Why Grind?
Gone are the days of struggling with the guesswork required when using a manual grinder – destroying your valuable herb is a great way to waste your money. A consistent, not too big, not too fine grind is imperative to unlocking the full flavour profiles, potency, and aroma of your herb. It is important to know what you, as an enthusiast, need in a grinder before you make a purchase. Manual grinders vary in size, style, functionality, and cost – as well as quality of design and build. We found cheaply manufactured, all-plastic manual units, and we were able to find aircraft-grade aluminum electric units, designed by engineers. We tried a variety of electric herb grinders and manual grinders so you do not have to!
Past and Present: Manual and Electric features
Battery or electric grinders are not a new concept – people have been destroying their herb in electric coffee grinders for as long as they’ve been around. To further explore the history, check out this great article exploring electric dry herb grinders. The desperation for a good grind has led many innovators and designers to try to develop the most effective grinder. Unfortunately, many have come up short by trying to cut costs in important areas (research and development, design, build, and distribution). Manual grinders rely on the user to know when their herb is ground – but are largely made from opaque materials. The user is unable to see their herb and either over or under grind it. The grinders made of translucent materials (such as plastic or resin) are generally of poorer quality and do not grind as well. This electric bud grinder is a good example of a grinder with high quality parts that dispenses a perfect grind, every time.
Electric grinders range in capacity and size. They can be anywhere from handheld electric grinder units that fit easily into a large pocket or small purse, llarger units that attach to the tip of a drill, or industrial grinders for manufacturers who grind huge quantities for large-scale distribution. Most electric grinders are preferred by users for their ease of use, consistent grind (with the right brands), and speed. Some even have cone-shaped dispensing tips that allow you to dispense your herb directly where you want it, with no spillage or contamination. In our extensive testing of electric grinders, we preferred electric grinders that allowed users to toggle between turn directions to break up the herb in a more efficient way (using Rocker Switch Technology™). We also liked electric grinders with a capacity of an ounce or larger – most of the manual grinders we found were unable to grind smoothly with that much herb.
Electric: a grinding solution for everyone
After exhausting the available electric units on the market, our top pick is the Mamba electric herb grinder. It has a large storage capacity, runs on AA batteries, was designed with ergonomics in mind, and looks phenomenal on display. The designers went to great lengths to source high-quality parts, and took special care to ensure a smooth, easy, one-handed operation. We found it gave us an ideal, fluffy grind each time we used it, and we tested it extensively. The Mamba grinder is inexpensive, especially considering the high-quality parts, and can also be found at select retailers. We hope you will evaluate your grinding needs and consider available electric grinders – your herb will thank you for it!
