Do you love coffee?
Do you love great coffee more?
If you really love coffee as much as I do, then grinding your own beans is definitely recommended if you are not already doing so.
There is one big advantage of using self-ground coffee vs bought grounded coffee: it tastes BETTER.
Keep on reading to find out why and check out my list of the top 7 best selling coffee grinders that will still leave you with money to buy the beans!
In this article I will discuss:
What is ground coffee
Now this might seem like a very straightforward question with an answer so obvious it should not even make it to an article like this.
But there are some principles that could be overlooked that you need to understand first in order to fully understand the science behind ground coffee.
The simple answer is that ground coffee is roasted coffee beans that was run through a coffee grinder. Simple enough.
But the interesting part is not so much the “what”, but the “why”. It all has to do with flavor due to the TYPE of grind.
And that comes from the last step in the process of making ground coffee.
How ground coffee is made
Coffee comes from coffee plants that are grown all over the world. The first credible evidence of coffee brewing is from the mid 15th century in Arabia.
Coffee has come a long way since then. All the processes involved, from the growing of coffee cherries to the final roasting and grinding of the beans, has evolved into a science and art at the same time, with endless varieties and strengths filling up shelves in our shops.
First, coffee fruit, or cherries, as it is called, are grown on coffee plants that looks like shrubs. It is harvested, the skin and fruit pulp is removed, it is fermented and then those green coffee beans are roasted.
The final step is then to grind those beans to the desired coarseness.
The roasting of coffee beans
Except for the difference in taste due to the coffee bean variety and region of cultivation, the roasting process is the first major process where the coffee flavor is modified.
That is because different intensities of roasting produce different levels of the bittersweet taste of coffee. There are 5 different levels of roasting and these are determined by the duration and temperature of roasting. The longer the roast and the higher the temperature, the more bittersweet and intense the flavor.
The grinding of coffee beans
The type of grind determines how coarse the grounded coffee is. Different levels of coarseness are used for different types of coffee and they all taste different.
The reason behind this is that the coarser the grind, the larger the particles, the less surface area per volume comes in contact with water to draw, and hence, milder, less acidic coffee. On the other hand, the finer the grind, the more surface area per volume and more flavor can be drawn. The result is stronger and more acidic coffee.
What roast and grind do I recommend?
Now there are many pros out there that will tell you what grind is best for what and give all the stats behind it (which, by the way, is all legit in the professional coffee brewing community). What do I say?
EXPERIMENTATION!
You can be told what should taste nice, but at the end of the day YOU are one that is going to drink and saviour that cup of coffee. So find a roast and grind that you like, not one you should like. Test them all, switch out beans with different roasts and grind them to different degrees. Brew them with different methods available to you.
And going forward, you will start seeing what type of roast you prefer, what type of grind you prefer and what type of brewing method you prefer.
The end result: an unforgettable journey leading up to YOUR perfect cup of Joe.
7 Popular coffee grinders I recommend
Without further delay, here are my top pics of popular coffee grinders that will not break the bank and get you that perfect grind!
Mueller Austria HyperGrind Precision Electric Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
Features:
- Very consistent grind
- It is compact yet stylish
- Very good quality materials and workmanship
- Powerful motor
- Excellent quality stainless steel blades for that will last a long long time
Sboly Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
In contrast to the Mueller which is a blade grinder, this Sboly is a burr grinder. So instead of blades to cut up the coffee beans, this grinder uses a cylindrical burr that has teeth to evenly grind up the beans.
Features:
- One button operation, just set your grind type and volume and the grinder will do the rest
- 1 to 12 Cup adjustable coffee grind capacity
- Stainless steel conical burr ensures maximum flavor is retained by limiting oxidation and the loss of essential oils
- 19 Grind size settings
- Durable, sturdy and with a powerful motor
- Safety lock
Mr. Coffee 12 Cup Electric Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
Features:
- Blade grinder
- 4 to 12 Cup grind capacity
- Three coarseness settings
- Elegant design
- Well priced
KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
Features:
- Blade grinder with oval shaped blades for an even grind
- 12 Cup grind capacity
- Lid activated safety switch
- Compact and sleek design
- German engineering which is other words for excellent quality
Sboly Electric Burr Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
This is the smaller cousin of the Sboly featured earlier.
Features:
- 18 Grinding settings
- 2 to 12 Cup adjustable brewing capacity
- Extremely even grind due to the stainless steel burr grinder
- Easy to clean due to a removable upper chamber, container and grinding burr
- Compact design
Gevi Electric Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
Features:
- Blade grinder
- Cheap
- Easy to use
- Powerful silent 150W motor
- Compact and stylish
- One touch button operation
- 12 Cup capacity
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
Image by Amazon
This coffee grinder is on the more expensive side when compared to the other coffee grinders on my list, but I wanted to add it due to its popularity.
Baratza coffee grinders are prefered by many many professionals and the company provides world class support.
This model is their entry level grinder perfect for professional grinding at home!
Features:
- Conical burr grinder with hardened 40mm commercial-grade alloy steel conical burrs
- 40 Grind settings
- Front-mounted pulse button
- Powerful motor
- 1 Year warranty
Final thoughts
Grinding your own coffee beans is non-negotiable if you would like to brew excellent quality coffee.
All these grinders will get you going on that journey and trust me, you won’t look back and ever consider buying ground coffee again!