Coffee Grinder

After a ton of research, and comparing ceramic burr grinders vs bladed versions, I landed on this coffee grinder burr set by Blue Brew. I read that having freshly ground espresso (and coffee) allows you to extract the most oils from the bean, delivering that tan colored crema foam that you see at most coffee shops. And after using this grinder, I can tell you… it’s true.Having used this for more than a week, here is my assessment.PROSThe presentation was excellent. The unboxing and packaging definitely had a high quality feel to it.Definitely has a premium build. You can’t help buy notice the stainless steel body as you wrap your hands around the grinder.It’s easy to use. Simply put your coffee/espresso beans in the grinder, put the top on, and grind away.It gets better. I’ve noticed that the grinding action actually got better (more refined) the more I used it. After researching, I confirmed that this is another benefit of ceramic burrs.Simplistic settings. It has 15 grind settings that only require you to slide the notch to the left or right.Cost effect and convenient storage accessories. This set comes with two airtight containers (really 3) that allow you to store your coffee. It’ll save you money from buying additional canisters or vacuum sealed bags.Relatively quick. Look, it’s a manual – handheld grinder… so it’s not gonna be as quick as something like an electric grinder. But, I’m happy to trade a few seconds of grinding action, to get a higher quality grind (again… more oils) from a manual version.ONLY CONThis isn’t so much for me, but may be an issue for some people. The grinder settings aren’t fully labeled. Although they are numbered 1 – 8, you do have 15 options, which means you have to slide the adjustment notch between numbers to get to the next setting. So, if you’re thinking it will be labeled with 15 numbers, you may be disappointed. But… I’m assuming this had more to do with the aesthetics of the coffee grinder.

So I upgrade from a blade grinder to this burr grinder and I have been very happy with it. Grind is more consistent (by comparison), can set the exact grind size I need. the coursest is very course so much so that I would using that setting for cold brew or french press and even still I would recommend a setting to two finer for those. The finest is either espresso size or very close to it.This grinder is great any coffee brew method (though if your going espresso you may want a touch finer grind). I've used it to brew in an aeropress, a french press, a "standard" 1 cup coffee machine, colder brew (after figuring out the best settings for each).The only con I have is that the shape of the air tight containers can make scooping your ground out more hassle, and if you just grind enough per cup then while dumping the grounds out of the containers some ground can get stuck on the lip before the cap. Other than that the containers are nice glass and air tight ( can't not smell the coffee from the outside with the lid on). They also nicely stack.All in all I would highly recommend this burr grinder and the "cons" aren't enough that I feel I would need to remove a star for.

I have used the grinder twice before, but on this last use, the grinding components came out in the midst of the grind. Until now, I've been happy with the unit. It's basic and easy to use. I am not sure of the order of reassembling the pieces, either. The pic shows all of the pieces I had to pick out of the partially ground beans

Quite possibly the worst grinder I’ve bought. The company that makes this is about as useful as a pull rope on an ax handle. After a few uses it needs to be cleaned. Comes apart easily and goes back together easily. The problem is the nut that holds the grinder in won’t stay tight and you get an inconsistent grind. When I reached out to the company they didn’t have any solutions. This is not Amazon’s fault. These people put out a bad product and don’t know how to fix it. Just suggested returning for a new one. Not sure how that works or they make money. The grinder itself is solid just the mechanics suck. It’s getting bothersome having to tighten the nut 3 times just to make a pot of coffee. Do not buy if you’re a serious coffee drinker or like French Press coffee.

I've mixed feelings about the glass containers. I'm such a Klutz it's just a matter of time before I break one. Fortunately you get 3 of them so I should be okay for awhile. The mechanism operates like any hand crank grinder. It is not hard to use, just time consuming but when you are watching TV it's a convenient product to use. I especially like the settings for a good variety of of grinds to choose from. I make expresso and this does a decent job of grinding. I do recommend this product as you can grind a variety of coffees and carry them with you for travel. Every thing comes apart for easy cleaning and transport. Thank you

This is a well made grinder. Parts fit well and are made of quality materials. I was indifferent about the extra jars, but have made use of them and am now glad I have them. Took some getting used to and trial and error regarding grind settings. The numbers correspond to the size of the resulting particles. In other words 8 will give you the largest particles (coarsest grind), 1 will result in the smallest or finest grind. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that its shape makes it somewhat difficult to hold while grinding. I happen to like this for the "exercise." Also, I usually make my coffee with a french press which takes fairly coarse grind. If you want fine grind for drip or espresso, be prepared to grind a while longer. In my book, these are quibbles. Moreover, I don't know if any hand grinder will do fine quickly. So I recommend this highly. Just short of perfect.

This excellent little coffee grinder is easy to use and to clean. It is compact and easy to store in a small kitchen. It does everything it promises. It is also sturdy enough that it feels like it will hold up for a good while. Excellent purchase - strongly recommend.