How To Grind Coffee Yourself

When you learn how to grind coffee yourself you can be assured of the freshest, tastiest cup of coffee possible.  The key to getting the best coffee is choosing the right kind of coffee grinder to grind your beans.

My Favorite Coffee Grinder for Manual by PurelyCoffeeBeans, on Flickr

It might seem odd, but I have found that different types of coffee grinders can impact the more subtle and delicate flavors of the more expensive types of coffee beans. In short, it can really make a difference to your coffee. So don't skimp on the coffee grinder or the coffee when you go to buy coffee beans in the store!

Two Kinds of Grinders

You will find stores sell two different kinds of coffee grinders: blade grinders which use sharp, fast rotating blades; and burr grinders which use a set of burrs to grind your coffee beans.  While blade grinders are the most affordable type you can get, they will not give you a very consistent grind.

If you really want to know how to grind coffee well, I'd recommend the burr grinder for its quality of grind. It's just simply more consistent and damages the grinds much less.

Blades that Really Chop

A blade grinder uses two or three sharp blades to chop up the coffee beans, much like your blender or food processor chops up food.  As you can imagine, the coffee grounds will be a lot of different sizes.  This can affect the taste and body of your coffee.

One drawback of blade grinders is that they are very noisy and can be quite messy.  An advantage is the cost; they can cost as little as $10.  You can improve the grind by using short bursts instead of just turning it on.  The heat from the grinder won’t build up this way and scorch the beans.  Giving the grinder a shake as it works will distribute the beans better and result in a more consistent grind.  

Burrs that Grind

Burr grinders are more costly but they do a much better job of grinding coffee beans.  The beans are ground between two burrs that you can set for different grinds.  They are not as messy as blade grinders and are much quieter.  A decent burr grinder starts at about $50. If you are not sure what a burr grinder looks like, you will often see burrs in traditional pepper mills, too.

Consider the level of grinding

It is also important to grind the beans properly for the way you brew your coffee. 

If you’re making iced coffee or using a French press, vacuum coffee maker or a percolator you’ll want a coarse grind.  Automatic drip coffeemakers work best with a medium grind while drip coffeemakers with cone filters require a medium/fine grind. 

If you use a Moka pot you’ll need a fine grind while espresso machines need a super fine grind.  Turkish coffee lovers will need a much finer grind, something like the consistency of powdered sugar.

'Slow-food style' manual grinders

If you like to do things manually and like old-fashioned kitchen gadgets you might like to get a hand grinder like your great grandparents had.  These come in different styles and sizes and are very attractive additions to your kitchen.  Before this type of grinder was invented people used hammers or a mortar and pestle.  Aren’t we fortunate we don’t have to grind our beans that way?

Deciding how to grind coffee beans makes a big difference in how much you’ll enjoy the resulting brew.  With a little practice and the right type of coffee grinder you’ll soon be an expert in how to grind coffee!

And Finally...

Wherever you are, remember "Only Coffee Beans Make Great Coffee"! And enjoy that cup of coffee!

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