10 Quick Tips About Blade Grinder
Blade Grinder – Why You Shouldn't Use One Blade grinders have blades that look like a propeller (think blenders). They are used to chop coffee beans. They are less expensive than burr grinders and easy to clean but they don't produce uniform ground and can lead to over-extraction and bitterness in your brew. A first-class coffee experience demands uniform particle distribution, something that is only possible with the use of a burr grinder. This is the reason why coffee snobs hate them. Inconsistent Grinds If you've used a grinder with a blade for a long time, the chances are your grinding results have become inconsistent. This is because the grinding device has probably been worn down and dull. As the grinder ages it will produce different-sized pieces of beans. This can lead to different degrees of coarseness. With these different-sized coffee particles, it's hard for your coffee maker to extract the right balance and consistency in flavor. A blade grinder makes use of an e-rotating blade that resembles a propeller to break beans. It cuts the beans into smaller and smaller pieces, which are then tossed into a catcher, which is then filtered through the screen. While this method works but it's not ideal for making the most perfect grind for your drink. A better option is a burr grinder. A burr grinder comes with a powerful motor that has two grinding burrs and is a larger machine. The burrs are set to the exact distance from each other and this determines the degree of coarseness of your ground coffee. If the burrs are close to each other, they will crush the beans rather than cut them. The resulting grounds are less coarse and finer. They can also be brittle and affect the flavor of your coffee. If the burrs on the other hand are not evenly spaced they'll result in large chunks of coarsely ground coffee. It is crucial to select a coffee grinder that has an appropriate setting to match the level of coarseness you want. A sharp blade, when adjusted properly, will create a fine and consistent grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind is becoming increasingly uneven, it might be time to replace the burrs or blade. If you haven't done this, you must also alter the grind setting to get an even grinding. If your grinder produces clumped-up grounds it could be a sign that the blades have worn out or damaged. The clumping happens due to small particles adhering to one another and larger pieces of ground producing larger granules which do not dissolve well in water. This will happen more often as your burrs become duller. Uneven Extraction The size of your coffee grounds is vital to extract flavor, whether you're using a French press pour-over, drip brew or pour-over. Uneven ground sizes can lead to uneven extraction and a sloppy cup of coffee. When the beans are pushed through a blade grinder, they are cut and shredded randomly, leading to an uneven distribution of grind particle sizes. A blade grinder may produce a mixture of large fragments, dust-sized particles, and everything else. These different grind sizes are extracted at different rates, which results in a sloppy and often bitter cup of coffee. The lack of uniformity also results in problems with the tamping process and filtration. With a burr grinder you can get an evenly-sized particle size that allows for more even tamping and filtration, which helps prevent over-extraction and weak brews. With a blade grinder it is more difficult to get an even grind, and you may encounter tamping that is inconsistent from side to side or using the Stockfleth method (which requires some practice). Another issue with blade grinders is their high speed and high heat generation. This could cause the ground to burn and create a bitter taste. Burr grinders generate less heat and are cooler, thus preserving the flavor of beans. Another drawback of a blade grinder is that it's extremely easy to over-grind your beans. Continuously running the grinder produces heat, and eventually causes your beans to be over-extracted, resulting in a bitter brew. To avoid this, you should always pause the grinder before turning it back on. Blade grinders are an easy and inexpensive method of grinding coffee at home. However they're not the ideal choice for those who are serious about their coffee-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 every aspect of your coffee needs! If you're looking to upgrade your blade grinder, take a look at our top picks for most efficient burr grinders on market. espresso grinders of grinder you pick will affect the quality of your brewing and the quality of your drink. Consider your budget, space and preferred brewing method before making a choice. Grounds burned Grounds With a blade grinder it's a sharp blade that rotates like a blender at a rapid speed to chop up the beans. When the blade spins at a quick pace it produces heat that could cause the burning of some of your coffee grounds. These charred particles aren't good for the brewing process and will create an unpleasant taste in your coffee. A first-class coffee experience demands an even distribution of particles for the best flavor extraction during the brewing process. This is not possible with a blade mill, which breaks the beans up into large and small pieces. A burr grinder however can ensure a uniform distribution of particles that can be replicated over many types of brews. Blade grinders have many advantages, including their low price and quick operation. However, they also have some disadvantages like the fact that they create heat when in use and produce different grind sizes and have no control over the final particle size. With a little practice however, there are ways to optimize results despite the inherent limitations of this type of grinder. When combined with a burr grinder, the user can easily adjust the distance between the grinding discs in order to adjust the exact ground size of their choice. This lets them extract all of the desired flavors from their favorite roasted beans every time. It requires a lot of practice to make a great brew using a blade grinder. Angle grinders are powerful tools that should only be employed by professionals. If used improperly it can result in the dangerous condition known as grinding burn, which causes localized changes in the metallographic structure of the surface of the workpiece. This can cause cracking, which should be checked. If not, it could lead to teeth fracture and macropitting. Grinding burn is a major issue that can be caused by a variety of factors including excessive grinding pressure, inadequate cooling or inadequate operator training. If you plan on using an angle grinder, be sure you wear the correct PPE such as gloves with a face shield safety glasses, steel-toe boots and long sleeves. This will stop hot sparks from flying out of the wheel and hitting nearby people or equipment. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures up to 3,600 degF and burn through materials like paint or even metal. Brew that is not what you expected. Blade grinders chop your beans in a random fashion and leaves you with ground which are of different sizes. The uneven ground extracts coffee at different rates, which results in the cup being bitter or weak of coffee. This can ruin the balance of a good cup – the soluble compounds from the beans are slowly extracted making the flavor. You've likely been told that using a burr grinder instead of a blade is the best way to guarantee an excellent beverage. Many people aren't aware how to use a grinder or even what it does and so they purchase one of the inexpensive, inflexible, blade grinders that are readily available in kitchen and grocery store places. These grinders are basically 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. You press a button to start the grinder and the blade chops up your beans into a plethora of differently sized pieces. The small bits are tossed to the bottom, and are then chopped again, while the larger pieces stay towards the top of the chamber. This results in uneven grounds, which are difficult to measure. These grinders can also burn your beans and ruin the coffee. The heat can also rob some of the flavor of your beans. This can leave you with a an unappetizing cup of coffee. If you've grind your own coffee with a blade grinder and you're ready to get rid of it and upgrade to a better. A burr grinder can do the job for only a fraction of the cost and deliver a much better result. It's worth it. Try an manual burr mill, such as the Rhino Hand Grinder if you want greater control over the brew. These grinders feature burrs, however, they are powered by a crank. This gives you more control than a plug-in or electrical grinder.