A guide to coffee grinders

Buying a coffee grinder might seem a little excessive at first as there are plenty of ways to make a great cup of coffee at home, but this appliance really is the only way to get a coffee shop style caffeine fix before leaving the house.

If you simply can’t kick-start your day without a cup of coffee, treating yourself to a coffee grinder could give you an extra motivation boost in the mornings – and everyone needs that sometimes!

Here, we take a look at the different coffee grinders on offer, which one suits which type of coffee, and what to consider when buying one for your own home.

What are the different types of coffee grinder?

There are three main types of coffee grinder to choose from, and the one you need really depends on how you like your coffee. A blade grinder offers a simple option, as it uses a single blade to cut up coffee beans which can then be used for a pour over filter coffee.

Blade operated grinder
De’Longhi Blade KG49 Coffee Grinder
According to Which this is one of the better blade options but were still critical of the results which were ‘hit and miss’.
Available from amazon.co.uk

However, a blade grinder isn’t suitable for making smooth espressos, so if this is what you’re looking for you’d be better off with an electric burr coffee grinder. Featuring small, metal gears that crush and grind coffee beans, an electric burr grinder is a pricier option, but will provide fine, consistent results.

Krups Burr Grinder
Krups Expert Burr Grinder
A top-rated burr grinder at a decent price too. Features several grind options for between 2 to 12 cups worth of beans.
via amazon.co.uk

You can choose between ceramic and metal options, with the ceramic ones lasting longer but not necessarily producing better coffee.

The third type of coffee grinder is a hand grinder. This manual option definitely takes more effort than the other two, which makes it a good option if you only want a coffee grinder for occasional use.

These grinders have a rotating handle which powers gears like the electric burr grinder, and can be used to produce fine coffee for use in espressos.

Hand-operated coffee grinder
Hario MSCS-2DTB Skerton Hand Coffee Grinder
This top-rated hand-operated ceramic burr grinder is a coffee lover’s favourite although needs a bit of effort.
Available from amazon.co.uk

Things to consider when buying a coffee grinder

If you have decided to purchase a coffee grinder for your home, there are a few things to consider.

Firstly, look out for models that boast different grind settings, as this will allow you to choose whether you want a coarse or fine blend – giving you more variation. You should also pay attention to the capacity of different options, as you want to make sure that there’s enough room for the amount of coffee you need to grind.

Finally, the size of the coffee grinder might be a factor for you depending on the space you have available in your kitchen. Blade grinders tend to be smaller than electric burr grinders, but if you have your heart set on these you will find that there are some compact options available.

Now that you’ve read our guide to coffee grinders, you have all of the information required to buy the one that is best suited to your needs.

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