The Complete Guide To Blade Grinder
Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One
Blade grinders have blades that resemble propellers (think blenders). They are used to chop coffee beans. They are less expensive than burr grinders and easy to clean but do not produce uniform grounds and can cause over-extraction and bitterness in your brew.
To enjoy a top-quality coffee experience, you must have uniform particle distribution. This can only be achieved by using burr mills. It's no wonder coffee people who are snobs dislike them.
Inconsistent Grinds
You might have noticed that the results of your grinding aren't always consistent if you've been using a blade grinder over a long time. The grinding device is likely become dull and worn. As the grinder gets older it will produce different-sized pieces of beans. This will result in different levels of coarseness. It's a challenge for your coffee brewer to create an even, balanced flavor with these different-sized particles.
Blade grinders break beans using a rotating blade that looks like propellers. It essentially chops the beans into smaller and smaller pieces, which are then dropped through a filter into a catcher. This method is efficient however it's not the finest grind possible for your beverage. Burr grinders are a better choice. A burr grinder is a larger machine with a powerful motor and two grinding burrs. The burrs can be placed to a certain distance which determines the coarseness of the ground coffee.
When the burrs get too close, they will pulverize rather than cut the beans. The result is a finer more refined, less coarse ground. They may also be brittle and alter the flavor of your coffee. On the other hand when the burrs are spaced too separated, they could result in large chunks of coarsely-ground coffee. It is essential to select a coffee grinder that has a setting that matches the coarseness you desire.
A sharp, properly-adjusted blade will result in a consistent and fine grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind becoming increasingly more uneven, it's a good idea to replace the blade or burrs. It is also advisable to change the grind setting if you haven't before in order to help you achieve an even grind.
It's also important to note that if your machine produces ground that has clumped together it is an indication of worn-out or damaged blades. The clumping happens because tiny particles bind to each other and larger pieces of ground are formed, producing larger granules that don't dissolve in water. As your burrs grow and more dull it is more frequent.
Uneven Extraction
The size of the coffee grounds is crucial for flavor extraction, regardless of whether you're making a French press pour-over, drip brew or pour-over. Uneven sizes of the grounds cause uneven extraction, resulting in an unbalanced cup of coffee.
As coffee beans grinder move through a grinder blade, they are sliced and shredded indiscriminately resulting in an uneven distribution of grind particle sizes. A blade grinder produces a mix of larger fragments, smaller particles, and everything between. The different sizes of grinds produce at different rates, resulting in an inconsistent and often bitter cup of coffee.
The lack of uniformity also creates problems when the tamping process and filtration. With a burr mill, you can achieve a uniform particle size, allowing for better tamping and filtration which prevents over-extraction. It is more difficult to achieve an even grind using a blade grinder. You may have to tamp from side-to-side, or use the Stockfleth Method (which requires some practice).
Another problem with blade grinders is their speed and the generation of heat. This can burn the grounds and produce a bitter flavor. Burr grinders produce less heat and are cooler, preserving the flavor of beans.
Another drawback of a blade grinder is that it's extremely easy to over-grind your beans. Running the grinder continuously produces heat, which can cause your grounds to become over-extracted, resulting in bitter brew. To avoid this, always stop the grinder prior to turning it back on.
Blade grinders are a convenient and inexpensive method of grinding coffee at home. However they're not the ideal choice for those who are serious about their brewing. You should stick to whole beans and use a burr grinder for the best results. You should invest in your the brewing experience and invest in a grinder that is of high-quality and will meet every aspect of your coffee needs!
Take a look at our top picks of the best burr mills on the market if you're looking to upgrade your blade grinder. The right choice of grinder is a major choice that will impact the quality of your brewing and overall cup quality so take into consideration your budget, your space and your preferred brewing method when making your choice.
Grounds Burned Grounds
With a blade grinder it's a sharp blade that rotates like a blender at a high speed to break up the beans. When the blade spins at a fast speed there is a lot of heat produced that could cause the burning of some of your coffee grounds. These particles will alter the taste of your coffee and aren't ideal for brewing.
To ensure a top-quality experience, a uniform distribution of particles is required to ensure the best flavor extraction. This is not possible using a blade grinder that is able to break the beans up into large and small pieces. A burr grinder on the other hand, achieves a uniform distribution of particles that can be replicated over a wide range of different brews.
While the advantages of a blade grinder include its low cost and quick execution, its main disadvantages are that it produces heat during use, produces variations in the size of the grind and is not able to control the final particle size. With a little bit of practice there are ways to maximize results despite the inherent limitations of this type of grinder.
When combined with a burr grinder users can easily adjust the distance between the grinding discs to fine-tune the exact size of ground that they prefer. This lets them to extract the flavor they desire every time from their favorite roast beans. It requires a lot of practice to make a great drink using a grinder blade.
An angle grinder is a powerful tool that should be utilized only by qualified personnel. When operated incorrectly it could cause a dangerous condition known as grinding burn which can cause localized changes in the metallographic structure of the surface of the workpiece. This could cause cracks, which should be checked. If not, it can eventually lead to macropitting and tooth fracture.
Grinding burn can result from a variety of factors, including excessive grinding pressure or inadequate cooling. It can also be caused by poor instruction for the operator. 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 stop any sparks of heat from flying off the tool and striking equipment or people close by. These sparks can reach temperatures as high as 3,600 degF and are capable of burning through the materials like paint or even metal.
Disappointing Brew
A blade grinder chops up your beans randomly and leaves you with ground which are of different sizes. The unevenly sized grounds are extracted at different rates in your coffee maker, which results in the cup being weak or bitter of coffee. This ruins the balance of a good cup - the soluble compounds from the beans are slowly extracted and create the flavor.
You've likely heard that using a brewing burr grinder instead of a blade is the best way to ensure an excellent brew. Many people don't understand what a burr grinder does. They purchase the flimsy blade grinders that are difficult to control and can find in supermarkets and places like kitchens.
These grinders are basically a two-pronged blade that is in the middle of an enclosed chamber. It spins fast and cuts anything it comes in contact with, including beans. You press a button to activate the device, and the blade chops up your beans into a bunch of differently sized pieces. The small bits are tossed to the bottom, and get chopped all over again, while the large pieces remain towards the top of the chamber. This results in uneven grounds, which are difficult to determine.
These grinders could also burn your beans, ruining your coffee. The heat can also take away some of the flavor from your beans. This leaves you with not the best cup of coffee.
If you've grind your own coffee with a blade grinder It's time to put it down it and upgrade to a more powerful. A burr grinder will accomplish the job for less than the cost and provide a better result. It's worth it. Try using a manual burr mill such as the Rhino Hand Grinder if you want to have more control over your brew. These grinders have burrs, however, they are powered by a crank. This gives you more control than a plug-in or electrical grinder.