Grinding 101
Many people start grinding their herb with a simple manual grinder – unfortunately, crushing your product is a great way to waste your herb and 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. Grinders vary in size, style, functionality, and cost – as well as quality of design and build. We found cheaply manufactured, all-plastic 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: check out our findings below!
Features to watch for
When testing out electric grinders, we preferred models with tough, aircraft grade, aluminum parts. These components did not break as easily as their alloy/plastic counterparts and stayed much sharper for longer through rigorous grinding. A good, sharp blade is important to make sure you’re not just destroying your herb. Smooth, clean cuts from sharp aircraft grade aluminum really brought out the full potency and flavour of our herb.
Speed is crucial – the longer you have to rip and tear your herb, the more time it has to lose it is valuable oils. We found the Mamba electric grinder to be the fastest grinder, at 20 times the speed of a manual grinder. Trying to manually twist and turn your herb takes a lot out of your hands, leading to (or exacerbating) hand pain and cramping. Most electric grinders are operated at the touch of a button, and some even have Power Rocker technology to break up herbs gently with a back-and-forth motion.
Look for a grinder that is able to provide the same quality of grind each time you use it. Grinders that deliver a perfect grind, every time, are grinders that your herb wants in its life. Do not waste your money and time on a grinder that works well with fresh batteries, but after a use or two begins to lose its power and ability.
Hygiene is a complicated, important factor when grinding – you don’t always know how clean your prep area is, or your hands. There could be bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants around that you definitely don’t want mixed into your finished product. Nothing like accidentally packing a hair into your bowl! Manual grinders require an extra step between grinding and consuming. The herb must be removed from the grinder and somehow placed into the desired receptacle. Some brands of electric herb grinders have a hygienic dispensing cone tip, so that their grinders can grind your herb and dispense it directly where it needs to go without risking spillage, wastage, or contamination.
The best of the best
Our favourite grinder, by far, is the Mamba electric herb grinder. It has a generous storage capacity, conveniently 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. The Mamba grinder is inexpensive, especially considering the high-quality parts, and can also be found at select retailers. A good grinder, like the Mamba, will absolutely change your herb experience!
