Blade Grinder – Why You Shouldn’t Use One
Blade grinders are equipped with a blade that looks like a propeller (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 yield uniform grounds and can cause over-extraction and bitterness in your brew.
A first-class coffee experience demands uniform particle distribution which can only be achieved by using a burr grinder. It’s no wonder that coffee snobs hate burr grinders.
Inconsistent Grinds
If you’ve used a blade grinder for a while it is likely that your grinding results have changed. The machine is likely to wear out and dull. As the grinder wears down, it will chop up beans into different sizes. This can result in different degrees of coarseness. With these different-sized coffee particles, it’s difficult for your coffee maker to extract the right balance and consistency in flavor.
Blade grinders use the same propeller-like blade to break beans. It basically chops the beans into smaller and smaller chunks that are then thrown through a screen into a catcher. This method is efficient, but it doesn’t produce the best grind possible for your drink. Burr grinders are a better option. A burr grinder is a larger machine that has a powerful motor and two grinding burrs. The burrs can be set at a specific distance and will determine the degree of coarseness of the coffee being ground.
If the burrs are close to each other, they will crush the beans, rather than cutting them. This means that the resultant grounds are less coarse and more fine. They may also be brittle and alter the flavor of your coffee. On the other hand if the burrs are spaced too far apart, they will result in large chunks of coarsely-ground coffee. It’s crucial to choose the coffee grinder with an adjustment that is in line with the level of coarseness you want.
A sharp blade, if adjusted correctly, will result in a consistent and fine grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind is becoming more uneven, it may be time to replace the burrs or blade. It is also advisable to change the grind setting if you haven’t already, as this will help you achieve an even and consistent grind.
If your grinder produces clumped-up grounds this could be an indication that the blades have worn out or damaged. The clumping occurs when small particles adhere to each other and larger pieces of ground, creating larger granules which don’t dissolve in water. This will happen more often as your burrs get duller.
Uneven Extraction
No matter if you’re using drip, French press, or pour-over the size of your grounds play an important role in the extraction of flavor. Uneven ground sizes lead to uneven extraction and a sloppy cup of coffee.
When the beans are pushed through a blade grinder they are cut and shred randomly, leading to an uneven distribution of grind particle sizes. A blade smart grinder creates an assortment of larger fragments, smaller particles, and everything in between. The different sizes of grinds produce at a different rate, resulting in the coffee drink that is usually bitter and inconsistent.
Lack of uniformity can also cause problems with tamping or filtration. With a burr mill, you can get a uniform particle size, allowing better tamping and filtration which helps to prevent over-extraction. With a blade grinder, it is more difficult to achieve an even grind, and you might find yourself tamping from side to side or using the Stockfleth method (which takes some practice).
The high speed and heat produced by blade grinders is a different problem. This could cause the ground to burn and create a bitter taste. Burr grinders create less heat and are cooler, which preserves the flavor of the beans.
The blade grinder has a final disadvantage: it’s easy to grind your beans too fine. The grinder will produce plenty of heat and, eventually, your beans will be pushed to the limit. This can cause a bitter brew. To avoid this, always stop the grinder before switching it back on.
Using a blade grinder is an efficient and inexpensive way to grind your own professional coffee grinder at home, but it’s not the best option for those who are serious about their brewing. For the best results, you’ll want to use a burr mill and whole beans. You should invest in your the brewing experience and invest in a grinder that is of high-quality and will meet every coffee need!
If you’re ready to upgrade from your blade grinder, look through our top picks for most efficient burr grinders on market. Selecting the right grinder is a crucial decision that will affect the quality of your brewing and overall cup quality so consider your budget, your space and your preferred brewing method when making your decision.
Grounds Burned Grounds
A blade grinder employs sharp blades to grind the beans. The blade spins at high speed similar to blenders. As the blade moves at a rapid pace it produces heat that can cause a fire to the coffee grounds. These particles can ruin the flavor of your coffee and are not ideal to brew.
For a first-class experience, a uniform distribution of particles is required to ensure the best flavor extraction. This is not possible with a blade grinder, which breaks the beans into small and large pieces. A burr grinder however can ensure a uniform distribution of particles that can be reproduced over many different brews.
Blade grinders offer a variety of advantages, such as their low cost and speedy operation. However, they do have a few disadvantages, such as the fact that they generate heat when in use and can produce inconsistent grind sizes and have no control over the final particle size. With a little practice there are ways to maximize results despite the inherent limitations of this type of grinder.
When combined with a burr mill, users can easily adjust the distance between the grinding discs to fine-tune the exact size of the ground of their preference. This lets them to extract the flavor they desire every time from their favorite roast beans. It takes a lot of practice to make a great drink using a grinder blade.
Angle grinders are a powerful tool that should only be employed by professionals. It can cause grinding burn if it is used improperly. This causes localized changes to the surface of the metallographic material. This could lead to cracks that, if not addressed will eventually lead to macropitting and tooth fracture.
Grinding burns can be caused by many factors, including excessive grinding pressure or insufficient cooling. It could also be caused by improper training for operators. Wear the correct safety equipment when using an angle grinder. This includes safety glasses as well as a face shield and steel toe boots. This will prevent hot sparks from flying off the machine and hitting people or equipment close by. Sparks can be capable of reaching temperatures as high 3,600 degF, and can be destructive to materials like paint or metal.
Brew that is disappointing
A blade grinder will chop your beans up indiscriminately and leave you with different-sized ground. These uneven grounds release at different rates in your coffee maker, which can result in a bitter or weak cup of brew. This can ruin the balance of a fantastic cup. The soluble compounds from your beans are slowly extracted, creating the flavor.
It’s likely that you’ve heard that using a burr mill instead a blade mill is the best method to make the best beverage. But many people don’t know how to use a burr grinder or even what it does so they opt to buy one of the inexpensive, inflexible blade grinders easy to find in supermarkets and other kitchen-type places.
The basic idea is that these grinders have a blade with two pronged at the bottom of the chamber that spins quickly and chops anything it strikes including coffee beans. The blade is activated by pressing the button. It then chops your coffee beans into different sizes. The small bits drop to the bottom and get chopped all over again, while the large pieces remain at the top of the chamber. This causes uneven ground, which are difficult to determine.
These grinders can also burn your beans and ruin your coffee. The heat can also take away some of the flavor of the beans, which means you’re left with a mediocre cup of coffee.
If you’ve been grinding your own coffee grinders sale with a blade grinder It’s time to put it down it and upgrade to a more powerful. A burr mill can complete the job for a fraction of the cost, and provide an even better result. It’s worth it. If you want more control over your brew, try a manual burr grinder such as the Rhino hand grinder. These grinders feature burrs however they are powered by an engine, which gives more control than a plug-in or Electric coffee bean grinder grinder.