Grinder

The grinder shapes extraction more than almost any other piece of equipment. An uneven grind means some particles over-extract while others under-extract at the same time — muddying flavor no matter how carefully you brew. A burr grinder (conical or flat) produces far more uniform particles than a blade grinder, which chops unevenly and generates heat that can affect flavor.

Care & Maintenance

• •Brush out chaff and grounds buildup after each use — leftover oils turn rancid and taint future brews.
• •Run a grinder cleaning tablet (or a handful of raw rice, for manual grinders) through periodically to lift oily residue from the burrs.
• •Avoid grinding oily or flavored beans regularly if you can help it — the oils cling to burrs and housing more than dry-processed beans.
• •Check burr alignment and wear every so often; dull or misaligned burrs produce inconsistent particle size even at the same setting.
• •Store the grinder somewhere dry — moisture causes grounds to clump and can encourage mold in hard-to-reach parts.