Tips in Buying Coffee Grinder
Today, coffee is only second to petroleum in the world’s most traded commodity. Statistics show that in the US alone, the average coffee drinker consumes 3 ½ cups of coffee everyday; spends an average of $165.00 on coffee shops annually and wait a total of 45 hours lining up for their caffeine fix in a coffee shop.
Why grind? Grinding your own coffee beans is a growing practice among coffee drinkers the world over. You would practically save a lot in terms of money and time if you grind your own coffee beans aside from the fact that you would get the freshest cup of coffee. Coffee is at its best if brewed right after grinding. If you are on the lookout for the best coffee grinder that would suit your needs here are a few tips in choosing and buying your own coffee grinder.
What type of coffee grinder will you buy? There are two general types of coffee grinder in the market today: the blade and the burr. Under the burr type are the flat wheel burr and conical burr. The burr coffee grinder works on the principle of two steel wheels grinding beans in between them. Generally, one burr is steady while the other burr does the grinding. The conical burr works likewise but the difference is the two burrs are cone-shaped. These two types of butt can produce the finest and most even coffee grinds. This type is best for espresso machines and vacuum coffee makers.
The blade coffee grinder hacks and slices coffee beans into coarse and uneven grounds. It is possible to get a variety of ground sizes when using a blade grinder that this type is not recommended if you need fine coffee granules for your coffee maker. This type is best for drip coffee makers, percolators and some French press models.
How much will you grind? If you need to grind for a few cups of coffee in the morning, consider the grinder’s capacity. Why do you have to choose a grinder with a 15 cup-capacity when all you need is a few tablespoons of grounds in the morning? If you intend to brew coffee in batches good enough for a battalion, then get one with a suitable grinding capacity.
How much is your budget? If you are financially constrained but still want to have your own coffee grinder that good news for you. There are blade coffee grinders that fetch at a low $10. The Proctor-Silex E160 Full Size Blade Coffee grinder is one such priced. The Toastmaster 1119 Full Size Blade Coffee grinder is pegged at $9.00. Whereas the Krups 00203 Blade is at $9.49. Some brands like Capresso 503.05 Cool Grind Blade grinder is at a high $49.95.
Burr coffee grinders are more expensive. The KitchenAid KPCG100ER Pro Line Burr Coffee Grinder is priced at a cool $199.99 while the Capresso Infinity Conical 560 Full Size Burr Coffee Grinder is only $89.00. If your coffee maker is the drip kind, a blade coffee grinder would do. If you plan on using an espresso machine, better get a burr coffee maker.
Maintenance and ease in cleaning. As all coffee grinders are advertised as easy to clean, do not believe it. You have to browse online and look for consumer reviews to know the real score performance and maintenance wise. There are blades grinders that have such static effect that beans literally fly all over when you use it. The best is to choose a grinder that has a removable grinding chamber. Consider a model that includes a cleaning brush.
Consider the noise that the grinder makes. Though grinding takes a maximum of 30 seconds to grind the coffee beans, the racket that it makes could still irritate you at no ends. If for example you want to grind the beans at the unholy hour of 5:30 A.M., you would wake up the whole house with the noise that you’ll make. Short of sound-proofing your kitchen, choose one that is not so “noisy”.
Consider its safety measures. Most blade coffee grinders will not operate if the lid is off. This is one good feature because accidents happen and this one way of guaranteeing your fingers remains where they are supposed to be. Some models will not grind even if the lid is closed if it senses that there is no beans in the chamber.
There are no right way and wrong way in choosing the best coffee grinder. In the end you should choose one that fits your needs.