The Benefits of Using a Coffee Grinder
Experts agree that purchasing and using a coffee grinder is among the best upgrades you can make to your daily routine. The pricier models feature burr grinders--a set of grooved surfaces that can be adjusted to provide a more consistent grind.
These grinders are better than blade grinders as they stop oxidation, and ensure that your ground is uniform in size.
Conical Burrs
Burr grinders have more capacity and use opposing angles cutting surfaces to grind whole beans into small pieces. They produce fewer fines (also known as dust) than blade grinders and allow you to control exactly what size of particles are produced by adjusting the distance between the burrs.
There are two kinds of burrs: flat and conical. The differences between the two kinds of burrs are subtle but important and each one has its own strengths.
Burr grinders grind the beans by using disc-shaped burrs. Blade grinders make use of sharp blades that are shaped like blades. The two burrs can be moved further or closer to create the desired size of grind. When they are properly set they produce a uniform grind, with fewer fragments and without heat.
A top-quality burr grinder must include a lubrication system to reduce friction and increase the life of the blades. They are easy to clean to prevent the build-up of coffee residue. While there are some hand-powered burr grinders commercial flat burr grinders are nearly always electrically powered as they require more power than can be supplied by the human hand by itself.
Within each type of burr there is a variations between different brands and models of grinders. These variations are not due to the shape of the burrs but rather to the pattern of their geometry and how it is related to the distribution of particle sizes. Certain conical burr grinding machines like the Niche Zero, have very low retention. Other flat burr grinding machines, like the Iberital MMC2, have high retention.
Certain coffee enthusiasts assert that different styles of burrs are more effective in bringing out certain flavor notes in the roast and bean. However this is an area that is largely based on speculation and is not well-established scientifically.
Flat Burrs
Flat burrs are plates with sharp ridges that face one to crush coffee beans between them. They're among the most popular burrs used in home and commercial grinders and are typically the primary kind used in manual grinders.
Compared to conical burrs, flat ones can have more trouble maintaining an even distribution of size due to the angled shape of their cutting edges could leave behind some grit and fines. This can lead to poor extraction and bitter flavors. But, this shouldn't be a deal breaker for some particular people, especially as new developments in burr design allow for the same clarity as flat burrs, albeit with more uniform the distribution of grind size.
The choice between a conical or flat burr grinder will depend on your specific grinding requirements and tastes. A barista who grinds several cups of coffee every day might choose a conical burr mill since it produces less fines and reduces the rate of oxidation, which makes it easier to store.
The amount of heat the burr mill produces operating is a different factor to consider. This is important because it can impact the taste and quality of your cup coffee. The more friction a grinder generates the more it will get hot, which could change the flavor profile of the beans and result in excessive extraction. Fortunately, flat- burr grinders generate less heat than their conical counterparts, which means they will provide you with the best taste overall.
If you're in the market for a coffee grinder with flat burrs, there's plenty of options available from reputable brands like Baratza and Eureka. For example, the Fellow Ode Gen 2 is a popular choice because it's easy to calibrate and has a a high degree of precision. It's also quiet and is suitable for espresso. However, it doesn't produce the same amount of fines as Baratza or other top models and can have difficulty producing medium-fine grinds for espresso.
Variable Grind Settings
Whatever type of grinder grinding equipment you employ the process, it produces a variety of particle sizes and shapes. It is difficult to quantify this in a meaningful manner unless you own expensive equipment such as laser particle diffraction.
Rather than providing an exact measurement of the size of the particle, most coffee grinders have adjustable dials that let the user select from a variety of sizes for grinding. Dials are marked with numbers or dots to indicate larger and smaller sizes. The numbers are sometimes accompanied by arrows that indicate which direction the dial is supposed to move to make the grind more coarse or finer.
In addition to the numbering system, many grinders also have other visual representations that can help in deciding on the best setting, such as a series of dots or a stepped adjustment mechanism. While these indications are helpful, they are not a complete guide and will require you to play around with the different settings.
For example for instance, a dot that looks close together will indicate that the burrs are set delicate, whereas an asterisk or number that appears to be further apart indicates that they are extremely coarse. When choosing a setting for your grinder it is crucial to remember that small adjustments can make huge differences and so be careful not to push too far out of the intended range when making your adjustments.
The dialing-in process of a grinder is the process of finding the most optimal grind setting for a particular coffee and brewing method. The ideal grind setting permits the brew to be able to produce the most full and balanced flavor possible, while remaining within an acceptable range of extraction limitations. This is a continuous pursuit because even minor variations could result in coffee that has been over- or under-extracted.
A very fine grind is ideal for espresso, as it increases the amount of water in contact with the ground in the short period of time required to extract. A setting that is similar in consistency to powdered sugar works for a variety of brewing methods, including pour-over, French press, Aeropress and Turkish coffee.
Easy Cleaning
When coffee grinds move through your grinder oils and old grounds get stuck inside the nooks and crannies of the machine. In time, these accumulated oils go rancid and start to impact the taste of your coffee. Regular cleaning can help prevent the accumulation of stale coffee oil and can keep your grinder operating at its peak.
To clean your grinder, start by disconnecting the plug and then removing the grounds bin and hopper. Then, take the burrs off. Be careful not to scratch the burrs' sharp edges. They could easily scratch or scratch the inner surfaces of your grinder. If you own a grinder cleaner brush, you can use this on the burrs in order to get rid of any coffee residue. Otherwise you can employ a soft toothbrush or toothpick to gently remove the coffee grounds from the burrs. After you have removed the burrs, and any other coffee particles from the machine, wipe it off with a clean dry cloth.
Cleaning your grinder regularly is essential, regardless of regardless of whether you use a burr or blade grinder. Coffee beans lose their aroma and flavor when they're ground. The best cup of coffee is made from freshly ground beans. Grinds that are too fine cause over-extraction and bitterness, while the ones that are too coarse can lead to under-extraction and a weak or sluggish flavor.
Cleaning your grinder regularly is the only way to make sure that it remains in top shape and produces high-quality grounds for your morning coffee. Remaining oily residues and allowing old ground coffee to accumulate in the nooks and crevices can lead to obstructions to the blades and poorer quality coffee. Leaving stale ground coffee to build up on the burrs may also affect the taste of your coffee.
There are a variety of ways to clean a grinder but one of the most effective is by using a tablet for cleaning coffee grinders (such as Urnex Grindz). These tablets are made of edible grains that bind with and take out coffee oil. They're a great alternative to washing your burrs in water, which can harm or dull them. You can also clean your burrs using brushes or blowing them away using compressed air or a keyboard air blower.