Coffee and Caffeine FAQ

Do you have any recommendations for good grinder brands or models? Any "definitely avoid this model" type warnings? Stores like Target and WAlmart carry grinders, but I'm always afraid it'll be crap when I get it home.

My current coffee maker has a built-in blade grinder, but it's overly loud and I really think a separate grinder would work better. Steam rises into the grinder during the brew, which then congeals out as a "tar" in the grinder assembly and in the coffee maker itself, where the grinder pours into the filter. That tar is a pain to clean, so I'd avoid those integrated brew/grind models. (Mine is a Cuisinart.)