How to choose ... a coffee grinder
Coffee enthusiasts who argue about the merits of Kona vs Kopi Luwak would shudder at the thought of having the vendor pre-grind the beans. They might even roast their own beans, but that's another column altogether.
What is it? Coffee beans contain volatile oils that start to dissipate as soon as the beans are roasted. When the roasted beans are ground, the oils dissipate even more quickly, taking the flavour with them. As long as the roasted beans are still good, grinding them just before brewing gives the drink a stronger, fresher flavour. Coffee grinders can be manual or electric, with the latter more common. There are two main types: burr and blade grinders.
What are the differences? Blade grinders chop the beans with whirling blades, leaving grounds that are uneven in size. When using this type of grinder, you need to watch carefully and stop the machine when the beans reach more or less the desired size. Burr grinders - the type you'll find in coffee shops - actually mill the beans, pulverising them to a specific size, depending on what type of coffee maker you're using. These machines are larger and more expensive than blade grinders. Hand-cranked coffee mills work the same way as burr grinders.
What else? Coffee grinders can be used to grind spices, but it's best to have separate machines or your coffee will take on the flavour of the spices.
Where to buy: PanHandler (tel: 2523 1672), Pantry Magic (tel: 2501 0988), Graeco Egyptian Coffee (tel: 2522 4653) and the kitchenware sections of Wing On (tel: 2852 1888) and Sogo (tel: 2833 8338).