I am going to tell you a secret. The coffee most of us drink every day is really stale. Sorry to intrude upon your coffee experience, but alas it is true.

Coffee, like most edibles, is best experienced when used immediately after processing. We generally drink our coffee long after the roasting and grinding process is done. To top it off, once we open it, the coffee continues to deteriorate in flavor.

The great thing about pre-ground coffee is that it is convenient and the fact of the matter is most of us really don’t know any better. With all that we do all day, who wants to add roasting and grinding beans to our to-do lists? However, if you want to do just a little bit of work, you can improve tremendously upon your coffee-drinking experience.

Grinding my beans makes me feel like a barista at her finest. However, with my lack of knowledge at the time in this area, I was truly alone with this thought. With a little knowledge about grinders and the proper way to grind, you can take your coffee drinking experience to another level.

Choosing the proper grinder makes a difference. There are three basic types of grinders--blade, wheel burr and conical burr.

Blade Grinder

The blade grinder is the least expensive and, as we all know, we get what we pay for. This type of blade cuts the beans. The length of time you run the grinder will determine the coarseness. This method is known to create a burned taste due to the great amount of speed and friction. But alas, grinding with this method is still a step up in the flavor department from pre-ground.

Wheel Burr Grinder

In this method, the beans are crushed. There is less friction, slower speed and no burned taste. There is also more control in the type of grind you are trying to achieve.

Conical Burr Grinder

This is touted as the best of the three. It is quieter, the taste is great and it is also easier to clean. Of course it is the most expensive, but if you are going to drink coffee, why not purchase the best.

Instant coffee and percolators were once the way of the world. We have since moved to the convenient coffee makers. Is there a coffee grinder in your future? Try one for a more flavorful coffee experience. You may not want to go back.