Has bean

[undyingking]

Anyone got a recommendation for a good, not-too-dear, electric coffee grinder? My beloved Russell Hobbs one has given up the ghost.

Are burr grinders really significantly better than blade ones, does anyone know from personal experience?

Or, indeed, any other cogent thoughts relating to coffee and the grinding thereof?

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Are burr grinders really significantly better than blade ones

My understanding is that blade grinders cause very subtle flavour problems so there's not a lot of point asking other people this question unless you know they share your palate.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Apart from flavour differences (related to blade grinders heating the beans more as they grind), which I think probably are fairly subtle, there's a mechanical issue: burrs are supposed to provide a more even particle size. The main problem with blades is you tend to end up with a mix of too-fine dust and too-large chunks. If burrs really avoid this, it'd be worth paying a bit extra for.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

My food processor does the variable chunk size thing too. It's annoying.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

We recently got a mini-chopper device which is much better than the full-size food processor for evenness of chunk. I think with the smaller compartment, they're better able to design the flow arond the blade -- less chance of large chunks getting marooned away from it. It only takes about one onion's worth at once, and it only chops, but it was pretty cheap.