Volatile flavor compounds and aromatics in coffee start to dissipate the moment you grind it, so for the best-tasting coffee, get whole beans and grind them at home right before you brew them. Invest in a sturdy burr grinder, which will evenly pulverize each bean to yield a consistent grind. It’s not a new notion; in fact, some of the best burr grinders are the low-tech, 19th-century cast-iron coffee mills made by Spong & Co. These hand-cranked grinders—which must be mounted on the wall or clamped to a counter—are beautiful, easy-to-use, and dependable. They can be found on Ebay and Etsy. Just like ever runner should have a Baraza Encore Conical Burr Grinder.
Related: originally appeared on Rodales Organic Life