Which coffee grinder is better, burr or blade?
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is an integral part of a successful start to the day. However, to obtain a drink of the highest quality, special attention should be paid not only to the stage of its direct preparation, but also to the preparatory procedures, including the correct grinding of coffee beans. A coffee grinder is an indispensable assistant in solving this problem, but the variety of devices in household appliance stores often makes it difficult for the consumer to choose.
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What types of coffee grinders are there, their features
Modern electric coffee grinders on the market mainly fall into two categories:
- Knife (rotary). They are a device with a plastic or metal body, in the lower part of which there is a motor, and in the upper part there is a reservoir for coffee, closed with a tight lid. Grinding of coffee beans in a coffee grinder of this type is carried out by rapidly rotating stainless steel knives mounted on a metal rod.
- Millstones (millstones). Models of this type grind coffee beans using screw discs made of stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic.The device consists of a compartment with a motor and millstones, as well as two containers, into one of which coffee beans are loaded, and into the other the already ground product is poured. The grain reservoir in mill models is usually quite large and can hold up to 300 g of grains. The power of the device can range from 100 to 1000 W, but the optimal figure is within 300 W.
Pros and cons of a blade coffee grinder
The popularity of rotary coffee grinders is primarily due to the low cost of these devices on the household appliances market. Consumers are also attracted by the compactness of the device and ease of operation.
Devices of this type do not have the ability to control the degree of product grinding. The grinding of coffee beans in a rotary coffee grinder depends on the rotation time of the blades: the longer the device is turned on, the finer the degree of grinding will be. However, it should be taken into account that a blade coffee grinder will not allow you to obtain an evenly ground product.
IMPORTANT! After 20–30 seconds of continuous operation, the blades of the rotary coffee grinder begin to overheat, which leads to charring of the beans and can cause a bitter taste in the finished drink.
Pros and cons of a burr coffee grinder
The main advantage of a burr coffee grinder over a rotary-type device is the uniformity of the finished product and the ability to set the desired degree of grinding, thanks to the adjustable distance between the millstones.
IMPORTANT! Coffee ground in a miller-type device is suitable for brewing in any coffee makers and coffee machines.
The hermetically sealed lid on the grain container allows you to store unused product in the device for quite a long time, ensuring reliable preservation of the aroma and taste of the raw material.
The low level of noise produced by the auger millstones is also an absolute advantage of the device, especially if family members do not wake up and have breakfast at the same time.
Mill type models are often equipped with a number of additional features:
- blocking switching on when the lid is not closed;
- automatic cord rewind;
- increased sound insulation;
- timer for calculating grinding time;
- automatic shut-off function that protects the device from overheating;
- a device for measuring the required number of grains for a given cup of finished drink.
In addition, electric coffee grinders are considered safer due to the fact that the cutting unit is hidden inside the device and is not accessible to direct contact. This parameter is most important for families with small children.
The disadvantages of models of this type include the high cost compared to knife options. Also, the disadvantage of millstones is their rather impressive dimensions, so when purchasing this type of equipment, you will have to allocate a separate place for it in the kitchen.
Which coffee grinder is best for home
Ultimately, the choice of coffee grinder is determined by the needs and preferences of each individual consumer. However, despite their high cost, burr grinders are a more versatile option. Due to the uniformity of grinding, coffee beans crushed in an electric coffee grinder are suitable for subsequent preparation of an invigorating drink in any way: in a Turk, coffee maker and coffee machine.It should also be taken into account that the quality of grinding plays a key role in the preparation of some types of coffee: espresso, cappuccino, mocha. Therefore, true connoisseurs of these drinks are recommended to opt for the mill version of the electric coffee grinder.
