Hamilton Beach 80396C Coffee grinder: Full Review

The Hamilton Beach 80396C coffee grinder is an electric burr grinder designed for grinding whole coffee beans to customizable grinds for drip coffee makers and espresso machines. It features a removable grinding chamber and built-in storage container for holding enough freshly ground coffee for up to 12 cups. This compact yet powerful grinder has customized grind settings and precision that rival premium coffee grinders, but at a much more affordable price point. With stainless steel accents, the 80396C has an attractive modern design that looks great on any countertop. It’s an ideal grinder for coffee lovers who want the convenience, consistency and customizable grind of an electric burr grinder without breaking the bank.

Design & Build Quality

The Hamilton Beach 80396C electric coffee grinder has a sturdy stainless steel housing that feels durable and robust. The body and lid are made from thick plastic that can withstand daily use without any cracks or chips.

Despite the metal and plastic construction, the grinder remains lightweight and easy to move around the kitchen. The materials make it feel solid and avoid any rattles when operating.

The lid clasps onto the body securely and the push button activates smoothly. All the internal parts connect tightly without wiggle room. This tight construction prevents grounds from leaking during grinding.

The materials resist fingerprints and smudges, so the grinder maintains a polished look after continued use. Overall, the choice of stainless steel and plastic makes for an appliance built to last through grinding coffee daily for years.

Grind Settings

The Hamilton Beach 80396C coffee grinder comes with multiple grind settings so you can dial in the perfect grind for your preferred brew method. It has settings for extra fine espresso grinds to coarse grinds for French press or cold brew.

There are 15 grind settings to choose from, controlled by a knob on the front of the grinder. The settings are clearly marked from fine to coarse, making it easy to quickly select your desired grind size. An inner burr grinder delivers a consistent grind across all the settings.

You can finely tune the espresso grind for the optimal extraction time or go on the coarser side for cold brew. For most drip coffee makers, a medium grind is recommended. The wide range of settings makes this grinder versatile for all kinds of coffee brewing.

While the steps between settings are not drastically different, there is enough adjustment to customize your grind. Moving just one or two notches on the knob can impact the brew time and flavor. It may take some experimentation with the grind settings to nail the best results with new beans or brew methods. Overall, the settings offer enough flexibility for dialing in the right grind.

Grinding Capacity

The Hamilton Beach 80396C electric coffee grinder has a decent grinding capacity for a compact home coffee grinder. It can hold up to 9 tablespoons of whole coffee beans in its bean hopper. This allows you to grind enough beans to make around 12 cups of coffee at once.

The bean hopper is transparent so you can easily see how many beans you have left to grind. And it has a hinged lid that flips open for easy filling. Once filled, simply close the lid and press the grind button to start grinding.

The grounds container below the grinder can hold up to 4 ounces or around 50 scoops of ground coffee. This is sufficient to brew multiple pots of coffee before needing to empty the grounds container.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 80396C provides good grinding capacity for personal or family use. You can grind enough beans in one batch for several cups of coffee. But it may not be ideal for larger scale grinding such as for a coffee shop.

Grinding Performance

The Hamilton Beach 80396C coffee grinder delivers excellent grinding performance. The stainless steel blades produce a very consistent grind, even on the finer espresso settings. The grind is uniform in size and free of noticeable boulders or powder.

The motor is powerful enough to grind through beans quickly, but runs quietly. It doesn't produce irritating high-pitched whining or loud rumbling noises like some other grinders. The noise level stays reasonable even when grinding for espresso.

You can grind enough beans for around 12 cups of coffee in under a minute. The speed is fast enough for daily use without excessive noise or heating of the beans. The grounds pour out smoothly without clogging or sticking.

Overall, the grinding performance provides a consistent, uniform grind at a reasonable noise level and good speed. The grind settings allow you to tailor for various brew methods from espresso to drip or French press.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach 80365C coffee grinder scores well when it comes to ease of use and convenience. The controls are simple and intuitive, with a one-touch button to turn the grinder on and off. There is no fussing with multiple settings or timers.

Cleaning the 80365C is also straightforward thanks to the removable grinding chamber. The chamber lifts out easily, allowing you to dump out coffee grounds and wipe the inside clean. The stainless steel construction makes it simple to keep the grinding chamber looking like new. You don't have to worry about stains building up over time.

In daily operation, the 80365C offers smooth, quiet performance. The grinding action produces less noise and mess than many competitors. Overall, this Hamilton Beach model receives high marks for being an easy-to-use and low-maintenance coffee grinder suitable for daily home use.

Safety Features

The Hamilton Beach 80396C coffee grinder has several useful safety features built in.

• The grinder will automatically shut off if overloaded, preventing damage to the motor. This is triggered by an internal heat sensor that detects if the grinder is working too hard.

• The grinder has a very stable, non-skid base that keeps it firmly planted on your counter. The heavy plastic base has rubberized trim to grip surfaces and prevent sliding. Even during vigorous grinding, the grinder stays put.

• There is a safety interlock mechanism that prevents the grinder from operating if the hopper or grind chamber is not properly installed. This prevents accidental operation if the machine is partially disassembled for cleaning.

• The electrical cord can be wrapped under the base for neat storage. This keeps the cord safely out of the way when not in use.

Overall, Hamilton Beach designed this grinder with safety in mind. Key features like overload protection and a stable base prevent accidents and make this a secure appliance for daily use.

Accessories

The Hamilton Beach 80396C comes with a few handy accessories to help keep your grinder running smoothly. It includes a cleaning brush, which is great for sweeping out any leftover coffee grounds from the grinding chamber. The brush has soft bristles so it won't scratch the interior surface.

There is also a removable grinding chamber for easy handwashing. After grinding a batch of coffee, you can take the grinding chamber out and rinse it under water to clean out any residual grounds. This helps keep the interior parts fresh and prevent any buildup of old coffee residues.

Additionally, the grinder comes with a scoop for easily measuring out your coffee beans before grinding. The scoop fits nicely into the bean hopper when not in use. Having the scoop included is convenient since you don't have to supply your own measuring cup or weigh out portions.

Overall, the included accessories like the cleaning brush, removable grinding chamber, and bean scoop add functionality and make cleaning and using the grinder more user-friendly. Hamilton Beach did a good job outfitting this grinder with useful extras you'd want for maintenance and operation.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Powerful motor provides fast, even grinding
• Removable grinding chamber for easy transfer of grounds
• Stainless steel blades designed for uniform grinding
• Adjustable grind settings from fine to coarse
• Large 8-ounce bean hopper capacity
• lidded grounds bin to contain mess
• Compact size good for small kitchens
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Housing is mostly plastic so not as durable as some models
• Tendency for static buildup/grounds sticking to container
• Grind settings not as precise as premium burr grinders
• Louder than some models when grinding
• Cleaning the grinder can be tricky in small spaces

Conclusion

The Hamilton Beach 80396C coffee grinder is a solid option for anyone looking for an affordable, quality electric grinder for home use. Its stainless steel blades and removable grinding chamber make it easy to operate and clean. It offers flexibility with multiple grind settings and enough capacity for 12 cups of coffee.

The grinder performs well, providing a consistent grind for drip coffee makers and French press pots, though it may struggle with a super fine expresso grind. The 450 watt motor provides plenty of power. Overall, it's simple and intuitive to use.

Safety features like the lid-locking system help prevent accidents. While it doesn't come with many extras, it has the essentials like a cleaning brush. Given the price point, the build quality and performance are impressive.

If you want an electric grinder with good grinding abilities without excessive noise or mess, the Hamilton Beach 80396C is an excellent choice. For those seeking top-tier commercial grade grinding or ultra-fine espresso grinding, you may need to spend more. But for most home brewing needs, this grinder delivers quality results and good value.