Imagine you bought a bag of premium coffee. These delicious coffee beans have been carefully selected and gracefully toasted and now you just have to grind them to let the magic happen. However, after the first sip, the only flavor you get is disappointment. What could possibly went wrong?… Well, we have the answer. There is a right and a wrong way to grind coffee, and maybe you went for the second.

THE BASICS

The obvious reason why we crush coffee beans into little grinds is because it’s the only way to obtain their soluble flavors. Hence, the way you grind coffee has a direct impact on its taste. There are two important variables you have to bear in mind if you want to obtain a delicious cup of coffee: grind size and consistency. While the grind size, covered in our previous blog post, can differ in relation to the brewing method; consistency is an aspect of grinding that should remain unchanged, no matter what.

Let’s go back to that coffee we talked about at the beginning. If the little grinds you obtain from it are not all the same size, it means the grind lacks consistency. Some grinds will be over-extracted, some will be under-extracted and your premium coffee will get screwed as result. What you are looking for if you wish to make the most of a premium coffee is balance, and that’s what you can achieve with a consistent grind.

GRINDING SYSTEMS

When it comes to consistency, the best way to obtain a perfect grind is by using a burr grinder. End of the discussion! If you’ve been using a blade grinder, it’s time for you to consider investing in a new grinding method. Let’s understand why.

No matter how much you shake it, a blade grinder cannot crush coffee beans with uniformity.

BLADE GRINDER

This grinding method has two major pitfalls. First, you have zero control over the grind size you obtain, that is to say you have zero control over consistency. No matter how much you shake it, a blade grinder cannot crush coffee beans with uniformity. Their fast spinning system will always tend to pulverize fragile areas of coffee beans, while also leaving some big chunks.

Secondly, their fast spinning system creates heat. Such change of temperature will turn the delicate sweetness of coffee beans into a scorched, acid flavor. As you can see, there is no reason why you can prefer a blade grinder over a burr grinder. People will tend to buy the first just because they are cheaper. However, what’s the point of investing in a premium coffee if you are not going to enjoy its incredibly delicious flavor?

BURR GRINDER

There are several types of burr grinders; flat, conical, manual, electric, the options are endless. No matter which one you choose, they all grind well. Burr grinder systems are made to use uniform pressure and low speed rotation to crush coffee beans, which means consistency. At the end of the day what you achieve with a burr grinder is that delicious, balanced cup of coffee.

Burr grinder systems are made to use uniform pressure and low speed rotation to crush coffee beans, which means consistency.

MANUAL VS. ELECTRIC BURR GRINDERS

So which burr grinder is good for you? Manual or electric? Here we have some key features of each one to help you decide which better suits your needs.

• Price: Manual burr grinders are cheaper, but it doesn’t mean they are less efficient.
• Time: It will take you an average of three minutes to hand-grind your coffee, meanwhile with an electric burr grinder it will be a matter of few seconds.

• Grind Size: Manual burr grinders are ideal for obtaining a medium to coarse grind. That said, if what you prefer to drink is an espresso, go for an electric burr grinder, as you will obtain a finer grind.
• Space: Manual grinders are small. They don’t need much space and are great for travelling. Electric burr grinders need space, and forget about carrying them around.