ABC7 teamed up with Consumer Reports to find the best grinders without spending a fortune.
Some coffee machines have built-in grinders, which sound like a good combination, but they have drawbacks.
"The combos can be annoying to use and to clean," said /*Consumer Reports*/' Bob Karpel. "And if you haven't ground all the beans, it's an extra step to take the beans out."
Consumer Reports says consider a stand-alone grinder instead.
"There are basically two types of grinders," said Karpel. "There's a burr grinder, which has two gears and they crush the beans, and then there are blade grinders, which actually have a blade and that blade chops the beans."
Consumer Reports tested three blade grinders and three burr grinders.
Burr grinders tend to be more expensive, as much as $140. But they usually hold more beans and tend to grind more uniformly. The burr-grinding Cuisinart Supreme Grind DBM-8 topped the list. It grinds consistently and costs $50.
If you want to spend even less, consider the Mr. Coffee IDS77 blade grinder, which did almost as good a job for only $20.
Whichever grinder you choose, grinding your own beans just might take your coffee break to a whole new level.
If you're in the market for a new coffeemaker, Consumer Reports has tested dozens and found some best buys.
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