Some coffee grinders are designed for people who truly love coffee and consider brewing the perfect cup to be an art form. Others are more utilitarian and meant for people who just want to grind their own beans in the comfort of their own homes.
While I tend to fall into the former category, I understand the need for a simple, yet effective device like the KitchenAid Coffee Grinder. It has its pros and cons, which I’ll go over in this review, as I point how useful this little two-pound device really is. The model I’m reviewing is specifically the KitchenAid BCG111ER Blade Coffee Grinder.
Contents
BCG111ER Blade Coffee Grinder
Why is it the best?
If you like coffee grinders that are easy to use and don’t require a lot of maintenance, then this review is for you. I like this particular device because it makes grinding coffee very simple.
There are no settings to be messed around with, and almost the entire unit – including the grinding blades – can be placed into the dishwasher. The remaining parts of the grinder (the main body of it) can be wiped down with a regular cloth, although I like to use those disposable bleach/cleaning wipes that they sell in the grocery store. They worked wonders when cleaning up my grinder.
What You Need To Know
No review would be complete without a discussion of the brand that makes the device. KitchenAid is mostly known for their mixers, which can cost hundreds of dollars without the optional attachments.
However, they are also known for making quality kitchen tools, like this coffee grinder. KitchenAid has been around since 1919, and their first appliance was the aforementioned stand mixer.
They’re since been bought by Whirlpool, another popular home appliance company. The company manufactures most of their appliances in the United States, with some made in Canada and China.
No matter where KitchenAid’s appliances and accessories are made, they are still some of the best on the market, as this review will attest.
Features of the Kitchenaid Coffee Grinder
- Weighs 2.6 pounds
- Measures 4.4 by 4.4 by 8.5 inches
- Optional spice grinder accessory kit
- Comes in three colors: onyx black, espresso, and empire red
- Grinds coffee with a stainless steel blade
- Grinding bowl comes with measurements on the side
- Has a 160-watt motor
- Installed safety switch
Advantages
- The machine is small and lightweight
- Exterior colors designed to match any kitchen decor
- The safety switch prevents you from accidentally turning the device on when it’s not fully assembled
- The blade, the bowl, and the top cover come off and are dishwasher safe
- Inexpensively priced
- A great coffee grinder for beginners or those who like coarsely ground coffee
- Can grind anywhere from 4 to 12 cups worth of coffee grounds with the touch of a single button
- Can grind spices as well, with the additional attachment
Disadvantages
- Only has one grinding mode, as opposed to other models that have different settings
- Uses a grinding blade instead of plates, which can affect the taste of the coffee
- This device is not suitable for espresso bean grinds or any other type of finely ground coffee
Comparison
It’s impossible to complete any review without a comparing it to another coffee grinder. In this case, I’m going to use the Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Grinder. The two grinders are priced similarly, but differ as far as features are concerned.
The Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Grinder is just that – a burr grinder. It uses metal plates to grind coffee, not a stainless steel blade like the KitchenAid Coffee Grinder.
Usually, coffee aficionados prefer burr-ground coffee grounds, but the stainless steel blade does have a few things working for it – it’s far easier to clean, and if it should break, it’s much easier to repair.
Also, this review points out that most of the KitchenAid’s components can go into the dishwasher. This isn’t true of the Mr. Coffee Automatic Burr Grinder, which only has two removable plastic parts that need to be hand washed, lest the heat from the dishwasher warp them.
However, the Mr. Coffee grinder does have more settings than the KitchenAid , so it can make different types of coffee, including espresso. Some users may find the 18 settings overwhelming, while the KitchenAid is much simpler to use.
Now, I’ll move on to the next part of this review: the verdict.
Verdict
Coming to a solid verdict in any review is always tough. However, I can honestly say that this device is easy to use, simple to clean, and very reliable.
It doesn’t have any of the issues that plagued similarly priced grinders, such as coffee getting stuck inside of the machine, nor is it large, bulky, or unpleasant to look at.
Like all KitchenAid appliances, this one comes in several different colors (I fell for the empire red one) that can match your kitchen décor or other appliances. Other people have commented in their own reviews that the device is sturdy and reliable. I agree.
I’ve never had a problem with mine, and it grinds consistently sized coffee grounds every single time. Sure, it may not have fancy bells and whistles, but I’d rather have a coffee grinder that I can rely on.
This concludes my review. It isn’t a perfect appliance, but it works consistently well and never fails to help me create a great cup of coffee. On top of that, people like my father who have issues working certain kitchen appliances, have no problems at all using it.
The simplicity of just needing to touch one button and not arrange multiple settings helps a lot there. Sometimes you don’t need fancy items – you just need ones that work well.
