The Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders How to Choose the Best Commercial Coffee Grinder for Your Needs
A good cup of coffee can bring customers in the door but if you want to create a truly exceptional experience for your guests, you need to make sure you have the proper tools for making a beverage that they won t forget. A bag of pre-ground coffee will always produce a mediocre drink, no matter how great your brewer is. If you re serious about making a superb cup of coffee, one of the best investments you can make is a commercial coffee grinder. In this buying guide, we ll explore what makes a coffee grinder such an important part of your coffee brewing process, how to narrow down your choices, and what you need to do to keep your investment in proper working order so that you and your guests can enjoy countless cups of amazing coffee. In this Guide: 1. The Science Behind Coffee 2. Benefits of a Commercial Coffee Grinder 3. Grinder Types 4. Burr Types 5. Burr Materials 6. Burr Sizes 7. Cleaning Your Grinder 8. Troubleshooting 9. Brands 10. Conclusion
The Science Behind Coffee To fully understand the benefits of a grinder, we need to first understand the science behind coffee. When coffee beans are roasted, an intense reaction takes place inside each bean. These individual reactions create everything we associate with coffee, like the smell, taste, and color. Carbon dioxide builds up in each bean during the roasting process as well. This gas helps transfer essential coffee oils from bean to cup.
Once coffee beans are pushed through a grinder, several things begin to happen. First, the carbon dioxide begins to dissipate. This tampers with the final taste of the coffee and speeds up the second process that begins during the grinding, called oxidation. Think of a coffee bean as a banana. As long as the peel is in place and intact, the browning, or oxidation, happens slowly. But as soon as the peel is removed, the banana quickly begins to break down. The same happens with a coffee bean. Once ground, all parts of the bean are being exposed to oxygen, which begins to break down its molecular structure. This affects the aroma, flavor, and quality of your coffee, which is why pre-ground coffee is such a disservice to coffee drinkers. Once you grind your coffee, time is against you. This is why you should always grind coffee beans as necessary and brew as quickly as possible, and the only way to do this is with a commercial coffee grinder. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Benefits of a Commercial Coffee Grinder Coffee is a universal language. The love for a delicious and satisfying cup of coffee links different cultures together. For as long as there has been coffee, there has been debate over the best way to prepare and enjoy it. But one aspect of the coffee making process that nearly all amateurs and experts agree on is the use of a coffee grinder. If you re one of the few who doesn t agree, take a look at just some of the benefits a commercial coffee grinder can bring to your business.
Professional Presentation Your customers will appreciate the extra effort you put into their coffee when you use a grinder. For those of your guests who are used to their coffee being served from a lukewarm pot that was brewed hours before, seeing you use freshly roasted beans in a professional grinder and then brewing their beverage to order will leave them impressed, appreciative, and planning their next visit. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Fresher Than Pre-Ground Coffee Fresh grounds that are promptly brewed will always produce a better cup of coffee. If you ve been relying on pre-ground coffee for your beverage needs, your grounds might be picking up other odors or contaminates as they sit and wait to be brewed. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Customize and Save If you re using the same type of grounds for coffee, espresso, and cappuccino, or buying pre-packaged grounds, your customers taste buds are being abused. Having a commercial coffee grinder at your disposal will allow you to custom grind your beans, producing better tasting caffeinated beverages, and save you time and money otherwise spent ordering different types of pre-ground options. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Commercial Grinder Types You ll come across two main types of commercial coffee grinders during your search. The most obvious difference between a burr and blade coffee grinder is the price, with blade coffee grinders coming in well under budget. Don t let this be your only determining factor though. The type of coffee grinder you choose could be the difference between an average, unimpressive cup of coffee and one that pleases taste buds and guarantees repeat business.
A blade grinder uses, as the name suggests, a blade to break apart and crush coffee beans. Even though these machines are usually electrically powered, they lack the consistency and efficiency you might expect. A burr grinder can be motor powered or manual. Instead of beans being pushed through a blade, they are crushed between burrs, or revolving disks that resemble gears. This provides a uniform consistency that produces a great cup of coffee. The biggest difference between the two is consistency, which is crucial to the final taste of your coffee. Think of your cup of coffee as a pizza. A blade version of a pizza would have an uneven crust thickness, all the toppings on one side, and cheese that s burnt in some spots and not melted at all in others. Every piece would have something that just wasn t right. For this reason, you ll find that just about anyone in the commercial coffee business will recommend a burr grinder. It ensures that each cup of coffee is delicious throughout and every customer s experience is just as impressive as the last. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Burr Types Once you ve made the wise decision of going with a burr grinder, there are two main types of burrs to choose from, each with their own unique positives and disadvantages.
Flat In a coffee grinder with flat burrs, the beans are passed between two plates facing each other. One moves back and forth while the other remains stationary as coffee beans fall past them. The serrated teeth of the burrs crush and grind the beans. While flat burrs are certainly a step up from a blade grinder, they can be messy and loud. They also produce more heat, which can take away from the taste of your final product. However, they require little maintenance and can be adjusted, giving you more control over the fineness or coarseness of your grounds. This can come in handy if you produce several different types of coffee beverages. Conical Conical burrs have a unique advantage against their competition. While flat burrs rely on centrifugal force to grind beans, conical burrs rely on gravity. A coffee grinder with conical burs will expend less energy. Less energy equates to less heat, providing the ideal grinding environment. Your ground coffee will also have fewer clumps. One disadvantage surrounding conical burrs is that you can expect to pay a bit more than you would for flat burrs. But you ll gain several advantages if your budget can swallow the cost. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Burr Materials Most burrs are made from metal but you ll find some ceramic options out there as well. Make sure you understand the main differences between their performance capabilities before deciding.
Steel If you want to ensure you have as many options as possible when choosing a coffee grinder burr, looking at steel variations is best. When it comes to steel burrs, the cost of your initial investment is a great determining factor in the longevity of your burr. A burr that has been hardened for increased durability can withstand excessive daily use and is less likely to chip or break should a foreign object make its way into your grinder. But they do require more maintenance and, based on how often you use your machine, will need to be replaced. Ceramic Because ceramic burrs are harder than steel, you can expect to get a better return from them. They often last twice as long as their steel competitors. Ceramic burrs are also less thermally conductive than steel and typically cost less. They re ideal for commercial coffee grinders but because of their complex fabrication, you ll find fewer designs to choose from. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Burr Sizes Now that you ve determined the type of burr you want and its material, you re down to your final decision. The size of your burrs can have a direct effect on the quality of your coffee. Traditionally, smaller burrs are ideal for lower volume machines so if you re shopping for a commercial coffee grinder, stick to the larger options.
In a commercial setting, we recommend using nothing smaller than a 65 mm burr set. If you re producing 10 drinks an hour or more, an 80 mm burr set will be able to handle the quick pace. Most common burr sizes: 50 mm 56 mm 60 mm 64 / 65 mm 74 / 75 mm 80 mm and above Larger burrs will give you a more consistent product. Because the beans will pass through more surface area, there s less of a chance that larger chunks will slip past your burrs. Larger burrs are also faster and disperse less heat. This is a crucial benefit to consider. Heat and grounds don t mix, until you re ready to brew. Exposing your grounds to unnecessary heat allows essential coffee oils to escape, altering the final taste of your coffee. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Cleaning Your Grinder Just like any other appliance in your kitchen, you ll want to make sure your grinder is as clean as possible for sanitary and health reasons. Refer to any included instructions with your grinder for exact steps, but here are the basics when it comes to cleaning your grinder.
Start by unplugging 1 your grinder 2 You ll need a small cleaning brush that s capable of reaching all innards of your grinder. 3 Remove any parts of the grinder that you are able to. This includes lifting the hopper off your grinder, removing the coffee beans, and washing the hopper with warm soapy water. Let the hopper dry completely before replacing it. 4 Next, empty the chamber of any ground coffee. 5 Using your brush, remove any debris from the grinder and removed parts. Brush gently yet firmly. 6 Buff the outside of the grinder with a paper towel to remove fingerprints or debris. For larger machines, consider using compressed air to remove debris from your grinder. Just make sure the pressure isn t too powerful. There are tablets you can use to clean your grinder as well. Follow the included instructions with your chosen brand. You might hear of an old trick using rice to clean your grinder. While this can work, proceed with caution as this could void any warranties on your grinder. And remember, you never want to use water to clean your grinder. Depending on how often you use your grinder, whether it s once a day or five times an hour, will determine how often you should clean it. But average grinder users can expect to do a light cleaning once a week with a thorough cleaning once a month. Make sure to clean the outside of your grinder daily and conduct a quick inspection to determine when your next cleaning should be. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Troubleshooting
Slow Grinder If your grinder is grinding slowly, there are a few things you can check. First, make sure that the machine has been recently cleaned. A clogged grinder will continue to slow down until it no longer grinds at all. Another reason for a slow grinder is the presence of too many coffee beans. Remove a portion of the beans and try grinding again. Finally, the blade or burrs could be dull and slowing down the machine. If they re dated or used frequently, it could be time for a replacement. Coarse Grounds If your grounds are coming out too coarse, there are a few things to check. Just like a slow grinder, using too many coffee beans or dull blades or burrs can produce coarse grounds. Also, the motor could be bad due to improper maintenance or age. Grinder Won t Start If your grinder won t start at all, first check the power source to make sure there are no issues. Next, make sure that the cap is correctly attached. An improperly attached cap could fail to depress the trigger. Make sure that there are no clogs, both in the grinder and under the cap. If none of these adjustments start the grinder, the motor might need to be replaced. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Brands If you re having trouble deciding which maker of commercial coffee grinders is the best, here s a list of some of our favorite manufacturers. You can t go wrong with any of the following companies.
Founded by Luigi Mazzer, Mazzer is one of our favorite producers of coffee grinders. Their products are shipped to over 90 countries and their engineers are continually improving the mechanics and design of their products. You ll find a variety of coffee grinders, one of which will provide you with a product that meets your standards and needs. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
MAHLKÖNIG was founded in 1924. The humble family business originally produced electric motors before transitioning into making grinders for corn, spices, and coffee. By 1960, MAHLKÖNIG began specializing in coffee grinders and the rest is history. The past 20 years have brought significant change to the company as they expanded their base facility and opened other production locations around the world. MAHLKÖNIG is known for making top coffee grinders for the hotel, restaurant, and catering industries. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Baratza offers some of the best support in the industry. Their coffee grinders are made with care and precision but should you run into any issues with your grinder or coffee making in general, their support team will walk you through and do their best to leave you in a better position as a business owner and coffee drinker. No matter how you brew your coffee, they have a grinder that will provide you with the best possible grounds. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Nuova Simonelli and Victoria Arduino can provide you with not only a great coffee grinder but everything else you need to make your customers happy, like espresso machines and barista tools. You ll experience nothing but excellence when using any of their products. Their equipment is top of the line with some of the most innovative designs on the market. Complete Guide to the Commercial Coffee Grinders
Conclusion If you re committed to providing your customers with a flavorful and rich cup of coffee, a commercial coffee grinder isn t an option you can go without. A coffee grinder is your secret weapon in the battle for the perfect cup of coffee. Choosing the best for your needs takes effort and learning how to use and maintain it takes some patience. But once you experience the difference a commercial coffee grinder makes, you ll know you made the right choice.
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