About this Video

• Video Title: $50 Coffee Grinder Vs Pre-ground From A $3,500 Grinder
• Channel: James Hoffmann
• Speakers: James Hoffmann
• Duration: 20:31

Introduction

This video explores the common belief that freshly ground coffee is always superior. James Hoffmann conducts a taste test comparing coffee ground from a high-end grinder ($3,500) at various ages (up to 16 days) against coffee freshly ground from cheaper grinders ($50). He aims to determine at what point the age of coffee from the expensive grinder surpasses the quality of fresh coffee from cheaper options.

Key Takeaways

1. Age vs. Grinder Quality: Coffee from a high-end grinder remains superior to coffee from cheaper grinders for several days, even up to 7 days in some cases. After 7 days, the quality decreases.
2. Freshness Trade-offs: For consumers who use a bag of coffee within a week and don't own a high-end grinder, buying pre-ground coffee from a quality source might be better than using a cheaper home grinder.
3. Grinder Type Matters: Even a good, relatively inexpensive burr grinder produces better results than a blade grinder.
4. Consumer Taste Test Inconclusiveness: A public taste test showed inconsistent results. While the high-end grinder coffee was sometimes preferred, the data lacked statistical significance, highlighting the subjectivity of coffee taste testing.
5. Freezing Ground Coffee: Freezing ground coffee from a high-end grinder slows down the degradation of flavor but does not eliminate it entirely.

1. According to James Hoffmann, referencing a Prima Coffee study, coffee from an EK43 grinder wasn't worse than fresh coffee from a Baratza Encore until it was 5 days old.

2. The three grinders used in the comparison taste test were a cheap whirly blade grinder, a cheap conical burr grinder, and a Baratza ESP (described as a good, relatively inexpensive burr grinder).

3. The average scores from the consumer taste test (lower score is better) were approximately as follows, though the exact numbers aren't explicitly stated and the results are presented as statistically insignificant: Baratza ESP (lowest), then the 7-day-old coffee from the high-end grinder, followed by the blade grinder, and finally the conical burr grinder (highest).

4. The consumer taste test showed some differences in preferences between espresso drinkers and filter coffee drinkers. Espresso drinkers, surprisingly, slightly preferred the blade grinder, although this result was not statistically significant. Filter coffee drinkers strongly preferred the Baratza grinder, with the blade grinder being least preferred. The data for those who drank both espresso and filter coffee was too small to draw conclusions.