The real coffee aficionados recommend a burr grinder, which is more expensive than the spinning blade one that you have. I haven't taken the plunge--I still use a blade grinder and I'm satisfied with the product it makes--but when it dies I may splurge on a burr grinder.

One hint about spices: I use my coffee grinder all the time when I need to grind up a lot of spices. To 'clean' it, just crumble something dry like a few saltine crackers into the grinder and grind them up. The dry crumbs absorb the spice residues. Empty it, wipe it out with a barely damp paper towel, and when it dries you can grind coffee beans again without any appreciable spice residues.

Arley, that's great! I used my coffee grinder once for spices... cleaned it with a damp paper towel, and it worked well, but the next batch of coffee had that hint of clove I ground... Saltines is a great tip.

Note to all: I'm not a coffee afficionado...So I'm not looking to spend a lot of money. I drink only decaf, and the really dark roasts give me a headache. I don't like super weak "wedding" coffee either. We have our choice at work of Cafeteria coffee or Starbucks... and I'd prefer the taste of the cafeteria coffee....

I drink most of my coffee out, which is why I like the grinder. I can keep beans in my freezer, and grind them up when I want a cup or pot at home (like today, when I'm working from home b/c of a snow and ice day).

You can find some suggestions on coffee grinders on this recent thread.

I love my Solis Maestro Plus. And I use an cheap Braun for grinding spices/herbs.

Ann

Thanks Ann! The other thread is helpful! Missed it before :-)

I have a cheap Krups burr grinder that I really like. I think I paid about $60 for it about 5 years ago.

Slightly OT, but I gotta make a plug for one of my favorite coffees, from my home town of Baton Rouge. I grew up on Community Coffee Dark Roast, and it's a comfort food to me...we have a Starbucks in town, but I find Community Dark Roast to be far smoother and richer than Starbucks. What makes this somewhat relevant is that you can now buy Community Dark Roast in whole bean form. (Before, I could only find it as ground coffee.) Brewed up some this morning--wow, was it good.

Here is a link that might be useful: community coffee

This past issue of Consumer Reports gave 8 O'clock top marks again. Not bad for a supermarket brand. I've used it occasionally and my dad swore by it. The best bang for the buck I've found though (Canada only) is Presidents Choice dark roast preground in the can. Have you tried it AnnT and others.

I just use a cheap hamilton beach or whatever..

but I buy expensive coffee...LOL Maybe I should invest in a different coffee bean breaker downer..LOL

Here is a link that might be useful: I buy Dark Sumatran Gayo Mountain

Wow! Pk! That's cool... but I don't have room in my kitchen for a grinder like that...

And, of course, speaking of exotic coffees, you can indulge in some Kopi Luwak for only about $600 a pound.

This was a plot element in the recent film 'The Bucket List'.

Sounds disgusting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kopi Luwak

oooh now way that's the Poop Berry Coffee....no thanks!

Peter, that's one fancy coffee grinder!

I watched The Bucket List last weekend...that was sooo funny!

A few years ago, there was a big stir in the SF Bay Area about "poop berry coffee"...people were actually lining up to pay an outrageous price to buy a cup of it. (I can't remember how much, I just remember being incredulous.)

I have four coffee grinders. A spiffy little Bodum that I bought last week at a Cost Plus sale for ten bucks, which is my current grinder (it looks nice on the counter). It's arrival has pushed my old, reliable Mr. Coffee grinder into the pantry as a back up spice grinder, waiting for the final demise of my other Mr. Coffee (newer than the other, but not as reliable apparently, as it's held together with duct tape already.)

And, I have a decorative hand-cranked coffee grinder that I have never actually tried. I'm sure I would get tired of cranking before I ever came close to producing the fine powder I like to make my coffee with, if it would even be possible.

Rachel - fine powder? As in Turkish coffee?

I have an old Krups, it's about 15 years old and cost less than $20 when I bought it. It works fine, so I keep it.

Peter, I agree on the 8 o'clock coffee, I can actually buy it at my local small grocery and it isn't bad, although I really like the locally roasted Paramount best. I don't like Starbucks at all, it tastes "burned" to me.

Annie

Never had Turkish coffee, Jessy. I just grind it into a fine powder and use a cup-top cone and filter to brew a cup or two by drizzling very hot water through it slowly, so that the water emptying out doesn't leave coffee stranded up where the water isn't soaking it. Does that description make sense??

It makes very strong, very rich coffee.

During a trip to Indonesia we had breakfast where they served our coffee as hot water and a very fine dry powder in a separate container. It turned out to be VERY finely ground coffee, that we would stir into the hot water, let it settle then drink it. At first I thought, "What's this? Instant coffee?" no... it left a glob at the bottom of the cup. Real coffee, and very strong. Opens your eyes in the morning!

You don't want your coffee to taste like cumin seeds, so it is worth the extra $20 to get a separate one for spices. I learned the hard way.

-Babka

hi i have a cory coffee grinder like the one pictured, and it got stuck. does anyone know how to repair them?