Why do you need a coffee grinder?

November 11, 2020

Not only do grinders help you easily grind coffee beans, but they also allow you to alter the size and consistency of your grinds (depending on brewing method)! Learn more on how a coffee grinder can help you brew a better cup of coffee.

Molino™ Coffee Grinder
A grinder is a must for a coffee drinker.

If you want to invest in good coffee, a proper grinder needs to be included in your budget. Of course, we should now define what exactly does “budget” stand for (or how much) and why is it so much (as it may seem).

Regardless of whether you want a rich espresso or a drip coffee, you will need a grinder. 

Why do I need a grinder?

First, you need to know is that ground coffee only comes for a handful of brewing methods – usually for a simple act of drowning it in hot water or using in a traditional coffee pot. It won’t be suitable for either espresso (it’s too coarse, resulting in a watery, tasteless concoction), or drip (too fine – it will end up clogging the filter, prolonging the brewing itself and resulting in a rather bitter coffee).

Second, it only takes over around 10 minutes for the ground coffee to lose over half of its flavor and aromas. If the ground coffee is not vacuum packed, tight seal or food containers can help.

Third, you'll notice that no good coffee is ever sold ground, it only comes in beans. Ground coffees are typically low quality beans or even chicory.

Fourth, you sure can find a temporary solution – grinding over in a nearby speciality cafe or elsewhere. That way you can grind for a specific brewing method and grind only as much as you need in the nearest future. But it's something that you can't do too often.

So, get a grinder. It’s worth it. And absolutely necessary.

Burr grinder

For coffee to be ground properly it needs to go between the burrs, which are two elements that actually grind coffee instead of chopping it. Chopping beans happens if you use a grinder that has knives instead of burrs. 

Good grinding means coffee was ground in equal bits, with as little residue dust as possible. A knife grinder can never do that. It will chop your coffee to uneven pieces that just won’t result in good coffee no matter how you brew it. It’s somewhat like putting your coffee in a blender, without applying any coarsness levels. Unfortunately this type of grinder is the one most often found in chain stores and supermarkets. But it’s just a waste of money.

Burrs can have different forms. They can be flat or conical, steel or ceramic. Cone-shaped burrs can be found in hand grinders or budget-friendly electronic grinders like Molino™, but also in a very top notch electric grinders. Flat ones are a standard solution in middle and upper class electric grinders.


Melitta Molino™ Coffee Grinder

Which ones are better?
Cone-shaped burrs are applied in most grinders because they are smaller, cheaper to make and easier to put inside. Good and expensive grinders will require a really precise burr assembly combined with a powerful engine and special rigid constructions. 

Ceramic burrs are most often used in hand grinders. It’s a durable material, but due to its properties it’s hard to get super sharp burrs. But for basic alternative brewing methods it is a perfectly satisfactory solution. Ceramic burrs are rarely seen in electric grinders.

What you should pay attention to is diameter of the burrs. The principle is simple – the bigger, the better.

What is worth paying attention to is the burrs diameter. The principle is simple – the bigger, the better. It translates to how fast the grinder works and how well does it grind (less residue dust and even bits). Why is this important? Dust and uneven bits of coffee are a guarantee of a bitter coffee, killing the flavor nuances and problems such as prolonged brewing time. Of course, the sharpness is important as well. Fortunately if it’s a grinder for home-use the burrs will easily endure a good couple of years and can be easily replaced once their life span is over.

                  Alternatives need different types of coarseness –
always coarser than espresso.

It’s a very good offer for beginners, those who don’t drink too much coffee and those who travel  a lot. Hand grinding however requires some strength and time. 

Electric grinders are always going to be more expensive than manual ones, but they offer an effortless grinding experience often paired with a better grinding quality. Just like Melitta Molino™ , it offers a nice price to quality ratio. If you are looking for something more powerful, with bigger burrs and more even grind, check that out . Below listed out the functions of Molino™.

 Melitta Molino™ Coffee Burr Grinder

 

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