Quick Overview
FEATURES
QUALITY
PRICE
Pros
Cons
A coffee grinder is among the most important pieces of equipment every coffee lover should have.
Although it adds another step to your coffee routine, you will be rewarded with a freshly brewed, great-tasting cup each time.
If you're considering buying a coffee grinder from KitchenAid, you're in the right place.
This KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder review covers the essential things you need to know about this appliance, including its pros and cons.
KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder Review
KitchenAid is a brand that we all have grown up with; we know it is a leader in cooking and baking appliances.
The company also makes high-quality blenders and food processors.
You probably have a few of your kitchen equipment from KitchenAid.
Another popular product from this brand is the Burr Grinder KCG8433.
It's a highly versatile grinder that features whopping 70 grind settings.
Thus, it can grind beans for different brewing methods, from coarse to medium-coarse and fine.
Who Is This Product For?
The KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder is for anyone who likes to brew different coffee types.
You can use it to process beans for cold brew, French press, and espresso, among others.
Also, since it is compact and lightweight, this burr grinder is perfect for small kitchens.
What’s Included?
This burr grinder from KitchenAid comes with a grounds tray, portafilter holder, bottom hopper, and top hopper.
The top hopper has a capacity of 10 ounces, and since it's removable, it makes it easy to transfer unused beans to a sealed container for fresh-keeping.
There's also a cleaning brush included in the box for easier and better cleaning.
Overview of Features
The KitchenAid KCG8433 Burr Grinder promises a consistent grind for all brew methods.
That's all thanks to its unique features, including:
- 70 Precise Settings
Whether you want a cold brew, French press, or espresso coffee, you can get your desired bean size for your cup.
That's because this grinder has 70 precise settings, ranging from coarse to super fine.
It also comes with brewing method icons that help you match the right grind size for your brewing needs.
- Built-In Adjustable Portafilter Holder
This burr grinder from KitchenAid allows you to grind directly into a portafilter holder.
You can choose between a 54mm or 58mm portafilter, perfect for espresso making.
By the way, this model is designed to pair perfectly with the KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine, which you can buy separately.
- Anti-Static Technology
Most coffee grinders produce a static charge, which causes grounds to fly everywhere and make a mess on your counter.
KitchenAid addresses this problem by incorporating anti-static technology.
Aside from reducing mess, the anti-static technology ensures no wastage of your expensive coffee.
Now, let’s come to the not-so-good part of our KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder review.
We noticed that the KCG8433 performs poorly under a coarse grind setting.
In particular, the grind turns uneven for the French press.
How To Make the Most of Your KitchenAid KCG8433 Burr Grinder
To make the most of your grinder, you must ensure you use and maintain it properly.
Here are some of the things to keep in mind to do so:
Proper Usage
The KitchenAid KCG8433 Burr Grinder is very easy to use.
Once you’ve unboxed your machine, follow these steps to get the most out of it:
Step #1: Clean and Assemble Your Grinder
First of all, wash all the separate and removable parts and accessories, such as the hoppers and the portafilter holders.
Next, place the burr grinder on a flat and level surface, such as a countertop or table.
Attach the top hopper onto the machine. Fit it in properly until the lock icon faces the font.
Rotate the hopper until it clicks, and then add the whole beans into it.
Seal the top hopper with its lid. Next, slide its bottom hopper into place.
If you want to grind into the portafilter holder, you must first remove the grounds catcher tray.
Then, insert the portafilter holder into the holder guide.
If you're using the standard residential portafilter (54mm), insert it along with the top guides of the grinder's portafilter holder.
If using the bigger portafilter (58mm), insert it into the middle guides.
Step #2: Choose the Grinding Setting
The KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder has brewing method icons for easy reference.
Select the size you want, which will be displayed on the LCD, by rotating the grind size knob.
The 70-grind settings start from coarse to fine. Thus, number one means coarse, and 70 means extremely fine.
Step #3: Choose the Coffee Dose
Once you've selected the right grind size for your brew, the next step is to choose a coffee dose.
It refers to the number of shots or cups you want to make.
The KitchenAid KCG8433 Burr Grinder can grind beans for up to 12 cups of coffee.
For espresso, it can process beans for one to two shots.
Interestingly, this grinder has an automatic smart dosing technology, allowing you to select the shots or cups you need.
The grinding time is adjusted accordingly, regardless of the brewing method or grind size.
Step #4: Start Grinding!
Once you have selected your grind setting and coffee dose, it's time to start grinding.
This step is only a matter of pressing the start/stop button.
The grinder will automatically stop when the timer reaches zero.
You can pause during grinding; just press the stop button.
However, note that the grinder can only pause for up to 15 seconds.
After that, the cycle will stop completely.
Furthermore, just press and hold the start/stop button for three seconds if you want to cancel the cycle.
Step #5: Save the Settings
This machine has programming capability.
It allows you to save customized doses for each brew method.
Simply press and hold the program button for three seconds to restore all factory dosage settings.
To save a dose setting, press the program button once you selected your desired dose time.
When you do a new grind time for a dose within the saved brew method, the grinder will automatically adjust the grind time for all other doses within that brew method.
General Care
To avoid any damage, never wash or immerse the main body of the grinder in water, including the burrs.
Don't place them in a dishwasher either. Simply wipe them down with a soft, damp cloth.
The only parts you can clean with water are the attachments and accessories like the hoppers, grounds catcher tray, and portafilter holders.
Alternatives
Since the KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder falls short in achieving consistent coarse grind, you may consider something else if you love brewing coffee for French press.
A good alternative is the Baratza Encore Conical Burr Grinder.
While it also has a range of settings, it delivers perfect coarse grind each time.
It's also stable enough that it won't shake off the counter.
If you prefer a manual grinder for the French press, JavaPresse Manual Grinder is a good choice.
It's also super easy to use; just measure your beans, pour them into the cylinder, and turn the crank.
This portable grinder creates a consistently coarse grind, perfect for French press and other brewing methods requiring a bigger bean size.
Plus, it’s very affordable.
The only downside is that the grinder is a little awkward to hold on to, especially if you’re grinding a lot of beans.
Verdict
To conclude this KitchenAid Burr Coffee Grinder review, this appliance did not disappoint in many crucial aspects.
With so many grinding settings to choose from, you can prepare different types of coffee beverages in your home.
Also, KitchenAid did well on striking the right balance between design and functionality.
It's easy to fit into your kitchen and adds to the aesthetics.