A Coffee Bean Grinder Guarantees Freshness

By Ned D'Agostino

If you love coffee, then you already know that it will taste better if it is freshly ground. Wouldn't it be great to have that coffee shop freshness in your home every day? A good coffee bean grinder will ensure that your coffee is always as fresh as possible.

But there's more to it than just freshness. If you grind your own beans you can make the grind as fine as you desire. This is very important to a true coffee lover. With this in mind, perhaps you are now at least a little curious about trying this on your own.

So what's holding you back? Perhaps you believe that the process is difficult, or maybe you think it can be messy. Both of those arguments are incorrect.

The only argument that "holds water" is that it's just easier to open a can and start brewing. And while this is true, once you taste the difference between store bought coffee in a can and freshly ground beans, you'll realize quickly just what you've been missing.

As soon as coffee beans are ground they begin to lose some of their flavor and aroma. That's the reason grinding the beans yourself will result in a better tasting and smelling cup. You can simply grind the beans right before you brew (the process is quick) and your coffee will be as flavorful as possible.

So what kind of grinder should you get? There are two popular types on the market. You can get either a blade grinder or a burr grinder.

The more economical of the two is the blade grinder. Picture a blender, only smaller. The blades inside simply grind up the beans. This is far better than buying canned coffee, but not as good as it could be. The idea when grinding is to get as large a surface area as possible. A larger surface area means more bean is exposed to the hot water, and therefore more oils and flavor can be pulled out during brewing. A blade grinder will produce an uneven grind. And therefore you will get a slightly inferior cup of coffee.

Burr grinders on the other hand are produce a much better grind. Go to your local coffee shop and this is the type of grinder you'll typically find in use. The burrs are precisely and evenly spaced grinding discs made of metal. They will give your beans an even grind, and therefore produce a better cup of coffee. Generally these are adjustable, meaning you can set them for whatever type of coffee you like best. If you like Turkish drip coffee, no problem. If you prefer automatic drip coffee, a burr grinder will produce the grind you need.

Understand that what I consider a perfect cup of coffee may not be perfect for you. I am far from a coffee snob. But no matter what type of coffee you like, fresh ground beans will always taste better. And whether you decide on a burr or blade coffee bean grinder, you'll find that the taste of your coffee will be far superior to what you are drinking now. Chances are you will have bought your last can of pre-ground coffee.

And it's just a simple kitchen appliance that will make that first cup in the morning worth getting out of bed for.