What's a better coffee grinder brand?

[sleepycat]

I wanted to buy a regular coffee grinder for hubby when he's at the office. The choice I had was Hamilton Beach at 30.00 or Cusineart for 50.00. The Cusineart looks nicer and seems more heavy duty but besides that and price are they any differences in the brands? ie durability or extra little features

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I could not be happier with my $50 Kitchenaid blade coffee grinder. Despite what its adherents say, burr grinders are NOT better for every application, and in fact if you drink French press (as I do), burr grinders are actually worse. They grind the beans too fine, leading to sludge in the bottom of the coffee cup. Whereas just under five seconds with this blade grinder gives me a consistently perfect grind with no sludge.

Best of all, the blade assembly and cup of the Kitchenaid grinder is a separate piece from the motor. Why is this a good thing? Because it means you can chuck the top into the dishwasher to clean it, which means say goodbye to the hassle and waste of owning two coffee grinders, one for coffee and one for spices.

[Buckethead]

I drink french press coffee every day and I would never go back to a blade grinder from my burr grinder. You just need to choose a model that has a few coarse settings. I agree that they're mainly geared towards espresso drinkers, but the consistency of a burr grinder can't be beat by a blade grinder, it's just physics.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

But...if I'm already getting perfect consistency from a $50 blade grinder, why do I need to spend the extra money on a burr grinder?

[chuckl]

if your burr grinder grinds too fine for French press, then just set it coarser. Duh. The fact is, a good burr grinder will make a more consistent grind. You might not need it, though, if all you're doing is drip or french press.

[HillJ]

owning two grinders; one for coffee & one for spices means I don't need to waste water washing housings. A dry wipe and I'm good to go.

Burr grinders clog, coffee can build up inside the often tiny shoot. As for grind, that's the experience of the brewer.

With a gizillion choices out there I'd recommend a basic model. You can always spend more $$ ...

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I don't believe I was suggesting having the grinder housing be the ONLY thing you wash at a time.

On the other hand, a "dry wipe"? That's enough to keep your mustard seeds from smelling and tasting like the toasted cumin you ground last week? If you say so.

[HillJ]

Nothing wrong with my spice grinder or the grinder I'm using for coffee beans over 20 years now. Differing views on how to prepare coffee sure draws a passionate crowd.

Good luck sleepycat. Experiment and report back.

[sleepycat]

Thanks for your info. I think anything would be better than the one he was using. It was an old blade grinder from university days. I was hoping I could get away with buying the cheaper one.

[alanbarnes]

It all depends on what you need the mill to do. If you're going to be making espresso, count on spending at least $150 for a Solis or Saeco conical-burr unit. For drip or french press coffee, a basic Krups / Braun / Bodum with a spinning blade will do the job very well for less than $25. I've had terrible luck with inexpensive burr mills with the exception of the manual Zassenhaus.

[HillJ]

Be especially careful when selecting a burr grinder. They clog very easily...especially over time and are a real p.i.t.a. to clean.

[jayt90]

I had a cheap $35 PC (same as Kenmore) burr, took it back because it was messy and produced an uneven grind no matter how it was adjusted. Got a Kitchenaid A-9, and just this week a manual Zassenhaus (works great, but it would be a distraction in an office.) Both of these burr grinders can be cleaned by grinding a handful of barley.

Sweetmaria's http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.elect... likes a simple Bodum at $22, but it may be out of stock.

[HillJ]

No doubt there are burr grinders at various prices that can do a good job. But you lost me at cleaning with a handful of barley (she said with a wink). A whirling blade requires a quick wipe down and you're on your way to perk heaven.

[jayt90]

I agree, somewhat, as I have apparently bought into the burr thing, and learned they are messy and problematic. My KA has only required a barley treatment 3 times in 2 years, but it is messy.
I got the Zassenhaus to prove a point (somewhat obsessively), that a superb cuppa can be made everyday, at home, with a hand grinder and an Aeropress.

[DishyDiva]

If you don't have barley on hand, rice grains work as well.

[Buckethead]

I don't know about those two in particular, but the main difference (that matters) between coffee grinders is the grinding mechanism, either a high-speed spinning blade or a set of rotating burrs. A burr grinder is much better than a blade grinder, it grinds the beans at a lower speed and the coffee comes out in a more consistent size. Of course, burr grinders cost more. Which Cuisinart model are you looking at?

[sleepycat]

well i bought but didnt open
cuisinart grind central brushed stainless series 2.6l 18 cup capacity model dcg 12bcc

[Buckethead]

That's a blade grinder. Does he need a lot of coffee ground at once? It seems like the main thing that grinder has going for it is a large capacity. Reviewers on Amazon don't seem to think much of its reliability though.

[sleepycat]

no he's just making it for himself hmmmmmm

[HillJ]

My fav grinder remains the 20.00 Krups "whirly" grinder.
I own 3; coffee bean, tea leaves & whole spices.
Going on 23 years with the first one.
Good luck!