When it comes to making the perfect cup of coffee, there are a few things Makenzie Bryson Jackson, MS, food scientist and product development manager at Panaceutics, calls must-haves: clean quality water, fresh beans, and a good grinder. It might seem like any grinder will do the trick, but—like with coffee machines—the investment in a high-quality coffee grinder makes all the difference.
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food scientist and product development manager at Panaceutics
The humble coffee grinder greatly affects the taste of your brew—in fact, it’s what gives you a burst of balanced flavor in every sip. “Blade grinders don’t uniformly break the beans up, so you’ll have small dust-sized particles and larger bean bits,” says Jackson. This means that your coffee grounds won’t extract at the same rate, leaving you with a pot of coffee that’s bitter or sour.
To achieve a uniform grind, Jackson prefers burr grinders over blade grinders. Burr grinders are a little spendier, but they’re worth it.
The best coffee grinders for your morning brew
1. OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, $100
Oxo makes all kinds of high-quality small appliances, and it’s burr coffee grinder is no exception. It has a one-touch start timer that makes it easy to getting the perfect.
Shop now:OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder ($100)
2. Cuisinart DBM-8CRM Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill, $70
Cuisinart’s finest grinder allows you to choose from 18 different levels when you’re grinding your beans, which range from ultra-fine to extra-course.
Shop now:Cuisinart DBM-8CRM Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill, $70
3. Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, $139
For the most particular coffee aficionado, Baratza’s grinder let’s you choose from an impressive 40 grind settings. It’s built to last with hardened alloy steel burrs and a powerful motor.
Shop now:Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, $139
How to clean a coffee grinder
If you don’t clean your grinder properly, leftover coffee dust and oils won’t allow it to work as well (and can even break it). It can also affect the taste of your coffee. Prima Coffee Equipment recommends taking the time to brush away any debris on a daily or weekly basis. To do so, first unplug your machine, then remove anything in the way of your burrs (using your instruction manual if needed). Next, use a soft brush ($8) with high-quality natural fiber bristles to remove debris.
Once or twice a month you can also give your burr coffee grinder a deeper clean. While you can run rice through it in order to clean it, Prima Coffee Equipment says it can be rough on the motor and burrs due to how hard it is. Instead, try something created specifically for cleaning your machine like Urnex Grindz ($12), which are food-safe tablets that quickly remove coffee oils from your grinder. Regular cleaning of your new coffee grinder ensures that your brew will taste just as great as it does at your local coffee shop if not better.
The benefits of coffee, explained by a dietitian:
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