There are two ways of grinding beans at home (if we ignore the traditional laborious pestle and mortar!). Probably the most familiar is the type of machine which uses a set of blades rotating at high speed to pulverise the beans. This type of grinder may be a standalone machine or may be an attachment for a kitchen food processor or blender and you may own one already. The other type of machine is known as a Burr Grinder, which uses a rotating grinding wheel over a non-moving surface to crush the coffee beans. These machines produce a much more consistent result than the blade type as the process is accurately controlled by altering the distance between the two burrs.
Which type of machine should you choose? Well cost certainly comes into the equation as burr grinders are more expensive than the blade type, but there are other important points to consider. The major consideration is what method you are using to brew your coffee. If you are making coffee with a cafetiere (French Press) or a filter machine (drip coffee maker) then you may find a blade grinder adequate even though it may produce uneven sized grounds which may result in inconsistent quality coffee. However keen espresso makers, who may have invested in a very expensive machine to make their brew, will probably regard a burr grinder essential. The reasons for this include those outlined earlier but there is an even more important one. To produce the fine grind required for espresso making blade grinders have to left running for longer than when producing a coarse grind. There is a danger that the blades may "burn" the coffee and taint its flavour, whereas a burr grinder just has to be adjusted to produce the fine espresso grind with no danger of spoiling the coffee.
You will need to experiment to find the perfect grind for your coffee brewing method and for the flavour that you prefer. Cafetieres or French Presses require a coarse grind, and this is the grind required if you use a percolator. A medium to fine grind is needed to bring out the best in Filter Machines or Drip Coffee Makers. A fine to super fine grind is needed if you are brewing using an Espresso Machine or a simple stove top or Moka Pot.To a non-coffee drinker all this must seem like a lot of fuss just to produce a beverage which on the surface seems simple to make. However the surge in interest in making fine coffee at home, possibly influenced by the massive growth in coffee shop chains over the last few decades with many people experiencing good ( if expensive!) coffee for the first time, has driven coffee lovers to search for the secrets of making a superb brew at home.
