Appreciation post: my cheap blade grinder versus a real burr mill

Angela Martin · 2026-04-05T10:45:03.51748+00:00

I used my $20 blade grinder for years, but switching to a Baratza Encore made my morning cup taste like a completely different drink. Has anyone else had a 'before and after' moment that was this huge?

wren_mitchell5mo ago

It's funny how we get used to the cheap version of things. I used the same dull kitchen knives for a decade. Upgrading felt like learning to cook all over again. The right tool just removes a layer of friction you didn't even know was there. What's another small upgrade that feels huge?

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the_viola5mo ago

Wait, you used a blade grinder for years? The one that sounds like a jet engine and makes half your beans into dust? That's a wild level of patience. I get what wren_mitchell means about the friction you don't notice. My version of that was a terrible can opener that mangled every lid. Finally getting a smooth one felt like a tiny miracle. It's the small, daily stuff that wears you down.

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daniel_cooper345mo ago

Come on, it's just ground up beans. The old one worked fine.

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