Coffee - Picking The Perfect Grinder

Coffee beans, like any food product, oxidize when exposed to air. The grounds, since they have a much larger relative surface area than the bean, and no covering, suffer this effect even more. Grinding beans at home produces the least exposure to air and the freshest grounds. And you can grind only what you immediately need.

But nothing is without its price. Grinding is time consuming and messy, so if you choose to invest the effort to reap the reward, pick the best you can afford.

Grinders fall into three broad categories - burr, blade and crusher.

The third type is some kind of mashing device, often an ancient-style mortar and pestle. These crush the beans, which is difficult and produces a very uneven sized granule. Not recommended where you have a choice.

The blade grinders don't actually grind at all, they chop. A whirling blade slices the beans into smaller and smaller sections until they approach something like a small grain. Unfortunately, the grains are invariably too large and of inconsistent size.

As a consequence the surface areas of the granules vary, releasing varying amounts of flavor oils when brewed. Another effect of slicing is often the production of excess heat, as a result of the high speed of the blades. That friction warms the grounds and partially dissipates the aroma.

The first type is the first choice. Burr grinders have a pair of motor driven plates with pyramid-shaped teeth that grind the beans to a consistent, small-but-not-too-small granule. The better models allow adjusting the size of the grain and the speed of the grinding.

Adjusting the size is important in order to 'fine tune' the grounds to allow just the desired brew. Controlling the speed keeps the warming effect to a minimum.

Even burr grinders fall into two classes - the conical burr grinder is preferred by real coffee aficionados. Though noisier, they allow the most control of grain size and speed.

Good conical burr grinders can rotate as slowly as 500rpm. By contrast other burr coffee grinders spin at 10,000rpm or higher, blades between 20-30,000rpm. That allows very fine control and little heat. The fine grind is especially important for Turkish-style brews. Some grinders have a continuous dial, others have a series of up to 40 steps to adjust the granule size.

Beyond those broad attributes, the home barista will want to look for solid construction, ease of cleaning and low noise. A cleaning brush and removable upper burrs is essential. Different materials used can also affect how much static electricity is produced - that causes the grains to stick to the burrs and container.

A timer switch and auto-shutoff is a nice addition and being able to see the beans as well as the grounds is helpful for judging the results in the grinder. Dark plastic or glass may be aesthetically appealing but it obscures the view. Grounds can change color slightly depending on the fineness.

Read reviews and be prepared to spend a little more and you'll be rewarded with the freshest, most flavorful cup.

Bon cafetite!

Coffee Grinders Jumpstart Your Java

All the experts agree. People who want the best flavor in their coffee use coffee grinders. Coffee grinders work so well because they unleash the bean oils and aromas right before you make a pot. It’s like opening a fresh can of ground coffee each and every time you make some joe.

Of course, besides coffee grinders, there’s also some technique that goes into making a good pot of pick me up. This holds true for both the way your put your coffee in your coffee maker, the kind of coffee maker you have, and the type of water you use. First, coffee gurus recommend adding two heaping tablespoons of whole beans to the grinder for every six ounces of water you plan to use. To be exact, you probably should measure out your water before you add it to the coffee maker if you are using a drip coffee maker.

As for the type of coffee maker to go with coffee grinders, experts say here that a press pot or a coffee maker with a gold cone, or other permanent filter, is best. Picky coffee drinkers do not use paper filters. They have an aftertaste and absorb the special aromatic oils from the coffee beans that are essential for superb taste. If you must use paper filters, try rinsing them with hot water beforehand to wash out the aftertaste.

It is also important to know how long to let your coffee brew. After using coffee grinders, the ground coffee is very delicate. If water contacts it for too long, for instance, your coffee can end with an overly bitter coffee. On the other hand, if water doesn’t contact the coffee grounds for long enough, your coffee may lack its full flavor.

You don’t want to keep your coffee sitting on a burner or hotplate too long either after it’s been through coffee grinders and then brewed. More than 20 minutes after the brewing is done is dangerous because the taste will start to become bitter. And don’t think of reheating your coffee. Talk about rough on your stomach! Follow these tips, though, and you’ll have a stomach, and taste buds, as well as good cups of coffee every time.