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Coffee Grinder - Should I Buy One?by Eyal Rosen We have all heard about coffee grinders. They are said to really improve the quality of the coffee. But is it in fact that significant? Is it worth the cost, the space on the countertop, and the hustle? Well, perhaps, but we should consider a few things first… The 4 Ms of Italian coffeeThe Italians have four traditional Ms that determine the ultimate quality of the coffee: Macchina — the coffee maker, be it espresso, drip/filter, French Press, etc; Miscela – the blend that requires a fresh high-quality roast with close to 100% Arabica beans; La Mano--the skilled hand of the barista, the barman who prepares the brew; and finally Macinino -- the coffee grinder. Should you buy a coffee grinder?If any one of the 4 Ms is in bad shape, the coffee will not come out right. If the roast is not freshly delivered from the roaster (sorry, no shortcuts here), or if the coffee machine is of poor quality, a coffee grinder is a waste of money - a classic case of the "weakest link". Otherwise, a coffee grinder can take your brew to new heights. Which coffee grinder is right for me?Basically, there are two levels of coffee grinders. At the entry level are the electric blade and manual grinders. These double also as spice mills and are very trendy mainly due to their low cost – usually up to $25. They output an inconsistent grind however they are certainly much better than purchasing pre-ground coffee. While whole bean coffee keeps its aroma and flavor for two weeks, ground coffee loses it in two hours! Second come the electric burr grinders. These little wonders take coffee to the next level. To get homogeneous grind particles they use two burrs facing each other at a fixed distance that results in a consistent grind size. When it comes to cost, there are no short cuts. The entry-level burr coffee grinder starts at $25 and the higher quality ones, called conical burr coffee grinders, start at $75. The higher the price the better the results, as long as we keep in mind our "weakest link"… SourcesTags: |
