edmaidel's Full Review: Braun KSM 2 Electric Blades Grinder
Coffee grinders basically come in two "flavors:" either the more respected and preferred "burr" type grinder, also known as a coffee mill, or the infinitely more popular "chopper" type grinder. The Braun KSM-2 is a "chopper" grinder.
A coffee mill usually has a clear plastic reservoir to hold the beans, and often is capable of holding several day's worth of beans, though I don't recommend doing this as the beans tend to go stale, being stored in a non air-tight container at room temperature. The mills work by grinding the beans between two rotating discs, and the grind is then deposited into a removable container. There are settings for the degree of coarseness (ranging usually from "coarse" to "very fine"), and the on/off switch doubles as a timer, generally set to the same number as the number of cups of coffee the user intends to brew.
The inherent benefits of coffee mills are:
1.) A consistent, even grind.
2.) The ability to produce an extremely fine grind.
3.) Little or no heat transferred to the grind, which purists claim is detrimental to the flavor of the coffee.
A chopper works in an entirely different fashion. Generally, such grinders (I'll use the word "grinder," even though it's incorrect) are cylindrical in shape, and about the same height as a tall glass. All have removable clear plastic cup-like tops which, when removed, reveal a metal "well" in the center of which rests a steel blade.
One measures the amount of beans to be ground and places them in the well. Then, put the cover on and depress the plunger-type on/off switch, and grind away. The user has to time the grinding process as there is no built-in timer, but this only takes a few times to get the hang of. Then, much in the manner one would pour the contents out of a cracked egg, the top is removed, and the contents are poured into the coffee maker. Very simple and easy to do, but with a few potential drawbacks:
1.) The grind is often inconsistent, ranging from unground, large chunks of beans to a fine dust, all mixed together.
2.) The grind is rarely ever as fine as that attainable from a good coffee mill.
3.) When attempting to produce a very fine grind by grinding the beans for longer than usual, the grind gets very warm, and this is something purists dislike intensely.
There is one advantage choppers have over coffee mills: they are much, much less expensive. Most that I've seen run about $20, and a good coffee mill often runs about $100.
The KSM-2 would appear to be much like all of its competition. Appearances can be deceiving, and in this case they definitely are: the KSM-2 produces the finest grind I've ever been able to obtain from this type of grinder, and is very close to that of a good mill. Though not as consistent as the grind from a mill, it's pretty darn close, and considering it costs roughly one fifth the price of a mill, it's an outstanding value.
Coffee mills also tend to wear out, and break down. The grinding discs aren't usually replaceable, and once they're worn down, the device is fairly useless. A chopper on the other hand lasts far longer, and the KSM-2 is no exception.
Like other grinders of its type, the KSM-2 has a cord storage in its base, which no coffee mills provide.
I've actually owned coffee mills from various suppliers that didn't match the fineness of grind I'm able to get from the Braun KSM-2. It is truly an outstanding product, and an even better value. If you've never experienced how much better coffee tastes with freshly ground beans, you owe yourself a favor to part with a mere $20 and get one. You'll never regret it.
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