Braun CaféSelect Coffee/Espresso Mill
The Braun CaféSelect Coffee/Espresso Mill is a burr grinder based very closely on the design of much more expensive burr grinders but using a much cheaper body material for an affordable grinder.
Ease of Use/Performance: 22/25
Convenience/Storage 23/25
Appearance/Design 25/25
How much I enjoy 20/25
Total: 90/100
The Braun CaféSelect Coffee/Espresso Mill is an affordable espresso coffee grinder based on the design of much more expensive burr grinders. A wheel burr grinder is a flat round grinder with two blades that have teeth almost like gears on each blade but there are two types.
A conical grinder has a cone shaped grinder inside a large funnel shaped grinder but the CaféSelect is based on the wheel grinder type that is two round blades that are almost identical. The two blades are wheel shaped with a hole in the middle where the beans fall when placed in the bean hopper.
The beans are crushed and ground into smaller particles from the two blades that get closer to each other toward the outer edge. The beans are funneled out the spout into the grounds cup with the burr grinder wheels steel and most of the body parts being plastic.
The problem with the many plastic parts of the body, hopper and grounds cup is the fact that static will build up on these plastic parts. The grind creates static and the body of the grinder being plastic adds to this static that is the main problem of the grinder.
The static is not that big a deal as you can just tap the grounds hopper before emptying it into your coffee or espresso maker or scooping out the grounds. I found the static is more an annoyance than anything else but still a note of warning when purchasing this grinder is warranted.
The CaféSelect costs about $40 which is a great price for a burr grinder that can grind down to a fine size small enough for espresso coffee from a Moka pot or steam espresso maker. The grind is not small enough for a real professional espresso machine but if you can afford one of these types of espresso makers, usually they run over a thousand dollars, you can afford a better grinder.
This grinder is meant for the coffee drinker who wants an inexpensive yet good grinder that can grind down small enough for those French press, Moka pot, regular drip coffee makers and of course a steam espresso maker. I have tried the finest grind on the CaféSelect in a DeLonghi espresso maker, a Moka pot and a French press along with my Capresso drip coffee maker with great results.
The results from this inexpensive burr grinder are excellent compared to the fact that this only costs about $40 and compared to the much more expensive grinders I have it is outstanding. The grind is consistent and very good except for the static build up and the fine powder that ends up sticking to the sides and also jumps out a little when you open the cover of the ground cup.
Aside from the dust and slight mess the CaféSelect does an exceptional job of grinding beans to the desired grind you want whether it's an espresso or regular coffee machine you use. The coffee espresso mill has the usual large hopper for the whole coffee beans and an equally large grounds cup that easily removes to allow you to pour the coffee into your maker.
If you do use the espresso smaller grind setting the grounds in the cup will be statically charged but this is not that large a problem. The grounds are less charged if you use a large grind setting and there will be less static depending on humidity as well.
The grind settings are controlled by the top hopper turning and the marks along the base while the timer is a knob on the side of the Braun mill. The Braun CaféSelect comes in a 110 volt or 200 volt model with appropriate cord, a scoop and the manual.
I received the 200 volt machine that has the European plug but you can order the American model that is readily available from stores and internet sites. The 200 volt model grinds just as well on 110 volt United States power but is just a little slower than the 200 volts the machine was designed for.
I have received a voltage converter for reviewing to make sure I could properly test and review the CaféSelect on the power it was designed for. It worked just as well with the same quality grind on either power using a simple adapter or the voltage converter so either model works equally as well.
The power adapter only changed the plug from the European two prong round type used commonly in Europe to the common three prong we use in the United States. The power converter I used, that review will be coming shortly, changes 110 volts used in the US to 200 volts commonly used in Europe and only speeded up the grind of the CafeSelect a little bit.
It only takes ten or fifteen seconds more time to grind the same amount of coffee using the 110 volt and the simple adapter as the 200 volt setup did. So if you do find this grinder/mill and only can get the 200 volt model it is simple enough to use an adapter for converting the power plug from the Europe to the United States kind.
Adapters to change the plug from the European type to the United States are readily available from the internet and stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. I have found the adapters in the suitcase section of Wal-Mart and Target in a travelers package and separately for just the one adapter.
The CafeSelect is a great grinder for the price and well worth a look if you're interested in upping your coffee enjoyment without buying a more expensive grinder. This would make a great package purchase with a Moka pot or French press to start a new coffee experience or just a simple purchase to go with your current drip coffee maker.
If you want to experience the great taste of coffee from fresh ground beans the CaféSelect would make a great start using either a drip coffee maker or inexpensive espresso maker. Just pop some whole beans in the hopper from your local grocery store or better yet some freshly roasted beans from your local coffee house and grind.
Grinding your own beans to get the freshest possible coffee adds a lot to the experience and enjoyment that coffee can be. I highly recommend the CaféSelect Coffee/Espresso Mill from Braun for an inexpensive but great quality burr grinder.