If you’re looking to buy your first coffee grinder then the basic choice you need to make is whether to buy a chop grinder or whether to go for a more advanced pro kitchen aid such as a burr grinder. Many coffee aficionados will tell you that a different kind of grinder such as a doser or doserless burr machine will give you a better grind and that this is therefore the best kind of mill to use.
It is true that a standard chop grinder won’t necessarily give you the finest and most accurate grind on your beans in comparison to other types of grinder. These machines are designed to ‘chop’ so the grind you get can be slightly uneven.
Plus, you may also find that this kind of grinder uses high friction blades which can sometimes expose the bean to more heat than is necessary. This can have an impact on the taste of your coffee at the end of the day.
However, you have to remember that using any kind of grinding machine on fresh beans will always produce better tasting coffee than if you buy it ready ground. So, you can still have a great cup of coffee with a chop grinder. The difference is really to be found in the small details – many experts, for example, believe that a burr grinder is the best type of machine for a high quality cup of espresso and that a chop grinder just can’t produce the right kinds of results.
The key thing here is that your average chop grinder will cost less than any other kind. You’ll also be able to find a good machine from the majority of major manufacturers here so you really will be spoilt for choice. And, remember, you can also pick up some great bargains by shopping around – especially if you go online where many chop grinders can be picked up at a great discount.
Also see whole bean grinders for more details.