A survey has shown that coffee grinders differ in key performance aspects such as grind range, noise levels, and residual coffee grounds.

The Korea Consumer Agency announced the test and evaluation results for the quality and safety of eight coffee grinder products available on the market today (Aug. 13).

The products evaluated are from DeLonghi, Breville, Cuckoo, Hario, Braun, Feima, Comex, and Dilico.

Testing the range of grind particle sizes showed that Hario had the widest range at 79 to 2,614 micrometers, while Braun had the narrowest at 428 to 1,388 micrometers.

Products with a wider grind range allow users to enjoy coffee using a greater variety of extraction methods.

Smaller particle sizes are recommended for high-pressure extraction methods like espresso, while larger particles are recommended for filter and immersion extraction methods such as hand-drip and cold brew.

When measuring the time required to grind 20 grams of coffee beans per cycle, there was up to a 3.5-fold difference among products at the finest grind setting and up to a 4.1-fold difference at the coarsest grind setting.

At the finest grind setting, Comex took the shortest time at 17 seconds, while Hario took the longest at 60 seconds.

At the coarsest grind setting, DeLonghi took the shortest time at 8 seconds, while Braun took the longest at 33 seconds.

The noise generated when operating the products at a medium grind setting was comparable to that of a cordless vacuum cleaner, with Cuckoo recording the lowest noise level at 77 decibels.

Measuring the ratio of coffee grounds left inside the machine relative to the beans put in showed that Dilico and Feima had relatively higher residual rates than other products.

Fewer residual coffee grounds help save on bean usage and make hygienic maintenance easier.

All products met relevant standards for electrical safety, abnormal operation issues, and compliance with mandatory labeling requirements.

The Korea Consumer Agency advised, "When purchasing a coffee grinder, consumers should check whether it provides a grind range suited to their preferred coffee extraction method," and added, "Care should be taken to prevent water from entering the main power unit when cleaning the device."

(Photo courtesy of Korea Consumer Agency, Yonhap News)