I do not like this grinder. I am only writing this review to scare away those uncertain newbies who might consider it on the basis of price. DON'T DO IT!
I was at Target, saw it on the shelf, and figured "eh, what the hell? It's a burr mill so how bad can it be?" so I plunked down US$25 for it. It's not a king's ransom, after all. Plus, it was my first burr mill grinder.
I should have kept the money in my pocket. Do not fall for the myth of an "entry level" product. You have the entire Internet at your disposal, coffeegeek.com in particular. Read the myriad reviews, read the knowledgeable posts on the forum, ask any remaining questions, then get the best grinder to suit your needs and be happy with it. Don't make the mistake I did. I wasted $25 that could have gone toward a grinder that makes me happy. Save your money.
The Black and Decker CBM205 grinder looks nice, feels hefty and solid, is simple to behold and operate. It is easy to flip open the plastic hopper cover and pour the beans right in. They feed well thanks to the Earth's gravity, although the burrs whir so rapidly that the last few coffee beans do a dance like they are kernels in a popcorn popper.
Then reality hits. The cheap high speed a.c. induction motor runs the burrs incredibly fast, spewing out fine powder that smacks into the side wall of the plastic bin and sticks there, either through electrostatic cling or the sheer force of the impact. While the finished grounds pour out of the mouth of the bin readily, they actually trip over the fuzzy knoll of fine powder grounds stuck to the side of the plastic bin not even dislodging the powder as they pass. Amazing!
I took this grinder to work to foist it on them. Unlucky for me is that I also put a nice Bodum press pot there and this grinder puts out a lot of those fine powdery grinds into the Bodum. I actually like a bit of sludge in the bottom of my coffee, if it's from good beans, but this grinder makes it excessive. Maybe you espresso fiends could collect all the fine powder components over the course of a week and have one really nice shot?
Not to mention that I often hesitate to use the grinder because it is right next to a co-worker's desk and it makes so damned much noise that I don't have the heart to wake him from his concentration. Yes, it is that loud! (I do not like this grinder.)
I do use the momentary power button to my advantage by pulsing it to result in a lower grind speed, but that only helps to an small extent. I still dread having to use this grinder.
This grinder drove me to an "entry level" manual side crank mill which, even though it's far from perfect, is the way I will grind all my coffee from now on. Now I just have to order a really nice manual and I will never look back.
Please learn from my "entry level" experience and skip the growing pains. Go for a top shelf manual coffee mill, save money, and be happy. You won't regret it. |
