BCG111OB Blade Coffee Grinder, 4 oz, Onyx Black

I did quite a bit of research before purchasing this coffee mill. Even the expensive brands seemed to have poor reviews and the two main complaints in those reviews (not grinding all the beans and leaving chunks, and being too messy because there was not a removable cup) are NOT an issue with this model as far as I can tell. I've owned this about three weeks and couldn't be more pleased, in fact it exceeded every expectation. When I saw the blades for the first time, I assumed it was going to also leave some chucks of unground beans in the receptacle. Never has it done that. The grind is perfectly even and fine. I was also surprised that it is relatively quiet when grinding. This unit is VERY easy to clean and not messy because the receptacle lifts out and you empty that into the coffee filter rather than turning over the whole unit. Plus, both the grinding receptacle and the lid can be washed so you could easily switch from grinding coffee beans one day to grinding some peppercorns the next. You could never do that with a coffee grinder that didn't have a lift-out receptacle that you could throw in the dishwasher because there would be residual flavor in the receptacle. I have not tried grinding spices with it, but judging on how well it works with whole coffee beans I think it would do fine. I expected to like this unit, but thought I would have some of the same issues that other folks had experienced like the receptacle being somewhat difficult to lift out, or the lid getting covered with grounds. Honestly, each time I have used it the receptacle has been a piece of cake to lift out, I've had zero trouble with that. And even when I fill the receptacle full to grind a lot of beans I have yet to get the clear lid dirty with grinds. I realize I'm praising this thing to the point where it sounds perfect, but since I love it so far I really can't think of a negative. It's attractive on the counter too. Update June 16, 2012 : Still 100% happy with this purchase. Even when I fill the reservoir full with beans and grind a lot at once, it never leaves any unground beans. Not even a small chunk remains, there is just a perfectly smooth, fine grind. And it grinds a full reservoir extremely fast (in mere SECONDS). I've put the removable reservoir in the dishwasher several times so far, no problem. I don't wash it every day. I wash it about once a week. I've never had loose grounds on the countertop and it's never made a mess, so I'm unsure why some reviews seem to say it made a mess. I'm being fully honest that I cannot think of a single thing that I dislike about this appliance. P.S. I don't put the clear acrylic top in the dishwasher. It's never dirty so I've never washed the lid, just the stainless steel bean reservoir.

Got this grinder yesterday - in use today. THE big improvment for me is the deep cup which holds the beans. Vendor claims it holds from level 4 (min) to 12 (max) of beans that will on average deliver 4-12 cups of coffee. After some use I can vouch for this. For optimal flavor, the experts insist you consume promptly after grinding. But, I like the convenience of grinding 8-12 cups worth early in the day, transfer to a handy jar, and we live off that for the rest of day. Flavor is good the whole time. Everything about this grinder is solid and well made, unlike others I have used. And, it's the quietest blade grinder I have ever used. It has that feel of a machine that will last a long time. I wont say more for now, but intend to return to update my review a month from now when I expect to know more.... Dec 13, 2020 UPDATE. I've been using this coffee grinder for at least a month now, and can confirm that the KitchenAid Grinder (BCG111ER) exceeds all my hopes and expectations, best grinder of the many I've had in the past several decades. Best features = (1) excellent control over the extent of grind (from fine to coarse). At max bean fill (that will make at least 12 cups), if you hold the lid down (i.e., turn the grinder on) for 20-25 seconds you get a fine grind suitable all the way to espresso. [Note - for espresso you may need to go longer than 25 seconds (with a full grinder cup) depending on your espresso machine and the nature of the beans. The vendor cautions that excessive grind time may over heat the grinder. As a test, I went up to 29 seconds without over heating my machine.] Between 15 to 20 seconds will give you a coarser grind suitable for example for a french press (mine works best at 16 seconds). Remember, I determined these grinder times required to get my desired grind (coarse to fine) WITH THE GRINDER CUP FILLED TO MAXIMUM WITH COFFEE BEANS. If you put fewer beans in the grinder cup, required time to get a particular grind will be reduced. (2) Consistency of grind - For a given quantity of beans and a set grind time I get very much the same grind output every time. (3) Small foot print. This KitchenAid grinder takes up very little space on your counter top. (4) Sturdy build that makes below average noise, and feels solid with a pleasing heft to it. To get the performance you want, you should go through a bench-marking process similar to what I did so you can consistently get the extent of grind you prefer (coarse to fine). You really need a timer for this. And, for ease of use, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the outer (clear plastic) cap and the stainess steel inner cup which holds the beans. Notice that the outer cap connects to the grinder body with two small plastic pins that extend down from this cap and fit into two corresponding holes in the grinder body. These pins have to fit into their holes or you can not push the cap down far enough to start the grinder motor. This is a safety feature. God forbid that a child could somehow start the ginder. And, for someone who is sometimes a bit rough with their equipment, this 'pin in the hole' design may also present a slight chance of breaking one of the plastic pins. In that event, you will need another plastic cap and I don't know if KitchenAid sells replacement parts. Another safety feature is having the cutting blade built into the steel cup which holds the beans. If the cup is not inserted into the grinder body, it might be possilbe to start the motor (I didn't try this), but only the driver shaft would spin harmlessly, there being no blade to engage. There are indentations on the cup which must be aligned with an obvious mark on the grinder body. To accomplish this, insert the cup with the indentation aligned. It wont fit in! Good, that's another safety feature. While gently urging the cup to insert downward, rotate the cup counter clockwise. After a half inch or so, the cup will readily drop down to the 'engagement level'. At this lower level, rotate the cup back in a clockwise move until that cup indentation is aligned as desired. The fit is snug, another reflection of the grinder's sturdy build.

As a coffee lover who enjoys the ritual of grinding fresh beans each morning, I recently invested in the KitchenAid Blade Coffee Grinder in Onyx Black, and let me tell you, it has completely transformed my morning routine. First and foremost, let's talk about design. The sleek and stylish Onyx Black exterior adds a touch of elegance to my kitchen countertop, complementing my other appliances beautifully. The compact size makes it easy to store when not in use, yet it's still substantial enough to feel durable and well-made. Now, let's dive into performance. This coffee grinder is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to grinding beans to perfection. The stainless steel blade effortlessly cuts through even the toughest beans, resulting in a consistent grind every time. Whether I'm brewing espresso, pour-over, or French press coffee, I can always count on this grinder to deliver the perfect grind size for my preferred brewing method. One of the features I appreciate most is the versatility of this grinder. With a simple push-button operation, I can easily adjust the grind size to suit my needs, whether I'm craving a fine espresso grind or a coarser grind for my French press. The transparent lid allows me to monitor the grinding process, ensuring that I achieve the perfect consistency every time. In terms of ease of use and cleanup, this grinder couldn't be simpler. The removable stainless steel bowl is easy to clean and dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. The compact size and cord storage feature also make it easy to tuck away when not in use, keeping my kitchen clutter-free and organized. Overall, I couldn't be happier with my purchase of the KitchenAid Blade Coffee Grinder in Onyx Black. Its stylish design, exceptional performance, and user-friendly features make it a standout addition to my kitchen arsenal. Whether you're a coffee aficionado or simply enjoy a fresh cup of joe in the morning, this grinder is sure to elevate your coffee experience to new heights. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

I've used this grinder several times a week for a month or so and have been very impressed. For several years, I had used a blade grinder from another prestige brand, but when the last one failed shortly after the warranty, it was time to try something different. Thus far, the KitchenAid BCG111ER has proven to be an excellent choice and an excellent value. The grind consistency is by far the best I have ever gotten from a blade grinder. I'm aware of all the hype regarding burr grinders, but my experience with them says they are too much of a PIA to clean, and I have never found the finished coffee to be better when burr ground. Maybe my taste buds are just not sufficiently sophisticated. The KitchenAid instructions provide recommended grind times for various brewing methods, and I have found them to be worthwhile guidance. I religiously follow their times when I grind and recommend doing so. The top of the grinding bowl is sharp and could have been finished better. The lid also rattles when sitting idly in place, but when it is pushed down to grind, all the pieces fit snugly and works effortlessly. Both of those issues are minor and I am happy to overlook them. Finally, it cleans up easily and stores nicely out of the way. In a nutshell, it's everything I want from a coffee grinder at a great price. I highly recommend it.

Ordered this mainly to grind my daily coffee beans for my French press. I am very impressed. I've had the popular Krupps grinder that's sold on amazon and highly rated, and while I was fine with it I never thought it ground up my beans well, not even for a French press which uses a coarser grind. It seemed uneven as well, many beans were very fine while others were way too coarse. It was also very loud and just recently started making a crazy sound so I figured I'd replace it before it actually broke. I used this today and wow. I mean, the feel of it grinding as I hold it down is nothing like the krupps. It feels very durable, very high quality and sounds nothing like the krupps, it is much quieter. It's a grinder, I mean it's not silent but much quieter then the krupps. My beans were amazingly ground and very even. They were too fine actually, it worked very well. It seems like this thing is much better quality then my krupps and I hope it lasts for a long time with daily use. One of the best parts is the cleanup, the krupps did not have a removable insert, so every day I was having to bring the entire thing over to the sink to rinse it out and wash lightly with my fingers, careful not to get the cord or the entire thing wet. The lid was always a mess because the grinds would always splatter all over the inside. With this kitchenaid cleanup is so nice. The lid is never terribly filthy so a quick rinse and a little soap and you're done. And the insert just comes right out so I don't have to lug the whole thing and it's quick to clean and set out for drying. Wonderful wonderful wonderful. With 4 kids in tow this grinder is much easier and faster to clean.

Love the red. It matches my other kitchenaid countertop appliances. It grinds coffee very fast and does a great job of it. Easy to use. Would buy again.

PROs: clean and attractive design, separate attachment for grinds from the base, simple to use, low noise CONs: accumulates dust in the base, attachments can be tricky to remove from the base KitchenAid does design very well, and that's where this particular grinder excels most. Most coffee grinders I'd rather hide away in a cabinet, but this one is a nice addition to the counter. The sharp red color is sleek (I prefer the Empire Red over the Onyx) and the design is mostly intuitive. One nice feature is you can purchase additional spice grinder attachments to keep them free of your coffee. I like that the coffee container is a separate cup/attachment rather than a solid piece built into the base. Grind the coffee, twist the cup a quarter rotation to unlock it from the base, and remove it to dump into your coffee filter. The removable cups also allow you to swap them out, and also makes clean up much easier than something like the Krups grinder. The one drawback here is that the coffee dust can get into the base of the unit and that is fairly annoying to clean. I don't know how waterproof the base is, but usually a damp cloth can help clean out that dust when it accumulates. One minor annoyance is that the attachments can sort of become "stuck" and if you turn them too hard trying to get it unstuck, it can cause your coffee grinds to spill over the edges once it frees up. If I have a hard time getting the cup removed, I will usually just dump the grinds by picking up the entire grinder and pouring it in, and then freeing the cup once it has been emptied. This doesn't happen very often, and I suspect it has to do with the oils from the coffee beans getting stuck in the base locking mechanism. That said, overall this is a great coffee grinder and I've purchased several of them for friends and family.

This machine feels like it has good build quality and the stainless and black finish looks good. So much for the good stuff. Blade-style coffee grinders need to be fast in order to avoid generating too much heat and the blade design needs to mix the beans well in order to get a reasonably even grind. This grinder is inferior to my old Capresso on both counts. Unless you fill it to only about 1/3 capacity, it packs fine grinds below the blade so tightly that you must dig them out with a spoon. Barely broken and coarsely ground beans spin and spin and spin above the blade unless you shake the whole thing while it's running, which isn't easy. I'm not one who likes keeping a bunch of gadgets on the counter (one reason I haven't splurged on a big burr grinder). This Kitchen Aid seems taller than it needs to be and the poor quality cord is too stiff to wrap around the unit for storage, while the Capresso has a flexible cord and a built-in storage reel. These aren't deal-breakers, just annoyances, but Kitchen Aid's inattention to engineering detail is especially disappointing given the Capresso is available at about half the price from the store with the red bull's eye.