Grinding your very own coffee is a great way to get the freshest cup of coffee each and every morning. Keeping beans whole right before turning into coffee grounds ensures freshness of not just the finished cup, but the beans themselves.

Coffee grinders vary widely in their ability to consistently grind the coffee at different levels of coarseness. They can range from very coarse (similar to raw sugar), to medium (similar to table salt or granulated sugar), to fine (powdery with a hint of grittiness).

The coarseness of the grind will determine how fast the water passes through during brewing. The finer the grind, the more time it takes the water to be forced through the grounds.

The blade type coffee grinders are the most inexpensive on the market. They are suitable if you are just looking to make a quick cup of coffee and nothing more. A benefit is that it's extremely easy to use and cleanup is a snap.

There are some downfalls however. When using a blade grinder, your grounds may be inconsistent and size and the heat of the blade and actually make the grounds may become bitter. The blade grinders, because of their chopping method, also cannot achieve the consistency needed for espresso. Even the coarse and medium grinds vary widely and are not consistent at all.

Conical burr grinders are some of the best on the market. They spin slowly to provide an incredibly consistent grind. The slower spin speed also helps reduce static electricity which can cause the coffee to stick in the crevices of the grinder, making it harder to clean. Oily beans will also clog conical burr grinders. So it's important to only use dry beans.

This style of grinder is often more expensive than other designs because of the cost to manufacture the grinding cones. But if you're looking for the most consistent grind you can get, conical burr grinders are the best option.