Burr Grinders/Blade Grinders

Did you ever wonder if a burr grinder was really worth the extra cash? I mean, your $20 blade grinder seems to be doing the job, right? Well, maybe not. Let’s take a look at both blade and burr grinders.

Blade Grinders

Krups Blade Grinder

Many people have blade grinders for one simple reason: they are both inexpensive and readily available. You can buy these coffee grinders at almost any grocery store, variety store, or drugstore. The Krups Grinder above is available at Amazon. They work by using a quickly rotating metal blade to chop the beans in small pieces. The chopped beans will not be uniform in size. Yeah, this is bad because it means that the pieces will not give up the flavor in a consistant manner. SInce you will be adjusting the grind by the total time you keep the blade moving there can be heat buildup that results in a burned taste to your coffee.

A blade grinder is great in a pinch… or for herbs… but for your daily cup o’ joe you will want….

A Burr Grinder.

Breville Conical Burr Grinder

A burr grinder can be expensive but not always. You can usually find one for $50. The Breville Grinder above is available at amazon. Burr grinders come in two types:

Conical Burr Grinder

A conical grinder is the absolute best grinder you can use. It moves more slowly than the wheel burr so there is no chance of scorching the edges of the beans. If you use flavored coffee this is the one you want to get. It can handle the oils without clogging.

The Wheel Burr Grinder

The wheel burr grinder is the least expensive of the two types of burr grinders. It can clog up when grinding very oily coffee, or flavored coffees.

If you dont drink coffee often, or use a coarse grind then a blade grinder may be fine. If you are serious about the flavor of your coffee you will want a burr grinder for sure.

images: amazon

Appliances, Uncategorized blade grinders, burr grinders, Coffee