Burr grinder or blade grinder?

According to Better Homes and Gardens, "Most experts agree that coffee should not be ground until it is to be brewed." Coffee enthusiasts should purchase whole beans and grind them at home as needed for the freshest flavor. Consumers should consider the type of brewer they intend to use, as well as how much coffee they intend to brew, before deciding on the most suitable grinder for their needs.

Coffee grinders are divided into two major types -- blade and burr -- based on how they grind. Blade grinders, which are inexpensive and easy to use, use a spinning blade attached to a motor. Not only are blade grinders easy to clean, but they can also do double duty as spice grinders (as long as you clean them thoroughly between uses to eliminate leftover flavors). Reviews say they work well for automatic-drip coffee makers, which don't require a very fine or perfectly consistent grind.

Burr coffee grinders are larger, heavier and more expensive than blade grinders. While a good blade grinder will only set you back $25, the price of a quality burr grinder starts at $90 and rises quickly. Burr grinders work like pepper mills, grinding a few coffee beans at a time between grooved metal disks. One disk rotates while the other remains stationary. If you own an espresso machine, you need a burr grinder, as blade grinders simply cannot produce a fine enough grind.

In professional tests, automatic-drip coffee made from burr-ground beans had a better mouth feel, but the tradeoff is a slight bitterness. Experts say that very finely ground coffee that's exposed to water for several minutes -- rather than the seconds it takes to pull an espresso shot -- can be overextracted, or leach bitter flavors into water. Coffee should be ground more coarsely for French presses, which expose beans to water for longer periods than auto-drip coffeemakers.

ConsumerSearch covers coffee makers, espresso machines and one-cup coffee makers in related reports.

Here's what reviews say about choosing a coffee grinder:

  • Go with a burr grinder if you use an espresso machine. A burr grinder can produce finer grinds than blade grinders. Some burr grinders can grind coarsely enough for a French press, while others cannot. If you pull only one or two shots a day, a less-expensive burr grinder should suit your needs.
  • Choose a blade grinder for use with automatic-drip coffee makers. You can improve a blade grinder's evenness by grinding in brief bursts, stopping periodically to shake the grinder. Although many manufacturers recommend running a blade grinder for 10 to 15 seconds, testers found that grinding for 20 to 25 seconds improved coffee's mouthfeel.
  • Assess your counter space. Burr grinders take up more space on the counter and weigh more than blade grinders. Burr grinders that approach commercial quality, such as the Mazzer Mini, can weigh more than 20 pounds and measure as much as 17 inches in height, barely fitting under some cabinets. Heavier models are also more likely to take a permanent space on your counter, while smaller models can be put away when not in use.
  • Decide how much coffee you want to brew in a day. If you want to pull several espresso shots daily, you may want a burr grinder with a doser, which can hold ground coffee in a receptacle. If you plan to brew several pots of automatic-drip coffee a day, choose a blade grinder with a large capacity, such as the Krups Fast Touch 203, which has a 12-tablespoon capacity, or enough for about one and a half 40-ounce pots.
  • Consider a model with a timer. If you want to multitask in the morning, choose a grinder with a timer that you can walk away from, but be aware that the grinder's idea of an adequate grind may not match your own.
  • Think about cleanup. Blade grinders are easier to clean: Most can be wiped out with a damp paper towel. The grinding mechanism on a burr grinder may require disassembly or compressed air to clean. Coffee-enthusiast websites such as CoffeeGeek.com and WholeLatteLove.com provide detailed instructions for cleaning some high-end models.
  • Avoid static with a metal or glass grinder. All burr grinders produce static. If you can't stand the mess, look for a grinder with glass and metal components instead of plastic.
  • Make your blade grinder multitask. They are also useful for grinding spices. Some consumers say they purchase a blade grinder specifically for spices, while using a burr grinder for coffee beans. This avoids the unintentional mixing of flavors that can be caused by using one grinder for both purposes. If you use a blade grinder to grind spices, be sure to clean it thoroughly to avoid mixing unwanted flavors; experts suggest grinding plain white rice to eliminate spice residue.

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