jnboone Senior Member Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Memphis, TN Expertise: Just starting
Grinder: Vario-W Vac Pot: Aerobie
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 7:44am Subject: drip vs press vs aerobie
For just a good cup, what are your opinions, and do you have any recommendations for a grinder - considering I'm planing on buying a grinder for espresso - either the Vario or the Vario W (I've read that some say the Vario won't grind coarse enough for a press - input?)?
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 8:05am Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
Well ... I'm obsessed with espresso machines so that's what I spend my time experimenting with. However I have an aeropress and it is so convenient, so simple and easy that I often wonder why I'm fooling around with complicated and expensive equipment.
And to take it even one step further ... even the aeropress ... I look back fondly at the days of just setting a pourover funnel over a cup (or a larger pour over funnel to make a pot) and have to admit that I think that system is hard to beat. (and I haven't even tried the latest and greatest of those - I'm just remembering using a cheap-o Melitta and thinking that was pretty near perfect)
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 8:31am Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
jnboone Said:
For just a good cup, what are your opinions, and do you have any recommendations for a grinder - considering I'm planing on buying a grinder for espresso - either the Vario or the Vario W (I've read that some say the Vario won't grind coarse enough for a press - input?)?
So you want a grinder that is good for drip or press or aerobie or espresso? I'm just trying to match your subject line to the post you made before I can give any further comment.
Please advise.
Thanks, Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
jnboone Senior Member Joined: 12 Jun 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Memphis, TN Expertise: Just starting
Grinder: Vario-W Vac Pot: Aerobie
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 9:20am Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
In a perfect world...yes. I would like one grinder that would do a great job however I decide to indulge myself. My hope is that either Vario would do just that. As I continue to read it's looking like I may just be looking at Aerobie, drip, and espresso. Seems many favor the Aerobie over the mess of the press. It appears that the filter in the Aerobie may eliminate problem - provided I like the taste from the Aerobie as much as a press. I've never had either. Looking for something better than the drip even though it may not be as convenient.
redkiosk Senior Member Joined: 13 May 2012 Posts: 162 Location: Chicago Metro Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Illy Francis-Francis X1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso w/ Esatto... Vac Pot: Someday, very intriguing Drip: Bunn Trifecta MB Roaster: A sure path to divorce!
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 9:49am Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
Look at the Baratza Preciso, it should do what you are looking for. They have recently upgraded the innards and coupled with the Esatto scale, you would be good to go. I love mine. Here's Mark's review of it…
There are also several permanent, non-paper filters, on the market for the aeropress that give you all the oils like a press but with the convenience of the aeropress.
Myself, I find I am sensitive to the oils and prefer using the paper filters in the aeropress. But I've heard great things in other posts from users with the permanent filters on the aeropress. And I think they have fine enough holes (much more fine than the screen in a french press) that you would still be able to use fine grind.
In the aeropress ... if I am just making one cup, I use the same very fine grind I use for espresso.... or maybe just a little more coarse. But the system works great without any mud in the cup even with very fine grinds.
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 1:22pm Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
jnboone Said:
In a perfect world...yes. I would like one grinder that would do a great job however I decide to indulge myself. My hope is that either Vario would do just that. As I continue to read it's looking like I may just be looking at Aerobie, drip, and espresso. Seems many favor the Aerobie over the mess of the press. It appears that the filter in the Aerobie may eliminate problem - provided I like the taste from the Aerobie as much as a press. I've never had either. Looking for something better than the drip even though it may not be as convenient.
Personally if I had a choice I would ditch the press and aeropress and get a Clever with a gold filter. I have a Clever with a gold filter and the resulting brew has the body and depth of a press, and is just as easy to clean up as an aerobie. I use a fine grind in it; a bit finer than for drip. Regarding my grinder I have a Breville Smartgrind. I have not had any issues with it except that I may have weakened one of the grinder gears by attempting to grind some underroasted beans once for an extended period of time. That I attribute to user error.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 6:21pm Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
I lookin for the perfect grinder for fine drip to coarse, look to the Virtuoso. Carries the same burrs as the Preciso and does an amazing press grind.
An aeropress, clever, or Espro would be the easiest method to master. That said, I personally enjoy pour over coffee the most for its clarity of flavor and brightness. Whatever route you go, I would highly recommend the Virtuoso.
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 7:17pm Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
I use a Vario for all the above, with no complaints. However, I don't subscribe to the typical "grind as coarse as you can" french press brew, and I grind much closer to a drip level. My Vario is calibrated for espresso anyway, so a typical french press grind is a bit beyond my capabilities without a recalibration. I also don't press my press, so I'm all sorts of weird.
Posted Thu Jun 14, 2012, 7:59pm Subject: Re: drip vs press vs aerobie
SteveRhinehart Said:
I use a Vario for all the above, with no complaints. However, I don't subscribe to the typical "grind as coarse as you can" french press brew, and I grind much closer to a drip level. My Vario is calibrated for espresso anyway, so a typical french press grind is a bit beyond my capabilities without a recalibration. I also don't press my press, so I'm all sorts of weird.
Steve, I also have always ground my french press fine, not coarse. I tried coarse when I first started, and found that fine ground provided much better extraction of flavors and deeper body. A bit more fines, easily delt with by not drinking the last sip of press.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
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