Grinding your freshly roasted coffee beans before brewing is a crucial step to coffee perfection. Those who lack the mysterious knowledge of using a coffee grinder will reluctantly fill it with coffee beans and let it grind without any worries about particle size and consistency.
In this article, we'll reveal the pros and cons of using an electric blade grinder.
Coffee grinders (sometimes called electric blade grinders, rotary grinders, or propeller grinders) break coffee beans into smaller particles instead of grinding them. They do this by means of propeller-shaped stainless steel blades that spin at very high speeds (20,000 – 30,000 rpm).
You control the fineness of the coffee grinder by how long you let the blades chop the beans. In theory, the longer you run it, the smaller the particle size.
You need to know what the different grinds look like, as it is manually operated and therefore no grind settings. Know the appropriate grind size for your brewing method and you'll know when to stop grinding the coffee.
A Look at the Benefits
Blade grinders are inexpensive
Another advantage is its size. Its footprint is pretty small, so it's ideal for a cramped kitchen or for those who like to take their grinder with them when traveling.
If you like flavored coffees, a grinder with blades may be a good choice. Grinding flavored coffee beans will give a bad taste to other coffees ground in the same grinder. This is why you often see two grinders in supermarkets; one for unflavored coffee beans, the other for flavored ones. Since these simple machines are so easy to clean, it's hardly a problem.
A Look at the Disadvantages
Ideally, all of the grinding particles should be uniform in size and shape. The problem with blade grinders is that they produce grinds that are inconsistent in shape and size. You get a blend of ground coffee that ranges from coarse to fine with a healthy dose of powdery particles. This is because the blade grinder does not actually "grind" the beans, but rather slices, cuts, and pulverizes them indiscriminately.
The result is an inconsistent brew quality.
Inconsistent grinds, varying in size and shape, come out unevenly and unevenly. This will cause the coffee to come out unevenly and result in an uneven, bitter brew. And if that's not bad enough, you may have to add "coffee powder" to your cup of coffee.
It is easy to burn the coffee with a blade grinder because of the friction caused by the blades rotating at very high speed. The longer you grind the beans without a break, the more heat is generated by the blades. This can give your coffee a burnt and more bitter taste.
It is almost impossible to achieve a consistently smooth grind. There are too many factors you can't control.
Due to the high speed of the blades, grinding takes on a static charge. This causes some of the grinding particles to splash out of the hopper and stick to whatever they come in contact with.
Despite the difficulties mentioned above, all hope is not lost. There are some methods that can greatly increase your chances of a good cup of coffee.
Grind your coffee as close to brewing as possible to achieve the full flavor profile of your beans.
Make grinds that only take a few seconds each to prevent the coffee from burning.
Press the cap firmly onto the grinder body and shake it up and down at short intervals. This will help blend the beans and possibly achieve a more even grind.
Adjust your grind according to your brewing method. The best way to do this is to scrutinize a little between your fingers. This will give you an idea of how fine or coarse your grind is.
For a coarse grind, start with 8-10 seconds.
For medium grind, try 10-15 seconds.
Taste the result and adjust accordingly. Eventually you will realize how long you need to grind your coffee beans.
For most people who just want a good cup of coffee and are willing to switch up their grinding techniques, blade grinders should be fine. This is especially true if you are using a filter coffee maker with a paper filter, as minor inconsistencies in the grind will not affect the brew obtained too much. Also, the paper filter will prevent most coffee grounds from getting into the coffee jug.
However, if you're in demand for a great cup of coffee and have the extra cash, there's no doubt that a good burr grinder is an essential part of your coffee-making arsenal.
Don't Use Your Knife Grinder for Spices
Many cooks use blade grinders to process spices. But you need to use a special grinder for spice. The essential oils of the spices responsible for their aroma will contaminate the fresh coffee grinder. Therefore, do not use your coffee grinder alone. Use ca to grind whole coffee beans and never grind other foodstuffs.