Grinding your way to contentment

Like many Americans, I love my coffee in the morning. The feeling of caffeine running through my veins to wake me up and get me moving for the day is just what I need. 


Yet I am no coffee snob. I cannot taste the delicate, distinct nuances between a Peaberry and a Kopi Luwak coffee bean as it runs across my palette. Nor could I figure out the precise grind of any bean just by drinking a cup of the stuff - which is why my cheapo Mr. Coffee burr grinder did an adequate job for years as the appliance I used most at 6:30am every morning.

When my grinder finally broke down it was time for a new one and I did my research. Apart from going online to research good grinders, I also visited several stores to compare. Here is what I found out and why I settled on the Krups Burr Grinder GVX2:


The Krups burr Grinder was most appealing to me because of size and price. I did look at more expensive coffee grinders that were well above the $100 mark but they all seemed to have the same burr wheel as the Krups GVX2 to grind the bean and so it was a matter of how precise the motor was on each machine as to the fineness of the grind. I personally don't need to have a machine that is the equivalent of a Hummer vehicle  taking up space on my counter only to serve as a status symbol of my "kitchenairy wealth". The Krups grinder I purchased was a mere $60.00.

Pros: Aside from the clean and simply elegant design aesthetic, the Krups GVX2 also takes up little real estate on my countertop and can be stored away easily should I need to. The hopper where the beans are poured into is a nice large opening and can hold enough beans for a 12 cup pot of coffee. There are two knobs, though quirky in placement, fulfill the grinding and measuring needs. The grinding knob is on the side and runs from a fine grind to a coarse grind in 17 steps. I was surprised at how well the precision worked when compared to my former grinder as I have both an espresso machine (Krups delivered a nice fine grind) and a press-pot which required a coarse grind. The front knob helps you select the amount needed from 1-12 cups. From there, all you do is press the power button and the grinder does the rest automatically stopping when the amount of coffee needed is completed. I have tried out every grind size and can say that the Krups GVX2 does a great job for both my espresso maker and my press-pot needs. The quieter operation was another pleasant surprise considering other grinders can make enough noise to wake the dead and the Krups GVX2 didn't. That means family members aren't disturbed from the rukus - a bonus for those who have crabby partners in the morning! The burr is also removable for cleaning - another nice feature to have.


Over all I am happy with this grinder but there are things I believe can be improved upon and here they are:


Cons: An elegant facade doesn't always translate into a practical one: the front knob for the amount selection has printing around it that denotes the 1-12 cup range but it is hard to read as it is mid-grey toned print on a aluminum background. The tone-on-tone aspect means I have to hold it in the right light to see exactly where to turn the knob for the right amount. So the printing could be more contrasting. I also noticed that the beans sometimes get caught in the hopper just above the grinding wheel and I would hear just air spinning around and no grinding happening. Since the Krups GVX2 has a safety mechanism where taking off the cover of the hopper will stop the grind, you can't open it to adjust the beans - you have to give the appliance a little shake until the beans start to go down into the grinding wheel again. This has only happened twice and never since. The receptacle where the grounds collect in the front can be pulled out easily to get the coffee. I only wish it were as easy to put back as I always seem to be fussing with the receptacle to get it in place.


This writing comes after a two month period of daily use and I am happy to say that the Krups GVX2 is working quite smoothly and I hope to have it for a long time to come. I am sure the more expensive machines out there can do an even better job, but as I say, I am no coffee snob. Especially at 6:30am in the morning!
Happy Java! :-)