There is nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. In order to prepare the perfect espresso, you will need high-quality coffee beans, as well as properly ground coffee. With this in mind, it is essential that you know which coffee grinder to choose. Read our article about the types of coffee grinders and the different grinding methods, which should help you make your choice.
There is nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. In order to prepare the perfect espresso, you will need high-quality coffee beans, as well as properly ground coffee. With this in mind, it is essential that you know which coffee grinder to choose. Read our article about the types of coffee grinders and the different grinding methods, which should help you make your choice.
Manual or electric? Types of coffee grinders
Coffee has been one of the most popular drinks served all over the world for years. It not only stimulates, but also provides an extraordinary taste sensation, especially since it can be prepared in many different ways. For proper preparation, you will need good quality coffee beans, and a grinder in order to grind them. There are various models on the market, and we shall take a closer look at each type.
Manual coffee grinders
The most basic version are manual coffee grinders. Their design and use are very simple, making them the perfect addition to any coffee lover’s kitchen. They will also fit into any rucksack, ideal for preparing coffee when camping or trekking in the mountains.
As the name suggests, manual coffee grinders are operated manually, by turning a crank. It sets the grinders in motion, grinding the beans in the container, providing you with a ready-made powder for brewing coffee.
As a rule, manual coffee grinders are used for coarse or medium grinding. However, there are models that will also let you obtain finely ground beans. Due to the fact that they are very small, they are good for preparing 2-3 cups of coffee, ideal for home use.
Electric blade grinders
Electric coffee grinders can be divided into two main types – blade and burr grinders. The first type have special blades that rotate at a very high speed and cut the beans poured into the container. It is worth noting, however, that this process differs significantly from traditional coffee grinding.
Using such a grinder you will not achieve even particles, but rather different sizes. Boiling water then flows through the largest gaps, which does not let you get the full taste from all the beans. As a result, brewing good coffee in an espresso or filter coffee machine is very difficult. Such grinders also contribute to the production of coffee dust, which gives the drink a bitter taste.
Another downside is the limited control over the size of the ground particles. Of course, different sizes can be obtained depending on how long you grind the beans. If you want finely ground coffee then you can grind it for longer. However, this is also not so simple. The longer the machine is used to grind the beans, the more the blades heat up, which negatively affects the taste of the coffee.
Electric burr grinders. Ceramic and steel
Professional electric coffee grinders are equipped with burrs for grinding the beans. Unlike blades that simply “cut” the coffee, burrs crush the coffee into even particles. In addition, they are more universal to use. Such coffee grinders also let you adjust the grind (finer or coarser). This is very useful if you want to brew different types of coffee. There are two types of burr grinders on the market – ceramic and steel.
Both types have their pros and cons. Steel coffee grinders are generally louder. On the other hand, they are more resistant to wear. Ceramic grinders will wear out over time, resulting in dust later getting into the coffee, affecting its taste. But they are more resistant to heating. So which one should you choose – a ceramic or steel grinder? We’ll come back to this later on in the article.
Which coffee grinder should you choose for home and commercial use?
Now that you are familiar with the different types of coffee grinders, you can go ahead and choose a specific model. Your decision should definitely depend on how often you intend to use it. A different coffee grinder will be needed at home than in a cafe. So what should you pay attention to in order to know which coffee grinder to choose?
Coffee grinders for home use
The demand for fresh coffee at home is determined, among others, by how many people live with you or how often you have guests. If you are the only coffee drinker then a manual coffee grinder will be the perfect choice. Its easy operation, hopper capacity and relatively small dimensions are ideal for preparing coffee for 1-2 people.
However, if you are looking for a more efficient model for intensive use, then an electric grinder will be better. The best choice will be a grinder with a power of 100 watts or slightly more, which should be sufficient for home use. With regards to the grinding mechanism, steel burrs will undoubtedly be the best option here. They should last for many years and withstand frequent use. Such grinders also let you grind coffee to a different thickness, so you can brew it in several ways. You will find more on this topic later in this article.
Which coffee grinder will be best for a cafe?
A good coffee grinder is among the most basic pieces of equipment in a cafe, without which you will not be able to serve good quality coffee. The need for freshly ground coffee in such places is much greater than at home. The grinder should therefore have a much bigger hopper capacity, letting you prepare a few dozen cups of coffee without refilling it with beans.
Another important parameter is the amount of power. The best coffee grinders for cafes should have around 200 watts, which is enough to quickly grind coffee beans and minimise the risk of the motor burning out even after many hours of use.
You should also pay attention to the material the burrs are made of. For use in a cafe, steel grinders will be better. As we already mentioned, steel is better for intensive use. In addition, you will avoid coffee dust, which can affect the taste of the coffee.
Grind adjusting is a must in coffee shops, where different types of coffee beans are used. Different types of coffee will require a different grind adjustment (finer or coarser).
With 19 grinding levels, this aluminium coffee grinder with 1000 ML capacity is ideal for the full spectrum of coffee specialities. With the steel burr grinder, this 1L model from Royal Catering is convincing in all areas, as this is the only way to grind the precious beans without generating a lot of heat. If you’re looking for a high-quality workmanship with plastic housing, this 1L model is particularly durable and can withstand the morning rush for freshly brewed coffee.
Coffee grinding techniques
You might think that to grind coffee beans you simply need to throw them into the grinder, press a button and Bob’s your uncle. It is how the beans are ground that ultimately affects the way the coffee is brewed. As a general rule, the longer the ground coffee will be in contact with water, the coarser it should be. In this regard, there are four main types of coffee:
- very finely ground – with a consistency of powder or flour,
- finely ground – slightly smaller than sugar grains,
- medium ground – feels like sand,
- coarsely ground – the size is similar to that of salt.
The first type is very delicate and should leave you with dirty fingertips. It is used, among others, to prepare a good espresso. And this is what you will need for an espresso coffee machine. The ground powder is pressed firmly into the portafilter, and then boiling water is passed through it under pressure. This helps bring out the intense flavour of the coffee. The entire process takes just over a dozen seconds.
Finely ground coffee has slightly larger particles, better visible particles than those described above. It is used in automatic coffee machines to prepare very intense coffee. Such ground coffee is also used in espresso makers. It is important that the ground beans fill the sieve to the very edge.
Medium ground coffee is less popular. It is mainly used in espresso makers or manual pressure brewers, which are much less common.
Coarse ground coffee beans will need to be brewed the longest. Coarsely ground beans are also suitable for filter coffee or French press.
Does storing ground coffee make sense?
Many people use coffee that is bought already ground, or grind larger amounts for use later on. Is this a good idea?
You can certainly save a lot of time this way. You will not have to grind coffee each time you want to prepare an espresso, saving you time on setting the grind adjustment and waiting for the beans to grind. But these are the only advantages. Even properly-packed ground coffee will lose its quality over time. As a result, it will not taste as good, and drinking such coffee might even be unpleasant. That’s why most baristas recommend grinding the coffee just before you brew it.
Which coffee grinder should you choose – summary
We hope that after reading our article you now know how to choose a coffee grinder that will meet your needs. You should now know more about the types of coffee grinders, and which models will work better at home or in a cafe. With this information in mind, you should be able to choose the best coffee grinder for your specific needs.
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