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 mills and are easy to clean, but they don't provide a uniform grind and can cause bitterness or over-extraction in your brew.
To enjoy a top-quality coffee experience, you require uniform distribution of particles. This can only be achieved using burr mills. This is why coffee snobs loathe them.
Inconsistent Grinds
If you've been using a blade grinder for a long time there's a good chance that your grinding results have been inconsistent. This is because the grinding device has likely become worn out and dull. As the grinder wears down, it will chop up beans into different-sized pieces. This can lead to different degrees of coarseness. It's difficult for your coffee maker to create a consistent, balanced flavor with these different-sized particles.
Blade grinders use a propeller-like rotating blade to break the beans. It essentially chops the beans into smaller and smaller chunks, which are then dropped through a screen and into a catcher. This method is effective however it's not the most efficient grind for your brew. Burr grinders are a better alternative. A burr grinder is a much larger machine with a powerful motor and two grinding burrs. The burrs are set to the exact distance from each other which determines the fineness of your ground coffee.
If the burrs get too close, they pulverize rather than cut the beans. As a result, the resulting grounds are less coarse and more fine. They can also be brittle, which can affect the flavor of your coffee. On the other however if the burrs are spaced too separated, they could produce large chunks of coarsely ground coffee. It's crucial to choose a coffee grinder that has an adjustment that is in line with the coarseness you desire.
A sharp blade, when adjusted properly, will produce a consistent and fine grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind becoming increasingly more uneven, it's best to replace the blade or burrs. You should also think about changing the grind setting if you haven't done so previously to allow you to achieve a more uniform grind.
If your grinder produces clumped-up grounds, it could be a sign that the blades have worn out or damaged. The clumping happens when tiny particles stick to each other and larger pieces of ground are formed, producing larger granules that don't dissolve in water. As your burrs become more and more dull this will happen more frequently.
Uneven Extraction
The size of your coffee grounds is vital for flavor extraction, 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 grinder blade, they are cut and shred indiscriminately resulting in an uneven distribution of grind particle sizes. A blade grinder creates smaller fragments, smaller particles and everything between. The different sizes of grinds extract at an uneven speed, creating a cup of coffee that is usually bitter and inconsistent.
Uneven distribution can cause problems when tamping or filtering. With a burr grinder, you can achieve an evenly-sized particle size that allows for more even tamping and filtration which prevents over-extraction and weak brews. It is more difficult to achieve an even grind using a blade niche grinder. It is possible 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 are another issue. The grounds can be burned and produce a bitter flavor. Burr grinders are cooler and don't generate the same amount of heat, which preserves the flavor of the bean.
Another drawback of grinding with a blade is that it's very easy to over-grind your beans. The grinder will produce lots of heat, and, eventually, your beans will be pushed to the limit. This can result in a bitter brew. To avoid this, you must pause your grinder before turning it back on.
Blade grinders are a simple cost-effective method to grind high-performance Coffee grinders at home. However they're not the best choice for those who are serious about their coffee brewing. You should stick to whole beans and a burr grinder to get the best results. Make sure you purchase a high-quality coffee grinder that will meet all your needs.
If you're looking to upgrade from your blade grinder, look through our top choices for the most efficient burr grinders on market. The kind of grinder you pick will impact the quality of your brewing as well as your beverage. So, think about your budget, space and preferred method of brewing prior to making your decision.
Grounds burned Grounds
With a blade grinder is an extremely sharp blade that moves like a blender at a high speed to chop up the beans. As the blade moves at a quick pace it produces heat that could cause the burning of the grounds of coffee. These charred particles aren't good for the brewing process and will create an unpleasant taste in your cup of coffee.
A first-class coffee experience demands an even distribution of particles to ensure optimal flavor extraction during the brewing process. This consistency is impossible with a blade grinder, which breaks the beans up into small and large pieces. A burr grinder however ensures an even distribution of particles that can be replicated across a variety of brews.
Blade grinders offer a variety of advantages, including their low price and quick operation. However, they do have a few disadvantages, such as the fact that they produce heat when in use and produce different grind sizes and have no control over the final particle size. There are ways to improve results using this kind of grinder despite its inherent limitations.
When combined with a burr grinder 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 preference. This lets them extract the desired flavours every time from their favorite coffee beans. However, making a good brew with a blade grinder takes a lot of trial and error.
An angle grinder is a powerful tool that should be used only by trained personnel. If it is used incorrectly, it can cause a dangerous condition known as grinding burn which causes localized changes in the metallographic structure of the surface of the workpiece. This can lead to cracking that is not properly checked, can eventually lead to macropitting and tooth fracture.
Grinding burns can be caused by many factors, including excessive grinding pressure or insufficient cooling. It can also be caused by poor operator training. If you intend to use an angle grinder, be sure to wear the proper PPE including gloves and a face shield, safety glasses, stainless steel coffee grinder electric-toe boots and long sleeves. This will prevent hot sparks from flying off the wheel and striking equipment or people close by. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures as high as 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can burn through materials like paint or metal.
Brew that is not what you expected.
Blade grinders chop your beans in a random fashion and leaves you with beans which are of different sizes. These different sizes of grounds release at different rates in your coffee maker, which can result in an unpalatable or weak cup of coffee. This affects the balance of a fantastic cup. The soluble components from the beans are extracted slowly making the flavor.
You've probably heard that using the burr mill rather than blade mills is the best way to make an excellent beer. Many people don't even know what a burr mill does. They buy the cheap, uncontrollable blade grinders they can buy at supermarkets and places that are kitchen-like.
In essence, these coffe grinders have a double-pronged blade at the bottom of a chamber that spins fast and cuts up whatever it strikes such as coffee beans. You press a button to start the grinder and the blade chops up your beans into a bunch of different-sized pieces. The small pieces are pushed to the bottom of the chamber, and are chopped again, while the larger pieces remain at the top. This causes uneven grounds that are difficult to determine.
These grinders could also burn your beans which can ruin your coffee. The heat also removes some of the flavor the beans, which means you're left with a mediocre cup of coffee.
If you have been grinding your coffee with a blade mill, it's now time to upgrade to a more effective. A burr mill can do the job for a fraction of the cost, and will produce a much superior result. It's worth it. If you're looking to have more control over your beverage Try a manual grinder such as the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders have burrs, but are powered by an engine, which gives more control than a plug-in or electric grinder.