When you start to take an interest in coffee, you quickly realize that a large number of parameters come into play when it comes to drinking good coffee! And yes, making a good coffee requires knowledge and experience ! The variety of coffee, the quality of the bean, the roasting or the extraction of the coffee are all important elements to take into account. Today, let's take a look at the grind! If you're here, you want to buy a coffee grinder .
First, we will see together that you are right by listing the 3 good reasons to invest in a coffee grinder! Then, we will see the different types of grinders that exist on the market, their strengths and weaknesses so that you can choose the best grinder for you!
3 Good Reasons to buy a Coffee Grinder
You are on the right track ! The way for true coffee lovers who want quality above all else! Here is why you do well to take an interest in the grinding of your coffees!
1. Coffee bought already ground… it's not very good!
Coffee, once ground, oxidizes very quickly. A good barista knows it: to obtain a good coffee, it is essential to grind it on demand!
And yes, a purchased ground coffee may well be enclosed in a bag that only lets a little air through, the coffee that is there will still lose more aromas than a freshly ground coffee!
If you are looking for good coffee and good surprises for your taste buds… You will not find what you are looking for with already ground coffee! Buying coffee beans and grinding it yourself is a good idea!
2. You need the perfect grind size for your extraction!
Often, on the packets of coffee sold already ground, advice for use is written. It shows the different types of coffee makers that can be used with this grind size. Only, some perfectionists, or simply good baristas, will tell you that each machine (each way of extracting coffee) has its ideal grind size.
If you get yourself a coffee grinder, you know you'll have THE perfect size for how you're going to extract your coffee!
3. Do you like to vary the extractions?
With the same packet of coffee (in beans) you will be able to test several extractions ! In the morning a good filter coffee, at noon a small espresso and in the afternoon a small coffee with the coffee maker! What do you say ?
This would be impossible by buying a package of already ground coffee!
Now that it is sure and certain that buying a coffee grinder is the best thing to do , let 's see which model could meet your expectations!
Buy a manual coffee grinder?
Let's start with the manual coffee grinder ! There are several designs, my favorites are vintage styles like this . They have a special charm and serve as decoration when not in use!
There are also manual coffee grinders, more modern and more versatile if you don't like the first style too much.
The main advantage of buying a manual coffee grinder is its price. Generally, this type of grinder is inexpensive compared to other grinders on the market.
It's also nice to grind your coffee by hand , you really feel like you're participating more actively in making your coffee and it will be better for it! This can become a disadvantage if you have elbow tendonitis! And yes, this can be a disadvantage for some, but you should know that to grind your coffee with this type of grinder, you have to use a little elbow grease!
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
| – Affordable – Full participation in the development of its coffee! | – It takes some effort to get your coffee fix! – Only suitable for extractions using a coarse grind, such as the French press for example |
portable electric coffee grinder
There are several types of electric mills , the most practical and easily transportable is this type of model .
Small and practical , this coffee grinder can be plugged in and unplugged at will to grind coffee on demand. Easy to use , just put your coffee beans in it and grind the desired time to obtain a more or less fine grind.
These grinders are designed with a propeller that spins quickly and “breaks” the coffee beans. For a coarse grind, grind less than 30 seconds. The finer you want to grind, the longer you have to run the grinder. This is how most small grinders like this work.
The problem is that the grind will not be quite homogeneous. Some particles will be larger than others, the extraction cannot be truly perfect. But it's still a good type of mill to start !
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
| – Affordable – Easy to use – Ideal for beginners – Small and space-saving | – The propeller operation provides an imperfect, uneven grind – Does not allow a sufficiently fine and regular grind for an espresso/Turkish coffee extraction |
A (semi-)professional mill?
Now, if you want a coffee grinder that is similar to professional grinders , you should know that there are two main types: flat burr grinders or conical burr grinders.
A burr is much more efficient at grinding coffee than propellers like the small electric coffee grinder above.
Here is a diagram that will help you understand the following.
Electric coffee grinder with flat burr
This type of grinder is ideal if you want to be able to simply adjust the size of the grind at the press of a button! There is a dosing system depending on the coffee machine you want to use. The flat burr is more efficient than the blades (propellers) of small electric coffee grinders.
Flat burr coffee grinders are less expensive than conical burr grinders. The lifespan of a flat grinding wheel is shorter than the conical one (it will still grind between 250kg and 600kg of coffee during its life, against more than 1000kg for the conical grinding wheel!).
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
| – Allows you to grind coffee for any type of coffee maker – Price not excessive – Sufficient for use at home – Easy and quick to use | – More bulky than previous grinders – Not all models are suitable for very fine grinds |
Buy a conical burr electric coffee grinder?
The top of the top ? A conical burr coffee grinder! This element provides an ideal grinding of the coffee beans and a homogeneity that all baristas are looking for!
With many levels of settings , this type of grinder allows you to grind your coffee as you wish, easily and efficiently.
This is ideal if you have an espresso machine.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
| – Quality of the grind (homogeneous) – Suitable for fine grinds – Professional quality | – High price – Bulky |
I hope, through this article, to have brought you some clarifications as to the choice of your coffee grinder! With that, good coffee to you!