Grinds

It's tempting to buy a bag of whole bean coffee and think that by grinding it at home the coffee will taste superb. Could be. But not always. Coffee grinders are as varied as can be, but the best grinders are just that: grinders. They operate slowly and grind the coffee rather than cut it up.
What's the difference? Many home coffee grinders are designed like a small blender--they have a two-pronged, razor sharp blade that cuts the coffee into pieces. To the naked eye, a blade grinder does a fairly decent job of reducing the beans to a usable size. If seen through a microscope however, the grinds vary widely in size and shape. The other problem is that many non-commercial grinders turn too fast. Speed creates heat. Excessive heat burns the beans. Size These factors make a big difference in the extraction rate, the transference of flavor and in taste. Grinds too fine make bitter coffee. Grinds too big make weak coffee. Grinders too fast make burnt tasting coffee.