Serious question, is there a real difference between pre-ground and grinding your own beans?

I did a side-by-side test with the same Colombian beans last week, and the cup from my cheap hand grinder had way more flavor. Anyone have a budget electric grinder they'd recommend under $75?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_parker2mo ago

Oh man, that's the proof right there!

christopher_wells42mo ago

You used a cheap hand grinder and still got a better cup. That's honestly the best argument for fresh grinding I've ever heard.

lucashart2mo ago

Yeah, that "better cup" thing is so true. My buddy had a fancy electric grinder break right before a camping trip. He grabbed a ten dollar hand grinder from a gas station as a last resort. He was sure the coffee would be terrible, but he said it blew his old pre-ground stuff out of the water. The beans were just a normal bag from the grocery store, nothing special. It completely changed his mind on what matters most. He still uses that little hand grinder sometimes, even though his fancy one got fixed.