Blade Grinder - Why You Shouldn't Use One
Blade grinders use propeller-like blades (think blenders) to chop coffee beans. They are less expensive than burr grinders, and are easy to clean but they don't produce uniform ground and can cause excessive extraction and bitterness in your brew.
For a first-class coffee experience, you require uniform distribution of the particles. This is only possible using a burr mill. It's not surprising that coffee people who are snobs dislike burr grinders.
Inconsistent Grinds
You may have noticed your grinding results are inconsistent when you've been using a blade grinder over a long time. This is because the machine has probably become dull and worn out. As the grinder wears down it will break up beans into various sizes. This produces grounds with different levels of coarseness. With these different-sized coffee particles, it's hard for your coffee maker to create a balanced, consistent flavor.
A blade grinder makes use of a propeller-like rotating blade to break the beans. It cuts the beans into smaller and smaller pieces, which are then tossed into a catcher via the screen. This technique is efficient however it doesn't provide the finest grind possible for your beverage. An alternative is a burr grinder. A burr grinder is equipped with an efficient motor with two grinding burrs, and is a larger machine. The burrs can be placed to a certain distance which determines the degree of coarseness of the coffee that is ground.
If the burrs are too close, they pulverize rather than cut the beans. The result is a more fine more refined, less coarse ground. They are also more soft, which can adversely impact your coffee's taste. If the burrs on the other hand are not evenly spaced, it will result in large chunks of coffee that have been coarsely ground. It is crucial to select the coffee grinder with an appropriate setting to match the degree of coarseness you prefer.
A sharp, properly-adjusted blade will produce a consistent and fine grind for your coffee. If you notice that your grind is becoming more uneven, it might be time to replace the blade or burrs. You should also think about changing the grind setting in case you haven't already, as this will aid in achieving an even and consistent grind.
It's also worth noting that if your grinder creates ground that is clumpy this could be an indication of worn-out or damaged blades. The clumping occurs due to tiny particles sticking to each other and larger pieces of grounds, creating larger granules that aren't able to dissolve in water. As your burrs become more and more dull it will happen more frequently.
Uneven Extraction
No matter if you're using drip, French press, or pour-over, the size of your grounds plays an crucial role in preserving flavor. Uneven ground sizes cause uneven extraction, resulting in an unbalanced cup of coffee.
As the beans circulate through a blade grinder, they are cut and shred indiscriminately resulting in an uneven distribution of the grind particle sizes. A blade grinder produces a mix of larger fragments, smaller particles and everything in between. Different grind sizes extract at an uneven speed, creating the cup of coffee that is often bitter and inconsistent.
In addition, the lack of uniformity causes problems with filtering and tamping. With a burr mill, you can achieve an even particle size, allowing for better tamping and filtration, which prevents over-extraction. If you use a blade grinder, it is more difficult to achieve an even grind. You might find yourself tamping from side to side or using the Stockfleth method (which takes some practice).
Another problem with blade grinders is their high speed and the generation of heat. This could cause the ground to get burned and create a bitter taste. Burr grinders produce less heat and are cooler, preserving the flavor of beans.
The final drawback of a blade grinder is that it's extremely easy to over-grind your beans. The grinder will produce lots of heat, and, eventually, your beans will become over-extracted. This can cause a bitter brew. To avoid this, pause your grinder before turning it back on.
The use of a blade grinder is a convenient and inexpensive way to grind your own coffee at home, but it's not the best option for those serious about their brewing. You'll want to stick with whole beans and a burr grinder to get the most effective results. Make sure you purchase a high-quality coffee grinder that will meet all your needs.
Take a look at our top choices of the best burr mills on market if you're looking to upgrade your blade grinder. Selecting the right grinder is an important decision that will affect your brewing and overall cup quality so take into consideration your budget, your space and your preferred method of brewing when making your decision.
Burned Grounds
Blade grinders use a sharp blade to grind the beans. The blade rotates at high speeds, like blenders. The blade's rapid movement produces heat, which could burn some of the coffee grounds. These burned particles aren't ideal for brewing and can cause a bad taste in your cup of coffee.
A premium coffee experience demands an even distribution of particles for optimal flavour extraction during the brewing process. Because a blade grinder breaks up the beans into varying size pieces, small and large, it's impossible to get this consistency. A burr grinder however can ensure a uniform distribution of particles that can be replicated across a variety of different brews.
While the benefits of a blade grinder include its low price and fast execution, its main disadvantages are that it produces heat when used, causes irregularities in the size of the grind, and lacks control over final particle size. There are ways to improve results with this type of grinder, despite its inherent limitations.
When used with a burr mill, the user can easily adjust their desired grind size by adjusting the gap between the discs. This lets them extract all of the desired flavours from their favourite roast beans every time. It takes a lot of practice to make a great brew using a blade grinder.
Angle grinders are powerful tools that should only be used by professionals. It can cause grinding burn if used incorrectly. This causes localized changes to the surface of the metallographic material. This could cause cracks that is not properly checked, could eventually cause teeth fracture and macropitting.
Grinding burn can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive grinding pressure or inadequate cooling. It could be caused by inadequate operator training. If you plan on using an angle grinder, make sure you wear the appropriate PPE such as gloves, a face shield, safety glasses, steel toe boots and long sleeves. This will help prevent any sparks of heat from flying off the tool and hitting equipment or people near by. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures as high 3,600 degF and cause damage to materials such as paint or metal.
Disappointing Brew
A blade grinder cuts your beans randomly and leaves you with beans which are of different sizes. The ground is extracted at different rates, which results in the cup being bitter or weak of coffee. This can ruin the balance of a good cup. The soluble compounds from your beans are extracted slowly, creating the flavor.
You've likely heard that using a brewing burr grinder instead of a blade grinder is the best way to ensure a great brew. A lot of people don't know what a burr mill is. They buy the flimsy blade grinders that are difficult to control and can purchase at the supermarkets or places like kitchens.
The grinders that are available for sale are essentially an angled blade with two pronged edges that sit in the middle of an enclosed chamber. It spins fast and cuts anything it comes in contact with including beans. The blade is activated by pressing the button. It then chops coffee beans into various sizes. Small pieces drop to the bottom of the chamber and are chopped again, while the larger pieces remain at the top. This results in uneven grounds that are hard to accurately measure - which is why you can't be sure of how much ground coffee your grinder made.
These grinders can also cause burns to your beans which can ruin your coffee. The heat also takes away some of the flavor your beans, so you're left with a less-than-delicious cup of coffee.
If you have been grinding your coffee with a blade mill, it's now time to upgrade to a more efficient. A burr grinder will do the trick for a fraction of the price and provide a better result. It's worth it. Try using a manual burr mill such as the Rhino Hand Grinder if would like to have more control over your brew. These grinders have burrs, however, they are powered by cranks. This allows you to control the grind more than a plug-in electrical grinder.