HOW TO USE A COFFEE GRINDER FOR A PERFECT BREW
Grinding your own coffee beans helps you bring the cafe experience home. It helps make your morning cup taste fresher and allows you to customize the grind size for different brewing methods. Coffee grinders are available in a few different types and sizes, so you should be able to find something that matches your preferences. Learn how to use a coffee grinder so you can experience the possibilities the world of at-home coffee has to offer.
DOES USING A COFFEE GRINDER MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Yes. By grinding beans at home, you limit their exposure to oxygen which means you’re using the freshest grounds possible. Plus, you can adjust grind size for brew methods like French press, pour over or espresso. Freshly ground beans will help create coffee with a richer flavor and aroma.
Freshly ground coffee can have a more robust flavor because the grounds start oxidizing immediately, a process that drains flavor from the beans. Pre-ground coffee is also typically prepared for the drip method only. If you want to make specialty drinks with espresso or cold brew, for instance, a customized grind can deliver a more full-bodied, flavorful beverage. Browse KitchenAid® coffee grinders to get started on your at-home coffee journey.
HOW DO COFFEE GRINDERS WORK?
There are two basic types of coffee grinders: burr and blade. Burr grinders crush beans through force and blade grinders cut them with sharp blades. While both can lead to a delicious cup of coffee, burr grinders are often preferred for their ability to create exceptionally uniform grounds. Both types are common as electric models, while most manual models use the burr method. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to use a burr and blade coffee grinder.
HOW TO USE A COFFEE GRINDER
Before you start exploring all your fresh-ground coffee options, browse your owner’s manual for instructions on how to use your grinder properly. It may also have recommendations on grind size and amount. Here are some general steps for using a coffee grinder to help elevate every morning.
STEP 1: ADD COFFEE TO YOUR GRINDER
Pour whole beans into your grinder. Blade grinders tend to hold enough beans for a standard pot and will grind all the beans at once. Burr grinders, on the other hand, can usually hold large amounts at once in a hopper above the burrs. You’ll and only grind the amount you need as the grinder feeds your selected amount of beans through the burrs.
STEP 2: SELECT THE GRIND SIZE
If you have a burr grinder, you’ll likely be able select different grind sizes, from extra coarse to extra fine. If you have a blade grinder, you can still modify the grind size by grinding for a shorter or longer period of time. Here are coffee grinder settings for different brew methods.
EXTRA COARSE: Use for KitchenAid® cold brew coffee makers
COARSE: Use for French press
MEDIUM COARSE: Use for French press or KitchenAid® drip coffee makers
MEDIUM: Use for single cup brewers and pour overs
FINE: Use for KitchenAid® espresso makers
EXTRA FINE: Use for espresso and Turkish coffee and Cuban coffee
STEP 3: SELECT THE COFFEE DOSE
A burr grinder should let you select how many cups of coffee or shots of espresso you want to make. The blade grinder, on the other hand, will chop up anything you put in it, so it may take some experimenting to find the right amount of beans to add for your brew. Letting grounds sit in your grinder can cause them to get stale and may affect the flavor of your next batch, so it’s important to only grind what you will use immediately.
STEP 4: GRIND THE BEANS
A burr grinder should begin grinding with just the push of a button, whereas a blade grinder will likely require you to hold down a button so you can control how fine the grind becomes. If you’re working with a blade grinder, pulse for a bit then stop and shake the grinder to help create more uniform grounds.
SHOP FOR KITCHENAID® COFFEE GRINDERS
The KitchenAid brand collection of electric coffee grinders includes burr grinders, sleek bladed models and a combination coffee/spice grinder so you can enhance your favorite dishes as well as your morning routine.
