Design and principle of operation of a manual coffee grinder, review of models

Coffee milk is a device for grinding coffee beans. In ancient times, coffee beans were ground using a large mortar and a special wooden crusher. Although, in some villages I have seen people still grinding poppy seeds for pies in a similar way. By the way, the Arabs used this method long before coffee came to Europe. The disadvantage of this method of grinding coffee beans is that it is almost impossible to grind them to a fine grind. Later, coffee began to be ground using millstones.

Why do you need a coffee grinder?

I also want to answer the question: “Why do I need a coffee grinder if you can buy ground coffee in the store?” It's a fair question, isn't it?

So, the answer lies in time! From the time manufacturers grind the coffee beans to the time they package them, a sufficient amount of time passes during which some of the coffee's aroma and taste evaporate.

Even if the ground coffee is quickly packed in a vacuum package, as soon as you open it, you will no longer be able to retain the “freshness” of the coffee. It is worth noting that even if you are going to store ground coffee in an airtight container, reactive oxygen from the air will neutralize the unique aroma of coffee irrevocably.

It’s another matter when a couple of minutes pass from the moment of grinding to the moment of brewing. It is because of this that coffee grinders are quite popular among people around the world.

Some coffee makers and almost all coffee machines have a coffee grinder function.

The working principle of burr coffee grinders

The coffee grinder works simply - the grains pass between the millstones (in the form of cylinders or cones). And the degree of grinding depends on their distance. Each device has several functions for grinding coffee, which ultimately produce from fine powder (Turkish coffee) to large particles (in a French press). In the most advanced models you will find up to 17 modes.

1. When the equipment is turned off, a container for grains is installed on top of the housing.
2. The lower tray (for ground coffee) slides into the device. The beans are placed in the funnel, it is closed, and the degree of grinding is selected using the regulator.
3. With a simple press of a button, grinding begins.
4. All you have to do is turn off the device, take out the ground coffee and brew your favorite aromatic drink.

Millstone options, unlike others, have two containers in their design. Whole grains are poured into one of them, and already ground powder is taken out of the other. This is very convenient, especially when you need to grind a small portion of coffee. It is enough to add the grains and, if necessary, grind them in small portions.

Rules for adjusting the grinding level

To select the desired degree of grinding, grind one portion of coffee, prepare espresso and measure the duration of extraction. If the drink is ready in 22 seconds or less, then it is recommended to make the grind finer; if the espresso is extracted for more than 28 seconds, increase it.

A professional coffee grinder is adjusted using a disk located under the hopper (a container for storing beans). To obtain a finer grind, rotate the disc towards the FINE inscription . This action can only be performed when the device is turned on. To make the grind coarser, turn the dial towards the COARSE inscription. You can increase the grind with the coffee grinder turned on and off.

Characteristics of a burr coffee grinder

Electric burr coffee grinders are the most common. Their millstone rotation speed is high, and so is their productivity.

Manual coffee grinders are rare. The grinding process with their help is complicated and time-consuming, but the coffee grinder itself is durable.

An important characteristic on which the durability of the mechanism depends is the material of the millstones.

They are made from stainless steel. Stainless steel is a material that is not strong enough, so as a result of use, the coffee grinder becomes unusable relatively quickly.

Steel millstones coated with titanium are more durable. Their service life is significantly increased due to the titanium coating. But the most durable coffee grinder is considered to be one with ceramic millstones.

Do not allow them to heat up while grinding coffee. The larger the diameter of the millstones, the less the coffee beans heat up.

Large burrs also help increase the grinder's performance.

The millstone is protected from overheating by a thermal insulator - a transmission mechanism through which it is connected to the motor. But there are coffee grinders without such a mechanism, and the millstones are connected directly to the motor, which often overheats.

Adjusting the grinding degree

The grinding speed depends on the rotation speed of the motor. The performance of the equipment and the quality of grinding coffee beans depend on this characteristic.

Low speed prevents overheating of the millstones, which improves the quality of ground coffee, but the productivity is low. And, conversely, at high speeds, productivity increases sharply, but the quality of the coffee suffers due to overheating.

You can adjust the degree of grinding using special controls or sliders. They make it easy to change the current position of the millstones.

However, the number of steps is limited, so the grinding degree has fixed values.

If the grinding degree is adjusted without a step, then you can achieve any fraction of ground coffee, but there is no simple system for setting the settings.

Care

Careful care, which includes several rules :

1. Before cleaning the device, be sure to remove the power cord from the socket .
2. Carefully clean the working container and the lid of the device with a soft, dry cloth or brush, shaking off any remaining product.
3. Do not use abrasive products to clean the coffee grinder to avoid damaging the surface of the electrical appliance.
4. The main unit should not be washed in a dishwasher or immersed in water . The use of a steam cleaner is prohibited.
5. Keep the device away from moisture and sources of open flame.

Which is better: manual or electric burr grinder?

A manual millstone coffee grinder allows you to get aromatic coffee in a special drawer for 5 minutes or longer (for one serving). In the morning, to a person late for work, this time will seem wasted, but you can only enjoy the coffee ritual without rushing anywhere in this way.

The discs of a hand mill are most often made of metal or ceramic, and the grinding fineness is adjusted by tightening the screws. The crushing apparatus consists of two conical millstones: the first rotates from a handle, the second is rigidly fixed. A mechanical device will last a long time because there are no electronics, no network failures, and the rest of the components are quite durable. Such devices do not burn coffee. And the price of manual coffee grinders is always cheaper than electric models.

Electric burr coffee grinders belong to the premium segment and their prices are higher than knife or manual devices. Electric ones are more productive, with uniform and high-quality grinding, with less effort and time.

Cunill Tranquilo TRON: adjusting grinding and working with settings

Setting up the Cunill Tranquilo TRON coffee grinder is distinguished by the ability to finely adjust the grind size. The size of the dispensed portion varies from 5 to 12 grams, which allows you to save grain consumption.

The device allows you to set the dose for single and double portions. It is possible to program a third dose option - individual.

The finest grind is ideal for making coffee in a cezve. The coffee grinder does an excellent job of grinding espresso. The ground grains do not clump, the grinding is uniform.

A coarse grind for French press or alternative methods is also highly commendable. The particle diameter is about 3 mm, the grinding is uniform, without dust or other defects.

The coffee grinder gently grinds coffee beans and does not break them, as cheap machines with imitation millstones do. Coffee retains its aroma.

Coffee ground in this machine retains its natural aroma, does not lose its richness, and does not acquire impurities. This characteristic is important for any brewing and grinding method: French press, filter, espresso or cezve.

All of the above advantages are only relevant if you use the highest quality coffee beans. Coffee must be roasted in compliance with all rules, and green beans must meet quality standards.

Negative rating - what is better not to take

To ensure that no problems arise during the operation of the device, it is extremely important to find out in advance which coffee grinders-mills you should not choose:

• Devices made of plastic should be avoided. Their service life is shorter than that of those made from other materials (metal, wood);
• You should not buy a unit that does not have a bowl for crushed powder. Extracting the coffee will be problematic and at times dangerous;
• It is recommended to avoid electric coffee grinders that do not have a compartment for the power cable. Storing the device will be problematic. True, this criterion does not belong to the category of defining ones;
• You should also not choose devices that are not equipped with rubber feet . This design detail gives the unit stability and makes its operation almost silent.

Burr grinders are easy to use and produce smooth coffee powder. Many of these units are equipped with a number of additional features. When choosing a particular model, this important point is taken into account. In addition, the material of the body, the millstones, the volume of the grain compartment and a host of other factors are taken into account. Only in this case will you be able to make a successful purchase.

How standard models are repaired

Coffee grinders with the same type of functions have the same reasons for failure:

• knife breakage;
• contamination of structural parts with coffee dust;
• rust on rotating parts;
• bending of current-carrying wires.

Restoring the functionality of coffee grinders is in many ways similar.

Power cable

Kinking of the cord and loss of electrical conductivity are common failures in coffee grinders with a long service life. It is easy to determine the defect: move the wire connected to the network. If the coffee grinder “wakes up” in a certain position of the cable, it means it needs to be changed. If it is impossible to determine the exact location of the breakdown, replace the entire cable. The cross-section and length of the new wire must correspond to the failed one. Cords with a permanent plug and without a plug are available for sale. If the wire and plug were not purchased as a set, then first install the power cord.

The wire may break inside the housing, at the point of contact with the switch. To check, you need to move the button. Starting up a coffee grinder means that you need to disassemble the structure, find a break and fix it with a soldering iron.

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The device does not start

The coffee grinder connected to the network does not respond to the start button. The reason may be a failure of the start button. It is not difficult to fix, since most often the cause lies in coffee dust settled on the contacts. Motor failure is critical for the further use of the coffee grinder. The cost of repairs will not be much cheaper than purchasing a new machine.

The knife rotates unevenly

Ragged rotation of the divider means problems with the engine. For final diagnosis, contacting a service center is required.

Burning smell or strained engine sound

A sign of engine failure, bushing or bearing contamination is when the machine “roars” and the blade/cones move slowly or remain in place. There is a burning smell. It will be possible to repair a coffee grinder with such symptoms if the motor windings are not damaged.

An inspection of the shaft and sliding elements is made: bushings or bearings

If there is dust contamination or corrosion, the parts are carefully cleaned and lubricated. Assembly and test run in progress

If the result is negative, then you will have to change the coffee grinder.

Other cases

Other types of coffee grinder breakdowns that can be repaired at home:

• split or crack in the knife;
• crack in the plastic cover;
• in the plastic part of the body.

In the first case, they are replaced with a similar one for this model. The lid can be made by selecting a bottle of the desired diameter. Fitting is carried out using a hair dryer. Minor damage is sealed with epoxy glue, cold welding or hot melt adhesive.

Types of coffee grinders with millstones

Millstone devices are always more powerful than knife (rotary) devices and do the job faster. Based on the name, it is clear that the grains are crushed using a mill type. The millstones themselves are cylindrical or conical disks made of various alloys.

Coffee is a fairly hard product and requires adequate power to grind it. The motor performance range of a budget burr coffee grinder is from 100 to 200 W. Professional devices can be 350 W; they grind the hardest and most overcooked grains.

Content

• 1 Wikipedia
• 2 Wiktionary 2.1 Morphological and syntactic properties
• 2.2 Pronunciation
• 2.3 Semantic properties 2.3.1 Meaning
• 2.3.2 Hypernyms
• 2.3.3 Meronyms
• 2.3.4 Related words
• 2.3.5 Etymology

• Coffee grinder is a device for grinding Coffee beans.

Features: shape, material, design

When you go to the store to buy a coffee grinder, there are some important things to consider. The choice is primarily influenced by: millstones, their types and the material from which they are made, the ability to adjust the grinding, ease of cleaning, timer, containers, etc. You should also study in detail the reviews of different models and the prices for which you can buy them.

Types of millstones and materials from which they are made

There are two types of millstones: conical and cylindrical. The cone-shaped discs do not heat up during operation, which prolongs the service life of the coffee grinder. Cylindrical millstones rotate much faster, delivering results in a shorter time. But the coffee may taste bitter and lose its natural aroma due to high friction and heat during the grinding process. Such coffee grinders break down much more often.

If you have a question about which option to buy, it’s better to have conical millstones. It may be a little more expensive, but it will last longer and will not spoil the taste of coffee during operation. The material used for millstones is usually metal (stainless steel), stone or ceramic. It directly affects the service life of the coffee grinder, its performance and the taste of the finished coffee.

Steel millstones can grind about 500 kg of beans, ceramic ones - no more than 1000. After this, you need to replace them by purchasing others, otherwise the coffee grinder will not be able to grind coffee efficiently.

It follows from this that it is better to choose ceramic millstones than steel ones. Ceramics will not affect the taste of coffee in any way; it is much harder, does not absorb foreign odors, and is not negatively affected by liquids.

Useful video

In the video you will see how to make espresso in a carob coffee maker:

A carob coffee maker is an excellent choice for gourmets who want to enjoy the full bouquet of fresh coffee taste every day. A special preparation technology allows you to preserve a large amount of nutrients and the delicate aroma of the drink.

After purchasing a professional coffee grinder, the company inevitably comes up with the question of correctly setting the coffee grinder for medium roast. Properly adjusted grinding is the basis for preparing espresso with a rich bouquet of taste and aroma. It is not always clear how to set the grinding correctly, but this important task does not require much time and effort if you follow a few rules.

Any barista knows that grinding affects the aroma and quality of the drink , so it is important for a coffee professional to be able to competently change the settings of a coffee grinder built into a coffee machine or standing alone. Without this, professional success of a barista is impossible. The choice of grinding is influenced by the method of brewing the drink and external factors: percentage of air humidity, room temperature, atmospheric pressure level. atmospheric conditions.

If you do not change the grind after the percentage of moisture in the air increases, the drink will become bitter because the particles swell, fit closer together and lengthen the brewing time of the coffee. In the case of a decrease in air humidity, the same mistake will lead to the appearance of an unpleasant sourness in the drink, since the coffee beans lose moisture, the distance between the particles becomes larger, and the extraction time of flavoring substances is shortened (not the entire bouquet of taste and aroma is boiled out of the grain).

Advantages and disadvantages

Both electric and manual coffee grinders with conical burrs have many advantages compared to other types of units:

• only millstones can provide high-quality grinding;
• multifunctionality of devices makes life easier;
• it is possible to obtain raw materials for various coffee drinks;
• reasonable cost;
• opportunity to save effort and time.

There are only a few disadvantages:

• breakdowns are possible when foreign objects get into the millstones;
• Sometimes difficulties arise in obtaining the finest fractions.

Useful video

In the video you will see how to make espresso in a carob coffee maker:

A carob coffee maker is an excellent choice for gourmets who want to enjoy the full bouquet of fresh coffee taste every day. A special preparation technology allows you to preserve a large amount of nutrients and the delicate aroma of the drink.

Before purchasing equipment for preparing coffee drinks, it is important to familiarize yourself with the advantages of different types of machines and decide which type meets your expectations.

Modern stores offer a wide range of goods, and it is easy for an unprepared buyer to get confused in this variety.

If a cup of fresh coffee is not just a way to cheer you up in the morning, but a real ritual, a carob coffee maker would be an excellent choice.

Its device allows you to prepare various types of drinks, preserving the bright taste and aroma of coffee beans. Below we will look in detail at how to properly brew the drink.

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Selection factors

When choosing a burr coffee grinder for your home, you need to consider a number of important points:

• type, material of millstone;
• the ability to adjust the degree of grinding of coffee beans;
• ease of cleaning;
• the presence of restrictions on the resulting powder and grinding time;
• the presence of compartments for grains and the resulting product;
• power;
• additional functions.

Grind adjustment

Control of the initial state of the powder is very important, therefore millstone-type devices are equipped with adjustment of the degree of grinding. Adjustable mills are a must for large scale applications, such as a coffee shop with this service.

The grinding speed is determined by the speed of the motor. This directly affects the productivity and quality of the coffee. Low operating speed will prevent overheating of the millstones and the coffee itself, but productivity will suffer. Conversely, at high speed you will have a lot of coffee, but the aroma will begin to dissipate due to overheating.

The following help to adjust the degree of grinding: a special slider, regulators or a ring (at the back or bottom of the device). Changing their position changes the distance between the millstones and the size of the coffee particles. Most often, factory tinctures produce larger grains, but using the instructions, you can always adjust them. The process itself is best done with the device running, but without grains.

In addition to the degree of grinding, it is important how evenly the entire coffee turns out. In budget coffee grinders, in addition to the given size, there are always smaller fractions. But if the device says “precision millstones,” then you will get high-precision grinding with pieces of the same size.

Types of fats

Millstones are conical and plane-parallel. The former work slower, so they are better suited for coffee. In them, the risk of cauterization of the product is reduced to zero. They cost a little more, but it is recommended to give preference to conical ones.

Stone millstones are characterized by increased strength and wear resistance. Ceramics have also proven themselves well. Metal elements are less reliable.

It is recommended to give preference to devices with adjustable grinding degree. Thanks to the presence of this function, it will be possible to obtain fractions of different diameters. This is an extremely important factor for those who like to prepare the drink in various ways.

The ease of maintenance of the device deserves special attention. Therefore, you should pay attention to models with removable compartments for whole grains and the resulting powder.

It would be useful to have a timer on the device. With its help, you will be able to grind exactly as much raw material at a time as is needed to prepare the drink.

Glass is considered the best material for containers for crushed fractions and grains. The optimal volume of compartments is in the range of 120-200 grams. The engine power ideally ranges from 150 to 180 W.

The following additional points will be important:

• automatic shutdown in case of blockage;
• presence of a measuring spoon;
• compartment for power cable;
• dispenser;
• sound insulation;
• tempera;
• presence of rubberized feet and cooling fan

Convenient cleaning

Once a month is enough to clean the coffee grinder, depending on the frequency of use. With the device turned off, unscrew the screws that hold the millstones. Wipe them and brush them. It is not advisable to wet discs with water.

At the time of purchase, ask the seller to assemble and disassemble the device. Removable containers are the most convenient for cleaning. If it is not removable, but extends, check whether your fingers can reach the farthest corners. Otherwise, the coffee types will mix. Trays for ground coffee must be completely sealed and fit perfectly to the body, otherwise the product will lose taste and aroma.

Manual coffee grinders

Such devices can often be seen in souvenir shops and gift departments. Despite its “frivolity” in comparison with its industrial “relatives”, a manual coffee grinder has proven itself well.

It will take 15 to 20 minutes to get the fragrant powder that collects in the drawer. The grains are processed using the already known millstone method.

In a manual coffee grinder, the main thing is the strength of the handle and the quality of all components of the device. Given the degree and frequency of loading, they must withstand the pressure exerted on them.

In addition to the household coffee grinders described above, there are professional units for restaurants and bars.

If you decide to purchase a coffee grinder for yourself or as a gift, first study the information on the Internet using articles or reviews to get the necessary information before purchasing.