Like any act or routine that a person values, the preparation of coffee for a coffee-phile is a ritual.
The right beans, the right grinder, and the right brew.
To give you a sense of just how seriously these men and women take their coffee, consider that high end coffee grinders and coffee machines can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000.
So what does a coffee grinder do, and why are people so obsessed with them? Most people are familiar with purchasing coffee at a store already ground, and only know of coffee as something you spoon out of a container or bag.
They know that coffee comes from beans (like chocolate), but do not really see the point in grinding their own.
But if you are serious about coffee you know that the less time the coffee sits in ground form, the more flavor there will be when it is brewed.
Serious coffee drinkers want to wait until the last possible minute to grind their coffee, in order to maximize its taste.
They will grind fresh beans at home right before brewing.
Depending on how much coffee they are brewing at that instance, they might decide to only brew enough for just one shot of espresso, or enough for a pot for a friendly gathering.
Some coffee grinders come with dosing settings, thus enabling the coffee enthusiast to grind the proper amount without sacrificing the freshness of unused beans.
This is an attractive feature if you are spending a lot on beans and do not want to lose any flavor by grinding prematurely.
Another distinguishing feature of grinders is their speed.
While you might think faster is better, the opposite is in fact true.
A fast grinder subjects the poor beans to a lot of heat.
Heat should be saved for the very last step in preparing coffee: the brewing.
When beans are subjected to fast grinding and high temperatures, their flavor leaks out very quickly.
So it should come as no surprise that the more expensive coffee grinders actually offer slower motors that will grind the beans at a lower temperature.
Don't be put off by the high prices and involvement of grinders.
There are other ways to find wonderful coffee at amazing prices.
The right beans, the right grinder, and the right brew.
To give you a sense of just how seriously these men and women take their coffee, consider that high end coffee grinders and coffee machines can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,000.
So what does a coffee grinder do, and why are people so obsessed with them? Most people are familiar with purchasing coffee at a store already ground, and only know of coffee as something you spoon out of a container or bag.
They know that coffee comes from beans (like chocolate), but do not really see the point in grinding their own.
But if you are serious about coffee you know that the less time the coffee sits in ground form, the more flavor there will be when it is brewed.
Serious coffee drinkers want to wait until the last possible minute to grind their coffee, in order to maximize its taste.
They will grind fresh beans at home right before brewing.
Depending on how much coffee they are brewing at that instance, they might decide to only brew enough for just one shot of espresso, or enough for a pot for a friendly gathering.
Some coffee grinders come with dosing settings, thus enabling the coffee enthusiast to grind the proper amount without sacrificing the freshness of unused beans.
This is an attractive feature if you are spending a lot on beans and do not want to lose any flavor by grinding prematurely.
Another distinguishing feature of grinders is their speed.
While you might think faster is better, the opposite is in fact true.
A fast grinder subjects the poor beans to a lot of heat.
Heat should be saved for the very last step in preparing coffee: the brewing.
When beans are subjected to fast grinding and high temperatures, their flavor leaks out very quickly.
So it should come as no surprise that the more expensive coffee grinders actually offer slower motors that will grind the beans at a lower temperature.
Don't be put off by the high prices and involvement of grinders.
There are other ways to find wonderful coffee at amazing prices.
Source...