What To Look For In Getting The Best Burr Grinder Under 50
When it comes to making homemade coffee, one of the first things you need to remember is always grinding your coffee beans right before you use it. And while the traditional way of grinding coffee beans used is by stone, luckily coffee grinders are developed in order to grind coffee beans whenever and wherever you are efficiently and conveniently. It is possible to find different styles, designs, and types of coffee grinders at different price points, for it has a wide variety of choices. If you're interested in buying a coffee grinder, let us tell you everything you need to know to find the best burr grinder under 50.
What is A Coffee Grinder
Before we tell what makes the best burr grinder under 50, let us first go over what a coffee grinder exactly is. As mentioned earlier, the traditional or earlier method of grinding is by crushing the beans under two massive stones. And while there are alternative methods of grinding coffee beans such as using a blender or a mortar and pestle, it is safe to say that having a coffee grinder is the easiest way to grind the coffee beans clean and fast.
But how important are the coffee grinders in the whole coffee making and brewing process? As one would say, having a good and reliable coffee grinder can easily elevate the taste and overall quality of your brew even if you use the same old coffee machine. How? Coffee grinders are used for crushing the coffee bean to release its natural oils and let water seep through to capture its flavor. Thus, the quality of the coffee grind can affect the strength and flavor of your brewed coffee.
Blade vs Burr Grinders
Coffee grinders are often categorized into two: manual and electric coffee grinders. Manual grinders feature a handle that you can wind to make the grinder work, while electric coffee grinders work at a press of a button. However, the bigger distinction when it comes to coffee grinders would focus primarily on the type of blade or grinding mechanism it uses.
Blade Coffee Grinders
Blade coffee grinders feature a double-pronged blade that has a similar shape and design as an airplane propeller. This kind of coffee grinder cuts and chops up the coffee bean into smaller pieces using its propeller-like blade that revolves at an extremely rapid rate. You can adjust the coffee beans' grind size by simply adjusting the time you grind the coffee beans in the blade coffee grinder. Unfortunately, this method often results in inconsistent and uneven particle size, affecting the length brewing process. However, blade coffee grinders can still produce usable coffee ground and are also known to be cheaper than burr coffee grinder.
Burr Coffee Grinders
On the other hand, burr grinders feature burr pieces that grind the coffee pieces by crushing the pieces. Unlike blade coffee grinders, burr coffee grinders produce consistent uniform ground that you can adjust in coarseness by simply moving the burr grinders closer or farther from each other. This allows you to create and use ground coffee with that same texture and consistency that is optimal in brewing consistent quality coffee. However, burr coffee grinders are notably more expensive than blade grinders as well as consume more energy than the latter.
Between the two, it’s safe to say that the better choice is the burr coffee grinder considering that it can produce uniform coffee grinds that you can adjust according to your brew. Aside from that, it is also a lot more durable as burr grinders stay sharp longer than blade grinders. So, the question now is, what is the best burr grinder under 50?
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Burr Grinder Under 50
Choosing the best coffee grinder does not end at picking between a blade or a burr coffee grinder. As mentioned earlier, there is a plethora of choices available in the market for coffee grinders. With that, here are some of the things you should consider and look for when you're choosing the best burr grinder under 50:
Capacity
Coffee grinders come with a tank or container that will hold a certain amount of coffee for you to grind. This feature will depend primarily on your use. If you're more ground coffee beans for a brew that is good for a cup only, then a small-capacity grinder would be enough. However, if you tend to brew coffee for a group, it is better to opt for a grinder with a larger capacity to be more efficient.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
As mentioned earlier, coffee grinders are developed to grind coffee efficiently and conveniently. Thus, it is important to opt for a burr coffee grinder with a simple and straightforward user-interface so that you wouldn't have to deal with an even more complex grinding process. Besides that, having a coffee grinder that is easy to clean and dishwasher safe can make the whole process a lot less time-consuming.
Grind Settings
Most burr coffee grinders come with the capability to adjust the grind setting from coarse to fine. This allows you to change the grind size and set depending on the type of brew you would like to make. Considering that, this setting can either be stepped, which allows you to choose from a number of settings before grinding; or stepless that simply lets you choose from a general range of grind settings.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, coffee grinders play an essential role in the quality and taste of your brewed coffee. Thus, choosing the best burr grinder under 50 can be a little complicated, especially if you have little to no idea what to look for. Hopefully, this article provided you with the information you would need to choose the best coffee grinder best suited for your lifestyle and needs. Know more about coffee grinders.
