You don’t have to be a javahead to enjoy getting the most out of your daily cup of joe, and for most of us an inexpensive electric model like the Krups 203-32 or Hamilton Beach 80344 under $20 apiece will work better than it needs to and provide many years of service. Expensive units use burrs the break off flakes of bean which produce a more even grind, but the spinning blade types quickly take the bean down to the fine powder used in drip coffee makers. If you have something other than a drip coffee maker, simply use less of the fine grind and save some additional money. Your machine will not know the difference, and you probably will not either.
Blade coffee grinders are excellent for quickly grinding beans for use in espresso machines, and despite the difference in design and functionality, can provide finer grounds if left on for just a few seconds more than the more expensive burr units.
If you want a medium grind (best for flat-bottomed filters), here is a tip: pulse your beans. The most disruptive part of the grinding process in a high-speed unit is when it is first turned on, and the inertia of the beans in the compartment causes them to ‘jump’ randomly. Pulse the power on and off a few times, then inspect. Eventually you should see some fine and some larger pieces mixed in which is exactly what you want.
There are quite a few manufacturers out there. You will find some really good deals on Amazon, and probably will not need to check anywhere else. Krups, Mr Coffee, Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, Saachi, Proctor Silex, KitchenAid and many others make good or even excellent grinders. There are many under $20 and even more under $30, with the difference between the two is slightly more robust and powerful motors in the latter. The Krups 203-42 is one of the most popular inexpenive machines…
Featured coffee grinder:
Krups 203-42 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder with Stainless Steel Blades, Black
Your in the coffee zone with this grider%2E The One Touch Coffee Grinder is all you will need to grind up your fresh beans right in your own kitchen%2C and have that perfect cup every time%2ENothing beats a freshly ground, freshly brewed cuppa joe to start the day, and with this grinder, you can have up to 20 cups’ worth of beans at a time. The understated black color and contemporary oval design fit in well with any kitchen décor, while the small size (just 6 inches high) doesn’t take up too much premium counter space. Stainless-steel blades guarantee a long life and an even grind, whether you use this grinder for coffee, spices, nuts, or even whole grains. –Jill Lightner
- Electric grinder with 200-watt motor provides fast grinding
- Grinds up to 3 ounces of coffee beans at a time
- Oval design and stainless-steel blades ensure uniform grinding
- Also can easily be used for spices, nuts, and grains
- Measures 6 by 3-1/6 by 3-5/9 inches; 1-year limited
List Price: $ 24.00
Price: $ 19.59
Burr Coffee Grinders The best coffee comes from the burr design, which provide more aromatic results. They operate by crushing the beans between specialized gears and are configured in two ways. Grinders that use a wheel-like burr configuration spin fast (but slower than bladed units) and those that use a conical gear turn further still. When the beans are crushed apart, the oils are squeezed out of the bean to its surface where the hot water can pull it away.
Good burr grinders are offered by several companies including Cuisinart, Capresso and Bodum. Many of these units are made of better materials such as laboratory grade glass and offer features such as timers, self cleaners and programmability. The Bodum Bistro is our top burr unit, and uses silicone in place of hard plastic to eliminate the mess caused by small particles getting electrically charged and jumping everywhere (the same forces apply as when you rub a balloon on your head and stick it on the ceiling).
Bodum Bistro Electric Burr Coffee Grinder, Black
Ask any coffee connoisseur and they’ll tell you that in order for coffee beans to develop their full flavor profile, they must be ground right before coming in contact with hot water. This is where the bistro electric burr coffee grinder comes in and becomes part of the coffee making ritual. The Bistro is continuously adjustable – twisting the upper bean container determines how finely ground the beans will be. With over 14 settings from coarse to fine, you can deliver the ideal grind for any brewing method. But there’s more to it than that. Most coffee grinders use plastic containers to receive the ground coffee but plastic and ground coffee don’t go together well. The powder gets statically charged and spills all over the place. The new Bistro comes with a borosilicate glass container to catch the grounds. The glass catcher is inherently static-free, reducing the amount of overall static and “jumping” coffee grounds. This and the tight silicone/nylon lid make for an excellent, no-spill coffee grinder. The borosilicate glass container comes with a silicone band to make it slip-proof, an especially important feature when touched with wet hands. The Bistro is made from borosilicate glass, steel, plastic, rubber and silicone and comes in black, orange, red, green, and white.
- Continuously adjustable with over 14 grind settings from coarse to fine
- Borosilicate glass catcher reduces static that causes jumping coffee grounds
- Proven as the best way to grind coffee, the burr grinder is adjustable to deliver the proper grind for your favorite brewing method
- Timed grinding feature and quick grind button let you set the exactly the amount of time you need to grind the proper amount of coffee
- Available in black, orange, red, green, and white
List Price: $ 133.50
Price: $ 95.00
Manual Coffee Mill
Manual Coffee Grinders What these machines lack in compactness, they more than make up for in durability and control. Manual coffee grinders are also known as ‘coffee mills’ and have been in use since coffee first came to Europe back in the 1600s. They have been used to serve coffee to our founding fathers and made their way across the country in the wagons of pioneers. And many of those units would still work and still make coffee comparable to any of today’s machines.
These units will grind/crush coffee beans as slow as you like, and have one other quality that our ancestors would have agreed with… they produce better coffee of all. Why? Because unlike fast-moving motor-driven units, these to not produce heat at the point of impact and do not vaporize the oils. You can sense this when using a high speed blade coffee grinder, open the lid and you will get that wonderful fresh-ground coffee smell. That smell are the oils that are no longer in your next cup.
Mmmmmmm….
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