Chapter 4: Is a Manual Mill
Right for You?
When it comes to grinding coffee for brewing, there are several different ways that this can be done. Some individuals choose to buy their coffee beans already ground, usually in plastic containers or in cans that can be quickly grabbed from a supermarket shelf. Others, however, find that utilizing a grinder is more suited for their particular coffee drinking needs. For those that want to learn more about the value of grinding beans on site and why it can bring value to their coffee drinking experience, the following expounds upon this topic by explaining the value of the manual mill coffee grinder. While it is not right for all coffee drinkers, knowing its value and its drawbacks affords you the ability to decide if it is a good fit for your lifestyle and coffee needs.
Flavor Enhancer
The flavor of coffee comes from the bean itself. To make coffee, these beans require being ground down and used in a coffee machine. Yet, when coffee is purchased in the aforementioned forms packaged usually in a container or jar there is something lost in the process: the flavor. This is because the coffee spends a great deal of time in this ground form, moving from packaging plant to transportation to store shelf and then to your home.
Coffee beans pack the most flavors when they are freshly ground. This means that you can expect the best drink when you move from bean form to ground to coffee maker with the least amount of elapsed minutes between each phase. A manual mill can quickly grind the beans that you have, making that perfect cup of coffee more accessible. With a few quick turns of the device, you can grind enough coffee by hand to make a cup that is satisfying, refreshing, and packed with different flavors. If you value flavor over convenience, then, the manual mill may be perfect for you.
Time Crunch
If you are someone that enjoys their coffee but does not have a ton of time making each cup, then, the manual mill may not be right for your lifestyle.While it is sure to pack a more powerful flavor burst, this may be negated by the amount of time that you spend actually making the cup. If you have a busy lifestyle that requires coffee to be quick, a manual mill is not going to be your best solution. It will take time to make each cup and that just may not be the best for a busy lifestyle.
Single Serve
If you are someone that likes a single cup of coffee at a time or someone that only wants enough coffee for a few cups, then, a manual mill coffee grinder may be a perfect choice. You can make a few cups of coffee quickly by grinding just enough beans for your glasses. Quick, easy, and with a bit of elbow grease, you can turn the raw form into something “brewable”and create that perfect cup.
Need More
If you, however, rely on a good amount of coffee in your daily routine, a manual mill may not be your best choice. Grinding can become an inconvenience if you have a lot of cups to make and may take more time than you want to invest. If this is the case and describes your coffee drinking behaviors, then, choose a method of grinding beans or purchasing them that provides you more drink creating capabilities quickly.
Hands On
If you feel that the hands on experience in making your edibles is important, then, you will likely find a manual mill to be a great fit in your life. This type of coffee grinder is not necessarily physically demanding in creating a drink, but it does get you into the process. It allows you to see coffee change from the aromatic grounds to the brewing capable grinds that you need for that perfect cup of coffee. A bit of involvement in the preparation often tricks the mind into thinking the creation tastes a little better, too. Therefore, if you are a hands on individual looking for that hands on cup of coffee, the manual mill grinder is perfect for you.
Trying New Things
Coffee beans in their roasted form can be purchased from many different coffee shops. These specialized coffees can be expensive so purchasing a single cups worth is something that may be budget friendly and yet, seems unrealistic if you have no way of grinding them. Therefore, if you want to try new things or a variety of different flavors of coffee, then, a manual mill may be a great fit for your life.
A manual mill is perfect for those who want to try new things because it allows them to essentially make a cup at a time in the flavor that they want. If you like to create your own combinations or only want to make a small amount of that specialty coffee, you can do that through this mill. You can grind a cup, brew it, and move on to something new. You can also get creative! Different bean combinations make different flavors that are not necessarily easily accomplished if you have a single box, bag, or can of pre-grinded coffee. There is more option in creativity and trying new things when you use an individualized manual coffee grinder. Consider this, then, when you choose your grinding mechanism.
No Space
Coffee grinders like the manual mill can be very small but they do take up some space in your kitchen. They need to be used in conjunction with a brewing mechanism, therefore, you will need at least two devices to make a single cup of coffee. If space is an issue, than a manual mill may not be your best choice in a grinder. Though small, they are an object that has to exist in order to grind the coffee. Consider the amount of room that you have for a new device or appliance in your coffee room.
