Many people have the idea that an electric coffee grinder is a large, cumbersome machine suited more for commercial coffee houses than the home. However, you can also get a small coffee grinder that sits on your kitchen counter top quite easily. All the manufacturers of coffee grinders make these coffee mills as kitchen appliances - Cuisinart, Mr. Coffee, Krups, Delonghi and more. These small machines have all the power you need to grind the coffee beans into coarse or fine grounds.
Depending on the specific model that you choose, you can have various grind settings. For example, if you like to have a cup of espresso, you will need to have a mill that grinds the grounds very fine. If you don't mind having some grounds or sediment in your coffee, then you can choose the coarse setting for regular coffee.
Some coffee mills operate by means of a blade that chops the coffee beans while grinding. The problem with some of these grinders is that they do build up friction and this takes some of the flavour out of the beans. With the models that use burrs in the grinding process, you still retain the flavour and aroma and you don't have to worry about static electricity making the grounds stick to the collector. There are grinders where you can have the grounds directly into the filter basket on your espresso machine.
Contrary to popular belief, these coffee mills are not expensive. If you have a coffee percolator and really enjoy your morning coffee, then you really do need to have an electric grinder. You can grind up the beans you need and store them in your cupboard for when you need them. Then all you have to do is measure out the right amounts of grounds for the number of cups of coffee you want to brew, the same as you do now with the coffee can. Instead of having to stop at Starbucks or Tim Horton's on the way to work, you can have your own specialty coffees right at home. Friends will certainly enjoy coming over for a coffee and may even try to invent reasons to visit you.
When you shop for your next coffee percolator, look at the wide range of home grinders that are available. You will be amazed at the look and feel of these machines and when you use one for the first time, you will be hooked.