Cambridge Education

Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One

Blade grinders are equipped with blades that look like propellers (think blenders). They are used to chop coffee beans. They are less expensive than burr grinders, and are easy to clean but they don't produce uniform ground and can lead to over-extraction and bitterness in your coffee.

A top-quality coffee experience requires uniform particle distribution which can only be achieved by using the use of a burr grinder. It's no wonder coffee grinders sale people who are snobs dislike burr grinders.

Inconsistent Grinds

You may have noticed that your grinding results are inconsistent in the event that you've used a blade grinder for a long time. The grinder is likely to be worn out and dull. As the grinder wears out, it will chop up beans into various sizes. This will produce grounds with different levels of coarseness. With these various-sized coffee particles, it's difficult for your coffee maker to extract the right balance and consistency in flavor.

A blade grinder cuts beans using a rotating blade that resembles an engine. It basically chops the beans into smaller and smaller pieces and then drops them through a screen into the catcher. This method is efficient however it doesn't provide the best grind possible for your beverage. Burr grinders are a better alternative. A burr grinder is a bigger machine, with a large motor and two grinding burrs. The burrs can be set at a certain distance apart which determines the degree of coarseness of the coffee that is ground.

When the burrs get too close, they will crush rather than cut the beans. This results in a finer and less coarse grind. They also tend to be soft, which can adversely impact your coffee's taste. On the other side when the burrs are spaced too separated, they could create large chunks of coarsely-ground coffee. It is important to select an espresso coffee grinder grinder with a setting that matches the desired coarseness.

A sharp, well-adjusted blade will produce a consistent and fine grind for your coffee. If you notice your grind is becoming more uneven, it's probably best to replace the blade or burrs. If you haven't yet done this, you must also alter the grind setting to get a more even grind.

If your grinder produces clumped-up grounds it could be an indication that the blades have worn out or damaged. The clumping occurs when small particles adhere to one another, and larger pieces of ground, producing larger granules that don'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, creating an unbalanced cup.

As the beans circulate through a blade grinder they are sliced and shredded randomly, resulting in an uneven distribution of the grind particle sizes. A blade grinder can produce an assortment of large pieces that are dust-sized, as well as everything between. The different sizes of grinds produce at different rates, leading to an inconsistent and often bitter cup of coffee.

The lack of uniformity also causes problems with tamping and filtration. With a burr mill, you can attain an even particle size, allowing for more uniform tamping and filtering that prevents over-extraction and weak beers. It is more difficult to achieve an equal grind using a blade. You may have to tap from side-to-side, or use the Stockfleth Method (which requires some practice).

Another issue with blade grinders is their speed and the generation of heat. This can cause the ground to become burned and produce an bitter flavor. Burr grinders create less heat and are cooler, which preserves the flavor of beans.

The final drawback of a blade grinder is that it's extremely easy to over-grind your beans. Continuously running the grinder produces heat and will eventually cause your beans to be over-extracted, resulting in bitter beverages. To avoid this, you must pause your grinder before switching it back on.

Blade grinders are a convenient and inexpensive method of grinding coffee at home. However, they're not the best option for those who are serious about their brewing. For the best results, it is recommended to make use of a burr mill and whole beans. Make sure you invest in your coffee the brewing experience and invest in an efficient grinder that will satisfy all your coffee needs!

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

Grounds burned Grounds

With the blade grinder, you're using a sharp blade that rotates like a blender at a rapid speed to break up the beans. As the blade rotates at a fast speed it produces heat that may burn up the coffee grounds. These particles will ruin the taste of your coffee and are not suitable for brewing.

A premium coffee experience demands uniform distribution of the particles to ensure optimal flavor extraction during the brewing process. This consistency is not achievable with a blade grinder that is able to break the beans up into small and large pieces. A burr mill, on the contrary produces a uniform distribution of particle sizes that can be replicated over a variety of beverages.

While the benefits of a grinder with blades include its low price and fast operation, its major disadvantages are that it creates heat when used, causes irregularities in the size of the grind, and has no control over the final particle size. There are ways to improve results using this type of grinder, despite its inherent limitations.

When used in conjunction with a burr mill, the user is able to easily alter the gap between the grinding discs, allowing them to fine-tune the exact size of the ground that they prefer. This lets them to extract the flavor they desire every time from their favourite coffee beans. It takes a lot of time to make a good beverage using a blade grinder.

Angle grinders are powerful devices that should only be employed by professionals. If used improperly it could cause a dangerous condition known as grinding burn, that causes localized changes to the metallographic structure of the surface of the workpiece. This could lead to cracks that, if unchecked, can eventually result in macropitting and tooth fracture.

Grinding burns can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive grinding pressure or insufficient cooling. It can also be caused by improper instruction for the operator. Wear the appropriate PPE when using an angle grinder. This includes safety glasses, a face shield and steel toe boots. This will stop hot sparks from flying off the wheel and hitting nearby equipment or people. Sparks can reach temperatures as high as 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit and can be able to burn through materials such as paint or even metal.

Disappointing Brew

A blade grinder will chop your beans in a random manner and leave you with different-sized grounds. The ground is extracted at different rates, leading to a weak or bitter cup of coffee grinders sale. This ruins the balance of a great cup. The soluble compounds from the beans are slowly extracted, creating the flavor.

You've likely heard that using a burr grinder instead of a blade grinder is the best way to ensure an excellent drink. But many people don't know how to use a burr grinder or even what it is, so they buy one of the inexpensive, inflexible blade grinders that are readily available in supermarkets and other kitchen-type places.

The grinders that are available for sale are essentially an angled blade with two pronged edges that sit in the middle of an enclosed chamber. It spins fast and chops everything it comes into contact with including your beans. The blade is activated by pressing the button. It then chops your coffee beans into various sizes. The smaller pieces fall to the bottom of the chamber and are again chopped, while the larger pieces remain at the top. This results in uneven grounds that are difficult to determine.

These grinders can also burn your beans, ruining your Compact coffee grinder. The heat can also remove some of the flavor from your beans. This leaves you with not the best cup of coffee.

If you've been grinding your own coffee with a blade grinder, it's time to retire it and upgrade to a more powerful. A burr grinder will accomplish the job at less than the cost and provide a better result. It's worth it. If you're looking to have more control over your brew, try a manual burr grinder like the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders have burrs, however, they are powered by a crank. This allows you to control the grind more than a plug-in electrical grinder.