Buyer's Guide to Coffee Grinders

Coffee grinders are a type of small kitchen appliance which can be used to grind up coffee beans into grounds which are to be put in a coffee maker. They range from basic units which cost under fifteen dollars to more sophisticated units and combination maker/grinder units.

Brands which make coffee grinders include Black & Decker, Toastmaster, Breville, Cuisinart, and others. Usually the least expensive models lack such features as a ground size control or easy cleaning capabilities, and use a blade rather than burr grinding. Generally, grinders have more ground size settings and a larger capacity as they become more expensive. For example, the Cuisinart DBM-8 ($49.99 at Best Buy) has eighteen ground-size settings, and can hold a sufficient amount of beans to make thirty-two cups of coffee. The more affordable Toastmaster and Mr. Coffee IDS55 (both $14.99 at Target) grinders do not have ground size settings and hold beans for up to twelve cups. Some slightly more expensive (about $20) models, such as the Hamilton Beach Custom Grinder 80365 and Mr. Coffee IDS77, have grinding size controls and other additional features. Being able to control the ground size is useful for adjusting the taste and preventing grounds from passing through the specific type of filter being used. According to wikipedia.org, many coffee drinkers feel that the more expensive burr grinders are better for grinding espresso beans than blade-based grinders.

Grinders can be purchased online or from a variety of stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's, Sears, Best Buy, Kohl's, and Home Depot. Some new grinders can be bought inexpensively on eBay.com, despite the shipping and handling costs, while other models often cost about as much as they do in stores. New or almost new Toastmaster grinders sometimes sell for $10-12, including S/H. Combination coffee grinder/maker units can be bought at Sears stores, Target.com, eBay.com, and Wal-Mart (requires request to ship to store, then can be picked up at nearest store). These usually cost about $40-100, and often have a large carafe. One of the less expensive options is a Sanyo model offered by Wal-Mart for just under $39; such units are also made by Melitta and Mr. Coffee. An advantage to combination makers/grinders is that they take up less counter space and only occupy one electrical outlet.

The wide variety of coffee grinders available makes it possible to find a model suitable to almost any budget, coffee preference, or amount of beans which need to be ground.