{"id":7752,"date":"2023-01-17T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/freshcup.com\/?p=7752"},"modified":"2022-12-21T12:02:41","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T18:02:41","slug":"grinding-for-a-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freshcup.com\/grinding-for-a-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Grinding for a Purpose: Everything You Need To Know To Pick The Right Grinder"},"content":{"rendered":"

What’s the most important piece of coffee equipment you own? If your answer was anything other than “My grinder,” you should probably reconsider. The quality and consistency of the ground beans is the foundation of any great cup of coffee. For that, you need a good grinder.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The grinder sets the stage for what you’re about to brew,” says Steve Rhinehart, brand lead at online retailer\u00a0<\/span>Prima Coffee<\/span><\/a>. “If you have an inconsistent grind, it will throw off your extraction.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyra Kennedy, the cofounder of grinder manufacturer\u00a0<\/span>Baratza<\/span><\/a>, agrees. <\/span>“Nobody buys a grinder because they want a grinder. What they want is a better-tasting cup,” she says. “The grinder is fundamental to getting that great-tasting cup.”<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s well known that burr grinders are better than blade grinders, but from there, it’s complicated. Not all burrs are created equal, and the size, shape, and material of the burr can make significant impacts on the quality of the grind. “Every burr has its own particle size distribution,” says Kennedy. That, in turn, affects your control during brewing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When choosing the best grinders for your caf\u00e9 or restaurant, you should consider several factors, especially this one: what brew method are you grinding for?<\/span><\/p>\n

Get It Fine: Espresso Grinders<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Espresso requires a fine grind, which means your espresso grinder works much harder than your filter grinder to process the same amount of coffee. When you consider that most specialty coffee shops go through more espresso than filter coffee, it’s clear who your workhorse is. You need an espresso grinder that can take some wear and tear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Espresso grinders can be divided into two camps: conical burr grinders and flat burr grinders, and both camps have their advocates and detractors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conical Burrs<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Conical burr grinders, like the ubiquitous\u00a0<\/span>Mazzer Robur S<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Compak K10<\/span><\/a>, have been the industry standard for years. As the name implies, conical burrs are cone-shaped, with two complementary pieces. This allows more efficient, faster grinding than with flat burrs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conical burr grinders produce what is called a bimodal particle size distribution. If you looked at the coffee grounds under a microscope and grouped like-sized particles, you would have two groups: one composed of smaller particles; one larger. The smaller particles restrict the water flow through the coffee bed, giving the larger particles more time to saturate. A conventional espresso recipe is dependent on this slower flow rate.<\/span><\/p>\n