decaf(1)
/glossary/blade-grinder

Blade Grinder

刀片磨豆机

Grinding

Definition

A low-cost grinder built around a spinning propeller blade, essentially the part found in a kitchen blender. It has no setting that controls particle size - beans are struck until they shatter, so one batch holds boulders, grit, and powder at the same time. The blades also generate friction heat that drives off aromatics. Tolerable for moka-pot style brewing or a quick cold brew, but it makes repeatable espresso nearly impossible.

Etymology

The name describes the mechanism literally: a flat metal blade rotating at high speed, carried over directly from the blenders and spice mills sold from the 1950s onward.

In use

Usually the machine people start with, then retire to spice duty once they taste what uneven grounds do to a pour-over.