Top Features You Need in a Coffee Grinder

The secret to an awesome brew is freshly ground coffee beans. Invest in a good coffee grinder like the Baratza Encore coffee grinder and see the results yourself. You will find that your coffee is more aromatic, delicious, and has a unique earthy flavor.

Over time, pre-ground coffee beans lose their flavor and aroma. Hence, going for a good grinder will significantly change your coffee experience. To make a good coffee, you need to have the right grind size. Your espresso will need a finer grind, while a coarse grind is ideal for a French press. So, you know how important it is to get a good coffee machine.

With a wide variety of grinder types, features, and styles, it can be confusing to select the best coffee grinder for you. Here is a guide to help you with everything you need to know before buying a coffee grinder.

Top Features You Need In A Coffee Grinder

Burr Vs. Blade Grinders

The size of your grind directly relates to the taste and flavor you expect in your coffee. No doubt, the quality of coffee beans is essential. Still, to get the best results from your high-quality beans, you’ll need the right grind consistency.

Blade Grinders

Blade grinders have a blade similar to that of a propeller, which does not give a smooth and consistent grind. It just breaks the coffee beans. If you need to get the powdery consistency, you will have to run it longer than the built-in time, which might affect the taste. Another huge problem with blade grinders is that they don’t give smooth grinds. Some of the powder will remain coarse with particles in between. These grinders are cheap but suit people who don’t want to invest in expensive grinders.

Burr Grinder

Burr grinders like the Baratza Encore coffee grinder help you get the best possible flavor out of your coffee. These are costlier than the blade grinder but give a consistent grind. If you are wanting a high quality grinder at an affordable price you could also opt for a manual coffee grinder. You know your grind can make a huge difference in the taste of espresso or your regular coffee. So, they are worth your penny. They come in two options: conical or flat plate.

The results from both these types are almost the same. Flat burr grinders cost more and give a more consistent particle size, while conical grinders are affordable and quieter.

Capacity

You’ll get better flavor if you use freshly ground beans each time you make coffee. All the grinders are built to hold a certain amount of coffee beans. So, it would help if you keep your coffee consumption in mind while deciding about your grinder’s capacity. A low-capacity grinder will work for you if you need it for you and your family.

Speed

Try to avoid high-speed coffee grinders as it’s a sign of cheap quality that won’t last long. High-speed motors will produce more heat that can burn your coffee and reduce its flavor and aroma. Low grind machines have a longer life and are popular as direct drive grinders. Also, ensure that your grinder has speed control so that you can reduce the amount of heat while grinding. Grinders such as the Baratza Encore coffee grinder come with a speed control feature.

Grind Settings

It’s an important function that should look in your grinder. Different coffee types need different grinds. A French press and pour-over need a coarse grind, while your espresso or siphon will give the best results in a fine powdery grind.

There are two types of grind settings available: Stepped or Stepless. Stepped grinders are reasonable and provide a set number of settings to grind your beans. Stepless grinders, on the other hand, are more costly and allow more options of grinding.

Noise

If you think you can’t tolerate the noise of grinders, you should look for a coffee grinder that’s on the quieter side. Conical burr grinders are quieter compared to flat burr grinders. However, burr grinders perform better than blade grinders in this regard.

Dosing

Dosing grinders collect the ground coffee into a container and then release it into your receptacle through the pull of a handle. Compared to these, the non-doser models are straightforward as you place the machine’s filter directly under the grinder’s outlet, thereby grinding the coffee straight into the filter. Those who need it for making a few cups of coffee can go with the non-doser models, but they can be a little messy at times.

Lastly, you need to know that the best quality grinders are not cheap. If you want to go for a good quality burr grinder, it will cost you somewhere between $100 and $500.

You might find it a lot, but this will be an excellent investment. High-end grinders will be expensive but will last longer if taken good care of. So, you should do proper research before purchasing any grinder.