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Recommend an coffee / espresso grinder - Page 2

post #16 of 20
11/20/08 at 12:35pm
As i've said before, the Kitchen-Aid mill is pretty good. And costs less than a mazzer or a rocky but doesn't dose and doesn't have a timer.
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post #17 of 20
11/20/08 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmax View Post
Yes, that's what I am saying.

Chain coffee houses normally use excellent grinders that cost 600 to 1,000 Great Britain Pounds (Mazzer/Rio/Astoria Super Jolly or Major being very popular) and multiple group plumbed in espresso machines that cost 1,500-10,000 GBP.
Basically any coffee house is well covered on the espresso equipment front. Some produce excellent espresso, some barely drinkable, but that's more of a function of personell training and beans quality, age and roast level. If you get a substandard espresso in a coffee house the equipment it is not the fault of their equipment.

Ok, so I see what you are saying above. Now what about a specialty coffee shop which has such a high end grinder for its own stuff and would be willing to use it to grind beans that you buy from them (then you keep them in the freezer for a week). I dont know that its possible, but as tarmac asked, would that be better than using a lower end home grinder?

Or what about when I go into the specialty Italian deli across the street and they have vaccum packed high end (presumably) espresso grind. I know they arent as fresh, but they should be the right size grind right?

I can understand that coffee geeks need to have all these things, but what about those of us who just want to put out a decent / acceptable cup in the morning / when having company? I mean Huntsman's bar is incredible, but not everyone is willing to go to such lengths for a cocktail...

K

Quote:
Originally Posted by grimslade View Post
As i've said before, the Kitchen-Aid mill is pretty good. And costs less than a mazzer or a rocky but doesn't dose and doesn't have a timer.

Still around 130 to 150 pounds which isnt far from the Rancilio one...

K
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post #18 of 20
11/20/08 at 4:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VKK3450 View Post
Ok, so I see what you are saying above. Now what about a specialty coffee shop which has such a high end grinder for its own stuff and would be willing to use it to grind beans that you buy from them (then you keep them in the freezer for a week). I dont know that its possible, but as tarmac asked, would that be better than using a lower end home grinder? Or what about when I go into the specialty Italian deli across the street and they have vaccum packed high end (presumably) espresso grind. I know they arent as fresh, but they should be the right size grind right? K
You can certainly try either of these options and report how they work out for you. Unfortunately, there is no one right sized grind. This is a critical point to understand. The right size grind for your machine can only be obtained by trial-and-adjustment. Once you do get to the size of grind that produces between 3/4 to 1.5 ounces of liquid in 20 to 30 seconds you will still need to make small adjustments to compensate for changes in bean origin, roast level and age.
Quote:
Originally Posted by VKK3450 View Post
I can understand that coffee geeks need to have all these things, but what about those of us who just want to put out a decent / acceptable cup in the morning / when having company? I mean Huntsman's bar is incredible, but not everyone is willing to go to such lengths for a cocktail...
A good grinder is not a frivolous purchase but a necessity. If you want to save money, save on the price of the machine or enjoy your caffeine another way (Press pot, Stove Top, Turkish/Greek, Vacuum pot, Pour over, etc.) For some reason, I meet a lot of people run into a mental block when told they need to spend a good chunk of change on the grinder but have no problem spending a lot on the machine. This makes as much sense as buying a $200 shirt but saying you would not spend more than $40 on pants, since pants must not be important.
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post #19 of 20
11/20/08 at 11:02pm
Quote:
A good grinder is not a frivolous purchase but a necessity. If you want to save money, save on the price of the machine or enjoy your caffeine another way (Press pot, Stove Top, Turkish/Greek, Vacuum pot, Pour over, etc.)

Yes folks...think of the grinder as the true rock star of the espresso world.

You can always pick up a used high quality grinder at a substantial reduction (probably due to the high instance of rest't & cafes going out of business). The worst thing that could happen is you find out the burr grinders need replacing.

I picked up a commercial Cunill (Spanish made) one day, walking by a lawn sale for 100 bucks. It's a tad large, but what a machine (bigger, slower rotating grinding mechanisms than the top Mazzer).

There's a practical side to prioritizing your budget to the grinder, as you (or others) might not always be interested in just espresso....it will make any brewing method better. I change my coffee preference all the time...lately I've been quite happy using a $2 #2 plastic cone, and brewing right into the cup on demand.

Buying pre-ground beans is simply not an option.
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post #20 of 20
11/21/08 at 7:02am
Thread Starter 
Thanks very much for all the replies and info, but I guess it doesnt matter to me enough to spend 200 pounds, take up more counter space, etc...

If we move into a bigger place or I run across something at discount I might pick it up, otherwise its preground...

K
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