The first step to getting the most flavor out of your coffee is to use a high quality grinder that allows you to achieve a consistent grind. Brewing coffee from freshly ground brews will improve the flavor and quality of your cup, and allow you to get the most out of your coffee.
It’s also a good idea to grind before each brew because the texture of the grind is dependent on the brew method. French press coffee will require a coarse grind, whereas espresso requires fine. Mix up the two and you’ll end up with a bitter or sour drink.
A lot of people try to skip the fresh grind step in favor of buying coffee that has already been ground, simply because they don’t know enough about different grinds for preparing coffee, or because they find that a grinder is too expensive.
Not all grinders are expensive, and the variety of products available makes it easy to find the right grinder for each lifestyle. There are plenty of small grinders, available, as well as larger, more industrial ones. And then there are some in between.
We’re going to take a look at two budget-friendly grinders today. We’ll be comparing the Cuisinart DBM8 with the Krups GX5000.
Main Features of The Cuisinart DBM 8
This grinder uses burrs and a heavy duty motor to provide a consistent grind each time. The housing on the machine is stainless steel, providing a nice, sleek look.
There are 18 total grind settings, all falling in between the main three settings of fine, medium and coarse. The six in between each main setting allow for precise grinding, from ultra-fine to extra-coarse.
You can also choose between four and 18 cups and the grinder will automatically grind the selected amount. The removable grind chamber can hold enough coffee for 32 cups. The bean hopper can hold eight ounces.
The grinder uses a rotating dial which easily allows you to select between grind settings and set a timer. The timer will automatically shut off when the machine has finished its grind cycle.
It also comes with a scoop for easy measuring and a cleaning brush to easily keep the machine in great shape.
Main Features of the Krups GX5000
This grinder uses burrs as well, this one using steel flat burrs. The housing is stainless steel and black plastic.
You can choose between a total of 45 grind settings, this one with nine main settings and five options in between each main. The grinder can also go from extra fine to extra coarse.
The burr system is meant to prevent overheating which could affect the flavor of the coffee. It also will not grind if there is no coffee present in the machine, which prevents any accidental damage to the grinder.
Like the previous, this grinder has an eight ounce bean hopper. You can select between a quantity of two and 12 cups to grind at a time. It also has an auto stop function so you can grind a specific amount and have it stop when you program it to.
This grinder uses two dials, one knob to program the grind settings, and another to select the type of grind you want.
It has a removable 15 ounce container, and a removable top burr, which makes cleanup easy and safe. It also comes with a brush to make cleaning the grinder even easier.
Main Differences Between Cuisinart DBM 8 and Krups GX5000
These two grinders are similar in quite a few ways, so figuring out which one will be best for you can be a bit of a challenge.
They’re both relatively low-cost grinders and would work great in a personal setting. The two are very similar in price, though it does fluctuate. You can check on the current pricing for the Cuisinart DBM 8 here, and the Krups GX5000 here.
They both use stainless steel burrs as well, so you can count on either grinder to achieve a consistent grind for each brew method you’re going for. This is important for making the best tasting coffee.
The Cuisinart model is all stainless steel, adding a very sleek and modern look whereas the Krups machine has some black plastic among the stainless steel. Both look pretty sophisticated and would sit well among other kitchen products.
The Krups machine offers more in terms of coffee quality, as the grind system is meant to prevent overheating. This can affect the taste and aroma of the coffee.
With the Cuisinart, you can select between 18 different grind settings. There are three main settings, and six sub-settings within. The Krups packs 45 different grind settings, with 9 main settings and five sub-settings. Both will allow you to fine-tune your grind, but the Krups offers more grind settings which translates to more precision.
The Cuisinart has more capacity to hold grinds than the Krups. It also has a slide dial which allows you to select between four and 18 cups, and will shut off automatically once you’ve reached your desired amount. This is a convenient feature for those trying to save time in their daily routine.
The Krups offers less capacity, and can grind between two and 12 cups to get the correct quantity you need. It also offers an automatic shut off timer to save energy and make your life easier. The Krups also will not grind if there are no beans in the machine, making it a bit more safe than other grinders.
Conclusion
Both grinders offer a lot of functionality for their size and price. Either would be a great choice for someone who is looking to start making better coffee, but doesn’t want to go overboard with the heavy duty grinders out there.
It’s important to think about what you need most out of a grinder before making the decision to purchase your next one. The good news is either of these grinders will get you on the way to making the most bold, rich coffee you can. One might be better for different lifestyles than the other.
If you are not expecting to move around much between a few settings, the Cuisinart may be a good choice because it only offers 3 main settings, and 15 sub-settings as opposed to the Krups with 9 main settings and 36 sub-settings. If you don’t need that much, you may feel like you’re wasting your grinder.
If you want to experiment with your grind settings to see what makes the perfect brew for your tastes, the Krups grinder would be a good choice. It is not significantly more expensive, but does offer more settings and room for experimentation.
The Cuisinart offers more in terms of capacity, so if your biggest reason for needing a grinder is to be able to quickly and efficiently get through grinding certain amounts at a time, the Cuisinart will offer more functionality than the Krups. Cuisinart allows you to slide between 4 and 18 cups to grind for, and Krups lets you choose between 2 and 12 cups.
Based on the price and functions, I have to lean towards the Krups GX5000 over the Cuisinart DBM 8. The choice is difficult, as they both have a lot in common and would serve me well for making my coffee each day.
I even prefer the look of the Cuisinart over the Krups, although the Krups looks quite sophisticated as well. But I still go with Krups over Cuisinart because of the extra settings.
For around the same price, I can experiment between 45 settings as opposed to the 18 in the Cuisinart. If you already have your methods down, you might not even need to experiment and can just go for a main setting. I like to be able to experiment and play around and find what tastes best to me.
The Krups also offers more convenience and safety features. Even the top blade is removable for easy access to clean up. The grinder will not grind unless there are beans inside, which is a useful safety feature.
It is also built to prevent overheating in order to preserve taste and aroma. I want a grinder that will help improve the quality of my coffee, so I’m going to opt for one with extra features to preserve the freshness and flavor.
While the Cuisinart has more capacity, I find the extra features of the Krups to be worth choosing it. Others may be looking for other features entirely, so be sure to think about what you want and need personally before going out and buying a new grinder.
Consider whether you’ll want more grind settings versus capacity, and what kind of look you prefer for your kitchen. Figuring out the right grinder will come as you consider what it is exactly you are looking for.
Whatever you end up choosing, you’ll have better coffee in no time. Grinding your beans fresh is a great start to making better coffee every day.
