Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One

A blade grinder uses a propeller-like blade (think blenders) to chop coffee beans. They are cheaper than burr grinders and easy to clean, but they don't produce uniform ground and can cause over-extraction and bitterness in your bistro electric coffee grinder.

A top-quality coffee experience requires uniform distribution of particles and this can only be achieved by using the burr grinder. This is why coffee lovers hate burr grinders.

Inconsistent Grinds

You may have noticed that the results of your grinding aren't always consistent if you've used a blade grinder for a long time. This is because the machine has probably been worn down and dull. As the grinder ages it will produce different-sized pieces of beans. This results in ground with varying levels of coarseness. It's a challenge for your coffee brewer to get the same, balanced taste due to the different sizes of the particles.

Blade grinders break beans using a rotating blade that appears like propellers. It basically chops the beans into smaller and smaller pieces that are then thrown through a screen into a catcher. While this method works, it's not ideal for making the most perfect grind for your brew. A better alternative is a burr grinder. A burr grinder comes with an efficient motor, two grinding burrs and is a larger machine. The burrs can be set at a specific distance, which will determine the quality of the coffee being ground.

If the burrs are close together, they will pulverize the beans rather than cut them. As a result, the ground that results are less coarse and more fine. They are also more brittle, which can negatively impact the taste of your coffee. On the other hand when the burrs are too separated, they could produce large chunks of coarsely ground coffee. It is essential to choose the grinder with a setting that matches the coarseness you want.

A sharp, properly-adjusted blade will produce a consistent 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. It is also advisable to change the grind setting if you haven't done so already to allow you to achieve an even grind.

If your grinder is producing clumped-up grounds, it could be a sign the blades have worn out or damaged. The clumping occurs when small particles adhere to one another and larger pieces of ground, making larger granules that won't dissolve in water. This will happen more often as your burrs get duller.

Uneven Extraction

Whether you're brewing drip, French press, or pour-over the size of your grounds play an important role in the extraction of flavor. Uneven ground sizes can cause uneven extraction, resulting in an unbalanced cup of coffee.

As the beans circulate through a blade grinder, they are cut and shred randomly, resulting in an uneven distribution of grind particle sizes. A blade grinder can create a mix of large fragments, dust-sized particles, and everything else. Different grind sizes produce at a different speed, creating the cup of coffee that is often bitter and inconsistent.

The lack of uniformity also creates problems when the tamping process and filtration. With a burr mill you can get a uniform particle size, which allows for better tamping and filtering, which can prevent excessive extraction. It is more difficult to achieve an equal grind using a blade. You may have to stamp from side-to-side, or use the Stockfleth Method (which requires some practice).

Another issue with blade grinders is their speed and high heat generation. This can burn the grounds and cause a bitter taste. Burr grinders are cooler and don't generate as much heat, which helps preserve the flavor of the bean.

The blade grinder has one final disadvantage: it's easy to grind your beans too fine. The grinder will generate lots of heat, and eventually your grounds will be over-extracted. This can result in a bitter brew. To avoid this, always put the grinder off before switching it back on.

Blade grinders are a simple, inexpensive way to grind coffee at home. However they're not the Best Burr Grinder choice for those who are serious about their coffee-brewing. It is recommended to use whole beans and use burr grinders for the most effective results. You should invest in your brewing experience and purchase a grinder that is of high-quality and will deliver on every aspect of your coffee needs!

If you're looking to upgrade from your blade grinder, check out our top picks for the best burr grinders on the market. Choosing the right type of grinder is a major decision that will affect your brewing and overall cup quality, therefore, you should consider your budget, your space and the method you prefer to use when making your decision.

Burned Grounds

A blade grinder employs a sharp blade to crush the beans. The blade rotates at high speeds similar to blenders. The blade's speedy movement creates heat, which can ignite some of the coffee grounds. The burned particles aren't suitable for the brewing process and will create an unpleasant taste in your coffee.

For a truly exceptional experience, a uniform distribution of particles is essential to ensure the best flavor extraction. This consistency is not achievable using a blade grinder that breaks the beans into small and large pieces. A burr grinder, on the other hand, achieves a uniform distribution of particles that is reproducible across a variety of different brews.

While the benefits of a blade grinder are its low cost and speedy operation, its major drawbacks are that it generates heat during use, produces inconsistencies in grind size, and has no control over the final particle size. There are ways to increase the efficiency using this type of grinder despite its inherent limitations.

When using a burr mill, the user is able to easily alter their desired ground size by adjusting the distance between the discs. This lets users to extract the desired flavor every time from their favourite roasted bean. It requires a lot of practice to make a good drink using a grinder blade.

An angle grinder is an extremely powerful tool that should be utilized only by qualified personnel. If it is used incorrectly, it can cause the dangerous condition known as grinding burn that causes localized changes to the metallographic structure of the workpiece's surface. This could lead to cracks that, if unchecked could eventually lead to macropitting and tooth fracture.

Grinding burn can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as excessive grinding pressure or inadequate cooling. It could also be caused by improper training for operators. Wear the appropriate PPE when working with an angle grinder. This includes safety glasses with a face shield as well as stainless steel manual coffee grinder toe boots. This will prevent hot sparks from flying off the wheel and striking equipment or people nearby. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures as high 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can be destructive to materials like paint or metal.

Disappointing Brew

Blade grinders chop your beans randomly and leaves you with ground 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 coffee. This ruins the balance of a great cup. The soluble components from the beans are slowly extracted, creating the flavor.

You've likely heard that using a brewing burr grinder instead of a blade is the best way to ensure the best beverage. However, many people don't know how to use a grinder or even what it can do and so they purchase one of the cheap, uncontrollable blade grinders easy to find in kitchen and grocery store places.

These grinders are basically two-pronged blades that are in the middle of an enclosed chamber. It spins quickly and cuts anything it comes in contact with including beans. You press a button activate it and the blade chops up your beans into a bunch of different sized pieces. Small pieces fall to the bottom and are chopped again, while the larger pieces remain towards the top of the chamber. This results in uneven grounds, which are difficult to measure.

These grinders can also cause burns to your beans and ruin the coffee. The heat can also rob some of the flavor from your beans. This can leave you with a an unappetizing cup of coffee.

If you've been grinding your coffee yourself using a blade mill it's now time to upgrade to something more efficient. A burr mill can do the job for a fraction the price, and produce an even better result. It's worth it. If you're looking for more control over your beverage Try a manual grinder, such as the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders are equipped with burrs however, they are powered by a crank. This gives you more control than a plug-in or electrical grinder.