Don't Buy Into These "Trends" About Blade Grinder

Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One

A blade grinder employs an e-type propeller (think blenders) to chop coffee beans. They are cheaper than burr mills, and easier to clean, however they don't provide a uniform grind and can cause bitterness and excessive extraction in your coffee.

A first-class coffee experience demands uniform distribution of the particles and this can only be achieved by using a burr grinder. This is the reason why coffee lovers hate them.

Inconsistent Grinds

You might have noticed that your grinding results aren't consistent when you've been using a blade grinder for a long time. The machine is likely to be worn out and dull. As the grinder wears down it will cut beans into different-sized pieces. This will produce grounds with varying levels of coarseness. With the different sizes of coffee particles, it's difficult for your coffee maker to create a balanced, consistent flavor.

A blade grinder cuts beans by rotating a blade that resembles propellers. It basically chops the beans into smaller and smaller chunks, which are then dropped through a screen into a catcher. This method is effective, but it doesn't produce the most efficient grind for your beverage. An alternative is the burr grinder. A burr grinder comes with an efficient motor, two grinding burrs and is a larger machine. The burrs are set to an exact distance from each other which determines the fineness of the coffee you grind.

If the burrs are too close to each other, they'll crush the beans rather than cut them. The resultant grounds are less coarse and more fine. They are also more fragile, which could negatively impact your coffee's taste. On the other however, if the burrs are placed too separated, they could result in large chunks of coarsely-ground coffee. It is important to select the grinder with a setting that matches the coarseness you want.

A sharp blade, if adjusted properly, will produce a consistent and fine grind for your coffee. If you find that your grind is becoming more and more uneven, it's a good idea to replace the blade or burrs. It is also advisable to change the grind setting if you haven't before in order to help you achieve a more uniform grind.

If your grinder is producing clumped-up grounds this could be an indication that the blades are worn or damaged. The clumping happens because tiny particles bind to one another and larger pieces of ground are formed, making larger granules that won't dissolve in water. This happens more frequently as your burrs become duller.

Uneven Extraction

The size of your coffee grounds is important for flavor extraction, regardless of whether you're making 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 blade grinder they are cut and shred indiscriminately resulting in an uneven distribution of the grind particle sizes. A blade grinder may produce a mix of large fragments that are dust-sized, as well as everything else. The different sizes of grinds produce at a different speed, creating the coffee drink that is often bitter and inconsistent.

In addition, the lack of uniformity results in problems with the tamping process and filtration. With a burr grinder you can get an even particle size that allows for more even tamping and filtering, which helps prevent over-extraction and weak beer brews. It is more difficult to achieve an even grind using a blade grinder. You may need to tamp from side-to-side, or employ the Stockfleth Method (which requires some practice).

The high speed and the heat produced by blade grinders is a different problem. They can cause the ground to burn and produce a bitter flavor. Burr grinders generate less heat and are cooler, thus preserving the flavor of beans.

The blade grinder has one final disadvantage: it is easy to grind your beans too fine. The grinder will produce lots of heat, and, eventually, your beans will be pushed to the limit. This will result in a bitter brew. To avoid this, pause your grinder before turning it on again.

The use of a blade grinder is a simple and cost-effective method of grinding your coffee at home, but it's not the best option for those who are serious about their coffee brewing. For the best results, it is recommended to utilize a burr mill as well as whole beans. Make sure you purchase a high-quality coffee grinder that meets all your needs.

If you're looking to upgrade your blade grinder, take a look at our top picks for the best  burr grinders  on the market. Selecting the right grinder is an important decision that will affect the quality of your brewing and overall cup quality so take into consideration your budget, space, and your preferred method of brewing when making your choice.

Grounds burned Grounds

A blade grinder employs sharp blades to grind the beans. The blade rotates at high speeds, like blenders. When the blade spins at a quick pace there is a lot of heat produced that could cause the burning of some of your coffee grounds. The burned particles aren't suitable for brewing and will create an unpleasant taste in your cup of coffee.

For a truly exceptional experience the uniform distribution of particles is necessary to ensure the best flavor extraction. This is not possible with a blade grinder that breaks the beans up into large and small pieces. A burr mill, on the other hand produces a uniform distribution of particles sizes that can be reproduced over a number of beverages.

While the benefits of a blade grinder are its low cost and speedy execution, its main disadvantages are that it produces heat when used, causes inconsistencies in grind size, and lacks control over final particle size. There are ways to improve results with this type of grinder, despite its inherent limitations.

When paired with a burr grinder, the user can easily alter the gap between the grinding discs to fine-tune the exact size of ground of their choice. This lets users to extract the desired flavor every time from their favorite roast beans. It requires a lot of practice to make a great drink using a grinder blade.

An angle grinder is an extremely powerful tool that should only be used only by trained professionals. It can cause grinding burn when it is used improperly. This causes localized changes to the metal surface of the workpiece. This can lead to cracking that, if left unchecked could eventually lead to macropitting and tooth fracture.

Grinding burns can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as excessive grinding pressure or inadequate cooling. It can also be caused by improper training for operators. Wear the correct safety equipment when working with an angle grinder. This includes safety glasses, a face shield and steel toe boots. This will prevent sparks of heat from flying off the tool and hitting equipment or people nearby. Sparks can reach temperatures as high as 3,600 degF, and are capable of burning through paint or even metal.

Brew that is disappointing

Blade grinders chop your beans in a random fashion and leaves you with ground that vary in size. The ground is extracted at different rates, resulting in a weak or bitter cup of coffee. This can ruin the balance of a great cup. The soluble compounds from your beans are extracted slowly making the flavor.

It's likely that you've heard that using a burr mill instead of a blade mill is the best way to make a great brew. Many people aren't aware how to use a grinder or even what it does, so they buy one of the inexpensive, inflexible blade grinders easily found in grocery stores and kitchen-type places.

These grinders are basically a two-pronged blade that is in the middle of an enclosed chamber. It spins quickly and cuts anything it comes in contact with including your beans. The blade is activated by pressing an on. It then chops your coffee beans into various sized pieces. The small pieces are pushed 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 that are difficult to determine.

Another issue with these grinders is that they produce lots of heat when they grind, which can cause the beans to burn and ruin your coffee. The heat also removes some of the flavor of the beans, which means you're left with a bland cup of coffee.

If you've been grinding your coffee using a blade mill, it's 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 worth the investment. If you're looking to have more control over the brew try a manual burr grinder like the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders have burrs, but they are powered by cranks. This gives you more control than an electrical or plug-in grinder.