Types of Coffee Grinders

Alex Tekan
Coffee grinders are important to making a great cup of coffee. Before grinders were invented, people used to boil beans in hot water for over long periods of time. The resulting solution never compared to the coffee taste and smell that ground coffee provides. Many baristas say that one's coffee mixture is dependent on the manner of preparation of the coffee.

Many coffee mixtures are in the market nowadays. There are many basic guidelines in choosing the best, but personal tastes also affect what is considered as the best. But in the coffee world, the value and quality of coffee is dependent on the taste and flavor, depth of the taste, and the smell it exudes. This is directly related to the manner and length that the coffee is ground and the time it is brewed to unlock the taste. Espresso coffee blends have very fine powdery coffee while those placed in a carafe would need to be coarsely ground to let time unlock the taste.

Coffee grinders can be distinguished into two major types. The first one involves the use or rotating blades that slice and crush the beans into smaller bits. The resulting product would be a direct result of the grinding action of the machine. The lower the speed of the grind, the coarser the coffee is made. They are powered by a small motor and use electricity whenever they are operated. The ground up coffee would be dependent upon the speed of the blades as they break down the hard coffee beans

The other type are called burr grinders. These use wheels to grind the coffee. These grinders are able to control the way the beans are processed. There are the flat burr grinders and the other one has a cone configuration. The cone style is much preferred as these do not get stuck up with beans when they are operated. These burr grinders are hand powered. Thus, they are not as expensive in purchasing or maintaining and operating these kinds. Some are even priced at $20 and are portable enough to be carried anywhere.

What then is the appeal of these grinders? It lies in the flavors produced of freshly ground coffee. They cannot compare to the instant or the processed kinds of coffee. The distinct aroma, flavor and texture of ground coffee make the purchase of a grinder a worthwhile investment. A fresh cup in hand would surely make one's day.

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