Would you buy stale coffee? Not intentionally, but you might not realize it. If you’ve ever bought a bag of pre-ground coffee, you’ve bought stale coffee. Stale coffee lacks any flavor. It’s more bitter than it has to be. It feels thin across your tongue. Pre-ground coffee is pre-staled. Freshly ground coffee can feature some incredible and wild flavors. Blueberries, cinnamon, brown sugar, apples - this only touches the surface of what some coffees can taste like when they are ground just before brewing. Well, there’s a lot to consider while buying a Coffee Grinder, but you should have a pretty good idea of which direction you want to go after reading this article. Ultimately, how do you want your grinder to shape your daily coffee ritual?
Generally, there are the following two types of Coffee Grinders:
MANUAL COFFEE GRINDER
1. Mid-High Performance (Consistent, Uniform Grounds)
Manual Coffee Grinders are middle to high performers that produce uniform sized grounds (which is essential to balance and delicious coffee). They can do this consistently for all grind sizes, from French press to espresso, though there aren’t always many grind size settings for micro-adjustments.
2. Portable
You’ll quickly notice that manual coffee grinders can be quite small. Most can be held with one hand, and cranked with the other. If portability for travel brewing is high on your list of values, this is a huge win for manual grinders.
3. Durable
You’ll also notice that manual grinders often feel more durable than their electric counterparts. If you’re looking to brew better coffee without breaking the bank on a solid, reliable grinder, you’ll be financially satisfied with a hand grinder.
4. Simple
Hand grinders are very simple machines. You have a tiny hopper that stores beans, a set of burrs that grind coffee beans as they fall through them, and a collection chamber at the bottom. Everything is connected by a single rod that turns the burrs and connects to a handle.
5. Good Exercise
Grinding coffee is the labor of your hands for manual grinders. It’s not a difficult task and doesn't take long. Also, you’ll slowly build up some muscle after repeated grinding, and everyone will be impressed by your stamina when you’re grinding for a group.
6. Affordable
Excellent manual grinders are not expensive. For $20-30 you can own a reliable hand grinder that will provide you with freshly ground coffee for years and years. Many manual coffee grinders in this price range are more consistent and durable than electric grinders five times their price.
ELECTRIC COFFEE GRINDERS
1. Low-performance
Low-end electric models are notorious for featuring false burrs, which behave more like dull blade grinders than quality burrs. This fails to produce the uniform coffee grounds that you would expect from a well-crafted device.
2. Poorly Built and Noisy
Poor wiring and flimsy parts are just the cherries on top of the disappointment pie. Sadly, most electric grinders generate a lot of noise, and some are downright maddening.
3. Expensive
If you’re still beginning your journey into the wonderful world of specialty coffee, you probably don’t want to dish out $150 for a grinder. If that’s the case, don’t do it.
WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
It is clear from the aforementioned points that a MANUAL COFFEE GRINDER may be right for you if: you want freshly ground coffee for a better coffee experience, but you don’t want to spend a pretty penny on bells and whistles. You don’t mind a minute of hand labor and enjoy the process of making coffee. You value the ability to take fresh coffee with you wherever you go without having to worry about your grinder breaking.
Please visit the Technical Coffee website if you want to make a purchase of the reliable Manual Coffee Grinder.
