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Coffee beans, like any food
product, oxidize when exposed to air. The grounds, since
they have a much larger relative surface area than the bean,
and no covering, suffer this effect even more. Grinding
beans at home produces the least exposure to air and the
freshest grounds. And you can grind only what you immediately
need.
But nothing is without its price. Grinding is time consuming
and messy, so if you choose to invest the effort to reap
the reward, pick the best you can afford.
burr, blade or crusher?
Grinders fall into three broad categories: burr, blade
and crusher.
The crusher type is some kind of mashing device, often an
ancient-style mortar and pestle. These crush the beans,
which is difficult and produces a very uneven sized granule.
Not recommended where you have a choice.
The blade grinders don't actually grind at all, they chop.
A whirling blade slices the beans into smaller and smaller
sections until they approach something like a small grain.
Unfortunately, the grains are invariably too large and of
inconsistent size.
As a consequence the surface areas of the granules vary,
releasing varying amounts of flavor oils when brewed. Another
effect of slicing is often the production of excess heat,
as a result of the high speed of the blades. That friction
warms the grounds and partially dissipates the aroma.
The burr type is the first -- and best -- choice.
Burr grinders
have a pair of motor driven plates with pyramid-shaped teeth
that grind the beans to a consistent, small-but-not-too-small
granule. The better models allow adjusting the size of the
grain and the speed of the grinding.
Adjusting the size is important in order to 'fine tune'
the grounds to allow just the desired brew. Controlling
the speed keeps the warming effect to a minimum.
wheel or conical?
Even burr grinders fall into two classes: wheel and conical.
Less expensive of the two, the wheel spins very fast, and
can be noisy. The higher speed rotation make these grinders
more messy then others. The conical burr grinder is preferred
by real coffee aficionados. They allow the most control
of grain size and speed.
Good conical burr grinders can rotate as slowly as 500rpm.
By contrast, other burr grinders spin at 10,000rpm or higher,
blades between 20-30,000rpm. That allows very fine control
and little heat. The fine grind is especially important
for Turkish-style brews. Some grinders have a continuous
dial, others have a series of up to 40 steps to adjust the
granule size.
Beyond those broad attributes, the home barista will want
to look for solid construction, ease of cleaning and low
noise. A cleaning brush and removable upper burrs is essential.
Different materials used can also affect how much static
electricity is produced. The static electricity causes the
grains to stick to the burrs and container.
A timer switch and auto-shutoff are nice additions and being
able to see the beans as well as the grounds is helpful
for judging the results in the grinder. Dark plastic or
glass may be aesthetically appealing but it obscures the
view. Grounds can change color slightly depending on the
fineness.
Read the reviews, be prepared to spend a little more, and
you'll be rewarded with the freshest, most flavorful cup.
Bon cafétite!
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Whichever grinder fits your needs, find it in the world's largest Coffee Store on eBay!
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