All the chefs out there may cringe at this, but here's my method for splitting hard squash / pumpkins (which I do fairly often): using a sharp and sturdy clever / knife, I gently tap it through the item using the smooth side of a metal meat tenderizer hammer thing. I don't know the name of the tool. But, it works great and I haven't cut myself since using this method. (Can you tell I may have cut myself in the past?)

We grind our beans fresh every morning, and I long for our new counters to sport a more attractive machine. But my little $18 Mr Coffee spice grinder works so perfectly, I'm waiting to hear if there is something better as well.

I recently got a new Cuisinart coffee grinder, about $20 at Macy's. It makes a lot less noise than my old Krups and I worried that it wasn't grinding well enough, but the proof's in the tasting, and my coffee is still delicious.

AnnaA, interesting technique! I'll have to try that.

I have a 9-inch Wustoff chef's knife that I use for squash. It's heavy and thick at the top, so you can push down on the edge without it bending. I think any hefty chef's knife would work. (My thin slicing knives don't work for this task at all.) It's nice if you can hold them in your hand before you buy and see if you like the weight.

Also, I'd suggest buying a sharpening steel. I take my knives back to the store to be sharpened once a year and the rest of the time use the steel, and it keeps them in good shape. I've never tried one of those electric sharpeners - maybe they work too?

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I can see your technique working well, AnnaA, but Bobby99 is right that I'd need a less flexible knife than any I have right now. I wish I knew what had happened to the little cleaver my mom used to have. Probably my dad borrowed it at some point for an outdoors project and that was that. :)

Linelle, will the Cuisinart grind just a few beans at a time?

I use either a chef's knife or a cleaver for squash. It helps if you keep them sharp.

If you're into coffee, then consider upgrading to a conical burr grinder. I like the one linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bodun grinder

Thanks, chiefneil. Do you favor a particular shape of cleaver for this? (We hardly ever eat meat at home, so not much use for one for bones and such.)

I have a big chef's knife. It is made by F.Dick. I know, what a name. But it's top quality, I got it through Amazon. It's a bit frightening in a Freddy Kruger slasher sort of way but it's a great knife and really well made and actually kind of pretty. Just be careful because it is really sharp!!!

I finally put out the $$ for a Capresso coffee grinder and love it. I used the Krups or Braun for years and it was just passable in retrospect. Capresso rocks!

Invest in a good Wusthof knife and you won't be sorry. Chef's catalog has some great deals on Wusthof Classic sets periodically that include some freebies including free shipping. I know b/c I got my son and DIL a set last Christmas. Some of the sets might include the knife you are looking for and if you are thinking of investing in 4-5 good knives, it might be worth getting a good starter set for $200 or so rather than just one knife at a time.

My cleaver is a really old Chicago Cutlery with a curved edge. I don't use it for much, generally only when I need some heavy chopping power such as cutting the aforementioned squash and quartering dungeoness crabs.

I like the curved edge since I only use it for those difficult cutting tasks where you really need to concentrate pressure. YMMV as always.

I have a 6'' J.A. Henckels chef's knife for tasks like that. Longer seems unwieldy and unnecessary to me. My Henckels is forged in Spain; I believe their better knives are forged in Germany, and their lower end knives are made in China, something to keep in mind in addition to brand name.

My coffee grinder is by Hamilton Beach, and has options for how many cups of coffee to grind for, as well as different coarseness settings. I love it.
Custom Grind� 15 Cup Coffee Grinder

Here is a link that might be useful: Another knife discussion you might find useful

Slightly OT, but since squash was mentioned, I have begun just roasting the squash in the oven as a whole and then slicing it and deseeding it after it's roasted. (An average sized butternut squash takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.) I'm pretty much a klutz and have a heck of a time cutting them no matter how good of a knife I use.

No help with coffee grinder at all as I'm a tea drinker.

Here is some information on the F Dick knives. They are actually Friedrich Dick. I have the 8 inch 1905 series chef's knife and I like it very much. They are made in Germany since the 1700's!

Here is a link that might be useful: F Dick knives

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I have a couple of those Chinese Henckels knives, jessicaml, and they're really shoddy. I should have realized they weren't the same as the Spanish ones by the price. They were great for about a week, though. :)

American made Cutco all the way! They make an amazing chef's cleaver that cuts through anything and there is no way you are bending that baby. Plus they have a lifetime warrenty and free sharpening:)

cuisinart burr grinder from costco...ooohh la la

My 1940s Kitchenaid coffee grinder is still working like a champ. My DIL bought a 'new' retro version and it died in a year. You can grind as much or little as you want since it's a bottom feed. You could find one on Ebay, I'm sure.

Plus, great vintage styling.

I am a dork..I used to have the cuisinart burr grinder, now I have the capresso, whatever that is. It is much quieter than the old cuisinart (and could be made by them for all I know) and stores some beans in its top so you just set the timer for how many you want to grind at a time.

I have had a Capresso low speed burr grinder for many years now--maybe around 5? Used at least twice a day, seven days a week. It is far superior to the multiple cheaper burr grinders we used before. The biggest difference is that it operates at a much lower speed than the cheaper units. That is supposed to reduce heating of the coffee grinds during the process, which loses less aromatics. Not sure if I can tell that, but I will say that it's built like a tank, with large, commercial-style burrs that allow operation at low rpm. It is, as others have mentioned, also much quieter than other burr grinders. Worth the triple figure price many times over.

writersblock, what are a few beans? Two? Fifteen? ;-)

I just have two cups in the morning. That's two Tbs. of beans, which don't completely cover the blades. At first I thought the grind wasn't fine enough and it would affect the strength of my coffee, but it makes a wonderful brew. It's also much quieter than my old Krups.

One other thing, I think the compartment might be slightly smaller than the Krups, so if you typically make 6-8 cups at a time, it might not be your best bet.

I have just about every knife imaginable. When I do squash, I wash it first, then microwave it for a minute or two, depending on the size. Cuts SO much easier. I've used my Wusthoff cleaver, my 8" Wusthoff chef's knife, a chinese cleaver and even resorted to DH bringing in the wood-mallet thingie. Microwaving makes it MUCH easier.

I have the Solis Maestro burr grinder. I guess after 10+ years, they are discontinuing it and the newer version will be the Baratza. I spent about $130-50 (can't recall now) for it but it has been a JOY to use. I too am the only coffee drinker in my house. I have every gadget for coffee and tea. Love this thing. I guess these days, anything that lasts 10 years is considered golden, IMHO.

I 2nd the bake the squash whole method.

Thanks, everyone. Linelle, the toastmaster needs at least five tablespoons of beans or the blades just whir above what's in the reservoir below it.

writersblock, that's a very unhelpful grinder if the blades are that high. How do the lower beans get up there? My Cuisinart's blades are in the bottom of the chamber and do a great job with just a few beans.

Once it gets going they seem to circulate around all right. It does grind quite well, but it seems to need those blades covered up before the vortex gets things moving enough.

Don't get this Cuisinart one:

I despise it with my whole heart. It's impossible to get the grinds out of it without getting them everywhere!! I think it's because the plastic container has static so the grinds stick to it. The canister also has a little hole in it, so if you try to knock the grounds to one side, they come out the hole! Just thinking about this grinder is making me bitter.

I now have a really simple braun one:

it's great for small quantities, and it fits inside my french press so no tapping or knocking the grinds in.

BUT... if you want to get fancy, I'd recommend this Bodum one, which has a glass canister which is resistant to static!

I had the Krups small grinder, it was loud and sort of messy. In the end I just started buying ground coffee, lol. I cannot tell any difference to be honest. I am the only coffee drinker so I treat myself to Starbucks Breakfast Blend. It is the only one I like of all of their coffees. Wish I could find something else I like as much (I have tried) I can't afford myself!!! They seem to keep raising their prices.

Inexpensive, relatively quiet and unmessy.

>I cannot tell any difference to be honest.

That's what I used to think when the only whole bean coffee available locally was the pre-bagged stuff. When we finally got places to buy the bulk beans, the taste is quite different. My brother the coffee snob (who takes a grinder on vacation or when he travels for business) is vindicated at last--he was right all along. :)

gr8day - I can't tell the difference either! (hides)