Coffee Grinder Buying Advice

Achieving a great cup of coffee or espresso is the result of the quality of its beans. But even the best quality beans mean nothing if they aren't ground properly. Whether you are brewing at home or in a coffee shop, grinding your own beans is a must for coffee drinkers looking for maximum flavor. Finding the best coffee bean grinder can make the difference between a delectable cup of coffee or a bitter blend.

Grinds, Blades and Burrs
A coffee grinder needs to support your favorite brew. The size of your grounds must correspond to the length of your brew time. Espresso production relies on a very quick brew process that extracts from the grounds using high pressure. For that reason, espresso grounds are finer than their coffee counterparts. In contrast, drip coffee takes roughly eight minutes to brew. If the grind is too fine, the brew process will extract too many of the oils from the grounds and the coffee will taste bitter.

That being said, there's no single right way to grind a coffee bean, but coffee connoisseurs will tell you that grinding the beans yourself is necessary for superior taste. Depending on your budget, your options can range from adequate to exceptional.  Even the least expensive coffee grinders can help you turn out a good cup of coffee. 

Grinders have varying settings for positioning, the adjustment of the burr that regulates grind size. Most high-end coffee grinders allow you to set the positioning to a precise degree. "Stepped" machines come with preset adjustments for burr positioning (e.g., Turkish, extra-fine, fine, medium, coarse), while "stepless" coffee grinders offer an almost limitless number of settings. Purchasing a stepped coffee grinder doesn't mean you're limited to only a few grinds. Some come with up to 50 preset levels, which is a robust offering, even for the most finicky coffee drinker. Unless budget is a concern or you need absolute control over your beans, choose a stepped coffee grinder.

The least expensive coffee grinders are blade grinders, priced mainly under $100. Blade coffee grinders use small blades to pulverize the beans. In order to achieve a finer grind, simply let the coffee grinder run for a few extra seconds. While blade grinders are usually suitable for the casual coffee drinker, be warned that they come with a couple of downsides. First, they produce an inconsistent grind size of both "coffee dust" (which can clog the grinder) and larger pieces of bean. Second, when a blade coffee grinder runs for too long, it can overheat, causing the oils in the beans to burn and produce a bitter taste.

If you're willing to spend a little more on a high-quality coffee grinder, the burr coffee grinder is your best option. These coffee grinders come in two varieties: flat blade and conical burr. Both use a crushing method to produce a uniform grind. The conical burr grinder uses two cone-shaped burrs, while the flat blade uses two parallel burrs. Burr coffee grinders are recommended for espresso because they are able to produce a small enough grind for maximum flavor extraction without burning the beans during the grind process. They produce a uniform grind by passing each bean through the burrs only once. In contrast, blade coffee grinders keep regrinding the coffee into smaller grinds, creating an inconsistent grind.

Manual or Automatic?
Once you've decided on blades or burrs, you also have the option of automated grinding or providing the muscle yourself (both blades and burrs come in manual versions). Manual coffee grinders employ a hand crank instead of an electric motor to turn the blades or burr plates. A manual coffee grinder is a good choice if you don't mind putting in a little extra work. They are relatively inexpensive (usually under $100) and they tend to produce a very consistent grind size.

Automatic coffee grinders that come with additional features such as automatic shutoff can prevent you from under- or over-grinding your beans. You may find it worthwhile to spend the extra money for the automation and control over the consistency of your grind, but it is not vital once you get the hang of grinding your own beans.

Frequency of Use
If you're watching your pennies and intend to grind small batches of beans for one to two people, then less expensive, blade coffee grinders are a better choice. These smaller machines can burn out quickly from overuse, making larger, automated burr grinders the best investment for frequent grinding or grinding for large families or offices.  

Dosing and Timing
Some commercial-grade grinders come with a doser, which is a small compartment at the base of the grinding chamber. In coffee shops, this is a handy feature that allows baristas to simply pull a lever to dispense the correct amount of coffee or espresso. For home use, this function is not quite as necessary because you want your grounds to be as fresh as possible. Dosers pregrind the beans for later use, which is helpful only if you're hosting a large party.

The preferred consistency of the grind will determine the length of time you'll want to run the coffee grinder. The longer it runs, the finer the grind will turn out. If you are grinding for a drip coffeemaker, aim for 20-45 seconds. If you choose a grinder with a built-in timer, you'll take the guesswork out of the process and produce the optimal grind every morning with very little effort.

Coffee and Beyond
If you're on the fence about whether or not to invest in a coffee grinder, you should know that they are more versatile than they seem at first blush. You can also use coffee grinders to chop up spices. For the home chef, this is a wonderful added feature that can help justify the cost of another appliance.

You can also find drip coffee makers with built-in blade coffee grinders. These machines cut down on time and save kitchen space. Simply load the bean chamber and push "Start." The coffeemaker will grind the beans and brew the coffee in under ten minutes.