So you want to know how to grind coffee beans. Well let me tell you it ain't rocket science. This is one of the easiest and most overlooked steps in making that great espresso. Don't forget ground coffee should not be exposed to air any longer than necessary. The beans covering has been removed as part of the roasting process. It has been ground exposing more of the surface. These factors combined with air exposure cause oxidation. That means the taste of the ground is altered...for the worse. So, how to grind coffee beans? Grind them at home. This will result in the least exposure to air and the freshest grounds. And you can grind only what you immediately need. To grind coffee beans you will need a coffee grinder. One word of advice: Pick the best coffee grinder you can afford. Not all grinders are equal. Learning how to grind coffee beans is as easy as filling the hopper, setting an adjustment knob for the coarseness of bean you want and pushing a button.
 There are generally two types of Grinders: Blade Grinders and Burr Grinders. Let me tell you about both. In the end you will see only one type should be considered as your grinder for espresso. Blade Grinder: These grinders don't actually grind at all. They chop and slice at the beans. A whirling blade slices the beans smaller and smaller. What is left is beans of different sizes. They are also too large for espresso. Remember for espresso you need an extra fine ground of consistent size. This allows water to flow through the grounds at an even rate and extract the same flavor oils. Another downfall to the blade grinder is the production of heat often generated. In an attempt to get an extra fine grind, the machine would need to run longer. This can warm the coffee ground and release some of its oils and aromas. It can also burn the ground. Leaving an unpleasant bitter taste. So in the jouney of how to grind coffee beans for your espresso, leave this type of grinder on the shelf. Burr Grinders: The best grinder for espresso! This type of grinder actually grinds the coffee beans. It has a pair of motor driven plates, one spinning and one stationary. As the beans pass through, a uniform grind is produced. Better models allow you to adjust the size of the grain and the speed of the grinding. Adjusting the size is important. It allows you to "fine tune" the grounds for espresso. Controlling the speed is also important. We don't want the beans to become over heated. Others terms you might come across are doser/doserless. The doserless unit will have a bin which catches the coffee grinds. You then remove the bin and scoop out the coffee. A doser unit will have a special feature on the machine which will catch the grinds. It can then dispense a predetermined amount of grinds and hold a portion of grounds. Convenient for commercial use. Stepless/stepped are yet more terms. A stepless grinder means you can fine tune the grind. The adjustment knob is worm gear driven. This lets you grind at precise increments in between the knob settings. For a stepped grinder, you use only the increments given on the knob. Either is fine and will come down to personal preference. Let me mention burr grinders also fall into 2 classes: Flat plate and conical. Depending on the model, both types do the job very well. I will give recommendations for each type and let you decide.
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