My cheap grinder finally gave out so I tried hand grinding for a week

My old blade grinder died last Tuesday, and I couldn't get a new electric one until payday. I dug out a manual grinder my brother gave me years ago that I never used. I figured it would be a pain, but after the first few slow, tough mornings, something changed. The coffee from my basic pour-over setup tasted... clearer? I could actually pick out a fruity note in the Ethiopian beans I buy, which I never could before. It turns out the manual grinder gives a much more even grind than my old whirly-blade machine ever did. I'm not going to hand grind forever, but now I know my next electric grinder needs to be a burr type. Has anyone else been surprised by how much a simple grinder upgrade can change your morning cup?

3 comments

3 Comments

claire8721mo ago

You're right about burr grinders being better, but it's not just manual vs electric. My first burr grinder was a cheap electric one and it still made a huge difference over a blade grinder. The key is the burrs crushing the beans evenly instead of chopping them.

kai_webb911mo ago

Totally agree about the burrs making the real difference.

taraross1mo ago

My old blade grinder made perfectly fine coffee for years. This whole "clarity" and "fruity note" thing sounds like people convincing themselves they spent money well. A good cup is a good cup, no matter how you chop the beans.