Comparison De'Longhi KG 89 vs De'Longhi KG 40

— Knives. Grinding system based on the use of a rotary knife (s) — blades rotating at high speed. The main advantages of such a system are low cost combined with good efficiency. At the same time, its capabilities are quite limited. So, the degree of grinding in knife coffee grinders depends on the operating time and in most models it is regulated exclusively manually, turning on for the right time (which requires a certain skill and getting used to the features of the device). And even if a separate adjustment of the degree of grinding (see below) is provided in the design, the product is less homogeneous than when processed with millstones. In addition, knife grinders require caution when working due to the presence of the knives (however, most modern devices have appropriate security systems). Nevertheless, in terms of the combination of price and features, such devices are considered optimal for domestic use.

— Millstone. In such systems, grinding is carried out by grinding coffee beans between two rotating disks (metal or ceramic) — millstones. This allows you to adjust the degree of grinding with great precision and provides greater homogeneous than in knife models. In addition, grinders with millstones are safer and have a larger capacity (see below) on average. On the other hand, such devices are significantly more expensive.

The maximum number of coffee beans that the grinder can hold and process at one time, without "refilling". Note that we are talking about the maximum capacity — a smaller amount of coffee can be loaded into the grinder.

The standard portion of coffee per cup is 5-7 g, and the capacity of a pack of coffee is 100 g. Accordingly, it is worth choosing a model according to capacity, taking into account how much coffee you need to grind at a time. For domestic use, a capacity of 100-200 g is considered quite sufficient, but in professional models designed for coffee shops, bars, etc., this value can reach 1.5 kg or even more. There are coffee grinders that allow you to grind only part of the coffee loaded into them.

The maximum power consumed by the device during operation. In coffee grinders, productivity is primarily associated with this parameter: the higher the power, the faster the grinder handles with the task (ceteris paribus). The suitability of the coffee grinder for working with solid products also depends on the power — more powerful models are better suited for these purposes.

Buying powerful models for everyday use in life is hardly justified: they are expensive, and the time savings are small. But in the professional sphere (for example, in a cafe), where the speed of preparation is crucial, high-power coffee grinders are very useful.

The ability to adjust the degree of grinding of processed coffee beans (that is, to set how large beans of the resulting coffee are obtained). A number of characteristics of coffee depend on the degree of grinding — in particular, the brewing time (the finer the grinding, the faster the brewing), taste characteristics (the presence or absence of grounds). In addition, different preparation methods and types of coffee machines require correspondingly different grinds.

In models with a knife (see "Grinding system"), the degree of grinding is adjusted by automatic shutdown after a set time — the longer the device operates, the finer the grinding. With a certain skill, you can also adjust the degree of grinding manually, independently monitoring the time.

In models with millstones, the degree of grinding is adjusted by changing the distance between the millstones, which ensures the best quality and independence of the operating time from the selected settings.

The number of grinding levels provided in the coffee grinder.

For different cases may require different degrees of grind, see “Adjusting the grind” for more on this. The same parameter determines how many fixed settings are provided in the coffee grinder. The more of them, the wider the capabilities of this device, the more accurately you can choose the option for a particular situation.

Note that this characteristic is given only for models with millstones (see "Grinding system") — it is not relevant for knife devices. In the most advanced models, the number of grinding degrees can be in the dozens.

The presence of a dispenser in the design of the coffee grinder. This device is designed to dispense ground coffee in portions. Most often, this portion is 7 g (the standard for one cup of espresso), however, there are models where the volume of the dispenser can be changed at will. Coffee grinders with a dispenser will be useful for lovers of exact recipes, as well as in cafes, restaurants, etc., where both strict accounting of coffee consumption is required, as well as compliance with each portion of the specified standards.

The presence of a removable bowl in the design of the coffee grinder.

This feature is found mainly among knife-type models (see "Grinding system") — it is most relevant for them. Thanks to this bowl, the unloading of ground coffee is greatly facilitated: instead of turning the entire grinder over, it is enough to remove the working container and pour the finished product out of it. Also note that the bowl is usually removed along with the knives — this, in turn, is convenient for cleaning and washing the device.

The presence of a separate compartment for ground coffee in the design of the device.

In this case, it is precisely the additional compartment into which the finished ground coffee enters. In other words, coffee grinders with this feature have two compartments: one for beans, the second for the finished product.

The convenience of this function is obvious: the finished coffee comes in its own container, it is separated from the unground product, and the user does not need to look for a separate storage container — he can store the ground coffee directly in the coffee grinder. Many models are even equipped with dispensers (see the relevant paragraph) that allow you to measure out small portions of coffee — this is convenient, for example, when filling the holder of an espresso coffee maker directly from the coffee grinder.

The material used to make the coffee grinder body.

The key features of the different options are described in detail in separate help paragraphs. Here we note that this parameter affects the appearance, strength and weight of the device, but does not in any way affect the functionality.

- Plastic. Plastic is inexpensive, but it can be given almost any shade without any problems. Other advantages of plastic are light weight and ease of processing. However, coffee grinders with plastic bodies are noticeably inferior in strength to models in metal casing, and one of the disadvantages of plastic is the tendency to form scratches.

- Metal. Metal is notable for its high strength and hardness, and coffee grinders with metal bodies look solid and reliable. At the same time, this material is more expensive than plastic, and metal cases weigh significantly more. This option is typical mainly for mid- and high-end devices.

- Wood. Wooden bodies are rarely found in coffee grinders. As a rule, hand-made models with a millstone grinding system, stylized in an “antique” style, are made from wood. With proper care, such materials are characterized by strength and durability, but over time the wood can dry out and crack.

- Glass. Models in which the part of the body for collecting ground coffee is made of glass. The upper and lower parts...can be made of plastic, plastic with metal or pure metal. Often the glass is made transparent, much less often - matte. Glass products have an aesthetic appearance and provide the opportunity to observe the process of grinding coffee beans. However, this is a very fragile material.

- Ceramics. Stylish ceramic bodies give coffee grinders a special chic - this is an perfect material for models designed in a retro style. In addition, ceramic cases are usually complemented with original designs and patterns. One of the disadvantages of ceramics is fragility, however, due to its relatively large thickness, only a fairly strong blow can break it.