What's the big deal about grinders?

[SixAMBuzz]

I recently bought a pump espresso machine but I'm still using a $10 generic grinder. I can taste the difference between fresh ground coffee and day old coffee for sure but what's with the obsession over grinders? Will a $400 home grinder really affect the taste that much?
It's just hard for me to justify spending more than $10 for little blades spinning round and round. :decaf:

 

[Surfer]

Those cheap little grinders burn the beans from grinding so the grinds end up "scorched"... trust me, night and day difference between the cheap grinders and good conical grinders. Plus all those cheap grinders are clumpy, static issues etc. You don't have to spend 400 bucks, like I mentioned in another post the Breville Smart Grinder is around 200 and can't really be beat for money.

 

[ToyDogCoffee]

I think Alton Brown in his show good eats really provides the best example between the difference between a nice burr grinder versus a stick grinder. For a typical drip coffee, I think the stick grinder works just fine and it is what we use for every day. When you move to espresso or french press, the consistency of a quality burr grinder starts to make a difference.

 

[Yarbooa]

Those cheap little grinders burn the beans from grinding so the grinds end up "scorched"... trust me, night and day difference between the cheap grinders and good conical grinders. Plus all those cheap grinders are clumpy, static issues etc. You don't have to spend 400 bucks, like I mentioned in another post the Breville Smart Grinder is around 200 and can't really be beat for money.

I agree. The cheap grinders tend to burn the coffee + over grind them to a thin dust making them pass through filters like French presses and Espresso filters causing them to clog your coffee with sandy coffee ground. I won't go for a 400$ grinder though and settle for a lot less. There are some wonderful 100$ grinders around.
Cheers.

 

[greencoffee800]

Thank for explaining in easy to understand manner.It is definitely going to help for me.

 

[SixAMBuzz]

That video definitely straightened things out for me. Thanks!
Now I'm just concerned that I look like him every morning after my double shot espresso (i.e. :decaf. Did anyone else think that video was in fast forward?

 

[kifucoffeeroaster]

The most important reason to have a nice burr grinder is for consistency of the size of the grinds. The reason this is so important is to allow for even and optimal extraction. When your grind consists of different size grinds, it causes 'channeling', because water finds the past of least resistance. You don't want little paths of water wiggling its way through your coffee, you want complete saturation.

KCR

 

[chrismartyn]

Difference is, obviously. The taste a good grinder can give, you can never get from a 10 dollar grinder. Consider buying a good one and you will be able to get the taste you like.