Bodum Bistro Coffee Grinder
Before I ground my own coffee, I used to assume it was a nuisance; an extra step between me and my caffeine that I didn’t need. I went for convenience, bought my coffee pre-ground and stored it in the fridge.
Since then, I’ve learnt the error of my ways. Storing whole beans is a whole lot easier. They can happily keep for a couple of months (or more, probably, but I usually drink them by then) and don’t have to be kept in special sealed containers, or the fridge, or some ridiculously expensive container like the sossbox. Just put them in the cupboard and they’ll be fine.
As for grinders, you are spoilt for choice. Electrical coffee grinders are cheap, convenient and very little hassle. Personally, I like the Bodum products, because they are stylish. And with their Bodum Bistro Coffee Grinder range, they now come in a small rainbow of colours to make your day that much more enervating.
Let’s be honest – a grinder is a grinder. Judging from the Amazon reviews of this product, you’d think that people were preparing for their Barista exam! No, this is not a professional grade grinder. Yes, it does the job perfectly well in the home for non-commercial use.
The blade isn’t sharp like a knife. But it doesn’t need to be, because it revolves around fast enough to chop and blend. Just hold down the button on the top to engage the motor. Need finer coffee? Then, hold it for longer. Coarse coffee? Hold it down less. It’s very simple. With a little practice, you’ll get the exact coffee grind you desire for caffetiere, stove top espresso or any other contraption you want to put your grinds into.
In terms of negative comments, people focus on the cord length and the difficulty in cleaning. First off, the cord is short. Yes – but it’s designed to coil into the bottom for storage, so it’s a trade-off. Frankly, how long a cord do you need? It’s currently 6 inches and that pretty much allows you to plug it into a power outlet near to your work surface. If that doesn’t work for you, then buy an extension cable. Sorted. I’m including this product in my travel intelligence blog, because it’s small enough to pack and the fact that the cable can be neatly stored in the bottom of the unit makes it very smart for travel.
Next gripe – cleaning. You cannot immerse this thing in water, so don’t clean it in the sink. You need to get a paper towel and brush the grinds out by hand. Big whoopee. It doesn’t take long to do and as long as you haven’t got anything moist, then it cleans pretty completely.
As an added bonus, if you are the type of person that likes to blend spices… the blade is set close to the bottom, so it will grind small amounts of spice at a time.
[UPDATE: The lifespan of this grinder is about 8 – 12 months with heavy use. Be forewarned that it isn’t fixable, either. What happens is that the blade becomes loose and there is no way to tighten it. If you want a longer-lasting grinder, then pay the price to get something more serious]
Colour coordinate with your kitchen
Pick a colour to suit your mood!
Where to Buy:
Amazon USA
Amazon UK
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