Coffee Grinders

Coffee Grinders

The sensitive aroma of coffee disappears after grinding. Because even on the short transport route from your area coffee roaster (where you may have ground coffee beans before) to the place where you prepare your coffee, ground coffee loses its aroma. The aromatic substances and oils in coffee beans are particularly sensitive and change when they come in contact with oxygen, causing the ground coffee to lose its aroma in a very short period of time.

Top Coffee Brands

  • Price
  • Origin

In order to extract as much flavor as possible from the flowing water, the abrasive material must have a large total surface area. For example, when preparing espresso it is important that the beans are not "cut" but "broken". In turn, the quality of these processes depends on a suitable grinder.

Hammer mills with rotating knives such as rotating hammers or propellers, which are common in the past, are not suitable because the result is a rather coarse and irregular grinding. A coffee grinder with two grinding discs made of ceramic or stainless steel is recommended. Therefore, this electric coffee grinder is one of the most frequently sold grinders.

Models with classic cone grinders are recommended. They are suitable for all levels of grinding, whether you want to make filter coffee, espresso, or other variations. This type of grinder is considered to be very mild to aroma due to the low heat generated due to the reduced speed.

Basic rules for coffee grinding

1. The material to be ground must have a large surface area. Therefore, the uniformity of grinding is extremely important. Seen purely optically as coffee shavings, these "structures" can be identified under the microscope as flakes with complex structures and the largest surface area. So, the following applies: The better the coffee grinder, the more surface area is created in grinding the coffee!

2. The material to be ground must not be heated during the grinding process, otherwise the volatile aroma has been detonated in the grinding machine and cannot be spread in the cup.

What makes a coffee grinder indispensable

You shouldn't be without your own coffee grinder as the freshness will vary!

When preparing this sensitive natural product, the following principle applies: The shorter the path from the ground coffee beans to the drink in the cup, the better the taste of the coffee. For example, espresso tastes best when you grind coffee beans at home and prepare a drink in your cup right away. So, as a coffee lover, having your own coffee grinder is a must for you.

The technology does it

Basically, coffee grinders differ in the technology of the grinder. Cone grinders, disc grinders, and fly-knife grinders are common. Cone grinders work at low speed. A big advantage of this technique is that the ground coffee is hardly heated and the aroma of the coffee beans is preserved. Disc grinders require higher speeds, which create centrifugal force. They transport the ground coffee outside, preventing it from building up between the panes. However, if too much frictional heat is generated, the aroma will suffer. For this purpose, disc grinders produce a particularly homogeneous material to be ground. Flying knife grinders don't grind the beans, they shred them. This creates particles of different sizes and the ground coffee can get very hot. On the other hand, flying knife grinders work very fast.

Qualities of a good coffee grinder

The coffee grinder should not generate a lot of heat, ensure an even grind, and allow for individual grinder adjustments if possible. For these reasons, black bean aficionados also swear by coffee grinders with conical grinders, as they grind their coffee lightly with a frusto-conical grinding surface and deliver a uniformly granular coffee powder with a strong aroma. Heat conduction is also more efficient with these types of grinders because these devices don't heat up as much and dissipate excess heat outside. Processed in this way, the coffee retains its pure, rich aroma because the fat in the beans is not destroyed by heat. Another advantage of this coffee grinder is that fewer revolutions are required to obtain an evenly ground coffee. Fewer revolutions per minute due to the significantly larger grinding surface. For example, a coffee grinder with a cone grinder is much quieter than a coffee grinder with a disc grinder.

Electric coffee grinder or hand coffee grinder?

Which model you ultimately choose depends in particular on your personal requirements and desires and, of course, whether you prepare a few cups often, or treat yourself to a cup of coffee every now and then. Electric coffee grinders, such as those made by Eureka, Baratza, or Mahlkönig, operate completely automatically. At the touch of a button, you can grind the desired amount of coffee with different grinds according to your wishes. Therefore, it is recommended that you consider in advance which model meets your requirements. A good electric coffee grinder has several hundred watts of power, so coffee beans can be cut at any time without any problems, resulting in an even coffee bean. Grinding. Ease of use and easy and quick cleaning of the coffee grinder are also important aspects of making a purchasing decision.

The independence from electricity or batteries and the convenient shipping options are certainly plus points that a manual factory shouldn't forget. Of course, you can also use such models (such as Hario or Comandante) for all preparation variants, since you can control the duration of the grinding process yourself.

However, a manual coffee grinder requires a bit of strength and stamina, and you have to use it if you want to achieve a very fine grind. Results like this take time! Manual coffee grinders are also not suitable for producing large quantities of ground coffee. For example, you can use this model perfectly if you don't want to refresh yourself at the campsite without a cup of freshly ground coffee.

Perfect down to the last detail

Even after careful brewing, coffee beans can only extract part of their ingredients. However, this does not affect the good taste of the coffee. Conversely, it is known that brewing for too long will not make the drink more flavorful, but will make it more bitter. Therefore, SCAE (Specialty Coffee Association of Europe) recommends an ideal extraction range between 18% and 22%. One of the basic requirements for successful extraction is the correct degree of grinding. Espresso, which takes just 25 seconds to brew, has to be ground finer than coffee, which lasts up to 6 minutes in the hot water of a French press. With many coffee grinders - whether manual coffee grinders or electric versions - the degree of grinding can be adjusted in stages or even continuously.

Conclusion: grind well - brew well

Our own coffee grinder guarantees every cup is fresh! On the other hand, hand grinders are more suitable for low consumption. For electric coffee grinders, the built-in grinder is especially important.

  • A coffee grinder with a conical grinder provides an evenly granulated coffee powder with a delicious aroma.
  • These grinders grind coffee very gently.
  • Compared with other products, the heat transfer is more efficient, so the aroma is preserved.
  • They feature a low number of revolutions and are therefore quieter than electric coffee grinders with disc grinders.

To find the right model for your needs, discover the extensive product range at Cafendo - numerous customer reviews aid the selection, as do detailed product descriptions and more information on a wide range of topics.

Fun facts

The development of coffee grinders is a very profound reflection of the development of coffee culture and technology. Don't know when people first ground coffee. You probably use a grinder to grind beans or grains. The triumph of manual coffee grinders began in the early 18th century. Various museums in Germany trace this development through some impressive exhibits. The collection of the Coffee Mill Museum in Wernsheim, Baden-Württemberg is probably the most important in the world. The oldest mill on display there dates back to the 18th century.