The Simple Pleasures of Using Hand Coffee Grinder
Let’s face it, even with the world going digital, there are still a fraction of us that prefer doing some things the old fashioned way. The sense of fulfillment you can get as you glide your hands over ancient hand tools, the idea of getting something done just like a real craftsman, can be overwhelming. That’s how most coffee purists feel whenever they grind their own coffee beans.
Coffee lovers who belong to the younger generations could also enjoy using a hand coffee grinder. I’m sure most of you are curious of how the ground coffees from supermarkets were made. Electric coffee grinders can get the job done, but it won’t give you the same experience from manual coffee grinders. Don’t underestimate its ancient design, a hand coffee grinder is practical during nature trips such as boating and camping. It gives your coffee beans a fine, uniform grind, a great taste and fresh aroma that will stimulate your senses.
Porlex JP-30 Stainless Steel Coffee Grinder
A word of caution for the novice grinders: do not mistake decorative from commercially used hand grinders. Although most of these vintage grinders can still be used in grinding coffee, they may not be able to do the job as effectively. They are just merely sold for decorative purposes and not for home coffee grinding use.
Hand coffee grinders are best kept for routine grinding if you already own an electric coffee grinder or if you have someone who can assist you for certain occasions where you may not have the leisure of grinding coffee by hand. If you are new to grinding and you want to keep it for everyday use, it may drive you irritated in the long run. Grinding coffee by hand should be a pleasant experience, almost an indulgence minus the heavy price tag.
To further enjoy grinding your own coffee beans, here is a list of coffee grinds levels that are required in various brewing methods.
Kyocera Ceramic Coffee Grinder
Extra Coarse Grind
- This type of grind is used in cold brewing because you need to make use of more grains to get a rich flavor. Very find grind will only pass through your mesh filter or worse, congest it.
Coarse Grind
- This is widely used in French press and percolators. Just like cold brewing, French press uses filters with large holes, so it’s a must to use coarse grind coffee.
Medium Grind
- Medium grind should feel a little gritty just like the sand in the beach. This is often used in manual or automatic drip coffee makers.
Fine Grind
- Your favorite espresso requires fine grind just like that of granulated sugar, it should be smooth to the touch with no gritty particles.
Extra Fine Grind
- This grind should be finer than sugar but not in powder form. You should still be able to discern the grains using your bare hands.
Turkish Grind
- This is the finest among the grinds; it should feel powdery and looks just like flour. Traditional hand grinders are said to be perfect in achieving this grind.
