Coffee Grinders

La Pavoni Burr Grinder Black $49.98

Coffee grinders come in two types, Burr and Blade.  The blade grinder has a compartment with a small blade in the bottom of it.  The beans are placed in this compartment and the unit is turned on.  The blade spins chopping the beans.  Finer or coarser grinds are determined by how many seconds the unit is allowed to run.

Burr grinders, have two burrs, or plates that grind the beans between them.  The beans are placed in an upper compartment, and as they pass between the burrs, the ground beans fall into a lower compartment.  The finer or coarser grinds are determined by how far apart the burrs are set.

Of  the two types, the burr grinder gives a much more consistent grind.  In the blade grinder there will be some beans that are ground to powder and some that are left in much larger pieces.  This leads to an uneven extraction of coffee when water is introduced to the grounds.

Also, the blade grinder moves much faster than the burrs do, causing the beans to heat up.  This also degrades the flavor of the bean.  For those seeking the ultimate in their coffee experience, a burr grinder is preferred. 

Check out our Burr Grinders here.

Stainless Steel Hand Cranked Coffee Grinder $14.99

There is a third option in grinders--the hand cranked coffee grinder.  This is a time tested method of grinding coffee, in fact I use one myself.  Even though it has a blade, it functions much like the burr grinder--with the attending benefits of the burr grinder.  The coffee beans are placed in an upper chamber.  They pass through a blade into a lower compartment.  Finer and coarser grinds are determined by tightening or loosening the blade.  The coffee ground in a hand cranked grinder is a very even grind, and as the unit is hand cranked, there is little heat developed in the beans.  It is a little more work than the powered grinders, but the end result is a very satisfactory grind. 

See our hand cranked grinders here.