The Benefits of Using a Coffee Grinder

Experts agree that using coffee grinders is among the most beneficial upgrades you can make to your morning routine. The pricier models feature burr grinders, which are a set of grooved surfaces that can be adjusted to create a more consistent grind.

Unlike a blade grinder, these types of grinders prevent oxidation and ensure your grounds are uniform in size.

Conical Burrs

Burr grinders are a more powerful type of coffee grinder which makes use of angled opposing cutting surfaces to break beans down into small particles. They produce less fines (also called dust) than blade coffee grinders. Additionally, you can regulate the size of particles by adjusting the distance between the burrs.

There are two main types of burrs which are conical and flat. The differences between flat and conical burrs are subtle, but significant. Each type has its own unique strengths.

While blade grinders have sharp, blade-shaped teeth that bludgeon the coffee with each pass Burr grinders employ a pair of disc shaped burrs to grind the beans. The two burrs are moved in a different direction to achieve the desired size of grind. When properly set, they produce a very regular grinding process with fewer fragments and without heating.

A high-quality burr grinder must feature a lubricated mechanism in order to reduce friction and prolong the life of the blades. They should also be cleaned easily to minimize the buildup of coffee residue. There are a few hand-powered burr grinders. However commercial flat burr grinding machines are usually powered by electricity because they require more energy than could be generated by human hands alone.

There are variations within the burr shapes of each category between different models and brands. These variations aren't due to the shape or the geometry of the burrs but how their pattern relates to the distribution of size of particles. For example, some conical burr grinders like the Niche Zero have very low retention, whereas other flat burr grinders, like the Iberital MC2 have a high retention.

Some coffee lovers believe that certain burr styles produce specific flavors in the bean or roast. But this is a subject that is mostly apocryphal and not well established scientifically.

Flat Burrs

Flat burrs consist of circular plates with sharp ridges facing each one. They crush coffee grinder compact between them. They're the most common burrs that are found in grinders for home and commercial use and are the most common type used in manual grinders.

In comparison to conical burrs flat ones can have more trouble maintaining an even distribution of size because of the angled design of their cutting edges may leave behind grit and fines. This can lead to low extraction and bitter taste. This isn't a major issue for everyone, as new developments in burr geometries can provide the same consistency in grind size distribution as flat burrs.

When it comes down to selecting a conical or flat burr grinder, your choice will be largely based on the specific grinding requirements of your particular preferences. For instance a barista who grinds large quantities for many cups throughout the day could prefer to go for a flat-burr grinder due to the fact that it produces fewer fines and can reduce the time to oxidize which makes it easier to store and reuse.

Another factor to consider is the quantity of heat a grinder produces during operation. This is important as it can impact the taste and quality of your cup coffee. The more friction a grinder generates the more it will get hot, which could alter the flavor profile of the beans and result in excessive extraction. Flat burr grinders produce less heat than conical grinders. This will give you a more refined overall flavor.

There are a variety of options for a grinder that has flat burrs from well-known manufacturers like Baratza and Eureka. The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is popular because it's easy-to-calibrate and provides a high degree of precision. It also has a very low noise level and is suitable for espresso grinding. However, it doesn't produce as many fines as a Baratza or other top models and can have difficulty producing a medium coarse grind for espresso.

Variable Grind Settings

The grinding process regardless of the type of grinder you are using results in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is hard to quantify this accurately unless you own expensive equipment, such as laser particle diffraction.

The majority of coffee grinders don't offer a precise measurement, but instead use a set adjustment dials which permit users to choose between various sizes for grinding. Dials are marked with numbers or dots to indicate smaller and larger sizes. The numbers are often accompanied by arrows that indicate which direction the dial is supposed to move to make the grind coarser or more fine.

In addition to the numerical system, many grinders also have other visual representations to assist in selecting the correct setting, such as dots or a stepped adjustment mechanism. While these visual representations are helpful however, they are only a general guideline and will require you to test the different settings.

For example for instance, a dot that appears close together could indicate that the burrs are set fine, whereas a dot or number that appears further apart means they are set extremely coarse. When deciding on a grinder's setting be sure to be aware that even minor adjustments can make a huge difference.

Dialing in a grinder requires finding the ideal grind setting for the coffee and the method of brewing. The best grind setting will allow for the most balanced and full-bodied flavor to be exhibited while remaining within acceptable limits of extraction. This is a continuous process because even small deviations from the "sweet spot" could result in over- or under-extracted coffee.

A finer grind is ideal for espresso because it increases the amount of water that is in contact with the ground in the short period of time required for extraction. 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 oils and old grounds are trapped in the nooks and crannies of the machine. Eventually, these oil build-up becomes rancid and begin to affect the taste of your coffee. Regular cleaning can keep the build-up of stale electric coffee grinder oils and keeps your grinder working at its best coffee bean grinders.

To clean your grinder start by unplugging it and remove the hopper. Next, take out the burrs. Be careful to not damage the burrs' sharp edges, which could easily scratch or grate inner surfaces. If you have a grinder cleaner brush, apply this on the burrs to remove any coffee that is stuck. Instead make use of a toothpick or soft brush to gently remove ground beans from burrs. After you've removed all burrs and any other coffee particles, wipe the entire machine down with a dry cloth.

If you're using a burr grinder or a blade grinder cleaning your grinder regularly is essential. The aroma and flavor of coffee beans disappear when the beans are ground. The most delicious cup of espresso is made from freshly ground coffee. Grinds that are too fine lead to bitterness and excessive extraction and bitterness, while grinds that are too coarse can result in under-extraction, and a weak or thin flavor.

Cleaning your grinder regularly is the only way to make sure that it is in good condition and continues to produce high-quality grounds for your morning brew. Remains of oil and old coffee grounds can cause blades to become clogged and produce poor-quality coffee. The taste of coffee grinders types can be affected by allowing stale coffee to build up on the burrs.

There are many ways to clean a coffee grinder, but one of the easiest is using a tablet for cleaning coffee grinders (such as Urnex Grindz). These tablets are made up of edible grains that bond to and eliminate coffee oil. These tablets are an excellent alternative to soaking your burrs in a solution water, which could damage or dull the burrs. You can also make use of a brush to clean your burrs or blow them away using compressed air or a keyboard blower.