Paladar tested 7 brands of portable grinders; check the ranking
The coffee grinder is an indispensable object for those who have already entered the “sect” of lovers of special beans. The ritual of preparing a good strainer involves equipment that has subtle differences between one model and another, but which can affect the outcome of the drink.
This was even the evaluation criterion for seven of the main brands available on the market: the best grain grinding result. At the same time, criteria such as grinding time, ease of cleaning of the equipment and usability of the product (easy or complicated) were evaluated. The criterion “beauty” was not evaluated. Ultimately, everyone has their own personal tastes. And everyone knows what suits their kitchen best, right?
For this mission we invited a team of baristas made up of Renan Dantas, who holds courses throughout Brazil, Antonia Silva, from Coffee Lab, in Pinheiros, and Nilo Takei from Aizomê Café, who operates within Japan House, in Avenida Paulista. Together they evaluated 7 brands of portable coffee grinders, the simplest model, generally the one chosen by those entering the world of freshly ground coffee prepared at home.
The test was carried out with 110 volt equipment. Judges tallied each piece of equipment’s grinding time (which ranged from 10 to 20 seconds), the amount of “fines” (fine dust resulting from grinding) generated by each piece of equipment (which can alter the flavor of the coffee), and the flavor of the drink resulting from grinding.
The wheat chosen for the test was that of the producer Rodrigo Mazzoco, a red catuaí from the Espírito Santo region. To prepare the filtered coffee the judges used a proportion of 20 grams of beans in 300 ml of water. The filter has been previously scalded to avoid any interference with the flavor of the drink.
Nilo Takei considered the experience very productive: “The shape of the burrs of portable grinders gives rise to very different grinds, some more consistent, others less, which directly affects the flavor of the coffee.”
The importance of a good coffee grinder
“Grinding represents 50% of the final result of a good prepared coffee, extracting the best that a bean can offer”, evaluates Antonia Silva. According to the expert, the main difference between the brands is in the positioning and speed of the blades.
Renan Dantas underlines that the biggest surprise of the test is that the simplest coffee grinder of all has the greatest grinding consistency, resulting, consequently, in the best filtered coffee among those tasted.
The taste test took place in one of the Coffee Lab classrooms, led by barista Isabela Raposeiras. To the video You can follow behind the scenes of the test and, below, the complete ranking.
The best coffee grinders
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Cadence
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Black+Decker
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Oster
The 7 brands evaluated in alphabetical order
Bialetti
The brand’s model is quiet and grinds coffee faster than others. The final grinding result, however, showed a bit of inconsistency. For those just starting to grind coffee at home, this issue may be irrelevant, but it may annoy the most demanding coffee drinkers. The drink resulting from the grinding was considered good (R$ 249.90).
Black+Decker
It was the model that had the least “fines” (extra fine dust resulting from grinding), which was considered a positive thing by experts. It took longer to reach the result considered ideal for brewed coffee. The end result was a very consistent grind that enhanced the value of the drink. The removable cup, which facilitates cleaning of the piece, also satisfied the jury. The grinder came in second place in the ranking (R$ 215.00).
Cadence
The equipment that won the Paladar test, according to the jury, is also the cheapest on the market. It grinds the beans in 10 seconds, a time considered ideal by experts for preparing filtered coffee. The ground beans had consistency and the result of the grinding enhanced the sweetness of the drink (R$98.90).
Hamilton Beach
Equipment with removable cup, cleaning shovel and variations in the grinding degree. What should have been an added value, according to the jury, ended up generating doubts when the grinder was put into operation. It wouldn’t be suitable for a newcomer to this territory, for example. The excess “fines” (extra fine powder resulting from grinding) resulted in a slightly more bitter coffee than the other tests (R$ 229.58).
Oster
Our third-place finisher ground the beans in 10 seconds, made little noise and the grinding result, quite consistent, produced a coffee considered excellent by the judges. Also pleasing was the fact that the equipment was easy to clean (R$279.90).
Philco
A simple, silent and practical grinder according to the jury. He ground the beans quickly, in 12 seconds. The excess “fine” (extra fine powder resulting from grinding), however, generated a certain bitterness in the brewed coffee (R$ 109.90).
Tramontina
The equipment was considered effective by the evaluation bench. It grinds the grains in 10 seconds and is equipped with a removable cup that facilitates cleaning of the piece. The final grinding result, however, was considered a bit inconsistent. The coffee resulting from the grinding was positively evaluated as having a complex flavor (R$ 409.00).
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
