, 5 is enough.
The finer the coffee powder fraction, the less time it will take to brew it. And the drink itself will turn out thicker, richer in taste and aroma, with a characteristic bitterness.
By volume of grain container
Different coffee grinders have different container volumes for loading raw materials. And it also determines the maximum grinding dose, that is, how many grains the machine can process at one time. These indicators are important for rotary machines, since if the container is not fully loaded, the grinding quality will be uneven. But millstones can process grains gradually, producing an evenly crushed product.
The values of the maximum and minimum grinding dose are taken into account by coffee connoisseurs who prefer to consume a drink of a certain strength. Accordingly, for stronger coffee they will need a coffee grinder with a large maximum value, and for weaker coffee - with a low one.
Presence of a timer
On modern models there is a device to notify the user about the termination of the grain processing cycle after a certain time. According to market research, such models are among the top coffee grinders over the past year. The presence of a timer will allow you not to watch the process of grinding coffee. Some devices are equipped with a sensor to disconnect from the network after the cycle is completed. This function is designed to increase the safety of the device. But, like all additional “bells and whistles”, it affects its cost.
Other functions
Manufacturers of household appliances strive to build into them as many functions as possible so that consumers choose their products. And even such a simple, at first glance, device as a coffee grinder is no exception.
Among the options you can find:
- dispenser – found in millstone machines, allows you to grind a certain amount of grains (even when the receiving container is fully loaded);
- capacity for finished products– after processing, the coffee is poured into a separate container, which simplifies the process of its further use;
- protection against overheating - in case of power surges or when the device overheats at high speeds, a special sensor will turn it off automatically, preventing charring of the grains;
- tamper – a special device for packing coffee powder into a cone for further use in a coffee machine;
- cord winding – when you press the button, the cord is tucked into the compartment at the bottom of the coffee grinder;
- noise neutralizer - a rubberized coating on the bottom and body of the device, which is applied to reduce vibration and noise during its operation.
Coffee grinder Bosch MKM 6000
Not all options are necessary for home appliances. As a rule, 2-3 additional “lotions” are used. But their very presence significantly expands the range of choice.
Popular coffee grinder models
Based on an analysis of data from user queries on the Internet and sales volumes, a rating of coffee grinders for the home was compiled. It includes the most popular models that were most actively purchased during 2019.
- Bosch MKM 6000/6003;
- Bork J700;
- BORK J800;
- CASO COFFEE & KITCHEN FLAVOR;
- Vitek VT-1542;
- SCARLETT SC-4245;
- Delonghi KG 89;
- ROMMELSBACHER EKM 300;
- Mayer&Boch 2316;
- Silampos Stellar;
- Bekker BK-2517;
- REDMOND RCG-M1602;
- POLARIS PCG 1017;
- Solis Scala Coffee Grinder Black.
In the process of selecting the ideal option, you should pay attention to trusted brands and user reviews. But the final decision should be made taking into account your own wishes and preferences.
Having a coffee grinder at home will allow you to enjoy fresh coffee at any time. The device does not take up much space and will not cause much damage to the family budget. However, before purchasing you will need to decide what type of device is needed and what options it should have. Their combination is reflected in the price of the coffee grinder, as well as its appearance.