Customer Reviews

KitchenAid BCG100OB Blade Coffee Grinder, Onyx Black

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Like all KitchenAid appliances, this is (for home use anyway), a very heavy-duty product that will provide years of trouble-free use.

After breaking my old, inexpensive bean grinder, I went to a kitchen store and bought a burr-type grinder. I was VERY disappointed, and returned it the next day. Perhaps it's just me, but I guess I don't like the way burr-type grinders work... they're almost impossible to get really clean, as the grinding mechanism is all but inaccessible.

This thing breaks down very easily into dishwasher-safe parts (other than the electric base, of course... but that part never gets grounds on it anyway.)

You can tell from the first time you use it, that it is designed to last. And though I don't really see a reason for doing so, you could probably grind a coke bottle in it!

Buy this. You won't be disappointed.

***UPDATE - NOVEMBER 27, 2007***
I didn't realize how long I've had this, so I just checked my "order history" with Amazon. I bought this grinder on January 3, 2003... so it's coming up on FIVE years, and it is STILL going strong!

I stand by my five star review! :-)

- Jonathan Sabin

Yes, it has a cool modern design that looks great in your kitchen. It has the Kitchen Aid name stamped on the front to give you that "Yes, I am a cook, I know what I buy" appeal. It cuts fast through coffee beans into a fine grade for your morning java, but what a mess. There are only 2 of us that drink coffee at our household, making 2 cups each weekend morning, therefore the size of this machine is not an issue, but there is a big major flaw with the design. I believe the clear plastic cover cup that fits over the stainless steel container needs an EPDM or Neoprene gasket ring to stop the coffee grain from spilling unto the kitchen table. We use a simpler solution; we place a napkin under the grinder to collect the dust. When the grinder is finished, we empty both the container & the napkin into the coffee machine. Compare the other brands or models before going for just the brand name.

Sleek and stylish looking on the counter next to stainless steel or black appliances. Extremely easy to clean. Just 2 large parts to rinse after use, they disassemble quickly. Contrary to some reveiws, it does NOT make a mess, so long as you do not fill it to the brim. Strong motor for its size and grinds the beans quickly and evenly. Nice size, 9"H x 4"W. Almost the size of a half gallon milk container.

What I like most about is:

- the safety feature: this grinder can only be turned on with the top in place.
- the bowl is detachable and dishwasher-safe so you can wash it.

I was hesitant about buying this grinder because of the conflicting opinions about it. However, since most of the reviews on it are very positive, I decided to go ahead and try it. I'm glad to say the complaints about this grinder are largely unfounded:


Messy
The most common complaint: The cover doesn't form a tight seal, the ground sticks to and accumulates on the cover, and when the cover is taken off, it leaves a mess on the countertop. This was my main concern when I was debating whether to get the grinder. However, I went by what some of the reviewers suggested: Don't fill past the "Max Fill" graduation mark in the grinder and this won't be a problem. I followed this piece of advice and found that, indeed, they were right on the money.


Uneven Grounds
The instructions actually say not to "pulse" it but to leave the contents to grind continuously. I'm able to get a very consistent ground coffee every time by doing so.


Coffee Ground Packed Down Under Blade
A small quantity of coffee grind gets packed under the blade after grinding. I had the same issue with the Toastmaster coffee grinder I had before this one but I had taken for granted it was an issue inherent in all grinders. The solution is simple enough - use a coffee brush that costs just a couple of dollars.


Looks Cheap
I have to tell you I actually find the Onyx Black KitchenAid Blade Coffee Grinder rather attractive and well-designed. It looks just like it's pictured on the product page. Maybe I just have poor taste...


Noisy
I would have to agree with the complaints that this unit is noisy. The KitchenAid Blade Coffee Grinder would have earned high marks if it weren't for this unfortunate flaw. I get an inexplicable grinding noise whenever I operate it and the documentation doesn't address this problem in its troubleshooting section, but I suspect it has to do with the fact that is this unit is... uh... a grinder!??


There you have it. I hope it helps you in deciding whether the KitchenAid Blade Coffee Grinder is right for you.

If you prefer the economy of a blade grinder give this one consideration.
The motor is powerful, but most importantly clean-up is very easy.
The entire grinding mechanism and lid come-out for easy clean-up in the dishwasher or sink.
Easy to use measure marks are on the interior of the stainless steel grinding cup.

Like so many other reviewers have already noted, this is a fine coffee grinder, the only flaw being that it's messy.

When you press the clear plastic lid down, it doesn't seal properly, and as a result, you'll have grinds which fly out of the basket.

It's also great to use for almost any other grinding chores. I've used it to grind whole cinnamon, but that created a much bigger mess. Basically, the finer the grind, the messier it gets. You could probably fool around with rubber piping around the basket rim, to create a seal.

I've run the motor for a full 15-20 seconds on whole beans, no pulsing, and it feels like the motor can take a lot more than that, so I suspect it'll last clear to forever. Built like a tank.

The basket and blades are stainless steel, so it won't retain oils. This prevent taste contamination across grinds. The basket and the lid are dishwasher safe.

Great deal.

I have owned a number of grinders in the past and this one is by far the best. I grind everything from coffee beans to flax seed and it does a wonderful job on each. If I am doing herbs and I want to grind more than I can use at one time I put a sandwich baggie over the stainless steel container, grind and then just turn it around and dump right into the baggie. This method keeps everything nice and clean and I just use what I want and just put the rest it in the freezer or refrigerator for the next time.
I won't reiterate some of the positives of others but just add to a couple of likes and a dislike.
The blade can be replaced if needed.
Strong motor - 200 watts of power.
The only minor thing that I dislike is that it could come with a little longer power cord.

If you're in the market for a spice grinder, this is it. It does an excellent job of grinding everything from pepper to Herbes de Provence.

Additionally, because the cup is removable, it can be washed, thus avoiding any transfer of flavors between spice batches.
NOTE: While it grinds spices well, don't try to chop fresh herbs. For that, I use the mini-Kitchen Aid food processor.

Unfortunately, the grinder doesn't work so well with coffee. It produces an uneven grind for some reason and, because the cup isn't that large, tends to send grounds flying. Instead, I'd recommend the Krups Fast Touch.

Bought this KitchenAid grinder to grind spices and cheese. Already have a reliable coffee mill, which grinds beans to a uniform size for coffee making, but I use a grinder for most kitchen spice, nut & hard cheese uses (curries, parmesan, ground almonds, etc.). In recent years I have broken the blades on two, good-brand but low-resilience coffee grinders, basically by grinding cheese that was too hard for the machine, so I decided to go for a stronger machine this time around. In general am very happy with the BCG100OB. The removable, easily cleaned bowl, was a factor in my choosing this model. It works well. I understood from other reviews that it does not do a particularly good job on grinding small quantities of spice, which is indeed the case, but I normally use a marble mortar for small quantities, so this was anticipated and is no problem. I also gathered that there is a tendency for materials being ground to overshoot the container and spread around. I have not had this problem - maybe it happens with coffee, or with large quantities of whatever is being ground, but with medium levels of spices, it has not been a problem. In summation, I was warned of potential problems, I anticipated them, and the strengths of the instrument far more than compensate for them.

General observation for those using this or other grinders to grind nuts. Every type of nut I have processed in a grinder (food processors are little use, since they will not grind finely enough) will get "buttery" and oily, and will clog as they reach the state of fine-ness that one needs for baking. This is easily countered by adding a pre-measured quantity of another item (flour or sugar - flour works better) to be included in the recipe, to the nuts in the bowl before grinding. The flour or sugar will absorb much of the nut oil that is released by grinding, leaving the nuts relatively powdery and easily added to the baking mixture.

After about 18 months of being used 2-3 times a day, this grinder is still going strong and has already lasted longer than any other grinder previously owned. It is powerful and grinds fast, the fill marks inside the steel bowl are really handy, and being able to toss the bowl and cover in the dishwasher is a plus. The design of the push down cover causes some ground coffee to spill on the counter everytime it is removed. If not for that, I would have rated it 5 stars.