Coffee aficionados know that there’s more to your morning cup than just a hot beverage. There are distinct notes and flavors that impact the taste of your coffee.
This is why some people become connoisseurs and learn to savor each sip. But how you grind your beans makes a huge difference in the final taste.
If you want to be able to stand in your kitchen and smell fresh grounds, then you need to invest in a burr grinder. A standard blade grinder isn’t going to cut it if you take your coffee seriously.
While we wrote a previous article on manual versus electric grinders, if you still want an electric grinder, there are two varieties of burr and blade grinders to choose from. But how do you know what’s going to work best for you?
To find out more, learn on!
What is a blade grinder?
Like a blender tool, blade grinders rapidly chop the coffee with a sharp blade. How long you spin and cut the beans will decide the fineness of the grind.
What is a burr grinder?
A burr grinder is a type of coffee grinder which uses two revolving abrasive surfaces to grind coffee beans. The beans are ground a few at a time, and the resulting grounds are used to make espresso or other coffee drinks. Burr grinders can be either flat or conical, and they work by grinding the beans between the two abrasive surfaces. Blade grinders, on the other hand, have rotating blades that chop up the beans into grounds.
The differences between the burr and the blade quality
These types of grinders can produce very different results. The 4 main differences are outlined below.
1. Consistent coffee grind
With a burr grinder, you’re more likely to get a steady grind. This is attributed to the 2 burr sets that function together to ground all sides of the beans. The blade grinder will randomly chop beans with a blade that can give you a few smaller grinds. However, it causes certain parts of the coffee to under-extract and other over-extracting parts that can spoil the taste of your coffee.
2. Controllability
The burr grinder provides more control over the ground scale than the knife grinder. A burr grinder may be used to change the spacing between the burrs.
A burr grinder may be used to change the spacing between the burrs. A blade grinder has no option for controlling grind size; you must grind it longer and hope that the grinds are all even. If you want to brew espresso, you’ll need a burr grinder because this isn’t dependable enough to obtain a fine espresso grind.
3. Affordability
Although a burr grinder can be found on a budget, it is much harder than a blade grinder, which can be purchased much cheaper.
4. Which one is more convent?
The blade grinder is more convenient; it has a powerful motor and can work even quicker. But, the burr grinder is easier to wash.
So, which one should you buy?
Each grinder has its benefits and drawback. We have created a list of pros/cons to help you consider all of them at once. Whatever you choose, fresh ground coffee can make a difference.
Burr Grinders: The Pros & Cons
Pros
- Consistent grind
- Easy to clean
- Control the size of the grind
Cons
- More expensive
- Slower
Our Favorite Burr Grinder: OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
- Durable 40-millimeter stainless steel conical burrs create uniform grounds for optimal…
- 15 settings (plus Micro settings) let you adjust your grind to suit your taste
- One touch start timer keeps your last setting; just push to grind
Blade Grinders: The Pros & Cons
Pros
- Faster
- Affordable
Cons
- Harder to clean
- Can’t control grind size
- Grinds aren’t consistent
Our favorite blade grinder: Coffee Grinder Electric AICOK Nut & Spice Grinder
- Portable & Detachable Design: The container is portable and detachable design
- Powerful Grind and Large Capacity: 200W DC motor ensures you can grind coffee beans
- Safety Protection: There is a safety lock that the coffee grinder, when turned one
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
