Freshly grinding coffee beans prior to brewing is one of the most important steps to a great cup of coffee. Grinding the coffee beans properly and to the proper consistency for the brew you desire is essential. There are two main types of coffee grinders on the market today, namely the burr grinder and the blade grinder.

Blade Grinder:

The blade grinder is the cheaper of the two grinders and runs about $20. The blade grinder has a single blade that looks and spins like a propeller. Blade grinders do not have settings. Basically, the longer you grind, the finer the grind becomes. You need to "eye-ball it" to see when it has become the grind you want. Blade grinders do a decent job for drip coffee makers, but for espresso or coffee drinks that require very specific grinds, the blade grinder would not be recommended since it does not grind consistently. When using the blade grinder, the coffee picks up a static charge. This causes the coffee to stick everything, making the blade grinder a very messy tool.

Some name brands of blade grinders include Braun, Bodum, Capresso, and Cuisinart. Although blade grinders are uneven and messy grinders, they are very cost-effective if you are willing to make the trade off!

Burr Grinder:

The burr grinder is the more expensive of the two grinders and sells between $60 and $125. When purchasing a burr grinder, you can get one of two types of burrs: flat burrs or conical burrs. The coffee beans are drawn between the two burrs and crushed into a uniform size. The burr grinder has settings that allow an exact coarseness or fineness of grind to be selected. Burr grinders grind the coffee into uniform size and consistency, which is why they are recommended for espresso, but can also be used for other types of grinds as well.

Some name brands of burr grinders are Cuisinart, Baratza, Bodum, Bunn, Capresso, Gaggia, Isomac, KitchanAid, Krups, Mazzer, Pasquini, Rancillo and Solis.

The extra money for the burr grinder would be well spent since you would be getting a better quality cup of coffee and the clean up would be quick and easy! Both grinders are available with either a dosing or non-dosing option. The grinders can dispense the coffee in usable amounts with the pull of a handle usually located on the side of the grinder. The non-dosing grinders will grind directly into a ground coffee container or coffee receptacle. As with any tool you need to find the one that best fits your needs and lifestyle.