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Coffee Grinders: Ratings of Sources
Total of 14 Sources
1. CoffeeGeek.com
As of Oct. 2009
Consumer Reviews: Grinders
by Contributors to CoffeeGeek.com
Our Assessment

This site makes it easy to find owner-written grinder reviews. The number of ratings and overall scores are clearly displayed. Members judge the quality of each review, a feature we appreciate. Reviews tend to be long and detailed, and this site is an information bonanza for coffee buffs. Since contributors are enthusiasts, reviews center on expensive burr grinders. The highest overall ratings go to the Mazzer Mini, Rancilio Rocky, and Zassenhaus Manual Mill, which all have a rating of 8.0 or above, out of 10, and more than 45 ratings.

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2. Whole Latte Love
As of Oct. 2009
Reviews -- Grinders
by Contributors to WholeLatteLove.com
Our Assessment

Although reviews are useful, there aren't as many ratings here as at CoffeeGeek.com. The site provides usage and cleaning tips for many grinders. A comparison tool allows users to view overall ratings as well as number of reviews. Most grinders receive fewer only a few reviews, although some have garnered twenty or more. . Grinders earning a 4.5 star rating or higher, out of five, with 20 or more reviews include the Mazzer Mini, Rancilio Doserless Rocky, and Gaggia MDF. The Rancilio Doserless Rocky takes earns the top rating here, with an average rating of 4.9 out of five, based on 50 reviews.

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3. Specialty-Coffee-Advisor.com
As of Oct. 2009
How to Grind Coffee Properly
by Editors of Specialty-Coffee-Advisor.com
Our Assessment This detailed guide to grinding coffee also includes recommendations for the editor's favorite coffee grinders. While no formal testing is conducted, it's clear that the author has personal experience with each.
4. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Nov. 2001
Easing the Daily Grind
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated
Our Assessment

Cook's Illustrated tests ten under-$50 coffee grinders by grinding two ounces of coffee beans in each and brewing 40-ounce pots of coffee using automatic-drip machines. Editors recommend five models, and several are criticized for usability issues. We'd like to see the magazine update its testing; most of the grinders in the article have been discontinued. This article does provide helpful advice for improving the body of the coffee by grinding beans in a blade grinder longer than manufacturers recommend.

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5. New York Daily News
April 24, 2002
Bean Machines
by Isabel Forgang
Our Assessment

Isabel Forgang rates ten coffee grinders. In the end, she concludes, she would be happy to own any of the models tested. The now-discontinued KitchenAid BCG100 earns her highest rating for its powerful motor and large, dishwasher-safe grinder bowl. Forgang also likes the Hamilton Beach Custom Grind 80340, which has a sliding switch, well-marked lid and retractable cord. Both the Capresso Cool Grind Model 501/502 and Capresso Burr Grinder earn good ratings for their ease of use, versatility and compact size. Out of these four models, only the Capresso Cool Grind 501/502 is currently available. This article does not discuss flaws in any model's performance or design, and this article is outdated, resulting in a lower rating in our chart.

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6. About.com
Not Dated
Top 8 Coffee Grinders
by Sean Paajanen
Our Assessment

About.com provides a list of his top 8 coffee grinders, although justification for the selections isn't provided. The coffee grinder in the number one position is from Braun, which no longer makes kitchen products. The second spot is held by the Delonghi Electric Coffee Grinder. Each gets only a one-sentence write-up, and no testing details are provided, so it's unclear whether Paajanen personally tested these grinders. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com share a parent company, but are not affiliated editorially.)

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7. Amazon.com
As of Oct. 2009
Coffee Grinders
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment

Coffee grinder ratings on Amazon.com are mostly average. Many models earn high ratings with just a handful of reviews. Most grinders receiving more than a handful of reviews are lower-priced models and have only average ratings, while the higher-priced models have few or no reviews at all. One exception is the Krups Fast Touch 203, a basic blade grinder, which maintains an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, based on over 320 reviews. Among burr grinders, the top rated model is the Capresso 560.01 Infinity Burr Grinder, with an average rating of four stars out of five, based on over 450 reviews.

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8. Epinions.com
As of Oct. 2009
Coffee Grinder Reviews
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Our Assessment

Epinions makes it easy to see how many users wrote reviews of a given coffee grinder. Few grinders receive more than a few reviews, and many of those listed here haven't been reviewed at all. The Krups 203 Grinder maintains an average rating of 4.5 stars, out of five, based on over 45 reviews. The Jura-Capresso 560 Electric Burr Grinder maintains a comparable rating, but has accumulated only 15 reviews at the time of our visit.

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9. Viewpoints.com
As of Oct. 2009
Coffee Grinder Reviews
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Our Assessment

Viewpoints.com is typically an easily navigable resource for reviews; however, reviews for coffee makers are also included in a search for coffee grinder reviews. Because there are more coffee makers than grinders, it becomes necessary to sort through several pages to find coffee grinders among the results. Most coffee grinders have received only a few reviews at the time of our visit. The Krups Coffee Grinder 203-42 has received 11 reviews with an average rating of 4.36 stars out of five.

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10. Target.com
As of Oct. 2009
Coffee Grinder Reviews
by Contributors to Target.com
Our Assessment Target.com has more than a dozen coffee grinders available on their site, although most have received only a few reviews. Only two grinders have received more than 25 reviews at the time of our visit: Mr. Coffee Grinder IDS77 and Hamilton Beach Custom Grind 80365, both of which have an average rating of three stars out of five.
11. Kiplinger Personal Finance
July 2003
The Daily Grind
by Matt Popowsky
Our Assessment

In this older article, Matt Popowsky interviews Willem Boot, a consultant to coffee roasters and a Cup of Excellence judge. Boot dismisses blade grinders out of hand, saying that their uneven chopping results in a "watery brew." Boot prefers the Capresso Burr grinder and suggests avoiding grinder/drip coffee maker combos, declaring them "too difficult to clean and maintain." Popowsky does not discuss Boot's testing methodology.

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12. The Observer
July 13, 2003
Take 5...; coffee grinders
by Editors of The Observer
Our Assessment Britain's The Observer provides brief reviews of five coffee grinders in this older article. The "simple and compact" Krups KM 75, with its large capacity and ease of cleaning, emerges as the favorite in its price category, although this model is not available in the U.S. In fact, of the five machines tested, only two are available in the U.S.
13. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jan. 8, 2005
Testing 1-2-3: Getting a Perfect Grind
by Sabine Morrow
Our Assessment

Sabine Morrow interviews chef Scott Black of Atlanta's Village Eatery, who says he prefers the simple design of the now-discontinued KitchenAid BCG100 to other coffee grinders tested here. He gives high marks to the Hamilton Beach Custom Grind, which shuts off automatically when beans are ground, but he dislikes the machine's nonremovable bowl. Cleaning the noisy Mr. Coffee Burr Mill BMX3 is said to be a hassle. The author doesn't disclose how these machines were tested.

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A Burr Coffee Grinder That Will Help You Make Perfect Espresso
by John Corney
Our Assessment

John Corney, a self-proclaimed "Espresso Coffee Snob," offers his recommendation for the Solis Maestro Classic Burr Coffee Grinder based on his personal experience. Corney calls the coffee grinder "your most essential coffee-making accessory," and provides an informative summary of purchasing and grinding coffee beans, including a general dismissal of blade grinders, primarily due to the fact that the rapid spinning of blades produces heat, which burns the beans and compromises the flavor.

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