Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One Blade grinders are equipped with blades that resemble a propeller (think blenders). They are used to chop coffee beans. They are less expensive than burr grinders, and are easy to clean, but they don't yield uniform grounds and can cause over-extraction and bitterness in your brew. A top-quality coffee experience requires uniform particle distribution which can only be achieved by using the burr grinder. It's no wonder that coffee snobs hate burr grinders. Inconsistent Grinds If you've used a blade grinder for some time it is likely that your grinding results have changed. The grinding device is likely become dull and worn. As the grinder wears down it will break up beans into different-sized pieces. This results in ground with different levels of coarseness. It's challenging for your coffee maker to get an even, balanced flavor with these different-sized particles. A blade grinder cuts the beans with a rotating blade that resembles propellers. It basically chops the beans into smaller and smaller pieces and then drops them through a screen and into the catcher. Although this method is effective but it's not ideal for making the most perfect grind for your beverage. Burr grinders are a better choice. A burr grinder comes with powerful motors, two grinding burrs and is a bigger machine. The burrs are set to a certain distance which determines the quality of the coffee being ground. If the burrs get too close, they crush rather than cut the beans. https://www.coffeee.uk/categories/coffee-grinders is a more fine and less coarse grind. They can also be brittle, which can affect the flavor of your coffee. If the burrs on the other hand are not evenly spaced they'll result in large chunks of coffee that have been coarsely ground. It is crucial to select the coffee grinder with a setting that matches the coarseness you desire. A sharp blade, when adjusted correctly, will result in a fine and consistent grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind is becoming more uneven, it might be time to replace the burrs or the blade. If you haven't yet done so, you should also alter the grind setting to get more even grinding. It's also worth noting that if your machine produces ground that has clumped together this could be a sign of worn-out or damaged blades. The clumping is caused by small particles adhering to one another and larger pieces of ground, creating larger granules that do not dissolve well in water. This happens more frequently as the burrs dull. Uneven Extraction If you're brewing drip, French press, or pour-over the size of your grounds play an important role in flavor extraction. Uneven ground sizes can lead to uneven extraction and a sloppy cup of coffee. The beans are cut and shredded in a random manner when they go through a blade mill, which results in an unbalanced distribution of grind particle size. A blade grinder produces a mix of larger fragments, small particles and everything in between. The different sizes of grinds produce at a different speed, creating the coffee drink that is often bitter and inconsistent. The lack of uniformity also creates problems when filtering and tamping. With a burr mill, you can attain an even particle size allowing for more uniform tamping and filtering, which helps prevent over-extraction and weak beers. With a blade grinder it is more difficult to achieve an even grind, and you may be tamping from side to side or using the Stockfleth method (which takes some time to master). The high speed and the heat produced by blade grinders is a different problem. This can burn the grounds and create a bitter taste. Burr grinders create less heat and are cooler, thus preserving the flavor of the beans. Another drawback of the blade grinder is that it's extremely easy to over-grind your beans. The grinder can generate plenty of heat and, eventually, your beans will be pushed to the limit. This will result in a bitter brew. To avoid this, you must pause your grinder before turning it on again. Blade grinders are a simple, inexpensive way to grind coffee at home. However they're not the best option for those who are serious about their brewing. For the best results, you'll want to use a burr mill and whole beans. Make sure you invest in your coffee brewing experience and purchase an efficient grinder that will satisfy every aspect of your coffee needs! We've compiled a list of our top choices of the best burr mills on market if you're looking to upgrade your blade grinder. Selecting the right grinder is an important choice that will impact the quality of your brewing and overall cup quality therefore, you should consider your budget, your space and your preferred brewing method when making your decision. Grounds Burned Grounds Blade grinders use sharp blades to grind the beans. The blade spins at high speeds, like blenders. The blade's rapid movement produces heat, which could burn some of the coffee grounds. These particles will alter the flavor of your coffee and aren't ideal to brew. A top-quality coffee experience requires uniform distribution of the particles for optimal flavour extraction during the brewing process. This is not possible with a blade grinder, which breaks the beans up into large and small pieces. A burr mill, however produces a uniform distribution of particles sizes that can be replicated over a number of beverages. Blade grinders have many advantages, including their low cost and speedy operation. However, they have some drawbacks like the fact that they produce heat when they are in use and produce different grind sizes and have no control over the final particle size. There are ways to improve the results using this kind of grinder despite its inherent limitations. When combined with a burr mill, the user is able to easily adjust the distance between the grinding discs, allowing them to fine-tune the exact size of the ground of their choice. This allows them extract the desired flavours every time they drink their favorite coffee beans. However, making a great brew with a blade grinder requires a lot of trial and error. An angle grinder is a potent tool that should only be used only by qualified personnel. It can cause grinding burn when used incorrectly. This causes localized changes to the metallographic surface of the workpiece. This could cause cracks and, if not checked, can eventually lead to macropitting and tooth fracture. Grinding burn is a major issue that can be caused by a variety of factors including excessive grinding pressure, inadequate cooling, or inadequate training for operators. If you plan on using an angle grinder, make sure you wear the appropriate PPE such as gloves with a face shield safety glasses, steel toe boots and long sleeves. This will prevent hot sparks from flying off the wheel and hitting nearby people or equipment. Sparks can be capable of reaching temperatures as high 3,600 degF, and can burn through materials like paint or metal. Brew that is not what you expected. A blade grinder will chop your beans up indiscriminately and leave you with different-sized ground. This uneven ground extracts at different rates, which results in the cup being bitter or weak of coffee. The problem with this is that it ruins the balance that makes a great cup of coffee - soluble compounds in your beans are extracted over time, which creates the flavor that makes your coffee delicious. You've probably been told that using a burr grinder instead of a blade is the best method to ensure a great brew. Many people aren't aware how to use a burr mill or even what it is and so they purchase one of the cheap, uncontrollable blade grinders that are easily found in supermarkets and other kitchen-type places. Basically, these cheap grinders feature a double-pronged blade at the bottom of the chamber that spins quickly and chops anything it comes into contact with, including your coffee beans. The blade is activated by pressing a button. It then chops your coffee beans into various sized pieces. Small pieces fall to the bottom and are chopped again, while the large pieces stay towards the top of the chamber. This causes uneven ground, which are difficult to measure. Another issue with these grinders is that they create plenty of heat as they grind, which can burn your beans and ruin the coffee you drink. The heat can also take away some of the flavor of your beans, so you're left with a less-than-delicious cup of coffee. If you have grind your coffee by yourself with a blade mill, it's now time to upgrade to a more efficient. A burr grinder will do the job at less than the cost and deliver a much better result. It's worth it. Try a manual burr mill like the Rhino Hand Grinder if you want to have more control over your brew. These grinders feature burrs, but they are powered by the crank. This gives you more control than a plug-in electrical grinder.