Coffee is one of the favorite drinks of most modern people. Now there are several varieties of such a product on the market, but true connoisseurs prefer to grind the grains on their own immediately before cooking. And in this case, it is important to know how to choose the right coffee grinder for your home, because it also affects the process of preparing a drink.
Again, there are many varieties of such products on sale. For example, you can grind coffee beans in electric or mechanical coffee grinders. The differences between these classes and the features of choosing each of them will be discussed in more detail in our article.
Content
Mechanical
The first devices for grinding coffee beans appeared quite a long time ago. Initially, they were the most simple devices in which grinding was carried out manually. Today, mechanical coffee grinders are less commonly used for grinding coffee beans and cereals, but their popularity is still at a high level.
By their design, such products are in most cases completely identical, and they can differ only in the design and quality of the materials used. As for the cost issue, mechanical coffee grinders can not always be called budgetary, because some of their models cost no less than simple electrical counterparts. Usually they are chosen by true connoisseurs of the drink, since it is believed that with this method of grinding the grains do not heat up and retain their taste.
To choose a good manual grinder, you need to pay attention to the quality of materials and workmanship, as well as the sharpness of the knives. Not only the durability of the device depends on them, but also the quality and convenience of grinding.
Advantages:
- Minimum dimensions
- Easy adjustment of the degree of grind
- Affordable cost
- No noise
Disadvantages:
- Uniform and fine grinding is almost always absent
- You need to spend more time (about 10 minutes) and energy
Electrical
Electrical appliances for grinding coffee beans are knife and millstone... The first, as the name implies, do their job using knives mounted on a fixed axle. The body of such devices is made of metal and plastic. If you want to purchase a powerful and inexpensive coffee grinder, then it is better to pay attention to the second option, but for connoisseurs of strength and reliability, metal cases are preferable.
Design knife models of coffee grinders as simple as possible: the motor is located below, and above the bean bowl with a rotating knife. As for the spaciousness of this type of device, it rarely exceeds 120 grams. As for the coffee obtained, it is more suitable for brewing a drink in Turks, and not for coffee makers.
Advantages:
- Relatively low price
- Small size
- Ease of use
Disadvantages:
- Cannot control the degree of grind
- Grains are grinded unevenly
And here millstones coffee grinders more reliable and functional. The price of this type of product is higher than that of the previous one, but this does not diminish their attractiveness and popularity.
First of all, it should be noted that in terms of uniformity of grinding, coffee grinders of this type are many times superior to their competitors, therefore, the coffee obtained with their help can be used in various coffee machines operating under pressure. Due to the fact that grinding in such products is carried out using two adjacent discs, the grinding size can be adjusted by changing the distance between them. Better here and the volume of the compartment for grains (capacity of 300 grams or more).
The last thing that also favorably distinguishes the millstone models of coffee grinders from rotary ones is the material of manufacture. Metal is almost always used in knife blades, but grinding discs can be made of steel, ceramics, and even stone! Also, when choosing, you need to take into account that, unlike knife models, there are two containers at once: one for ground coffee, and the second for beans.
It is better to buy those solutions in which the compartment for grains is larger, because initially you can fill in a large amount of them, and grind only the volume you need.
Advantages:
- Ability to select the amount of grinded grains
- Setting the degree of grind
- Market presence of models with additional functions
Disadvantages:
- Cost, but it is fully justified by the possibilities
Power
The quality of grinding the beans in popular models of knife-type coffee grinders is directly dependent on the speed of rotation of the knives. The latter is directly related to the characteristics of the motor installed in them. However, you should not choose too powerful coffee grinders, because excessive rotation speed can lead to the fact that the beans will char and the coffee becomes bitter. The most suitable option would be models with a power of 180 watts. But you can buy the best grinder of the millstone type already in the range from 250 to 350 watts. In this case, the speed and quality of grinding will be the most optimal for home use.
Volume
As for the size of the grinding tank, in this case you need to focus on your own preferences. Different models allow grinding from 50 to 500 grams of beans at a time. If you need a coffee grinder for a cafe or a large family, then its capabilities should be wider. But for fans of making coffee in a Turk, a capacity of 30-50 grams is enough. If you want to get maximum convenience, then it is better to buy a millstone model for the coffee machine, because you can fill in a standard pack of beans (250 grams) completely, but grind them as needed. This is provided by the design features of such devices.
Useful functions
When deciding which grinder to choose electric or manual, do not forget to also look at the other functions that are offered in such products. Very often, to increase the attractiveness of their products in the eyes of buyers, popular manufacturers add quite useful options to their devices, such as:
- Cord winding mechanism... A very useful feature if you value maximum compactness.
- Automatic blocking... A safety measure to prevent the engine from starting when the cover is open.
- Soundproofing... Not a frequent, but extremely attractive addition for those who need quietness (for example, so as not to wake up family members when grinding beans in the morning).
- Timer... The duration in seconds or the number of grinding cups can be set.
- Inclined grinding bowl... This seemingly simple option significantly improves the uniformity of grinding and the process of mixing grains.
- Paired knives... A very useful thing allows you to increase the quality and speed of grinding.
Caring for the grinder
When choosing a coffee grinder in terms of build quality, grinding method and other features, you need to remember that its service life, the taste of ground coffee and the quality of work directly depend not only on the specified parameters, but also on competent care of the device. After each grinding, the blades and containers must be well cleaned, because any remnants of old grains on them can negatively affect the taste of the drink.At the same time, washing for such devices is not recommended, and it is better to consistently wipe all parts of the coffee grinders with a damp and dry sponge or cloth.
It should be understood that the device in question is suitable exclusively for grinding coffee beans. The taste and aroma of other foods (for example, pepper) can negatively affect the quality of the drink, and it will be very difficult to get rid of the problem. In millstone models, you also need to periodically change the millstones, but this should not be done too often (about every 300 kilograms of coffee).
Choosing a coffee grinder company
In this case, you can safely navigate through the reviews about coffee grinders on the forums. So among the millstones the most demanded among buyers are manufacturers:
- Delonghi
- VITEK
- BORK
- BOSH
- Polaris
The design, reliability and convenience of the products of these brands deserve the highest praise! All the same Delonghi and VITEK are some of the best rotary-type solutions, and BOSH and Polaris are their companies in terms of popularity and quality level. As for manual coffee grinders, the choice here is not so great (if we are talking about noteworthy manufacturers), so it is worth focusing on solutions from GIPFEL, VITESSE and, in particular, Bekker.
Conclusion
Modern manufacturers offer customers a huge selection of devices for every taste and wallet. You can decide for yourself which grinder to choose for your home, based on your own preferences and financial capabilities. If the ritual itself is important to you, and you want the most careful treatment of the grains, then choose the manual options. Want to save time and space in your kitchen? Electric knife grinders are suitable for you. Do you need flexible adjustment of parameters and uniformity of grinding? You will not find anything better than a grinder for grinding coffee.
