Hamilton Beach 80385 Coffee grinder: Full Review

Hamilton Beach is a leading manufacturer of kitchen appliances, including coffee grinders. Founded in 1910, the American company has over 100 years of experience designing products for the home.

Hamilton Beach entered the coffee grinder market in the 1990s and has since become one of the top selling brands. Their line of coffee grinders are known for being affordable, reliable, and easy to use.

The Hamilton Beach 80385 is one of their popular electric coffee grinder models. It features a sleek and compact stainless steel design with handy grind settings. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the features, performance, and value of this Hamilton Beach coffee grinder.

Overview

The Hamilton Beach 80385 is an electric coffee grinder with a stainless steel finish. It has a sleek and compact profile, measuring just 4.5 x 7.4 x 10.9 inches. This Hamilton Beach coffee grinder features a grind chamber that can hold up to 9 tablespoons of beans, as well as a removable grinding chamber for easy transfer of grounds and cleaning.

The 80385 has a powerful motor and durable stainless steel blades to quickly grind beans for drip coffee makers or French press brewing. It offers a simple one-touch operation with push button start. The lid of the grinder chamber activates the motor, so there's no need for a separate power button.

This coffee grinder model comes with a removable grind chamber, brush, and measuring scoop. It has an affordable price point around $20 USD. The key features include:

• Compact size
• Stainless steel finish
• Holds up to 9 tablespoons of beans
• Removable grinding chamber
• Push button start
• Lid activates the motor
• Comes with brush and scoop

Additionally, the Amazon Basics CG9402-UL is another excellent coffee grinder option. It features a compact design and durable build, perfect for small kitchens or limited counter space. This model includes a powerful motor and stainless steel blades, capable of grinding coffee beans efficiently for a variety of brewing methods. It also comes with a removable grinding chamber, making it easy to transfer grounds and clean. The Amazon Basics CG9402-UL is priced affordably, making it a great value for coffee enthusiasts on a budget.

Design

The Hamilton Beach 80385 has a sleek and compact stainless steel design that looks great on any countertop. It measures 9.4 x 7.2 x 14 inches, so it doesn't take up too much space but still has a sizable 8 ounce grind chamber.

The exterior casing is made of brushed stainless steel that gives it a modern, elegant look. The silver finish matches well in both contemporary and more traditional kitchen decors. The stainless steel is also fingerprint resistant to help keep it looking cleaner.

Inside the grinder, the blades are made of durable stainless steel to handle daily use. The catch container that collects the ground coffee is transparent and made of BPA-free plastic. This allows you to monitor the grind and see when the container is getting full.

One thoughtful design touch is the removable grind chamber. You can take the entire grinding assembly out for easy cleaning or to adjust the grind settings. There is also a cleaning brush included to make it simple to maintain.

Overall, the sleek brushed stainless steel exterior and intuitive design makes this an attractive and user-friendly addition to any kitchen.

The SHARDOR US-CG638B2009 is another innovative option for coffee aficionados. This grinder features a powerful motor and sharp stainless steel blades, ensuring even and consistent grinds. With its one-touch operation, users can effortlessly switch from coarse to fine grinds. The SHARDOR also boasts a large capacity, allowing users to grind enough beans for up to 12 cups of coffee. The grinder’s sleek and modern design, coupled with its practical usability, makes it a great companion for any coffee lover's kitchen.

Grind Settings

The Hamilton Beach 80385 coffee grinder offers a good amount of flexibility when it comes to grind settings. There are 12 different grind settings to choose from, ranging from extra fine for espresso to coarse for French press. The grind selector knob allows you to easily adjust between the different settings.

Turning the knob adjusts an internal burr mechanism that changes the space between the grinding blades. This lets you dial in precisely the right grind size you need for the brew method you are using. The settings go from extra fine at 1 up to coarse at 12.

Settings 1-4 produce a super fine powder-like grind for espresso and Turkish coffee. The ultra fine grind helps extract all the oils and flavors properly.

Settings 5-8 are ideal for drip coffee makers, with a nice medium grind. This allows the hot water to extract the coffee fully but not too finely where it would overextract.

Finally settings 9-12 give you a coarse grind perfect for French press or cold brew. The larger grind pieces allow for full immersion extraction.

Overall the 12 settings cover the full range of popular brew methods. And the adjustment knob makes it simple to change between grind sizes as needed.

Grinding Performance

The Hamilton Beach grinder handles grinding beans efficiently and quietly. With its powerful motor, it can grind beans faster than most comparably priced grinders. The grind speed is quite fast, taking less than 10 seconds to grind enough beans for a full pot of coffee. The grinder operates at a moderate noise level, emitting a low hum that is not intrusive. It is quieter than many blade grinders when grinding beans.

In terms of mess, the Hamilton Beach contains most coffee grounds within the grinder during grinding. Some residue can escape around the bean hopper lid, but the grinder base helps catch stray grounds. The grinder can hold enough beans to make 12 cups of coffee at once. With its 8-ounce bean hopper, you can grind a decent amount of coffee at one time. The grounds bin can hold grounds for multiple servings before needing to be emptied. Overall, this grinder delivers fast, quiet performance and can grind ample beans in one use with minimal mess.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach coffee grinder features several ease of use features that make daily grinding a breeze. The unit has simple on/off buttons which provide one-touch operation. There are no complex controls or settings to fiddle with, just press the power button to grind.

Cleaning the grinder is also straightforward. The grinding chamber lifts out easily, allowing you to wipe away residue. The stainless steel construction helps prevent static buildup that can attract coffee dust. Reassembling the unit is also fast and simple. All the parts lock into place without requiring much effort.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach grinder provides effortless, user-friendly operation. The simple controls, easy cleaning, and fast assembly make daily grinding quick and convenient. You won't have to fuss with complex settings or struggle to take the unit apart for cleaning. It's designed for straightforward, fuss-free use.

Durability

The Hamilton Beach 80385 coffee grinder is designed to last. Its stainless steel construction makes it more durable than plastic models. The metal grounds chamber is robust and does not easily crack under repeated use like plastic versions can.

The motor is powerful enough to pulverize beans on a daily basis without burning out. Owners report the grinder still performing well after years of frequent use.

The simplistic mechanical design with few moving parts also contributes to a longer lifespan. There's less that can break or malfunction compared to more complex grinders.

While some premium grinders may offer longer warranties, the 1 year limited warranty provided by Hamilton Beach is decent for an appliance in this price range. Replacement parts are readily available too, so the grinder can be serviced if needed.

Overall, the durable metal housing and proven motor makes the Hamilton Beach 80385 one of the longer lasting cheap coffee grinders available. It's built to grind day in, day out for years before requiring replacement.

Value

The Hamilton Beach 80385 offers excellent value for the price. At around $25, it's one of the most affordable electric coffee grinders available. Considering its sub-$30 price tag, the performance and features it delivers are impressive.

You get a sturdy and sleek stainless steel design, uniform grind size, and 12 grind settings for various brew methods. The grind chamber also fits up to 9 tablespoons of beans, allowing you to grind enough coffee for multiple servings at once.

While the grinder isn't commercial-grade, it provides very good performance for daily home use. The uniform grinding reduces coffee grounds getting stuck in filters. And the grind consistency allows you to fully extract the coffee flavors.

For the price, you'd be hard pressed to find another grinder that matches the Hamilton Beach 80385's versatility, durability, and grinding abilities. It's ideal for anyone looking for an inexpensive but capable electric grinder for brewing drip coffee, pour over, cold brew, espresso, and more.

Overall, this grinder delivers tremendous value and outperforms many models costing twice as much. If you want great grinding performance without breaking the bank, the Hamilton Beach 80385 is an excellent choice.

Pros & Cons

The Hamilton Beach 80385 coffee grinder has several beneficial features as well as some drawbacks to consider.

Pros

• Simple and intuitive use - With just an on/off switch and a dial to adjust grind size, it's very easy to use. No complex programming or settings to deal with.

• Effective grinding - The stainless steel blades grind coffee beans thoroughly and consistently. Provides a uniform grind for good extraction and flavor.

• Large capacity - Holds up to 9 tablespoons of beans, enough for several cups of coffee. Saves time from having to grind small batches.

• Easy to clean - The grinding chamber is removable for easy cleaning. Just rinse or wipe it out after each use.

• Affordable price - Costs much less than similar grinders from premium brands. Good value for a basic electric grinder.

Cons

• Loud operation - It is quite noisy when grinding. May be disruptive early in the morning.

• Messy - Coffee grounds can spill out from the grinding chamber. The lid doesn't seal tightly.

• Inconsistent grind size - The grind settings don't always produce the intended size consistently. Some trial and error is needed.

• Durability issues - Some users report the grinder stops working properly after a year or so. Long-term reliability is questionable.

• Plastic housing - The plastic casing feels flimsy and cheap. Prone to cracking over time.

Conclusion

The Hamilton Beach 80385 electric coffee grinder is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable, entry-level grinder. It produces consistent grinds for drip coffee makers and French presses, though the coarseness range is limited. The stainless steel blades and body seem durable enough for daily use.

Operation is very straightforward with the simple on/off switch and marked grind settings. The grind chamber is easy to fill, though the grounds bin could be bigger. Noise and static aren't too excessive for this price point either.

Overall, the 80385 offers good value and performance for an electric blade grinder under $20. It's a great budget pick for basic daily grinding needs. If looking for more precision and grind consistency, consider stepping up to an entry-level burr grinder like the Baratza Encore. For a comparable blade grinder, the Krups Fast Touch is a similar option with more grind settings. But the Hamilton Beach 80385 is hard to beat for price and simplicity.