How To Use A Coffee Bean Grinder

When deciding to buy a coffee bean grinder there are two different choices on the market

. A blade grinder and a two plate burr grinder. While the burr grinder is more expensive, it produces a better grind than a simple blade grinder does. Blade grinders on the other hand are much more economical and often the first choice for most. Blade grinders are sold at most local stores and are very simple to use, while burr grinders found at more exclusive type of shops. Prior to purchasing a coffee grinder, it is a good idea to check what type of coffee ground your coffee maker works best with.

A blade grinder works by shredding the beans as opposed to actually grinding them. In order to properly use a blade grinder, keep a hand on the top of the grinder so the lid stays in place hold the button down in two to three second intervals and give the grinder a quick shake in between grindings in order to loosen larger chunks of coffee beans that the blade may be missing. Burr grinders have two plates, allowing for more uniformly ground beans and most come with a variety of grind settings allowing to get the exact preferred consistency.

Another trick when using a blade grinder to ensure a better ground of coffee is to not keep the button in a downward position for more than a couple of seconds at a time. To achieve a fine ground, twenty seconds is the maximum amount of time where as for a coarser grind, then up to ten seconds works best. Medium grounds are good for up to fourteen seconds. These times can be played with in order to get the best ground for you and your coffee maker. If a coarser ground is required, then ten seconds may be too long and for finer ground coffee then maybe twenty seconds is not long enough.

Espresso drinkers would want the finer grind while coffee drinkers using a drip, classic, or plunger type of maker would use a coarser grind. In order to know exactly what type of grind is best for you, check with the requirements on your coffee maker. Some coffee makers come with adjustments that allow you to use different types of grounds, while other tell you which to use. As a guideline it is usually two cups of water to one full tablespoon of coffee. Six cups of coffee would take six cups of water and three full tablespoons of coffee. Burr plate grinders may have a measurement of the cup allowing the coffee to be directly poured into the filter basket, while with a blade grinder, it may be necessary to use a tablespoon.

Freshly ground whole beans retain their flavor for just a couple of days after grinding, but if used immediately the difference between all ready ground coffee and fresh is noticeable. Ground coffee purchased in a grocery store may have been sitting on a shelf for days if not longer and unless dated, there is no way to know exactly when the coffee was ground. While grinding coffee at home takes just a couple of minutes longer, it is easy to grind the correct amount for that day or grind enough for the next day as well and knowing exactly when it was done.

If a fresher, more flavorful cup of coffee is what you are looking for then investing in an inexpensive blade grinder would be a smart move. You will not add much more time to your morning, and will be brewing the freshest pot of coffee possible. If after using a blade grinder for a period of time becomes routine, you may want to look into purchasing the more expensive burr plate grinder. This will allow the maximum great taste with the added convenience of grinding at different levels automatically and eliminating the step of measuring. Either way, once a coffee bean grinder is purchased and used, and freshly ground coffee is tasted, you will probably not go back to store bought ground coffee.

by: Tom Jensen

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