Lots of people prefer to grind their own coffee beans, since it gives the ultimate freshness and flavor. There are many coffeemakers that have grinders built right into them, or you can be a separate one pretty cheap. Generally, there are two main types of coffee grinders: burr or blade.
When you buy coffee grinders that are inexpensive, they will often feature a blade that grinds the beans. The fineness of the grind is determined by the length of time you allow the machine to run. However, this can many times result in coffee beans that have been ground unevenly, making the quality of the brew undesirable. Also, if you decide to grind the beans very fine, and leave them in the machine for a long time, it can produce a great amount of heat, causing your beans to have a slightly burnt taste.
Burr Grinders work by crushing the beans between a surface that doesn't move, and a grinding wheel that does move. The size of the ground is determined via the burr position, allowing your grind to be much more uniform in size. There are two distinct types of burr grinders: Conical Burr and Wheel Burr.
Conical Burr- This are said to the top of the line in terms of coffee grinders. They feature a slow moving burr, so they are not as messy or noisy as wheel burrs. Unlike other types of grinders, they do not clog up, even if using coffees that are flavored or oily. However, they are also the most expensive grinders available.
Wheel Burr- These are cheaper than the conical burr, but since the wheel spins rapidly, there is quite a bit of noise and they can be very messy.
The way in which your beans are ground is what will determine the final flavor of your brew. It might take some time before you are able to grind the beans to get the exact flavor you are seeking. Here is some information about various coarseness levels of ground beans:
Turkish- This type of grind is almost a powder similar to the consistency of flour. You will need a burr grinder to get it this fine.
Medium- This grind has the texture and appearance of sand that is very coarse.
Extra fine- Not exactly powered, but more fine than sugar.
Fine- When touching it, it feels smooth, and is a tiny bit finer than table salt or sugar.
Coarse- You can see the coffee particles, and they are much bigger than other grinds.
To get the desired flavor of coffee you are seeking, you will have to resort to trial and error when using coffee grinders. After you have practiced a bit with various textures, you will be able to make the perfect pot of coffee with the flavor you want. Although this can take a bit of time and effort, if you are a real coffee lover, it is well worth it.
