Blade Grinders

Blade grinders -- good basic choices for automatic-drip coffee

Much like blenders, blade grinders chop coffee beans as their blades spin. Blade grinders are inferior to burr grinders in that they grind less evenly. To counteract this, it's best to grind in short bursts, stopping in between to shake the grinder. Although coffee made with blade-ground beans has less body, it is also less prone to the bitterness caused by over-extraction. Blade grinders are fine for French press and automatic-drip coffee, when you don't need a super-fine grind and consistency of grind isn't crucial. Experts say that blade coffee grinders should never be used to grind coffee for pump-driven espresso machines.

Blade coffee grinders are pretty simple machines, and most don't cost more than about $30. For the most part, performance differences from model to model aren't terribly dramatic. Some blade grinders are more stylish than others, and some are easier to use, but these differences tend to be minimal.

The Krups Fast Touch 203 (*Est. $20) is one of the most reviewed coffee grinders at Amazon.com. Owners give it an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of a possible 5) in over 320 reviews; nearly two-thirds of reviewers give this unit a perfect five-star rating. While there aren't as many reviews on Epinions.com or Viewpoints.com for this coffee grinder, average ratings and general feedback concur with that found on Amazon.com. Owners say that this blade coffee grinder is compact, easy to use and inexpensive. In one professional review, the snug fit between the Krups Fast Touch's lid and base is praised, and several owners say that their Krups coffee grinders are still going strong after 10 years of heavy use. One owner reports that her grinder melted upon contact with a hot stove but kept grinding. One downside is that this Krups grinder, which comes in black or white, can be a bit cumbersome to clean.

The Krups GX4100 Fast Touch (*Est. $30) coffee grinder is slightly more expensive, but it's sheathed in stainless steel and thus has a sleeker, more attractive appearance. Reviews say this little blade grinder is an excellent performer and can be pressed into service as a spice grinder as well. A few owners even report using it to grind nuts. Performance-wise, it's comparable to the Fast Touch 203 coffee grinder, and owners say it's a cinch to clean.

We found two professional reviews of the Capresso Cool Grind (*Est. $25), which is also well regarded by reviewers on Amazon.com. The New York Daily News calls the Capresso "a neat little blade grinder with a big capacity," a feature also noted by Cooks Illustrated. The Cool Grind electric coffee grinder is large enough to can grind enough coffee beans to brew 15 cups of coffee. While there aren't an overwhelming number of reviews posted on Amazon.com, the Capresso Cool Grind does earn an average rating of four stars out of five, based on nearly 20 reviews. While a few say it's messy to use, over half of the owners posting reviews give the Cool Grind a perfect five-star rating for its consistent grind.

The DeLonghi Electric Grinder DCG39 (*Est. $40) is a slightly higher-priced blade grinder that receives a recommendation in a list of the top eight coffee grinders at About.com, earning the number two spot. Amazon.com reviews are generally middling, with an average rating of 3.5 stars out of five. This DeLonghi electric blade grinder has a capacity of 2.36 ounces and a dial to set the desired quantity of ground coffee from between 4 and 12 cups. Lights above the power button indicate whether the coffee beans are ground to coarse, medium, or fine texture. Most owners are pleased with the DeLonghi Electric Grinder's performance and easy operation, although some report it has short lifespan. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com share a parent company, but are not affiliated editorially.)

Overall, if you want a simple blade grinder, reviews say you can't go too far wrong with one of the above models. They're inexpensive and all seem to do the job pretty well. Burr-style coffee grinders, on the other hand, vary more in their performance.