Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One
A blade grinder uses an e-type propeller (think blenders) to chop coffee beans. They are much cheaper than burr grinders and are easy to clean but don't produce uniform ground and can cause excessive extraction and bitterness in your brew.
A premium coffee experience requires uniform distribution of particles and this can only be achieved by using a burr grinder. This is the reason why coffee snobs hate burr grinders.
Inconsistent Grinds
If you've used a grinder with a blade for a while it is likely that your grinding results have changed. This is because the grinding device has probably been worn down and dull. As the grinder wears down it will cut beans into various sizes. This results in ground with varying levels of coarseness. With these various-sized coffee particles, it's difficult for your coffee maker to extract the right balance and consistency in flavor.
A blade grinder makes use of an e-rotating blade that resembles a propeller to break beans. It cuts the beans into smaller and smaller pieces, which are then put into a catcher via a screen. This method is effective however it doesn't provide the best grind possible for your drink. An alternative is a burr grinder. A burr grinder is a larger machine that has a powerful motor and two grinding burrs. The burrs can be set to a certain distance and will determine the quality of the coffee that is ground.
If the burrs are too close together, they will pulverize the beans, rather than cutting them. The resulting grounds are less coarse and finer. They are also more soft, which can adversely impact your coffee's taste. On the other however when the burrs are spaced too spread out, they will create large chunks of coarsely-ground coffee. It is essential to select a grinder that has a setting that matches the coarseness you desire.
A sharp, properly-adjusted blade will result in an even and fine grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind is becoming more uneven, it could be time to replace the burrs or the blade. If you haven't yet done so, you should also alter the grind setting in order to achieve an even grinding.
It's also worth mentioning that if your machine produces ground that is clumpy this could be a sign of worn-out or damaged blades. The clumping happens when tiny particles bind to each other and larger pieces of ground form, making larger granules that won't dissolve in water. As your burrs become more and more dull this is more frequent.
Uneven Extraction
The size of your coffee grounds is vital for flavor extraction, whether you're using a French press, pour-over or drip brew. Uneven sizes of the grounds can result in uneven extraction and a sloppy cup of coffee.
As the beans circulate through a grinder blade, they are sliced and shredded randomly, resulting in an uneven distribution of grind particle sizes. A blade grinder produces an assortment of larger fragments, small particles, and everything in between. These different grind sizes extract at uneven rates which results in a sloppy and often bitter cup of coffee.
In addition, the lack of uniformity creates problems when filtering and tamping. With a burr grinder you can achieve an evenly ground particle size, allowing for more even tamping and filtering that prevents over-extraction and weak brews. It is more difficult to achieve an even grind with a blade grinder. It is possible to tamp from side to side, or use the Stockfleth Method (which requires some practice).
Another problem with blade grinders is their high speed and the generation of heat. They can cause the ground to burn and produce a bitter flavor. Burr grinders are cooler and don't produce as much heat, which helps preserve the flavor of the beans.
The blade grinder has one last disadvantage: it is very easy to grind your beans too fine. The grinder can generate plenty of heat and your beans will eventually be over-extracted. This can result in a bitter brew. To avoid this, always stop your grinder prior to switching it back on.
The use of a blade grinder is a convenient and cost-effective method of grinding your own coffee at home however, it's not the best choice for those who are serious about their brewing. For the best results, it is recommended to utilize a burr mill as well as whole beans. Make sure you invest in your coffee making experience by purchasing a grinder that is of high-quality and will deliver on all your coffee needs!
Check out our top picks of the best burr mills on market to upgrade your blade grinder. The type of grinder you choose will impact the quality of your brewing and your beverage. Consider your budget, space and preferred brewing method before making a decision.
Grounds Burned Grounds
With the blade grinder, you're using a sharp blade that rotates like a blender at high speed to cut the beans. The speed of the blade's movement generates heat, which can ignite some of the coffee grounds. These burned particles aren't ideal for the brewing process and can cause a bad taste in your coffee.
A premium coffee experience demands a uniform particle distribution to ensure optimal flavor extraction during the brewing process. This consistency is impossible using a blade grinder that breaks the beans into large and small pieces. A burr mill, however, produces an even distribution of particle sizes that can be replicated over a number of brews.
While the benefits of a blade grinder include its low cost and speedy operation, its major disadvantages are that it creates heat during use, produces inconsistencies in grind size, and is not able to control the final particle size. There are ways to increase the efficiency using this type of grinder despite its inherent limitations.
When used with a burr mill, the user can easily adjust their desired ground size by adjusting the gap between the discs. This allows them to extract all desired flavors from their favorite beans each time. However, making a good drink using a blade grinder takes a lot of trial and error.
Angle grinders are a powerful tool that should only be employed by professionals. It could cause grinding burn if employed incorrectly. This can cause localized changes to the metallographic surface of the workpiece. This could lead to cracks that, if not addressed, can eventually result in macropitting and tooth fracture.
Grinding burn is a serious problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons, including excessive grinding pressure, inadequate cooling, or improper operator training. Wear the proper safety equipment when working with an angle grinder. This includes safety glasses as well as a face shield and steel toe boots. This will prevent hot sparks from flying out of the wheel and striking nearby equipment or people. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures up to 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can be destructive to materials like paint or even metal.
Brew that is disappointing
A blade grinder chops up your beans in a random fashion and leaves you with beans which are of different sizes. The unevenly sized grounds are extracted at different rates in your coffee maker, and this leads to an unpalatable or weak cup of brew. This can ruin the balance of a fantastic cup - the soluble compounds from the beans are extracted slowly, creating the flavor.
You've probably been told that using a burr grinder instead of a blade is the best way to guarantee a great beverage. Many people don't understand what a burr mill is. They buy the cheap blade grinders that are uncontrollable and difficult to control they can buy at supermarkets and places like kitchens.
These grinders are basically an angled blade with two pronged edges that sit located at the bottom of an enclosed chamber. It spins quickly and chops everything it comes into contact with including beans. You press a button to start the grinder, and the blade chops up your beans into a variety of different sized pieces. The smaller pieces drop to the bottom of the chamber and are then chopped up again, whereas the larger pieces remain at the top. This results in uneven grounds which are difficult to accurately measure - which is why you can't be certain of the amount of ground coffee your grinder produced.
These grinders can also cause burns to your beans which can ruin your coffee. The heat can also take away some of the flavor of your beans. coffee bean grinder machine Coffeee leaves you with a less than delicious cup of coffee.
If you have been grinding your coffee with a blade mill, it's now time to upgrade to something more efficient. A burr grinder will do the trick for less than the cost and will give a superior result. It's well worth the investment. If you want more control over your beverage Try a manual grinder like the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders are equipped with burrs, but are powered by turning a crank, which provides more control than an electric or plug-in grinder.