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 mills, and easier to clean, but they don't provide a uniform grind and can cause bitterness or over-extraction in your brew.

A premium coffee grinder compact experience requires uniform distribution of particles which can only be achieved by using the burr grinder. This is the reason why coffee snobs loathe burr grinders.

Inconsistent Grinds

You may have noticed that your grinding results aren't consistent in the event that you've used a blade grinder for a long time. The grinder is likely to be worn out and dull. As the grinder wears down it will break up beans into different sizes. This will produce grounds with different levels of coarseness. With the different sizes of coffee particles, it's difficult for your coffee maker to produce a balanced, consistent flavor.

A blade grinder breaks the beans with a rotating blade that appears like a propeller. It chops the beans up into smaller and smaller pieces which are then tossed into a catcher through a screen. This method is effective, but it doesn't produce the most efficient grind for your drink. Burr grinders are a better alternative. A burr grinder is a larger machine that has a powerful motor and two grinding burrs. The burrs are set at a specific distance, which will determine the degree of coarseness of the coffee being ground.

If the burrs are too close, they will smash rather than cut beans. The result is a more fine more refined, less coarse ground. They may also be brittle and affect the flavor of your coffee. If the burrs however, are too dispersed they will result in large chunks of coarsely ground coffee. It is essential to select a grinder that has an appropriate setting to match the coarseness you desire.

A sharp blade, if adjusted properly, will create a fine and consistent grind for your coffee. If you notice your grind becoming increasingly more uneven, it's probably an ideal time to replace the blade or burrs. You should also think about changing the grind setting in case you haven't previously in order to allow you to achieve a more uniform grind.

It's also worth mentioning that if your commercial grinder produces ground that has clumped together this could be an indication of worn or damaged blades. The clumping happens because tiny particles bind to one another, and larger pieces of ground are formed, creating larger granules which don't dissolve in water. As your burrs get more and more dull this is more frequent.

Uneven Extraction

The size of your coffee grounds is vital for flavor extraction, whether you're using a French press pour-over, drip or drip brew. Uneven ground sizes lead to uneven extraction and a sloppy cup of coffee.

The beans are cut and shred indiscriminately as they move through the blade mill, resulting in an unbalanced distribution of grind particle size. A blade grinder produces an assortment of larger fragments, smaller particles and everything between. Different grind sizes extract at an uneven rate, resulting in the cup of coffee that is often bitter and inconsistent.

Lack of uniformity can also cause problems with tamping or filtering. With a burr mill, you can achieve a uniform particle size, allowing better tamping and filtration which can prevent excessive extraction. It is difficult to achieve an equal grind with a blade grinder. You may need 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 could cause the ground to become burned and create a bitter taste. Burr grinders are cooler and don't generate as much heat, which helps preserve the flavor of the beans.

A final downside of grinding with a blade is that it's easy to over-grind your beans. The grinder will produce plenty of heat and, eventually, your beans will become over-extracted. This can cause a bitter brew. To avoid this, always stop the grinder before turning it back on again.

Blade grinders are a convenient and inexpensive method of grinding coffee at home. However, they're not the best choice for those who are serious about their coffee brewing. For the best results, you'll want to make use of a burr mill and whole beans. Make sure you invest in your coffee making experience by purchasing a grinder that is of high-quality and will meet every aspect of your coffee needs!

Take a look at our top picks of top burr mills available on the market if you're looking to upgrade your blade grinder. Choosing the right type of grinder is an important decision that will affect 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.

Burned Grounds

A blade grinder employs sharp blades to grind the beans. The blade spins at high speed, like a blender. As the blade rotates at a rapid pace it produces heat that could cause the burning of the coffee grounds. These particles will alter the taste of your coffee and aren't ideal to brew.

A top-quality coffee experience requires an even distribution of particles for optimal flavour extraction during the brewing process. This consistency is not achievable with a blade grinder, which breaks the beans into large and small pieces. A burr grinder however, achieves an even distribution of particles that is reproducible over a wide range of brews.

Blade grinders offer a variety of advantages, such as their low cost and speedy operation. However, they do have some drawbacks for instance, the fact that they produce heat when they are in use and produce different grind sizes and have no control over the final particle size. With a little practice, however, there are ways to maximize results despite the inherent limitations of this kind of grinder.

When combined with a burr grinder the user can easily adjust the gap between the grinding discs to fine-tune the exact size of the ground of their choice. This lets users to extract the desired flavor every time they drink their favorite roasted bean. However, making a great beverage using a grinder takes a lot of trial and error.

An angle grinder is an extremely powerful tool that should be used only by trained professionals. 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 can cause cracking, which should be checked. If not, it could lead to teeth fracture and macropitting.

Grinding burn can be caused by many reasons, such as excessive grinding pressure or insufficient cooling. It can be caused by inadequate training for operators. If you plan on using an angle grinder, make sure you wear the correct PPE including gloves with a face shield safety glasses, steel toe boots and long sleeves. This will stop any hot sparks from flying off the tool and hitting people or equipment close by. These sparks are capable of reaching temperatures up to 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can burn through materials like paint or even metal.

Brew that is disappointing

A blade grinder chops up your beans randomly and leaves you with beans which are of different sizes. This uneven ground extracts at different rates, leading to the cup being bitter or weak of coffee. This affects the balance of a good cup - the soluble compounds from your beans are extracted slowly, creating the flavor.

It's likely that you've heard that using a burr mill instead blade mills is the best method to make an excellent beer. Many people don't understand what a burr grinder does. They purchase the cheapest, uncontrollable blade grinders they can buy at 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 chops everything it comes into contact with, including your beans. The blade is activated by pressing an on. It then chops your coffee beans into different sized pieces. The smaller pieces are tossed to the bottom, and are then chopped again, while the large pieces remain towards the top of the chamber. This causes uneven ground that are difficult to measure accurately - which is the reason you can't be certain of the amount of ground coffee your grinder made.

These grinders could also burn your beans and ruin the coffee. The heat can also take away some of the flavor your beans, and you're left with a bland cup of coffee.

If you've been grinding your coffee using a blade mill, it's now time to upgrade to a more efficient. A burr mill can do the job for a fraction of the price, and produce a much superior result. It's worth it. Try using a manual burr mill such as the Rhino Hand Grinder if would like to have greater control over the brew. These grinders feature burrs, but are powered by the crank. This allows you to control the grind more than a plug-in or electrical grinder.