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Grinders: how important are they?

Ok, you just spent some good money for a pound of what you hope is great coffee. I mean, your friends told you it was awesome, the reviews are glowing. Face it, you’re really looking forward to an incredible cup of coffee.

What could go wrong?

Grind it up, throw it in your Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker (more about that later…) pour in some tap water (more about that later…) push the button and wait.

And your cup of coffee? So-so. I mean, ok, it’s a step up, but it doesn’t inspire you to call your friends and rave.

Why?

Amazingly, it begins with your grinder. If you’re using an old spice grinder, commonly know as a blade grinder for obvious reasons, you will NOT get a consistent grind. A blade grinder will hack and chop your beans into pieces, dust, chunks, what have you. Since water, like some people, follows the path of least resistance, some of the grounds will be used, some not.

We here at Mr. Bill’s Beans take care to roast our beans so that you get an incredible cup of coffee. Not a good cup. An incredible cup. We like to see you get your money’s worth from that bag of beans.

Get a good grinder.

Not necessarily an expensive grinder, but a decent burr grinder. Preferably anti-static so you don’t have to clean your entire counter when you’re done making a cup.

Why a burr grinder? A burr grinder will grind your beans consistently. This creates an even flow of water through your grounds, giving you a smooth, even taste. You will see conical or flat burrs. For most home users this is not a major issue.

The hoppers on most grinders will hold a substantial amount of beans. It’s tempting to fill it up. But most of them don’t seal really well, I would recommend putting in enough for a couple of days and keeping the remainder sealed somewhere in the dark. NOT the freezer or refrigerator. A dark cupboard.

Do not make the mistake of saying “I don’t have a really good palate, I can’t taste the difference” Yes, you can. If you continue to make steps, even small steps, you will develop a great palate. And this will carry over into many other foods you eat; chocolate, cheese, wine, etc…

If you have any questions, please let me know.