I was dead wrong about automatic coffee grinders for years

I always thought manual burr grinders were superior and that automatic ones just made a mess. Two months ago my buddy let me try his Baratza Encore on some Ethiopian beans. I dialed in 22 clicks and got the most even grind I've ever seen from any machine. The static cling was way less than I expected and cleanup took me 15 seconds. Has anyone else changed their mind on a tool they swore they'd never use?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_lucas19d ago

Manual grinders still taste better no matter what machine you use.

umar5918d agoMost Upvoted

...and that's the thing, @the_lucas, nobody talks about how manual grinders force you to slow down and actually pay attention to the beans. With an electric one, you just press a button and it's done, you don't really notice the grind consistency changing or the smell coming off the burrs. That hands-on part changes how I brew, I'm way more careful with water temp and pour speed when I've worked for that coffee. It's like the ritual matters as much as the result.

emmag2216d ago

Umar's comment about "pay attention to the beans" got me... because I'm the kind of person who forgets I'm even grinding half the time. I'll zone out on my phone and suddenly there's coffee dust everywhere and I'm like "oh right, I was making breakfast." The ritual part totally makes sense, manual grinders force you to be present even if you're clumsy like me. I've had my Encore for a month now and I still catch myself staring at the beans like they're gonna do something interesting. So yeah, I was wrong about electric ones too... but I also miss the arm workout from my manual grinder, that thing was basically free fitness.