What’s your morning coffee routine? I’m sure starting your day with a cup of coffee is a ritual you can’t live without. So, if your first cup of the day requires you to go from bean-to-cup I think it’s good we take a few moments to focus on a critical tool in our coffee arsenal. Yes, there are many different ways to brew coffee, but no matter what brewing method you choose, one thing remains constant: having a quality coffee grinder is essential to making the perfect cup of coffee.
Think of your grinder as the foundation upon which your entire coffee-making process is built. Without a good grinder, you’ll be missing out on all the delicious, nuanced flavors that make coffee such a wonderful beverage. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or just someone who enjoys a good cup of coffee, hopefully this focus on grinders will help you choose the right grinder for your daily brew.
There are two main types of coffee grinders: blade and burr. Blade grinders chop the beans into smaller pieces, while burr grinders crush the beans between two abrasive surfaces, producing a more consistent grind. This site is all about coffee bean connoisseurs elevating the coffee drinking experience. So, in my opinion, there’s no question that burr grinders are the way to go, as they produce a more uniform grind, which is essential brewing the best cup. If you’re curious how to improve your brew in other ways, see my post “Specialty Coffee: Brewing 101”.
We’ve narrowed the field considerably by knocking blade grinders out of the mix. However, another important factor to consider when choosing a coffee grinder is the grind size. Depending on your brewing method, you’ll need a different grind size (coarse grinds = French press whereas fine grinds = espresso), so be sure to choose a grinder that has adjustable grind settings. Some grinders have only a few settings, while others have over a hundred, so which should you choose? My recommendation is to assess your needs. Are you just beginning on your coffee journey and you’ll use only a couple of brewing types or are you a seasoned enthusiast who approaches brewing from a more experimental lens? Based on your needs, if you are pretty sure you are a French press or espresso person and you appreciate the consistency you may be fine with a quality burr grinder with fewer settings – coarse and fine. Whereas if you want to experiment more and hone your craft, opt for a grinder with greater grind settings.
Finally, consider the build quality and durability of your grinder. Does the company have a reputation for building quality over sheer quantity? A quality grinder is a key component to an excellent cup of coffee. A good grinder should last you many years, so investing in a high-quality model is worth it in the long run.
So, do you, go ahead and master the daily grind by choosing the best grinder for your daily brew.
–The Coffee Bean Connoisseur