Millstone coffee grinder: pros and cons, rating of the best models

A millstone grinder - a necessary attribute for true gourmets. The process of making coffee for drink connoisseurs has become a real ritual, and its main component is fresh grinding. Grain coffee is cheaper than ground and much more aromatic than any store product. Therefore, people understand how necessary such a coffee grinder is at home.

Varieties of grinders with millstones

Millstones are always more powerful than knife (rotary) ones and can cope with work faster. Based on the name, it is clear that the grains are crushed according to the mill type. The millstones themselves are cylindrical or conical disks made of all kinds of alloys.

Coffee is a fairly solid product and requires adequate power to grind it. The motor performance range of the budget millstone grinder ranges from 100 to 200 watts. Professional devices can be 350 watts, they grind the hardest and most overcooked grains.

Principle of operation

The coffee grinder works simply - the grains pass between the millstones (in the form of cylinders or cones). And the degree of grinding depends on their distance. Each appliance has several functions for grinding coffee, which ultimately produce from fine powder (Turkish coffee) to large particles (in a French press). In the most advanced models you will find up to 17 modes.

Work Stages:

1. With the equipment turned off, a container for grains is installed on top of the casing.
2. The lower tray (for ground coffee) slides into the appliance. The grains are placed in a funnel, it closes, and the degree of grinding is selected using the regulator.
3. With a simple touch of a button, grinding begins.
4. You just have to turn off the device, get ground coffee and brew your favorite aromatic drink.

Features: shape, material, design

In millstone coffee grinders, the case can be plastic or metal (the latter is much stronger and more reliable). The larger the diameter of the discs, the less the grains themselves will be heated. And of course, large gears increase the performance of the device.

Their resource depends on the material from which the millstones are made: metal will be erased after 500 kg of ground coffee, good ceramics after 1000 kg, and the ceramic-corundum alloy will be almost eternal.

The types of millstones and the materials from which they are made

There are 2 types:

1. Conical - these are two cones located in each other. The outside is motionless, and the inside rotates very quickly, which means that in a short time you will receive a large amount of coffee. The grain, getting inside, is ground and falls down. Such cones practically do not overheat. Coffee grinders with tapered discs are more expensive (10-15%), last longer, are more durable and work very quietly.
2. Flat parallel millstones look like washers. Their edges are connected using special notches. The grain, getting on them, is rubbed. Drives are fast, but noisy and fail faster. It is good that brands with a good service network can replace just this part of the mechanism.

The materials from which they are made:

1. Cast iron is the cheapest and wear-resistant alloy in millstones. It is found in hand-held devices. Gradually, it grinds, and the drink acquires a metallic taste. In this case, it’s time to change the millstones. Also porous cast iron, absorbs and gives off smells. People with a delicate sense of smell will sooner or later notice that different types of coffee in such a coffee grinder mixed by themselves.
2. Millstones from stainless steel - medium durability. Wear resistant, but susceptible to water. Suitable for regular use.
3. Even hardened steel wears out. But, if you apply a titanium coating on it, then the millstones will become smooth, dense and will last a long time. But such a coffee grinder costs a lot more. Titanium millstones are more common in professional devices, they are able to handle large volumes.
4. Ceramic circles are the most expensive, but almost eternal. The main thing is that the user withstands the grinding time specified in the instructions. Too hot circles will crack after prolonged use. And such devices are quite expensive and not common.
5. Ceramics, although very hard, but quite fragile. The best is an alloy of ceramics with corundum. It is an environmentally friendly material that can grind any size. In the coffee grinder there will be no extraneous odors, it is not afraid of water, dampness and rust.

Grinding adjustment

Monitoring the initial state of the powder is very important, therefore, millstone devices are equipped with an adjustment of the degree of grinding. Adjustable mills are simply essential for a large scale, for example, in a coffee shop with this service.

The grinding speed is determined by the engine speed. The degree of productivity and quality of coffee directly depends on it. A low speed will prevent overheating of the millstones and the coffee itself, but productivity will suffer. And vice versa - at high speed you will have a lot of coffee, but the aroma will begin to disappear due to overheating.

Help adjust the degree of grinding: a special slider, knobs or ring (at the back or bottom of the device). From a change in their position, the distance between the millstones and the size of the coffee particles change. Most often, factory tinctures give larger grains, but using the instructions, you will always adjust them. The process itself is best done with the device running, but without grains.

In addition to the degree of grinding, it is important how uniform all the coffee is. In budget coffee grinders, in addition to a given size, there are always smaller fractions. But, if “precision millstones” is written on the device, then you will get a high-precision grinding with pieces of the same size.

Convenient cleaning

Enough once a month to clean the coffee grinder, depending on the frequency of use. With the device turned off, unscrew the screws that hold the millstones. Wipe them and brush them. Watering the discs with water is undesirable.

At the time of purchase, ask the seller to assemble and disassemble the device. Removable containers are the most convenient for cleaning. If it doesn’t take off, but comes out, check if your fingers can reach the farthest corners. Otherwise, the coffee varieties will mix. Ground coffee trays must be completely airtight and fit perfectly to the body, otherwise the product will lose its taste and aroma.

Grinding timer

In millstone devices, the operating time has little effect on the degree and quality of grinding, more on the volume of feedstock. For home use, it is very convenient to have a built-in timer with a regulator of servings and (or) grinding. So you pre-set the dose of ground mass and the number of seconds to prepare it. The performance of the machine does not suffer, the millstones do not heat up and the quality of the coffee is always at its best. When the machine does everything automatically, you can’t count seconds.

The timer is mechanical and electronic (more expensive type of device). Setting cups is most convenient for most users than the weight of the coffee. In expensive models, there is a function for adjusting the weight of already ground coffee. It is very convenient to load the grains, get the necessary dose for today, and grind the rest the next time.

Grain and Powder Containers

In almost every model of the coffee grinder there are dispensers for raw materials and separately for the finished product. From 100 to 300 g whole grains can be placed in the top container. In the lower one, with the initial product, up to 100 g (for home use) and more than 100 g (for a coffee shop).

There are plastic, metal (only for grains) and glass pallets. The latter do not accumulate static electricity, do not absorb odors and are not scratched.

Which is better: manual or electric millstone coffee grinder?

Manual mill coffee grinder allows you to get aromatic coffee in a special drawer from 5 minutes or longer (per serving). In the morning, a person arriving late for work will find this time wasted, but enjoying a coffee ritual without rushing anywhere can only be done in a similar way.

The disks of a manual mill are most often metal or ceramic, and the fineness of grinding by adjusting the screws is adjusted. The crushing apparatus consists of two conical millstones: the first rotates from the handle, the second is rigidly fixed. The mechanical device will last a long time, because it does not have electronics, network failures, and the rest of the components are quite durable. Such appliances do not burn coffee. And the price of manual coffee grinders is always cheaper than electric models.

Electric millstone mill refers to the premium segment and the price is higher than knife or hand devices. Electric more efficient, with uniform and high-quality grinding, with less effort and time.

Popular models

• Vitek VT -1540 BK

This is an inexpensive coffee grinder with a plastic case. A 100 W motor will grind up to 100 g of coffee. The device has an adjustment of the degree of grinding (4), 2 speeds and automatic locking - when the cover is removed, the device will not turn on.

You can buy Vitek VT -1540 BK in Moscow from 2 thousand. rubles.

• Delonghi KG-79

A mechanical-electric model that, with a power of 110 W, copes with 110 g of coffee beans. For 2 cups, just 8 seconds is enough. A removable tank, adjustment of the grinding degree (16) and the number of cups, a double protection system - these are the main advantages of this popular coffee grinder in the rating.

The manufacturer provided everything - from rubberized non-slip legs, unheated steel millstones and a compartment for storing the cord. The weight of the device with a plastic case is 1.5 kg.

• Bekker GVX 242

This versatile device with a 100 W motor easily grinds simultaneously up to 200 g of coffee beans. The main advantage of the device is from 5 thousand. rubles - 17 positions of the regulator of the degree of grinding. Thus, the perfect coffee is obtained, regardless of where you will prepare it - in a Turk, drip or espresso machine.

There is a lock device without containers, adjusting the number of cups (up to 12). The black plastic case fits easily into any interior.