Coffee

A coffee grinder is a must have for anyone who loves coffee, for two simple reasons:

1. Freshness
2. Control over the Coarseness of the Grind

Freshness

To keep coffee as fresh as possible you need to minimise its contact with air. Air is one of coffee’s worst enemies as it destroys delicate flavours by turning the natural oils present in coffee rancid.

If you have a coffee grinder at home you can grind your coffee beans as and when you need them. This preserves their freshness, as a whole coffee bean has a much smaller surface area than that of a ground bean and therefore is less exposed to air.

The actual process of grinding releases many of the coffee’s aromatics; as you grind you can smell this in the air. If you don’t quickly use these grounds then you are going lose this aroma and deprive your cup of valuable flavours. This is another good reason to only grind coffee on demand.

Control over the Coarseness of the Grind

Different coffee makers require a different coarseness of ground coffee. For example: an espresso machine, which has a short brewing time (less than 30 seconds), needs a very fine powder-like grind; whereas a cafetiere, which has a long brewing time (3-4 minutes), needs a much coarser grind.

With your own coffee grinder you get to control the coarseness of the grind as you can adjust the grinder’s setting. So if you find that your coffee tastes bitter, a result of over-extraction, then you can adjust the grind to a coarser setting; and if your coffee tastes flat, a result of under-extraction, you can adjust the grind to a finer setting.

Blade Vs Burr Coffee Grinders

Coffee grinders come into two categories:

1. Blade Grinders
2. Burr Grinders

A blade grinder works in a similar way to a food processor: there is a set of spinning metal blades which roughly cut through the coffee beans. The coarseness of the grind is determined by how long the grinder is left running. Coffee ground by a blade grinder is inconsistent in size as some beans will be sliced through more times then others.

Rather than chopping the coffee beans into tiny pieces, a burr grinder crushes the beans between two pieces of burred metal. A burr grinder produces a much more consistent size of grounds as the coarseness is controlled by how close the two pieces of metal are set to each other: i.e. a smaller distance for fine grounds and a larger distance for coarse. For this reason, burr grinders are far superior to blade grinders.

Why is Consistency Important?

The ultimate aim when making coffee is to extract the maximum amount of flavour whilst leaving behind bitter compounds and caffeine. This is why different coffee makers require a different coarseness of grounds. However, if your grounds are inconsistent then the larger particles in the grounds are going to be under-extracted, leaving behind flavour, and the smaller particles are going to be over-extracted, releasing bitter compounds and further caffeine into the cup. Unfortunately, the two don’t balance each other out; instead you have a flat, bitter coffee that will keep you awake for hours.

Choosing a Coffee Grinder

The coffee grinder you choose should depend on for what type of coffee maker you’re grinding the coffee. If you’re using a cafetiere or stove-top espresso maker then a hand grinder is perfectly adequate, although they do require plenty of physical effort to get results.

However, for an espresso machine a good quality electric burr coffee grinder is essential. As making an espresso is a pretty intense process (its all over in less than 30 seconds) the margin of error for the grind is very slim. This is why you need a grinder which allows for minuscule adjustments to be made so you can get the grind spot on.

James Grierson is the owner of Galla Coffee – UK based retailer of espresso machines, coffee makers, grinders and cups for the home.

View the original article in its context at: Guide to Coffee Grinders

Author: James Grierson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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here are so many types of coffee that you would find it really difficult to say which one is the best. Of course, a lot depends upon the personal taste as well. However, when it comes to judging the quality of the coffee, the smell, flavor and richness of taste are a few factors that are taken into consideration such the quality of beans, the grinder you use and the time elapsed from the preparation of the coffee cup.

Why Coffee Grinders Are Important?

The truth is that without coffee grinders you would never been able to taste a cup of coffee. Boiling the beans directly would never give you the taste of this magical beverage that has people all over the world craving for it. The type of coffee you have would very much depend upon the way ad the time your coffee beans are ground.

For example, if you love espresso the beans need to be totally powdered for the right taste; if you want to use the coffee in coffee pots, it is best to have the coffee coarsely ground as these would release the flavor slowly over a longer period of time.

There are two major types of coffee grinders available today in the market. The first utilizes blades which rotate and quite literally chops the beans into pieces. Your actual consistency of the powder will depend on how long you ruin it and the speed at which the grinder runs. To control the powder you get – if you let it run on a slow speed for less time, you would get coarse coffee; if it were to run for a longer time at a higher speed you then would get superfine powder for your espresso.

How Do The Coffee Grinders Work?

Burr Grinders are the other type of coffee grinders also known as burr grinders, use grinding wheels. What these grinders do is to permit you almost a complete control over the grind you get on your beans. They come in two varieties – there is one shaped like a cone and one that is flat. The cone shaped unit, because it does not plug up as easily as the flat one, is preferred.

Then, you have the electric models which run on plain old household electricity. In answer to the growing popularity of coffee, these grinders come in portable sizes. You can but these very affordably with prices starting under $20 American. This makes them easy to take every where.

Why People Love Coffee Grinders?

Today you find all types of coffee ground and not-ground in the market making it easy for you to pick up any type of coffee and use it. Why then the coffee grinder is still so much in demand? The answer to this question lies in the flavor of the coffee made with freshly grounded powder – as you would have guessed, the taste and flavor can never be compared with anything ready made.

The columnist Clinton Maxwell is especially interested in latest developments in coffee grinder reviews and tips on coffee grinders. You might come across his publications on tips on coffee grinders and coffee grinders over at http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com

Author: Clinton N. Maxwell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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First, let’s talk about why you should use coffee grinders for better coffee. Most people don’t bother to grind their own coffee. This is purely because of convenience. I hear excuses like “I don’t have the time,” or “coffee grinders make too much noise”, or “I don’t want to clean up the mess” and on and on. The simple fact is this: you should grind the coffee just before you brew it. Here’s a simple test. Go ahead and open up a can of ground coffee. Smell the aroma? Now go ahead and grind some coffee at the supermarket. Smell the bag. Do you smell the difference? Well, you’ll taste the difference too. The reason for grinding the coffee is to get more surface area to extract more coffee taste. As soon as you grind the coffee, the grounds are exposed to air and the flavor and aroma begin to dissipate. You should brew the coffee immediately after using the coffee grinder for maximum flavor.

Coffee Grinders – Cheapie Blade Grinders

The cheapest type of coffee grinder is the blade grinder. Blade grinders work like your blender does. Spinning blades chop the coffee until the desired grind size is achieved. The benefit is that the blade grinder is inexpensive. The problem is that the coffee is ground unevenly. To the coffee expert, this yields a cup of coffee that is uneven and undrinkable. My take on this is that it is still better than not grinding the coffee yourself. All is not lost, however. On to a better option.

Coffee Grinders – The Burr Grinder

Burr grinders are used by professionals for good reason. Metal discs called burrs are set apart by a precise distance. Coffee beans are ground until they are the size of the gap between the burrs and they fall down the chute into the hopper. The benefit is an even grind. This results in a better coffee experience. The better burr grinders have precision settings for all types of coffees and brewing machines.

If you want a better cup of coffee, use a coffee grinder and grind the coffee beans immediately before brewing. If you want even grounds for smoother flavor, get a burr grinder. Take these two pieces of advice and you’ll be on the way to your best cup of coffee yet. There are many more topics and articles on coffee on our website. Please take a moment to visit us. Pull up a chair and bring a cup of coffee, we would love to have you drop by.

Athanasios G. is very passionate about making perfect coffee. His website is dedicated to everything coffee related. Visit our site to learn more about how to make coffee. Here’s a list of articles on coffee, coffee history and more.

Author: Athanasios G.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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For the best flavor possible from your coffee beans, grind them yourself. Adding to that philosophy, use only beans that were roasted within the past ten days to get the freshest flavor. Beware of beans that are too new, though. Beans that have been roasted only within the past day or two are full of carbon dioxide. It will get released into your cup of coffee, causing it to turn sudsy.

There are two main types of grinders on the market: blade grinders and burr grinders. Burr grinders are also known as mills. Each type of grinder has its benefits and drawbacks, and you must decide which qualities are the most important for you.

Blade Grinders

These are the easiest and cheapest coffee grinders. A metal blade inside the grinder spins rapidly, chopping the coffee beans. The result is coffee flakes that are uneven in size, often causing the taste of the brewed product to be inconsistent.

There are generally no settings to tell the machine how coarse or how fine to grind coffee. It is up to the user to determine how long to let the grinder run to achieve the desired level of fineness.

Blades build up heat while grinding. If you are trying to grind coffee to make espresso, you will have to allow the blades to run for a long time. This causes them to get hot, which can in turn give the coffee a burned taste.

If you want a good, basic grinder for everyday use, you can find them in nearly every home goods or department store for approximately $30.

Blade grinders are fantastic for basic day-to-day coffee consumption, but if you want more finesse in you flavor, you need to move to a burr grinder.

Burr Grinders

Typically referred to as mills, burr grinders crush the beans uniformly between a grinding wheel and a stationary surface. There are two types of burr grinders.

Wheel Burr

This is the less expensive form of burr grinder. The grinding wheel spins very quickly to crush the beans, and the fineness of the grind depends upon where the grinding wheel is set. These grinders can be noisy and can get quite messy.

Conical Burr

The burr spins much slower in these grinders, making them quieter and cleaner. These grinders are more expensive, but will not clog and can be used to grind oily or flavored beans.

In addition to wheel burr mills and conical burr mills, there is also a wide assortment of handheld grinders. Due to the very nature of the handheld grinder, the wheel is turning much more slowly, which means it is not building up heat. If you desire a very fine grind for something such as espresso, you will get the best results and maintain the most flavor with a handheld burr mill.

Beautiful, heirloom-quality solid wood, handheld burr mills can be found for around $80 to $100. Modern, electric burr mills will run anywhere from $150 to $200 for very good ones.

How Fine to Grind

There are essentially four main grinds you need to concern yourself with. There are some others in addition to these, but the ones listed below will get you well on your way to becoming a coffee connoisseur.

o Extra Fine is nearly powder, much the consistency of sugar. Extra fine ground beans are used to make espresso.

o Fine could be described as just slightly coarser than table salt. Fine coffee would be used in pots or automatic drip machines with a conical filter.

o Medium would be much like the consistency of sand, and would work best in automatic drip coffeepots with flat-bottomed filters.

o Coarse coffee will have distinct particles or flakes. This is the coffee you would want to use in a French press or old-style percolator.

The finest coffee of all is Turkish coffee. This must be ground to a baby-fine powder, and many times must be finished off in a mortar and pestle after being ground in a burr grinder. Even the best of grinders cannot always get coffee as finely ground as it needs to be for Turkish coffee.

Never use your coffee grinder for anything other than coffee. Many people use their coffee grinder to chop up spices or herbs, or even to chop medicine for children or pets. It is extremely difficult to remove every foreign particle in the grinder, so save yourself some trouble and keep the coffee to itself. Use a food processor to chop other things such as herbs or spices. This way, the flavors will not be able to intermingle, and your coffee will remain pure.

Many modern coffee makers incorporate a grinder into the piece of machinery. This is a convenient way to grind and brew all at the same time. You will definitely get what you pay for, though. Cheaper models will most certainly have a blade grinder, while the more upscale versions will come with a burr grinder. Pay close attention to the product description so you know exactly what product you are receiving. This is particularly important if you enjoy finely ground coffees such as espresso.

Grace C. provides information on the Coffee Grinders for A1 Coffee Makers – Your Guide to Coffee Makers, Accessories, and Gourmet Coffee!

Author: Grace C
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Coffee lovers know that there is nothing quite like grinding your own coffee beans. From the aroma coming from the grinder to that first sip of piping hot, freshly brewed coffee the entire experience is sheer pleasure to the taste buds.

Today’s grocery stores typically carry many flavors of coffee beans. You can purchase them there and grind them as well if you like. However, for the best coffee flavor you should purchase your own grinder and grind them at home. There are several reasons for this.

Grinding your beans at home assures you that you are only getting your coffee beans only and not residual coffee grounds from everyone who has ground coffee before you. In your home you will be cleaning your grinder between uses, in the grocery store you have to rely on the machine to self-clean. Another reason for grinding your coffee beans at home is freshness. The best coffee is brewed from beans that have just been ground. Pre-grinding allows some of the flavors to escape.

Grinders

There are basically two types of coffee bean grinders available, a blade grinder and a burr grinder. Blade grinders are the least expensive, starting around $10 – $15 dollars while burr grinders start around $50. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for and with coffee grinders the difference is in the taste of the coffee. Your choice will depend on how much you are willing to pay for the grinder and how sensitive your taste buds are to the resulting product. If possible try finding a sample coffee ground from each one to make your comparison.

A blade grinder uses a single blade that moves in circular motion much like a blender blade. Blade grinders tend to heat the coffee beans as they grind them which can result in a scorched taste and a loss of flavor. If you use a blade grinder you should grind in short bursts rather than a long grind that goes on for a minute or more. This insures that you aren’t scorching the beans as they grind.

Burr grinders use a grinding wheel and a stationary surface for grinding the beans. Burr grinders create a much more evenly ground coffee with no scorching or heating of the coffee beans as they grind.

Burr grinders come in the wheel burr or the conical burr. The wheel burr is the less expensive of the two but can be very noisy and messier. The conical burr is the best coffee grinder but will cost you more. It is quieter and less messy than the wheel burr and doesn’t clog as easily.

Types of Grinds

If you look at the commercial grinder in your local grocery retailer you will see that it is labeled with many different settings. These setting correspond to how you are going to use your coffee, such as drip coffee maker, espresso maker, percolator and more. Not all home grinders are labeled like this and you will need to practice how long you grind the coffee to reach your desired grind. This is particularly true with blade grinders as the grind is determined more so by the amount of time the beans are ground. Where burr grinders have settings.

There are three basic coffee grinds: fine, medium and coarse. Most household coffee makers work fine with a medium grind. The amount of time in the grinder determines the grind.

Coarse: Coarse ground coffee works best in percolators. To achieve a coarse grind the coffee beans should only be ground 5-10 seconds at most.

Medium: Medium ground coffee is the suggested drip coffee makers or a French Press. This usually takes 10-15 seconds in the grinder, using short burst to avoid scorching.

Fine: A very fine grind is used for espresso makers. This grind takes 25-30 seconds and must be done in short bursts to prevent scorching. If using a blade grinder you should shake the grinder between bursts to achieve a uniform grind.

Fresh ground coffee beans can’t be beat for a wonderful cup of coffee. Many people who don’t drink coffee like the aroma fresh ground beans give off. Purchasing a grinder doesn’t have to be an investment that breaks the bank and you can impress your friends with a perfect cup of joe.

Sharon V Chapman writes on the joys of coffee and provides consumer information on coffee grinders for Coffee Grinders 101, providing information on a variety of grinders and offering the best coffee sites on the web!

Author: Sharon V Chapman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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