Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One
A blade grinder uses propeller-like blades (think blenders) to chop coffee beans. They are cheaper than burr mills and easy to clean, however they don't produce uniform ground and can result in bitterness and excessive extraction in your coffee.
A premium coffee experience requires uniform distribution of particles, something that can only be achieved with a burr grinder. This is the reason why coffee lovers hate burr grinders.
Inconsistent Grinds
You may have noticed your grinding results are inconsistent if you've used a blade mill for a long time. This is because the grinding device is likely to have become dull and worn out. As the grinder wears down, it will chop up beans into various sizes. This produces grounds with varying levels of coarseness. With these various-sized coffee particles, it's hard for your coffee maker to create an even, consistent flavor.
A blade grinder makes use of the same propeller-like blade to break beans. It is basically a way of cutting beans into smaller and smaller pieces, which are then dropped through a screen and into the catcher. While this method is effective, it's not ideal to get the perfect grind for your beverage. Burr grinders are a better option. A burr grinder is equipped with powerful motors that has two grinding burrs and is a larger machine. The burrs can be placed at a specific distance, which will determine the coarseness of the ground coffee.
If the burrs are too close to each other, they will crush the beans, rather than cutting them. The ground that results are less coarse and more fine. They can also be brittle and alter the taste of your coffee. On the other side when the burrs are placed too far apart, they will 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, if adjusted correctly, will result in a fine and consistent grind for your coffee. If you notice your grind is becoming more uneven, it's an ideal time to replace the blade or burrs. It is also advisable to change the grind setting if you haven't done so previously to help you achieve an even grind.
It's also worth noting that if your machine produces ground that has clumped together this could be an indication of worn or damaged blades. The clumping occurs when tiny particles stick to one another and larger pieces of ground form, making larger granules that won't dissolve in water. As your burrs get more and dull this will happen more frequently.
Uneven Extraction
If you're brewing drip, French press, or pour-over the size of your grounds plays an important role in flavor extraction. Uneven ground sizes cause uneven extraction, leading to an unbalanced cup of coffee.
The beans are sliced and shredded in a random manner as they move through a blade mill, resulting in an unbalanced distribution of the size of the grind particles. A blade grinder can create an assortment of large pieces, dust-sized particles, and everything else. Different grind sizes are extracted at a different speed, creating the cup of coffee that is often bitter and inconsistent.
Uneven distribution can cause problems with tamping or filtering. With a burr grinder, you can achieve an evenly ground particle size that allows for more even tamping and filtration which prevents over-extraction and weak beers. With a blade grinder it is more difficult to get an even grind. You may find yourself tamping from side to side or using the Stockfleth method (which requires some time to master).
Another issue with blade grinders is their speed and high heat generation. They can cause the ground to burn and cause a bitter taste. Burr grinders produce less heat and are cooler, thus preserving the flavor of beans.
The blade grinder has one last disadvantage: it is easy to grind your beans too fine. The grinder will produce lots of heat, and your beans will eventually be over-extracted. This will cause a bitter brew. To avoid this, you must stop your grinder prior to turning it on again.
Using a blade grinder is an efficient and affordable method of grinding your own coffee at home but it's not the ideal choice for those who are serious about their brewing. For the best results, you'll want to use a burr mill and whole beans. Invest in your making experience by purchasing a quality grinder that will deliver on every aspect of your coffee needs!
Take a look at our top choices of the best burr mills on market to upgrade your blade grinder. The kind of grinder you select will impact the quality of your brewing as well as the quality of your drink. So, think about your budget, space and preferred method of brewing before making your decision.
Grounds burned Grounds
Blade grinders use a sharp blade to grind the beans. The blade spins at high speeds similar to blenders. As the blade moves at a rapid pace, heat is produced which may burn up some of your coffee grounds. These charred particles aren't good for brewing and can leave a bitter taste in your coffee.
For a truly exceptional experience the uniform distribution of particles is essential for optimal flavour extraction. This consistency is impossible with a blade grinder that is able to break the beans into large and small pieces. A burr grinder on the other hand ensures a uniform distribution of particles that can be reproduced over many brews.
Blade grinders come with many advantages, including their low price and speedy operation. However, they do have some disadvantages like the fact that they produce heat when they are in use and can produce inconsistent grind sizes and are not able to control the final particle size. With a little bit of practice however, there are ways to optimize results despite the inherent limitations of this type of grinder.
When combined with a burr mill, users can easily alter the gap between the grinding discs in order to adjust the exact ground size that they prefer. This lets them extract all desired flavors from their favorite beans each time. It takes a lot of time to make a great brew using a blade grinder.
An angle grinder is a powerful tool that should be utilized only by trained personnel. It can cause grinding burn when employed incorrectly. This can cause localized changes to the metallographic surface of the workpiece. This can cause cracking that is not properly checked, 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 are planning to use an angle grinder, make sure you wear the correct PPE such as gloves and a face shield, safety glasses, steel-toe boots and long sleeves. This will stop any sparks of heat from flying off the wheel and hitting people or equipment close by. Sparks can be capable of reaching temperatures as high 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can be destructive to materials like paint or metal.
Disappointing Brew
Blade grinders chop your beans randomly and leaves you with beans that are all different sizes. This uneven ground extracts at different rates, which results in the cup being bitter or weak of coffee. The issue is that it ruins the balance that makes a great cup of coffee - soluble compounds in the beans are removed over time, which creates the flavor that makes your coffee delicious.
You've likely heard that using a brewing burr grinder instead of a blade grinder is the best method to ensure the best brew. A lot of people don't know what a burr grinder does. They purchase the flimsy blade grinders that are uncontrollable and difficult to control they can purchase at the supermarkets or places that are kitchen-like.
The basic idea is that these grinders have a double-pronged blade at the bottom of the chamber that spins rapidly and chops up anything it strikes such as coffee beans. You press a button activate the device and the blade cuts up your beans into a bunch of differently sized pieces. Small pieces fall to the bottom of the chamber, and are chopped again, while the larger pieces remain at the top. This causes uneven ground, which are difficult to measure.
Another issue with these grinders is that they create a lot of heat while they grind, which can damage your beans and ruin your coffee. The heat can also rob some of the flavor from your beans. This can leave you with a an unappetizing cup of coffee.
If you have grind your coffee by yourself using a blade mill it's now time to upgrade to something more efficient. A burr mill can do the job for a fraction of the cost, and provide the same results. It's worth the investment. Try a manual burr mill like the Rhino Hand Grinder if you would like to have more control over your brew. These grinders have burrs, however, they are powered by cranks. This gives you more control than a plug-in electrical grinder.