How to choose the right coffee grinder; electric and manual home models

If you like to start every morning with a great aroma of coffee, then get a coffee grinder. Of course, you can use an instant or already ground product, but this is not the case. If we are going to make coffee, then by all the rules. And a modern unit will help in this, the choice of which is now quite wide. In order not to get confused in this variety and understand how to choose a coffee grinder for your home that will last for many years, you should understand the different types of coffee grinders and how they work.

Features and functions of coffee grinders

Quality grinders have a number of features that you should be aware of before going to the store. These include, for example, the uniform grinding function, which is necessary to ensure that the ground coffee beans are the same size. When choosing a coffee grinder, you should first pay attention to the following details:

• The grinder heats up during operation. In bad models, the working parts become very hot, which is why the essential oils contained in the beans are released during grinding, instead of getting into the drink and making it aromatic. Sometimes the grains can become completely charred and acquire a bitter taste.
• Grinding adjustment. This feature is useful in cases where the grinder owner's preferences are not limited to one option for preparing a drink. As you know, for brewing espresso, a fine grind is required, while a coarse grind is suitable for making coffee in a French press.
• The material from which the device is made. A good model that will last a long time to its owner is made of stainless steel. Its plastic counterparts have a shorter service life.
• Stability at work. Small rubber feet can help with this, for better adhesion to the surface of the tabletop.

These are the most important points to consider when buying a grinder so you don't regret your choice later. You should also take into account that the model has additional functions, for example, the following:

• overheating or foreign object protection function;
• function of blocking the device when the cover is open;
• double knives in a rotary model for increased speed;
• inclination of the container with grains for a more even grinding;
• soundproofing;
• timer for setting the coffee grinding time.

The listed functions, as a rule, come for an additional fee and are not needed by many people. The main thing, perhaps, is to choose the type of control, according to which the models are divided into electric and manual.

Types of devices

There are two main models of electric coffee grinders: knife, otherwise called rotary, and millstones. They have different technical characteristics, which is why the result of their use is not the same.

Rotary models

The working tool of this model is a steel rotary knife mounted on a rod, which grinds coffee or any other product, rotating at high speed. The same knives are installed in blenders, so in fact, in a rotary electric coffee grinder, you can grind, for example, sugar to a powder state. At the same time, electric knife grinders have a significant drawback: it is difficult to achieve uniform grinding, therefore, coffee ground in such a device cannot always be used in geyser coffee makers and coffee machines. However, coffee of this quality is quite suitable for a French press or a Turk.

The advantages include:

• the ability to use as a blender;
• low price (from 1 thous. rubles).

There are much more disadvantages:

• does not provide uniform grinding;
• there is no control of the degree of grinding;
• difficult to wash;
• heats up a lot during long-term operation.

So, knife rotary electric coffee grinders are suitable for those who appreciate the versatility of the units and are not very picky about the quality of coffee grinding.

Milling aggregates

Such electric coffee grinders are often installed in coffee shops. They are more expensive: the price tag starts around one and a half to two thousand rubles, but with their help you can achieve perfect, uniform grinding. Many burr coffee grinders are equipped with an automatic shutdown function in case of overheating, as a result of which they break much less often rotary ones, and the ground coffee in them retains its aroma better.

Coffee grinders are available with two types of millstones of different shapes: cylindrical and conical. The former are distinguished by a higher speed of work, while the latter allow you to adjust the required degree of grind.

Millstones also differ in the material from which they are made: stainless steel, cast iron, ceramics and ceramic-corundum alloy. Steel and cast iron millstones are inexpensive and durable, but the latter very easily absorb various odors and grind off quickly. Ceramic and alloy millstones are more fragile, capable of shattering if dropped, but at the same time they produce the highest quality grinding, especially for espresso.

Main advantages:

• allow you to get ground coffee of a uniform consistency;
• there is a separate container for ground coffee;
• automatic shutdown in case of overheating;
• the ability to adjust the degree of grinding;
• rarely fail.

The disadvantage is the price - most models start at $ 3,000. rubles).

Electric coffee grinders are suitable for real connoisseurs of coffee for home use and for those who choose a device for their coffee shop. With the most limited budget, it is better to choose a model with cast iron millstones, since they are the cheapest. Unfortunately, this choice is not suitable for people who like to make coffee from beans with different aromas, due to the fact that cast iron easily absorbs odors.

Manual devices

Vintage manual coffee grinders are classified into European and Oriental. The first ones are made of wood in the form of a box; the second are metal, in the form of a cylinder. Such models look very stylish and serve as an excellent element of interior decor.

It is worth noting that it will take a little longer to grind coffee on such a machine than when using an electric coffee grinder. This does not stop coffee connoisseurs and is considered a plus for many. There is a certain chic about slowly grinding beans to make coffee.

Advantages:

• manual adjustment of the degree of grinding;
• stylish interior decoration;
• average cost (within 1 thousand. rubles, but there are also collectible items worth several tens of thousands of rubles.

Disadvantages:

• work slower than electric ones;
• to get the result, you need to make physical efforts.

Manual coffee grinders are more likely not for daily use. They are good for creating a certain atmosphere and, of course, getting a quality product.

Rating of the best coffee grinders

When choosing a device for grinding coffee, you should focus on the products of manufacturers that have established themselves on the market. kitchen appliances such as Bosch, VITEK, Mikma, Polaris, Vitesse, Mahlkönig, Mayer & Boch, Bekker and De'Longhi.

Five of the best rotary electric coffee grinders:

1. Bosch MKM 6000. Stylish small model, made in a black plastic case with a transparent cover for the knife compartment. The compartment has a capacity of 75 g - this amount of beans is enough for about ten cups of the finished drink. The manufacturer promises a fine grind with a uniform consistency. The device is not equipped with a cord storage system.
2. Polaris PCG 0815. A small electric coffee grinder with a power of 150 W in a metal case with an opaque compartment for beans. Compartment capacity - 70 g. It can operate in a pulsed mode, in which short periods of engine load alternate with pauses, which is especially useful for processing particularly hard grains.
3. Mikma IP-30. Compact 115W model in a bright orange plastic case. The bean box is designed for 30 g.
4. Scarlett SL-1545. Stylish metal device with an unusual shape with a transparent cover. The grinding compartment is designed for 70 g. The power is 150 watts. There is a pulse mode and a special compartment for the cord.
5. Vitek VT-1546. Model in a metal case with a pulse function. The device can process up to 50 g of coffee beans at a time, its power is 150 watts. There is a compartment for the cord.

Five of the best electric coffee grinders:

1. De 'Longhi K. G. 89. Electric coffee grinder with a millstone grinding system in a metal case. The bean and ground coffee compartments are hidden by tinted glass. There is an illuminated power button, as well as an overheating protection function and a function for blocking the burrs when the lid is open. The degree of grind and the number of portions are adjustable. There is a compartment for the cord.
2. De 'Longhi K. G. 79. A model similar to the previous one, but made in a black plastic case.
3. Nivona NICG 130. A 100 W device in a metal case with a spacious box for beans (200 g) and a compartment for ground coffee. 16 degrees of grinding. There is a compartment for the cord. The coffee grinder has a weight of 2.6 kg, which allows it to stay securely on the table surface.
4. Krups GVX 2. Black plastic model with a large bean compartment and 17 grind levels. There is a timer and a dispenser.
5. Rommelsbacher EKM 300. Plastic body, conical millstones, large capacity of the bean compartment (220 g), 12 degrees of grinding and, as the happy owners of the coffee grinder note, real German quality.

Three of the best hand grinder grinders:

1. Bekker BK-2535. Wood and ceramic body, metal funnel. The movement is made of ceramic. Funnel capacity - 40 g.
2. Bekker BK-2532. Wooden coffee grinder with ceramic burrs and a funnel with a capacity of 40 g.
3. Bekker BK-2528. Coffee grinder in a blue ceramic case with a metal funnel with a capacity of 40 g. The millstones are made of ceramics.
4. Mayer & boch. Wood and ceramic body. Funnel - metal, open type. The model is equipped with a drawer for ground coffee. The millstones are made of stainless steel.
5. Buon caffe eppicotispai. Italian model in light ash.

Before choosing a grinder, you should read the reviews of other customers to find out about possible problems. Only by collecting information from different sources, you can choose a device with which you are almost guaranteed to be satisfied.

The answer to the question of which coffee grinder is better to buy for home use depends entirely on the desires and capabilities. Suitable for both small rotary models for every day, and millstones with many functions. Devices for manual grinding will probably appeal to real coffee lovers and those who see not only a tool in a coffee grinder, but also a stylish interior detail.