Choosing the right coffee grinder for your personal or office use is not an easy task. There is a wide range of coffee grinding machines in the market with different features that makes choosing one even more difficult. And coffee grinders have become almost an indispensable part of our lives, especially if you do not want a mediocre cup of coffee. Some factors that you need to remember while choosing the best coffee grinder are:
- Espresso, drip, or both?
The most important consideration that you need to remember while choosing a coffee grinder is what you will be brewing with your coffee beans. If you are into brewing methods like press or drip, you would want a coffee grinder that offers coarser grinds with minimum coffee dust. However, if you are into espresso, you would look for a coffee grinder that provides finer ends of the grinding spectrum. While these two are not mutually exclusive, some coffee grinders offer you the best of both worlds.
- Measurement
Coffee grinders allow you to measure the amount of coffee you want to grind in two different ways – by time and by weight. Most low- to mid-range coffee grinders work on a simple timer – all you need to do is set in the number of cups and the grinder will work the amount of time on its own. On the other hand, high-end grinders make use of weight, which offers much more precision. There are also some grinders that let you choose any one of the two available options.
- Level of experience
If you are looking for coffee equipment especially coffee grinders and espresso machines, you will see entry-level appliances. These gadgets are fitted with every essential feature that will offer you a uniform and good grind. All you need to do is place the grinder in place and add the beans. These types of machines are perfect for beginners. For pros, there are coffee grinders that offer an infinite number of grind settings. While you might have a lot of flexibility to tune your grind, there are much harder to operate.
- Automatic vs manual
Most people prefer using automatic coffee grinders because they are portable and quiet. They also offer decent coffee grinds and operate when there is no electricity. Manual coffee grinders are most common among travelers and office use. They are also a great choice to have when you have a baby in your home and you want to grind your beans in silence.
- Budget
Of course, this factor is the bottom line. If you are on a tight budget, you can purchase a manual coffee grinder. While these appliances will offer good grinds, they need to be operated manually. However, if you can extend your budget, you can easily go for automatic ones that offer a much professional grind quality and many types of grind settings.
Apart from the above, there are many considerations you need to remember while choosing a coffee grinder. If you happen to choose the right one, you will be able to grind coffee on your own without having to buy pre-ground coffee that does not taste great.