Roast. Brew. Gather.
It's our little motto for life...because life happens around cups of coffee. The number one way to improve your coffee at home? Grind it fresh right before brewing.
We live in an area extremely new to specialty coffee. By far, most of the coffee served here comes from a can, and that coffee is usually chosen based on the can's ability to hold chicken feed or bolts in the shed. It's fine. If folks are enjoying their coffee, if it makes their day start off on the right foot, then that's absolutely awesome.
However, I believe you're here because you want one step better. And if you want a better cup of coffee, the next step is to start grinding your coffee just before you brew it. It doesn't matter how you brew it, it will be a level above just by grinding your coffee fresh. Whole bean coffee lasts much longer on the shelf, and usually the price is lower as well.
Now, I'm not talking any old grinder. Sorry, I'm going to get picky on you. Whirly blade grinders are not the way to go. Honestly, you'll be better off buying your coffee pre-ground. #sorrynotsorry They grind unevenly and inconsistency, and have a tendency to heat the coffee which leads to a roasty, smokey taste. But before I get into the grinders I do recommend, I'd like to give you a quick rundown on exactly how to grind your coffee.
Coarse:
You can see chunks of coffee beans, similar to a very coarse kosher salt. You'd use this grind size for french press, chemex, percolators, etc.
Drip:
You can see individual pieces, similar to a coarse, gritty sand. You'd use this grind size for flat bottom filtered brewing devices like a regular coffee pot or an aeropress.
Fine:
This is just like table salt. You would use this grind size for cone-shaped brewing devices.
Espresso:
Coffee grounds are barely discernable, between a granular sugar and powdered sugar. You'd obviously use this for espresso.
I know price is a significant factor, as we started with a very basic grinder years ago, and have since upgraded a few times, so I have a few things in each price range. You'll still get a great cup of coffee from the less expensive ones, but there are little nuances with the higher end ones that make them worth the cost.
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The KRUPS GX5000 was our very first grinder years ago. It did the job, and was super easy to use. It allowed us to get our feet wet and play with grind size and the effect on the coffee.
The Cuisinart Supreme Grind has a ton of followers on Amazon and it's no question why...it gets you into the game without a huge expense. The top hopper can hold a more coffee and it has double the grind adjustments.
Kitchenaid isn't exactly the brand most coffee professionals would turn to for a grinder, but this has been our favorite grinder yet. The selling point for us was that both the hopper and grind jar are glass, so the static cling is significantly lower. It is extremely durable and reliable, sometimes grinding up to a pound of coffee at a time for us without putting off any heat. It also comes in silver and you can get a grind jar with a scale built in.
And to try out your new grinder, be sure to head over to our shop and order a couple bags of our coffee, then get together with your favorite people and set up a sampling to find your ideal grind settings.