Alpengeist Senior Member Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Tue Jun 24, 2008, 6:38pm Subject: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
I've been attempting to buy myself a decent burr grinder for about two weeks now. I make my coffee at home using either a press pot or Moka Express. I don't plan on getting a real espresso machine anytime soon.
I picked up a Krups GVX2-12 at work ($45). That thing was worse than useless. Then I ordered a Saeco Titan from Costco ($75). Consistent enough grind, but even on the coarsest setting, it ground too fine for the press, so it shall be sent back from whence it came.
I've decided to cap myself off at $100, and I've narrowed it down to either the Capresso or the Breville. I hear lots of good things about the Capresso (though I've heard it doesn't get all that coarse) all over the place. I hear less noise about the Breville, but it's all good.
Does anyone have experience with the Breville, or a recommendation?
HeavyP Senior Member Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 8 Location: SF Bay Area Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Jun 24, 2008, 10:01pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
You been looking for two weeks? I've been looking for 4 months, so let me share my experiences. Plus, I am a FP drinker too.
So far I have owned and used: Capresso Infinity, Saeco Titan, Baratza Maestro
I did not own the Breville, but I inspected it in the store.
All of the above mentioned grinders use the same burr set.
I make good coffee with all of them. All of the units are close in performance.
The Baratza has the largest range of grind adjustment, so if you want larger particles, this will do it for you. I had no problems with the Saeco at all, but I did have to use the coarsest setting.
The Baratza is the loudest.
The Barazta is the most expensive at $99
The Baratza has the shortest chute, meaning less stale coffee from the previous grind event.
The Baratza has the least amount of static.
The Baratza has the best ground coffee bin design, it fits tight and keeps the counter cleaner than the others.
I would think the breville must be very similiar to the rest.
I currently have an old capresso infinity. The others I ended up returning in my quest for the best $100 grinder. In short, I am going to buy another grinder, the infinity will become the decaf grinder, and I am gonna get the Baratza. In my experiences, it is better than the others, but it does cost more. If I were you, I would keep the Saeco, since it is cheap from Costco and it is pretty quiet. If you must have larger grinds, get the Maestro and call it done.
Posted Tue Jun 24, 2008, 10:34pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Hi Alpengeist,
Welcome to the boards!
I'm not that familiar with the grinders you're considering but here are a few tips that may be generally helpful. First, make sure you check out the consumer reviews on this website before making a purchase.
Second, I would also consider the Baratza lineup of grinders as HeavyP suggested. You can check out their website for solid deals on refurb models to get well below your $100 mark.
Third, (I mention this so, if I'm correct, you'll have a better idea of what to base your decision on when choosing a new grinder) knowing nothing about the Krups grinder I'd imagine it's actually an issue of consistency that is causing you to get too many fines in your cup after drinking a press pot. It's probably capable of crushing the beans into boulders, but while it's doing that it's also creating a lot of dust and that is what is getting through the FP's screen. Now, you'll never eliminate all fines in the bottom of your cup but getting a more consistent grinder will help, which I assume you know and that's why you're looking to upgrade :) So, I would put a premium on consistency because most burr grinders can get course enough for french press, or have a french press setting.
Alpengeist Senior Member Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Jun 25, 2008, 1:41pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Thanks, guys. Although before you give me too warm a welcome, I should disclose that I do work for Starbucks, so you may want to, I don't know, pelt me with e-rocks or something.
I've read through most of the consumer reviews here, but many of them leave one with the impression that if you're unwilling or unable to spend $300 on a Rocky, you may as well quit drinking coffee. When did coffee drinkers become so much more snobbish than wine drinkers?
Anyway, much thanks to HeavyP, for buying and returning so many upper-entry-level burr grinders so I don't have to. I had kind of left the Maestro out of the running, but I wasn't aware that they redesigned it in '07.
I have no real problem with the performance of the Titan (née Solis 166) aside from the limited range of grind adjustment. The fines aren't really a problem; there's fewer than with many grinders I've used, and if I wanted a really super-clean cup I'd use other brewing methods. I know I could pop her open and recalibrate, but I think I'd rather just have a wide range of options.
I knew the Titan was a rebadged Solis 166, and that the Solis model didn't produce coarse enough grinds for press. I also knew that the old Starbucks Barista was another rebadged 166, and could put out coarse grinds, but wouldn't grind fine enough for higher-end espresso machines. I was just hoping that the Titan would be closer to the Barista model.
So yeah, considering that I'd only be shelling out another $25 over what I already paid, the Maestro looks like my best bet. Thanks so much.
Kinbote Senior Member Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 49 Location: MA Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Cap Infinity Drip: Technivorm
Posted Wed Jun 25, 2008, 8:25pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Alpengeist Said:
. . . if you're unwilling or unable to spend $300 on a Rocky, you may as well quit drinking coffee. When did coffee drinkers become so much more snobbish than wine drinkers?
Funny you should mention this; I'm a satisfied Infinity user, but I plan to eventually buy a Rocky. I've just heard too many people praise the quality of the Rocky grind. But until I make that purchase, the Infinity suits my Technivorm quite well.
Alpengeist Senior Member Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Wed Jun 25, 2008, 10:37pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Kinbote Said:
Funny you should mention this; I'm a satisfied Infinity user, but I plan to eventually buy a Rocky. I've just heard too many people praise the quality of the Rocky grind. But until I make that purchase, the Infinity suits my Technivorm quite well.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm sure it's, in the long run, worth it. I plan to eventually upgrade in the next few years. But as of right now, I'm a recently graduated barista-with-a-bachelor's. The Rocky costs half my rent. I doubt very much that it would be utterly impossible to get "drinkable" coffee with grinder that cost around a hundred dollars.
I'm just saying that there's a lot of snobbishness in the coffee world. Every wine magazine has a few under-$10 reviews. Yet if you listen to coffee people, it's going to cost you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in order to enjoy coffee. That simply can't be true, or else no one would have started drinking it.
Posted Wed Jun 25, 2008, 11:43pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Hi Alpengeist,
I would just like to chime in and say that I have had a capresso infinity for quite some time now, and can say it is much much better than the solis 166 that I had and sold off eventually.
The reason being that the upper burr is held by 3 plastic tabs on the infinity. Having 3 tabs really helps in limiting the play of the upper burrs and gives a much more even consistent grind.
I have not seen the breville, and have not used the baratza. But pls. note, on the newer model Virtuoso, they have also made use of 3 tabs to hold the upper burr, because it is a much better design. On the Maestro, Its basically the same two tab design as the solis and i suspect has substantial play and is also prone to wobbling back and forth during use.
The burrs themselves are pretty much the same on all these models.
hankg Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 42 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Krups GVX2 Drip: Presto Scan Design
Posted Sun Jun 29, 2008, 7:42pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Having had the Breville, I really wanted to like it. It gets great reviews. I liked the unit. It just ground really slow for drip. I may have gotten a bad machine. I eventually got the Saeco from Costco. Of course, now they sell them for $60 in Costco.
If I were you, look for the Bed, Bath and Beyond 20% of coupons that come in the mail. We just had one come last week. That way you could at least try the Breville for $80. If you don't like it, you can always take it back, which is what I ended up doing.
I will say that the Saeco is okay. Not great. It grinds okay but the Breville was a bit more consistent. The Saeco has much more of a static electricity problem. I have found a great workaround for that though. Especially since I have to warm up the stainless steel carafe of my Technivorm. When I get the hot water out of the tap going, I hold the ground beans holder upside down and let it steam up. I also hold the grinder upright above the sink for a few seconds. Static is gone.
Alpengeist Senior Member Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 4 Location: California Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Mon Jun 30, 2008, 8:23pm Subject: Re: Capresso Infinity 560 Vs. Breville BCG450XL
Thanks all. I went ahead and bought the Baratza, which is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. I'm pretty satisfied with the grind quality of the Saeco, just need it a wee bit coarser.
But just yesterday, I was looking at the packaging for the Saeco and noticed this bit of copy that made me really, really wish I liked it enough to keep it:
The Titans were mighty and powerful gods of mythology. Like the original Titans, the Saeco conical burr grinder is a commanding force. Strong and enduring, it is a master to guide you in your journey to the perfect cup of coffee.
Bolding not mine.
Awesome.
Anyway, thanks for the help! I'll be sure to come back and let you know how my pressings turn out!
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