[RichHelms]

I convinced a number of friends that grinding fresh really helps the taste by buying them a basic blade grinder at Walmart for $8. While I agree a burr grinder is better, I disagree that a low cost burr does as good a job. If you are grinding for espresso you need a better grinder to get the fine grind. If you are grinding for drip or press the low cost burr will work OK.

[Spyder]

Why bastardize any beans by running them through a blade chopper or low cost burr grinder? ANY brew method will taste better when properly ground. Why try to skate by with one of those $30-50 POS contraptions at WalMart, etc. when you can buy a good hand mill far superior for the same $$$? People shouldn't reason that high end grinders are only for espresso. Sure it's the most demanding brew method that is equipment dependant, but good grind quality should never be overlooked regardless.

[Austin]

Originally Posted by Spyder

Why bastardize any beans by running them through a blade chopper or low cost burr grinder? ANY brew method will taste better when properly ground. Why try to skate by with one of those $30-50 POS contraptions at WalMart, etc. when you can buy a good hand mill far superior for the same $$$? People shouldn't reason that high end grinders are only for espresso. Sure it's the most demanding brew method that is equipment dependant, but good grind quality should never be overlooked regardless.

I think considering the majority of people are still buying pre-ground, any introduction into grinding is a benefit to coffee culture.

Sure there are better methods, but ease of use for the novitiate seems to be the way to break them from old coffee habits, established by a coffee culture that set us back to the dark ages just 30-50 years ago.

[Spyder]

At least the preground stuff has proper grind consistency, even though staleness has taken away all the good. You can grind the freshest beans with the crappiest grinder and still not get satisfactory results.

The dinky blade choppers should be marketed for spices/herbs only as that's the only thing they do decent. Any true coffee lover shouldn't go near one or have his/her fingers ran through the thing for even considering it.

[bigmike787]

I've stood back during the whirly blade discussions, because old habits die hard, but I have to agree with Spyder on this one. I have a Mahlkonig K30 dedicated to espresso and a Baratza Virtuoso for drip/French Press/Vac Pot. I personally wouldn't do anything less than the Virtuoso for coffee. I started out long ago with a whirly blade grinder and the problem with it is the very inconsistent particle size. You get boulders and powder. The powder gets over-extracted and the boulders are under-extracted. I use a rebadged Solis grinder here at work. I'm sure that's considered an "inferior" conical burr by some, but this little grinder will put out a much better grind than any whirly blade grinder. So spend a little cash to get a decent grinder and it will make a world of difference in the cup.

[Spyder]

Exactly... thanks Mike. I used to be in the same boat of thinking "a grinder is a grinder is a grinder..."

Your analysis of dust and boulders is spot-on and the choppers/cheap "pseudo burr" grinders just beat the beans to death and cause heat build-up as well.

To put it simply I challenge any non-believers to do some blind tasting using a blade chopper next to any decent home mill such as the Maestro, Infinity, etc. They have conical burrs that are really good for drip, press, etc. Proper grind makes all the difference in the world.

You wouldn't believe how many customers we get saying "no matter what I do at home my coffee is never nearly this good and I grind it fresh in the store and use a good Mr. Coffee drip machine".... I tell them it's 3 "simple" factors... 1 is FRESH coffee, 2 is properly balanced water and 3 is proper equipment that is clean/dialed in for the task at hand.

[Austin]

I think the point is to get people into coffee culture. Grinding is a strep up in involving one self in coffee.

I get the point that Rich was making, and I get your point Spyder, but I think ultimately, it's better to have people more involved in their experience than less.