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| Hamilton Beach - Custom Grind Hands-Free Coffee Grinder |
Hamilton Beach Features
- Removable grinding chamber for easy pouring and dishwasher cleanup
- Great for coffee and spices
- Hands-free operation
- Precise cup & fineness settings for perfect results
- Hidden cord storage
The coffeemaker - I couldn't recommend this grinder more highly. It is solidly constructed, and the manufacturer took the time to add all the little details that are missing on cheaper models, like no-slip feet and a retractable cord (which is a little short, perhaps the one negative to this otherwise perfect product). The stainless steel grinder bowl is well designed - it has gradiated markings to let you know how many beans to put in for the number of cups of coffee you intend to brew, and it perfectly grinds the beans to your desired coarsness. In addition, it is removable AND dishwasher safe, making for easy cleaning.
The machine's slim, tall profile is ideal for easy on-counter or cabinet storage, and the black / stainless steel finish is attractive and a good match to most major coffee maker and espresso machine brands. The grinder provides multiple different settings for different coarsness and the amount of beans you are grinding, and since the grinding time is pre-set you can just push the button and move on to doing something else while the coffee grinds. It may take the "art" out of coffee grinding, but it will give you a great cup of coffee every time.
A final note - you may feel constrained by the pre-set options, but they still provide quite a bit of flexibility. If you like your coffee weaker, just put in a few less beans than your desired cup mark would call for (or vice versa if you like your coffee stronger). Having the specific settings means that when your experimenation finally comes out the way you want it to, you'll be able to remember next time ("oh, I used the 4-cup measure of beans to 8 cups of water, and I ground it on the medium-coarse setting") rather than having to try to guess at what you did to get that "perfect cup."
I can't imagine anything else that I would want in a grinder - the only semi-common option that it is missing is extra storage for beans or ground coffee; these features are not missed, however, as I always grind my beans fresh and I store them in a cool, dry airtight container. Storing your beans or grounds in the grinder is a sure way to ruin their taste.
