Grindmaster Flash

or: the one thing that will put your home brewing game on a whole other level

So you’re becoming a bit of a coffee nerd, huh? You probably caught the bug slowly and without even realising it. It was shortly after you discovered that cool specialty coffee place that’s just around the corner from work. 

The chats with your barista definitely precipitated things. And then one day, just like that, she popped the question- ‘what do you brew at home?’

You felt embarrassed, because frankly, you were still on the instant. It’s ok, you can tell us. We buy it too. But you didn’t tell her this. Of course. You said, ‘oh, uh… I use one of those French press thingies…’

It did make you think though- ‘how come a sophisticated, well-traveled young professional such as myself has not got their coffee game down pat?’

Luckily, baristas are an empathetic bunch. And so Erin (there’s always an Erin) convinced you that- actually, making great-quality coffee at home is much easier than you might think. 

Well, we couldn’t agree more with Erin. 

However, as soon as you made the mental commitment to ‘get into it’, you probably zeroed in on coffee machines. 

After all, if you do work bloody hard all day, it’s so you can afford the little luxuries like this one. 

Don’t push him ‘cos he’s close to the edge.

Alas, one of the potential side effects of drinking too much coffee.

Please enjoy responsibly.

And actually, if you think about it, it might be just the thing that makes you more productive, so it’s both a personal indulgence and a career hack. A win/ win, if there ever was one. 

You can rationalise this all you want. But please hear me out. Before you do that- don’t. 

Grindhouse vs. Rise of the Machines

Look, I get it. Coffee machines are sexy. They’re flashy, and they make awesome noises and they make you feel like a pro. Not to mention, they’re a bit of a status symbol. But as your first foray into the world of specialty coffee, what you really need before an espresso machine, is a decent grinder. 

Don’t get me wrong here. If you’re still big into your coffee a couple years from now, then the espresso machine is not just a good option- it’s the only option. But I’d definitely recommend you start your journey by investing in a grinder. 

You see, a very common misconception about coffee is, if you get the fancy machine then your coffees will pour supreme. 

This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the main drawback of getting an espresso machine from the get go is- it’s hard to operate. And even harder to maintain. 

And if you don’t know how to use it, you might actually end up ruining the excellent beans you’ve purchased. 

The one thing that makes all the difference is how freshly the coffee is ground prior to brewing. 

Green coffee beans carry aromatic compounds that are further enhanced during the roasting process. This is why you want to get beans that are roasted locally, hence more recently. In order to release all of their qualities when mixed with hot water, they must then be ground. But grinding increases the coffee’s surface area, thus making it easier for these volatile chemicals to vanish into thin air. This is why grinding them as close to the brewing process as possible is the key to a great tasting cup. 

Burr vs. Blade- judgment day (newsflash- it’s burr. Burr wins)

So, when it comes to the actual grinders, there are two main categories: burr grinders and blade-operated ones. 

I’d highly recommend you go for the burr grinders. See, the ones that use a blade as the grinding method aren’t really grinding per se. They’re chopping or ‘hacking’ at your coffee beans at a very high speed. 

The result is a very inconsistent grind- some particles will be much larger than others. 

What we’re after is an even ground. This will ensure that each particle has a similar surface area, thus releasing the aromatics in a much more consistent way into the water. 

Now, your grind size will largely vary on the brewing method you want to use. This will be covered in another post, so hang about. 

Basically, the ones that I’d highly recommend for home brewing are the ones you probably already have. The ones Erin most likely told you about, too. 

There must have already been a percolator or a french press lying around the apartment when you moved in. If they’re not in dire straits- use those! Start with what you’ve got. 

Otherwise, you can always invest in a £15 cafetière, or dish out 40 odd quid for a V60 kit or a Chemex. Again, more on those later. 

The terminology you want to use is: coarse for larger coffee particles, and fine for smaller ones. 

You want to get a grinder that has a good range, so it can go from pretty coarse grounds to relatively fine ones. 

Rocks vs. sand

Think about coffee grounds like beaches, for example. So the coarser grounds will look more like pebbles or gravel on a shingle beach, while the finer ones will be similar to sand beaches. 

Grind sizes are important because they determine how much time the hot water is in contact with the coffee. This is called extraction time, and is the single most important element in making a good brew. 

Once you understand this- you understand the essence of coffee making. 

Everything else is just different ways of applying that one principle.  

If we go back to the rocks/ sand example, think about what will happen to water when it flows through the grounds. 

The larger the particles, the more space there will be between them. Thus the water will run faster, limiting its contact time with the coffee (under-extraction). 

Conversely, if the grounds are fine like sand or powder, water will run slower, thus increasing the contact time (over-extraction). 

What you’re looking for here, is to find the perfect extraction time for the type of coffee you are brewing, relative to the method you are using. 

Under-extract, and you won’t be getting enough flavour from your beans. This will result in acidic, weak-tasting and watery coffee. 

Over-extract, and you’ll end up pulling too much flavour from your coffee, resulting in a bitter, overpowering and excessively dark drink. 

Balance is what you aim to achieve. And like Flash himself, the best way to reach that is through experimenting with your tools. 

There’ll be a quiz at the end of this post so you better memorise this chart. 

Now, just a side note on grinding for espresso or even Turkish coffee. Basically, the finer the grind, the more precise the technology will have to be. And just like in everything else, ‘precise’ = more expensive. 

So this will pretty much be down to you and your budget allowance. You can get a relatively cheap grinder today that is perfect for coarser and medium grounds, and then once you’ve decided to upgrade to the espresso machine, you get a more precise grinder. 

Or- you can bite the bullet and invest a little bit more now, getting a grinder that will cover most grinds with ease. 

That way, once you do get the espresso machine, you already have a very solid grinder. But most importantly- you have the expertise. 

 Here are 7 very viable options:

I’ve selected 7 grinders here, ranging in size, style and price. 

Some of them are better suited to coarser grounds- although I tried my best to pick those that ticked most boxes, making them great all-rounders. 

I’ll arrange them by price, from cheapest to dearest, so it’s easier for you to find your ideal grinder relative to your budget. 

• • • Krups Expert Burr Grinder– Currys, £55

Ok let’s jump right in- this is not exactly a burr grinder as such. 

It’s got burr-like ‘wheels’ that crush the coffee beans, rather than grind them.

Having said this, at £55, it is a great option to get you experimenting with grind sizes. You can easily use this model consistently for anywhere between 6 months to a couple of years, before you decide to get more serious and upgrade. 

Super user-friendly. 

Better suited for coarser settings- so all you french-pressers, percolators and drip coffee makers out there will be very pleased with this little grinder.  

• • • Timemore Chestnut C2– amazon, £70

This is my only pick for a manual grinder. 

First things first- why is it more expensive than our first pick electric grinder?

Because this one has real burrs. And very precise ones, at that.

See, what you’re not paying for in electric parts and body, you’re getting in better quality, real burrs. 

It’s a great option for all you frequent fliers/ outdoorsy types. 

Easy to pack, extremely easy to use (just turn the handle) and relatively light. 

However, you can’t get super granular about the settings, resulting in less-precise and less consistent grounds. Grinding for espresso is also not recommended. Nonetheless, a fantastic option for pour overs. 

• • • Wilfa Svart Aroma– Copper Coffee Roasters, £90

Currently at £90 from this website, this grinder is a bit of a bargain. 

Both Volcano Coffee Works and Origin Coffee (two revered UK speciality coffee roasters) list this as their ‘ideal’ grinder for the home enthusiast. 

As a general rule of thumb, it’s pretty much impossible to find a grinder under 100 quid that also does espresso with ease, unless it’s a manual one like above. 

Nevertheless, this already puts you in a ‘serious hobbyist’ category without breaking the bank. 

• • • Baratza Encore– Coffee Hit, £140

We’re now past that 100 quid mark, so expect to be getting better results with your espresso. If that’s what you’re after, of course. 

Remember that espresso is far from being the be-all, end-all of coffee-making methods. 

In fact- as I wrote earlier, I would highly recommend you steer clear of espresso machines for at least the first year of your coffee journey. 

This is where the Baratza Encore is great at bridging that gap. For £140, it’s affordable enough to tend to any filter coffee preparation methods with ease. 

But- it’s also a great start for when you do decide to get that espresso machine. 

So you could easily begin with this as your first ‘real’ espresso grinder, and upgrade some time down the line. 

• • • Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder– Coffee Friend, £170 (in white); Hamlet, £190 (in black)

This one is definitely for the style-conscious. 

But it also packs some serious punch. ‘What’s not to like?!’ I hear you say.

Sexy, sleek design paired with great economy of space thanks to its minimalist body. The whole underpinned by some honestly buff features, and under 200 quid!

This ticks a lot of boxes- some might even say it’s the actual sweet spot. 

It can grind true espresso, as well as your favourite pour over methods without breaking a sweat. 

Added kudos for the ease of transition from one method to another.  

Cool kids Dark Arts Coffee and Kiss The Hippo stock this grinder in their respective webshops. 

Also- did we mention sexy? We like sexy. 

• • • Baratza Encore ESP– Coffee Friend, £200

 Yes, it’s another Baratza Encore. 

But hear me out. This is the same reliable, all-round favourite, but updated and re-engineered with true espresso in mind. 

The result? A really neat little grinder indeed. 

And at 200 quid- this may just be your best bet if you are one of those people who don’t believe in false economy, and would rather ‘eat that frog’ early on, but have something that will last you for a long time. 

And in fact, if you consider this a bit of an investment- it’s a very sound one. 

Talking about sound, it is slightly on the loud side, and perhaps a bit tricky to get your head round as a total noob, but once you crack it- it’ll be your unwavering ally for a good few years.  

• • • Eureka Mignon Manuale– Clumsy Goat, £240

Ahh, that famous 200 quid mark. We are now firmly in espresso territory. 

Perhaps even serious amateur ready to jump to semi-pro. 

This grinder is possibly not ideal for newbies. It might feel a little bit as though you are dropped in the deep end. 

Although- is that such a bad thing? 

On a similar note to the Encore ESP above- this is definitely for those who would rather invest a little bit more upfront and reap the benefits for years to come. 

This grinder will do just that for you. It looks pro. It sounds pro (so much quieter than the Encore, for example). And it just feels pro. 

Word of warning- I would probably use this for just one coffee method at a time. The transition between different grind sizes is not super seamless. 

However, if you are, say, committed to getting some really good quality espresso shots- this is an amazing option. The fact that it hasn’t got a timer, and is therefore manually operated is even better to hone your dialing skills. 

But don’t get me wrong- if you do want to use it for pour overs, stovetops, cold brews… it’ll knock it out of the park too. I just wouldn’t recommend switching methods very frequently. 

And that’s it! 

I hope you find some useful info here, and as said- there will be more coffee posts (notably one on brewing methods, as anticipated earlier) coming soon, so keep an ear to the ground! 

As always- pun very much intended. 

Stay fresh! 

MB @ London Got Juice.