Unfortunately not all of us can afford to buy the best £400 burr coffee grinder just to feed our caffeine addiction, so what is the best option for those of use who want the great taste of freshly ground coffee at an affordable price?

Do a search on Amazonand you’ll find a wide variety of grinder at a range of prices but it is always difficult to make a choice on which to buy if you don’t have experience using a certain type of product. In our search for a quality electric coffee grinder we can quickly discard those which are not burr grinders. Burr coffee grinders are a level above those which use blades to chop up your beans and are the only choice of someone who is serious about brewing good coffee at home.

The burr coffee grinder is renowned for being an expensive purchase but if you have a look on amazon you will find many models which retail from as little as £30. Such a low price will hopefully set off warning signals if you are in the market for a quality model.

Krups coffee grinder

The Krups Expert GVX231 is a case in point. You can pick one up for £35 but what you get for your money is something that isn’t going to keep you happy when you start to use it. This is especially true if you have an espresso machine at home and are looking for a grinder which can grind your beans to a fine enough consistency that the coffee will be delivered nice and slow with a thick crema.

I’m convinced that for this price it would be impossible to build a machine that was capable of providing a grind which was suitable for espresso machine use. If you are just looking for something to make a course grind for a caffitierre coffee then this model will do a good enough job but for an extra fine result you are better looking elsewhere.

What’s wrong with the Krups Expert GVX231 (and most other burr coffee grinders at this price point)?

1. The machine struggles noticeably when you ask it to grind beans fine enough for an espresso coffee machine.

2. The bean feeder doesn’t do a good job of delivering beans to be ground meaning you have to give the machine a shake every so often

2. The amount of coffee that the grinder feeds into your portafilter is variable meaning you have to judge the correct volume for yourself.

Its not that the Krups coffee grinder is a particularly bad piece of equipment, it really does a fine job for the money you pay. Its just that when we are looking for something a little bit special we need to be willing to reach deeper into our pockets.

Dualit coffee grinder

The Dualit Coffee Grinder is a much better choice for anyone who wants great value in their purchase. At twice the price of the Krups machine it can’t exactly be called cheap but in terms of build quality and ability to grind coffee beans its way ahead of most of its competition.

I have to admit that I’ve got a bit of a mental block when it comes to espresso making equipment when it isn’t made in Italy. I know its a bit ridiculous in this day and age, any company from any country has the potential to produce a fine electric coffee grinder. But I’m a creature of habit and like to stick with what I know. That’s why was such a surprise to me that the Dualit coffee grinder did such a fine job at producing a quality of grind that could be successfully used in an espresso machine.

What’s Good about the Dualit?

1. Capable of grinding your beans nice and fine just the way they need to be if you are going to make a perfect espresso.

2. Great build quality for the price – You can really tell the difference in price when using this in comparison to something like the Krups.

3. Great Value – You’ll be hard pushed to find a grinder that can do as good a job at such a low price.

If you have only got around £70 to spend on an electric coffee grinder than you can’t go wrong with the Dualit. They also make some reasonably efficient espresso machine which will make a decent coffee for a budget price.

There are so many exceptionally good cafes in the UK now that we have all become accustomed to drinking the best coffee. There are now very few towns that don’t have cafe where you can have an espresso or cappuccino created by an expert Barista if you know where to look. The negative aspect of this is that we are now totally unsatisfied whenever we return home and have nothing to drink except the jar of freeze-dried “coffee” lying in the cupboard.

The solution to this problem is reasonably simple, we need to buy ourselves a the best small coffee maker we can find that will compare to those used on commercial premises. Thankfully there are now plenty of these machines available from retailers in the UK although you’ll need to be careful and do a little research to ensure you get something worthwhile. In addition you’ll want to get a coffee grinder to go with your machine to get the most from it.

You might be asking if a coffee grinder is absolutely essential but anyone who has ever had one at their disposal when making coffee will know the best grinders are worth every penny of the outlay. If you want to make the finest cup of coffee possible from the beans you have available its essential you grind them yourself. Only in this way will you experience the best possible flavour from your coffee beans.

Ground coffee beans which are left to sit before use will quickly start to lose their flavour which is why it is false economy to purchase freshly ground coffee from a local retailer rather than buy an expensive grinder. By the time you get round to using the ground coffee it will never taste as good as it should. Of course if you must resort to buying your coffee ready ground then buy in small quantities and often and learn to store it to hold on to as much freshness as possible.

So if you are serious about your coffee you’ll realise how important it is to get your hands on a high quality coffee grinder and be willing to make the financial sacrifices to get one which does justice to your coffee beans. The question is which type, and more importantly, which particular model of coffee grinder is it worth spending your hard earned cash on?

When I think about it logically I realise that spending so much money on drinking coffee may indeed be slightly mad and I understand why many people are looking to spend a little less to make good coffee at home. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve decided to discuss the Hand Coffee Grinder.

Obviously for many individuals the idea of investing £300 in a coffee grinder seems ludicrous and with that being the price of a really good model its lucky that there are other alternatives. Its not just a case of buying a top of the range Mazzer or not having good coffee although I get caught up in the coffee world and start to believe that it is.

If you are not getting a top quality electric burr coffee grinder then your choice comes down to two options. One, you can buy ready ground coffee from the high street which I have talked about before and we’ve decided is a route than any coffee lover should be avoiding if possible. Secondly you can instead buy yourself a great hand coffee grinder for a very respectable price.

Now, hand coffee grinders will take a little more effort to create a coffee in the morning seeing as you have to physically grind the beans with your own hands but I actually get a strange satisfaction from doing the hard work and feel like I really deserve my cup of coffee when I get round to drinking the finished product. Using a manual coffee grinder really adds to the ritual of creating a coffee and can make the experience as a whole more enjoyable.

Its true that this method might make you less inclined to drink coffee when you can’t be bothered to go through the rigmarole of operating the grinder by hand but if you are looking for an economical solution to making good coffee you need to look no further.

You should be able to buy a great hand coffee grinder for around £80 in the UK so you can see that there is big price saving from the electrical models even if you opt for the best available.

My favourite model is the Zassenhaus Manual Coffee Grinder which is a very well engineered device with a cam driven grinding mechanism and a beech wood box.You can tell this grinder is really well made and produces great, fine coffee grounds. For the £90 retail price you really can’t go wrong and it makes a great Christmas present for any coffee lover.

Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat so we know where we stand. If you are at all serious about drinking the best quality coffee you can dream of then forget about the blade models and head straight for burr grinder section of your chosen coffee grinder shop.

What’s wrong with Blade Grinders?

Well at the end of the day it all depends what your looking for in a grinder. If you want to grind up some tasty flax seeds to throw on your muesli in the morning then a blade grinder is the business. If you want the finest coffee available on god’s green earth better to leave these on the shelf.

The most unfortunate problem with these grinders is that they use blades (hence the name) to chop up the coffee beans in a rather crude and course manner giving you coffee grounds which are uneven in size. Uneven coffee grains means inconsistent coffee, which if we are going to the trouble and effort of making in the first place, is not what we are looking for.

There are two other big problems. Firstly, you control the fineness of the ground coffee by leaving the grinder on longer, not very scientific. Secondly, When you want to grind your coffee fine enough for an espresso machine you’ll need to let the grinder run for a long enough time that the grinder will heat up the coffee resulting in burnt grains.

Blade grinders do have the advantage of being cheap but in this world you generally get what you pay for and that is especially true in this case.

What’s right with a Burr Coffee Grinder?

Rather than using blades, burr coffee grinders use two metal revolving disks which crush the beans to a very fine, consistent powder using slow speeds and low heat. The process keeps the delicate flavours and aromas of the roasted coffee beans intact leading to a superior cup of coffee.

The fineness of the coffee is also easily adjusted meaning you can create the perfect grind for whatever use you are going to put the end product. Whether you are have espresso, cafitierre or percolator coffee the burr grinder will make you proud.

You’ll find during your shopping research that there are actually two different types of Burr grinder available. There is the Wheel Burr and the Conical Burr. The Conical Burr grinder is the better of the two and the one that you should be purchasing. Again, it is more expensive of the two but the slower grinding process involved means the coffee bean will retain more of its flavour and the grinding process will be quieter. If you go to the trouble of finding the best cappuccino coffee makers then it makes sense to get the best coffee grinder to go along with it.

A Barista who takes great pride in the quality of coffee he creates will probably have years of experience working in a commercial environment and making hundreds of coffees every day. To be able to compete with this and learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home is going to be a challenge.

How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee At Home

If you are the type of person who loves coffee and doesn’t like to  settle for the second best of anything in life then you are a perfect candidate to learn who to make the perfect cup of coffee. Be warned though that the journey to coffee perfection is a long and arduous one which only the toughest will survive.

What Equipment Do I Need To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee?

They say that a bad workman blames his tools but in the case of coffee making the quality of the tools is crucial. A good workman with bad tools will never produce a cup of coffee to make his mamma proud.

The Coffee Beans

Yes coffee beans, don’t even think about buying you coffee ready ground if you’re going to pretend you are a Barista in the making. The fresher your coffee beans the better the final product will taste. There are companies in the UK who will dispatch coffee to you on the day it is roasted, they’re worth tracking down if you are going for perfection.

If you can’t get freshly roasted “boutique” coffee then there are plenty of brands in the beans out there which will do a great job. At the end of the day the beans you choose to use on a regular basis is down to personal taste and most coffee roasters these days produce roasted coffee beans which are of a perfectly acceptable standard.

In my opinion as long as you choose a coffee bean from a respectable roaster then the skill of the Barista, the coffee machine and the coffee grinder are more important to achieving an outstanding espresso than the beans you choose.

The Espresso Coffee Machine

Buying an espresso coffee machine these days can be a bewildering experience which such a large number of different models and manufacturers. There are plenty of machines that will do an acceptable job if your only looking for “acceptable” coffee, but if your after the best of the best your really going to have to splash out on something special.

It takes a lot of pressure to create a great cup of coffee and unfortunately the cheaper electric coffee makers just don’t have the power to give your that awesome espresso taste your looking for. Semi-commercial machines are a great way to make coffee if you’re looking for the best. Something like the Bezzera BZ35 or BZ40 are so close to delivering coffee shop coffee that you won’t notice a difference. They are pretty expensive but a Bezzera espresso machine will make  you the envy of all your coffee drinking friends when they get a taste of your coffee creations.

If you aren’t willing to stretch that far then there are always Gaggia machines to fall back on. Gaggia machines ooze style and beauty so will look great in your kitchen. At the same time can deliver great espresso coffee if you know how to use it. Priced at under £300 in the UK for a Gaggia Classic, you really can’t go wrong.

Check out reviews from knowledgeable Baristas before making a final decision on a coffee maker, remember that you are spending a fair bit of money and the machine you buy will have to last you for many years so its worth getting it right.

The Coffee Grinder

My favourite part of the whole process of making the perfect coffee if grinding up my beans. Maybe its the aromas which are released in the process, maybe its the smooth feel of the uniform fine grains when I rub them between my fingers or it could just be the anticipation of another great coffee on the way. There’s a lot be said for the ritualistic aspects of creating a great coffee.

Many people overlook the importance of an espresso coffee grinder in the whole process but without a high quality burr coffee grinder you are setting yourself up for coffee maker’s disappointment. Do much research into your grinding machine as you would for the espresso maker to ensure you get a machine that grinds coffee consistently and without burning the grains.

If money is no object or you just want to show off how cool you are to your friends then you’ve got to get yourself a Mazzer coffee grinder. Mazzer build coffee grinders of supreme quality which will deliver you the absolute finest ground coffee ever. They are also built so well they will last you for years and at the price they sell for you’ll be glad you never have to buy another one. Pick up a Mazzer Super Jolly Coffee Grinder for around £500 in the UK.

Your Barista Coffee Making Skills

Unfortunately I can’t teach how to make perfect coffee in this article. The best way to learn how to make a perfect coffee is to get a lesson from someone you know who is a master of the craft.

Make sure whoever teaches you actually knows what they are doing, there are many so called Baristas out there who think they are experts but are actually clueless when it comes to making great coffee. Ideally you’ll find someone who has been properly trained as a Barista and has many years experience behind an espresso coffee machine.