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Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One

Blade grinders use a propeller-like blade (think blenders) to chop coffee beans. They are less expensive than burr mills and easy to clean, but they don't provide a uniform grind and can cause bitterness or excessive extraction in your coffee.

To enjoy a top-quality coffee experience, you require uniform distribution of the particles. This can only be achieved using a burr mill. It's no wonder coffee people who are snobs dislike burr grinders.

Inconsistent Grinds

If you've used a grinder with a blade for a while, the chances are your grinding results have been inconsistent. This is because the machine has likely been worn down and dull. As the grinder ages, it will produce different-sized pieces of beans. This will result in different degrees of coarseness. It's a challenge for your coffee maker to create the same, balanced taste with these different-sized particles.

A blade grinder makes use of the same propeller-like blade to break the beans. It essentially chops the beans into smaller and smaller chunks that are then thrown through a screen into a catcher. Although this method is effective but it's not ideal to get the perfect grind for your brew. Burr grinders are a better option. A burr grinder has powerful motors, two grinding burrs and is a much larger machine. The burrs are set to a specific distance from one another which determines the fineness of the coffee that you grind.

If the burrs are close to each other, they'll crush the beans rather than cut them. This means that the resultant grounds are less coarse and more fine. They also tend to be fragile, which could negatively affect the taste of your coffee. On the other side when the burrs are placed too spread out, they will result in large chunks of coarsely-ground coffee. It is essential to select a grinder that has a setting that matches the level of coarseness you want.

A sharp blade, adjusted properly, will create a fine and consistent grind for your coffee. If you find that your grind becoming increasingly more uneven, it's probably an ideal time to replace the blade or burrs. If you haven't already done this, you must also change the grind setting to get more even grinding.

If your grinder produces clumped-up grounds this could be a sign that the blades have worn out or damaged. The clumping occurs due to tiny particles bonded to one another and larger pieces of ground making larger granules that do not dissolve well in water. As your burrs get more and more dull this will occur more often.

Uneven Extraction

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

The beans are cut into pieces and shredded randomly as they pass through the blade mill, resulting in an uneven distribution of grind particle size. A blade grinder may produce a mix of large pieces that are dust-sized, as well as everything else. Different grind sizes are extracted at different rates, resulting in an inconsistent and often bitter cup of coffee.

The lack of uniformity also results in problems with tamping and filtration. With a burr mill you can get an even particle size, allowing better tamping and filtering, which prevents over-extraction. It is harder to achieve an equal grind using a blade grinder. It is possible to stamp from side to side or use the Stockfleth Method (which requires some practice).

Another problem with blade grinders is their high speed and heat generation. This can burn the grounds and cause a bitter taste. Burr grinders create less heat and are cooler, preserving the flavor of the beans.

The blade grinder has one final disadvantage: it is easy to grind your beans too fine. Continuously running the grinder produces a lot of heat and will eventually cause your grounds to become over-extracted, resulting in a bitter brew. To avoid this, always stop the grinder before turning it back on.

A blade grinder is a simple and inexpensive way to grind your own coffee at home, but it's not the ideal option for those who are serious about their brewing. For the most effective results, you'll need to utilize a burr mill as well as whole beans. Consider investing in a top coffee grinder that meets all your requirements.

If you're ready to upgrade from your blade grinder, check out our top picks for the top burr grinders available on the market. The kind of grinder you select will impact the quality of your brewing and the quality of your drink. So, think about your budget, space and preferred method of brewing prior to making a decision.

Burned Grounds

With the blade grinder, you're using an extremely sharp blade that moves like a blender at a high speed to break up the beans. The blade's rapid movement produces heat, which could burn some of the 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 an even distribution of particles is necessary for optimal flavour extraction. This consistency is not achievable using a blade grinder that is able to break the beans into small and large pieces. A burr mill grinder mill, however, produces a uniform distribution of particle sizes that can be replicated across a variety of different brews.

While the benefits of a blade grinder include its low cost and quick execution, its main disadvantages are that it creates heat during use, produces inconsistencies in grind size, and has no control over the final particle size. There are ways to improve the results with this type of grinder despite its inherent limitations.

When using a burr mill, the user is able to easily adjust their desired grind size by adjusting the distance between the discs. This allows them to get all the desired flavours from their favourite roasted beans every time. However, making a great brew with a blade grinder requires a lot of trial and error.

An angle grinder is a powerful tool that should only be used only by trained personnel. When operated incorrectly it can result in a dangerous condition known as grinding burn which can cause localized changes in the metallographic structure of the surface of the workpiece. This could lead to cracks that, if not addressed, can eventually result in macropitting and tooth fracture.

Grinding burn is a serious problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons, including excessive grinding pressure, inadequate cooling, or improper operator training. Wear the appropriate PPE when using an angle grinder. This includes safety glasses, a face shield and stainless steel coffee grinder electric toe boots. This will help prevent any hot sparks from flying off the machine and striking equipment or people nearby. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures up to 3,600 degF and cause damage to materials such as paint or metal.

Brew that is disappointing

Blade grinders chop your beans indiscriminately and leaves you with beans which are of different sizes. The unevenly sized grounds release at different rates in your coffee maker, which results in the cup being weak or bitter of coffee. This affects the balance of a good cup - the soluble compounds from the beans are extracted slowly and create the flavor.

It's likely that you've heard that using a burr mill instead of a blade mill is the best way for an excellent brew. However, many people don't know how to use a burr grinder or even what it is and so they purchase one of the inexpensive, inflexible, blade grinders that are easily found in grocery stores and kitchen-type places.

In essence, these grinders have a blade with two pronged in the middle of a chamber that spins fast and chops anything it hits, including your coffee beans. The blade is activated by pressing an on. It then chops coffee beans into various size pieces. The smaller pieces are pushed to the bottom of the chamber and are then chopped up again, whereas the larger pieces remain at the top. This causes uneven ground, which are difficult to determine.

Another issue with these grinders is that they generate plenty of heat as they grind, which can cause the beans to burn and ruin the coffee you drink. The heat also takes away some of the flavor your beans, so you're left with a bland cup of coffee.

If you've grind your own coffee with a blade grinder, it's time to retire it and upgrade to a more powerful. A burr mill will do the job for a fraction of the price, and produce the same results. It's worth it. If you're looking to have more control over your beverage, try a stainless steel manual coffee grinder burr grinder such as the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders coffee beans feature burrs, however, they are powered by the crank. This allows you to control the grind more than an electrical or plug-in grinder.