Manual coffee grinder or Electrical?

by Heather
(Frome, Somerset, UK)

QUESTION:

Hi there,

I need to get myself a coffee grinder, and I would prefer a manual grinder only because I don't have many electrical outlets in my kitchen. However, I don't want to forgo quality for convenience and if the electrical grinder makes better coffee I would want to purchase that instead.

So is a manual grinder better, same, or worse when making coffee for a Moka Pot (so more like espresso) than an electric grinder?

Thank you!

Heather

ANSWER:

Heather, hi

Yes, you can buy a manual grinder that will grind coffee for your Moka pot.

And yes, your coffee grinds will be just as good as those created with an electric grinder. In fact, a manual grinder will give you a more consistent grind than an electric blade grinder.

When you review the various models available, be sure that the one you choose allows for variable settings for the coarseness of the grind.

Some of the low-price grinders have a “one grind fits all” setting. But for just a few dollars more, most quality manual mills have a knob or lever that allows you to adjust the spacing between the grinding plates or cones.

As for quality, a good manual grinder has one significant advantage over electric mills. Because the grinding process is manual, and slow, the coffee grinds are not subjected to heat caused by the friction created during the grinding process.

This minimizes the loss of oils through evaporation and also reduces problems with static.

For more information, visit our page on manual coffee mills.