Coffee Grinders

Who would know coffee grinders better than the CoffeeGeek? The site's top picks are:

Best Home Grinder for Espresso Aficionados Mazzer Mini  Rated 9.4 with 37 reviews Price: $400+	The Former Reigning Champ Rancilio Rocky  Rated 8.5 with 52 reviews Price: $250-270	Most Grind For Your Buck Starbucks/Solis Barista Grinder  Rated 8.2 with 70 reviews Price: $120

For coffee lovers, grinding your own coffee beans has several advantages over buying pre-ground coffee. For one, it is the first step to ensuring you get a fresh cup of coffee. Grinding coffee beans releases the flavors and aroma. After a few days of being ground the coffee will naturally lose some of that flavor and freshness. Whole beans stay fresh and strong for weeks. Also, if you like coffee for breakfast and even the occasional espresso after dinner, the control over grinding your coffee beans will enhance the strength and flavor of espresso because you can get the grounds super fine.

How to Choose

There are two main types of grinders that you will see on the market. Unless you are grinding massive amounts of coffee (say, for a café) then you don't really need a commercial grinder. They do boast exceptional speed and power for a large capacity machine, however, they tend to be quite bulky for home use. Below are the two types of home models to choose from. First, consider:

• How much do you want to spend?
• How often do you grind coffee?
• How important it is for you to retain the fullest flavor of the bean?
• Do you need the machine to work exceptionally for both making drip coffee and espresso?

Blade Grinders vs. Burr Grinders
Blade Grinders  Usually less expensive than burr grinders. Quick grinding. They take up very little counter space. Can be used to grind other things in the kitchen. Sharp metal blade pulverizes the bean at a consistent speed until desired texture is reached. The heat produced by the spinning blade may affect the taste of the coffee because it can burn the beans. Not as easy to clean or get the grinds out. Not recommended for getting a very fine consistency for making espresso or Turkish coffee, however, it does do the trick for the average user.	Burr Grinders  Generally preferred by coffee enthusiasts. Strips slivers of bean from the surface; exposes more area than a blade grinder. More surface area means more flavorful coffee. Produces less heat than blade grinding, preserving the aromatics of the coffee. They do not get oily and make the best coffee. More expensive. Two types of Burr Grinders: Wheel Burr or Flat-Plate : Sometimes messy and loud, but they are good for espresso. Conical : Fine for oily or flavored coffees and espresso.

Major Manufacturers

• Capresso 
• Braun 
• Bunn 
• Pavoni 
• Zassenhaus 
• Rancilio 
• Mazzer 

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