Five Things You Don't Know About Espresso Grinders

How to Choose the Best Espresso Grinders

A grinder with a hopper lets you grind and dispensing an air filter in one go. This is an excellent option for beginners. However, we found that measuring the dose before grinding helps to ensure consistency.

Select a grinder with flat burrs and produces an ultrafine grind. These grinders are more expensive, yet they deliver excellent results right in the cup.

Simple to Use

The espresso grinder is a crucial element in making a high-quality espresso. Many espresso enthusiasts make the mistake of purchasing an inexpensive grinder to save money on a costly coffee maker. But serious espresso lovers are aware that the quality and consistency of the grind is what makes good espresso great. You should look for a grinder that has a precise grind adjustment, and can consistently dispensate. It should also be made of top quality materials.

A burr grinder is ideal for espresso because of its ability to create a consistent, fine grind. In contrast, blade grinders cut beans into a coarser consistency, which can result in inconsistent flavors and textures in the cup. Blades also produce heat when they chop beans which could alter or disrupt the flavor.

In our tests, we found that the best espresso grinders were easy to use and provided precise control over the size the grounds. It is recommended to choose grinders with an easy cleaning process and a small amount of ground coffee (to stop clumping), as well as the ability to grind finely and evenly without overheating burrs.

Grind-by-weight grinders are also popular among espresso drinkers since they allow you to set the desired weight in grams and then pour that exact amount into your portafilter. However, they do not hold enough coffee to be effective in single-dose tests. The Baratza Sette 270 was the only grinder we tested that was capable of delivering an even shot using this method.

These grinders could be cheap and readily available but they are difficult to operate with an espresso machine at home because their small dimensions cause the hopper to fill quickly. These grinders are also prone to overheating and their fineness may diminish as time passes. A great alternative to a blade grinder is the MiiCoffee DF64 II, which uses flat burrs and is a great value for a high-quality grinder that's designed specifically for espresso. If you're a serious coffee lover, you can also purchase the more advanced SSP burrs for this model to get a more fine grind. The MiiCoffee DF64 II also has an operation that is quieter than its competitors. This makes it an ideal option for those who want to keep the noise level down.

Grind Size Adjustment

A fine grind size in espresso making is essential to the extraction. It's a delicate balance of several factors -- including pressure, coffee, and temperature - which is why it requires such precise control. This is why it's important to have a grinder that's capable of producing a fine grind, and be able to adjust the grind easily.

Most commercial and home espresso machines can adjust the grind size. They are a great method to get the exact size of grind you require for each batch of beans, and they can also aid in maintaining a consistent grind over time. Some grinders have more difficulty maintaining an even grind than others, and a few grinders are unable to adjust their grind settings in any way.

If you're in search of an espresso grinder that is able to provide a fine grind choose models that specifically state it is able to micro-adjust its grind size or use flat burrs instead. They are less susceptible to losing their calibration over the years, which is often caused by heat or motor vibrations, as well regular wear and wear and tear.

To adjust the size of the grind on an espresso grinder, you'll need to access its adjustment ring. The ring is usually found on top or the side of your grinder, or in some models, integrated into the hopper. Turn the ring clockwise to increase size of the grind. To reduce the size of the grinding you can turn it counter-clockwise.

Once you've found your ideal grind size, be sure that any remaining ground coffee is cleared from the adjustment system prior to using it again. This will prevent clogging, and will allow you to adjust the grind size precisely.

This is particularly relevant for grinders that use step-based adjustment, which are commonly seen on Gaggia and Saeco grinders. If the adjustment ring is stuffed full of partially-ground coffee and the grinder is unable to handle it, it will require more force to move the ring to a different setting, which could lead to unreliable results or even damage the mechanism for grinding. It is important to keep in mind that the size of the grind may need to change from one batch to the next, depending on the way the beans are prepared and roasted.

Control of Flow

Flow control is the capacity of the grinder to adjust enough to make sure espresso shots are able to pass through smoothly and quickly. Even the smallest adjustments could have an impact on the quality of your coffee since so much pressure is being applied to the puck. This is why it's crucial to find the right grinder to produce an extremely finely-grounded consistency.

There are two main types of  espresso grinders : those that use an adjustable style that is stepped and those that use a stepless adjustment method. Grinders with the step-down adjustment feature typically have a lever or hopper-shaped knob which moves in a series of steps. Each click of the knob will indicate a finer or coarser grind setting. This kind grinder is preferred by baristas who are beginners as well as baristas at home due to its ease of use and its ability to learn.

On the other the other hand, grinders with an adjustable step are preferred by connoisseurs because they are easier to operate with precision. Pouring some water into the portafilter allows you to test the flow control of the grinder. The top grinders will not only be able to create a finely-ground consistency, but they'll also be able to ensure a steady flow of water throughout the entire shot.

When you are choosing an espresso maker, you should also consider whether you want one that doses or doesn't dose. Dosing models have a sectioned container where the ground coffee is directed into when you press the button. Some models can hold up to 7 grams of ground coffee and others are adjusted to give more or fewer than this amount. Non-dosing grinders, on the other hand, dispense the grounds directly into a portafilter, or other container.

Some grinders, like the Baratza Sette 270, have an v-shaped fork, where you can place your portafilter to catch the grounds. This is a great feature that can save your time and makes cleaning easy. But, it's important to keep in mind that no grinder distributes the coffee evenly into the basket so you'll still have to rotate or flip the portafilter during making coffee.

Safety

As with all commercial machine, espresso grinders require a higher quality of certification than consumer models. You should search for an espresso grinder that is either an ETL mark or NSF marking. Both of these marks indicate that the grinder was assessed by the appropriate agencies to ensure its safety in commercial applications. Some grinders have a third label from UL (Underwriters Laboratories) However, this isn't as common and is less important.

You want a grinder that is easy to maintain and clean. It is recommended to consider a ground chamber to make it easier to transfer the coffee into your brewing device. This is a standard feature of most manual espresso grinders, and we particularly loved the design of the grounds chamber in the Baratza Encore ESP--it features the small divot which allows you to put a portafilter basket's lip inside and collect the coffee without spilling. Other grinders we tried like the Baratza Sette 270 and Rancilio Stile included V-shaped forks that could serve the same purpose, however they were less practical to use and didn't work with the majority of our portafilters.

Another thing to consider is the grinder's material and shape. You can choose from ceramic or stainless steel, both of which are sought-after by coffee lovers due to their balanced and consistent results. You can also decide whether you prefer flat or conical burrs. Conical burrs tend to create less heat fluctuations, however it's all personal preference.

Once you have chosen the perfect grinder, perform a few simple maintenance tasks to keep it in top condition. After each use, wipe the burrs and grind chamber with a lint-free cloth paper towel to get rid of any remaining coffee particles and residue from the grinding process. It's also a good idea to perform a deep cleaning every now and then. This involves disassembling the grinder and using an appropriate cleaning solution or water and vinegar to soak the parts that are removable and then thoroughly washing them and drying them completely prior to rebuilding.

You can also apply a food-grade lubricant to add a thin layer of oil to the burrs and grinding chamber. This will prevent corrosion, rust and help keep the burrs aligned.